The caravan was a lively place, with merchants, travelers, and guards all crowded together in a jumble of carts and horses. Devin scanned the faces of the people around him, trying to get a sense of who was around him.
As he made his way through the throngs of people, he caught sight of a familiar face - Jinwoo, a young man he had met a few hours ago in the town of Belmont, a few hours from Panam. Jinwoo had convinced Devin to join the caravan, saying that it would be safer to travel with a group.
Devin approached Jinwoo, who was busy haggling with a merchant over the price of a bolt of silk. "Hey, Jinwoo," he said, tapping the young man on the shoulder. "I see you're still trying to get that silk."
Jinwoo turned around, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Ah, Devin! Good to see you again. I'm just trying to get a good deal for my sister's wedding. She's marrying a wealthy merchant, and I want to give her the best gift I can."
Devin raised an eyebrow. "Your sister's getting married? And you're just now getting her a gift?"
Jinwoo chuckled. "Well, I've been a bit busy. I'm hoping to join the royal academy in the capital and become a knight. I want to impress a certain someone."
Devin grinned. "I see. Well, good luck with that. The royal academy is a prestigious place, and becoming a knight is no easy feat."
Jinwoo nodded. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm determined. I'll do whatever it takes to make my dream come true."
Devin glanced around the caravan, his eyes settling on a group of rough-looking men mixed in with the caravan. "Well, just be careful. There are all sorts of dangers on the road, especially for someone traveling alone."
Jinwoo's smile faded a little. "I know. That's why I'm glad you're here. You seem like a seasoned traveler, and I could use some help along the way ."
Devin shrugged. "I'll do my best to keep you safe, but I have my own business to attend to in the capital. I can't be your personal bodyguard."
Jinwoo nodded understandingly. "I understand. I'll just have to watch out for myself. But if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. I may not be a seasoned traveler, but I'm not completely helpless. I'm at the 5th stage of the Qi Condensation realm."
Devin had already analyzed Jinwoo's cultivation but didn't say anything.
He clapped Jinwoo on the shoulder. "I appreciate the offer. But for now, let's just focus on getting to the capital in one piece."
The two of them spent the rest of the day traveling with the caravan, chatting and getting to know each other. As the sun began to set, they made camp for the night. Jinwoo offered to share his tent with Devin, and the two of them settled down for the night, exhausted from the long day of travel.
As he drifted off to sleep, Devin couldn't help but wonder what the future held. He knew that he had a long and difficult journey ahead of him, but he was determined to see it through. He would do whatever it took to uncover the truth about what had happened to Brian's family, and bring them home safe.
Devin sat at the small table, picking at his breakfast of rice, kimchi, and grilled fish. Across from him, Jinwoo shoveled spoonfuls of rice and soup into his mouth, looking up every few seconds to smile appreciatively at Devin.
"This is amazing, Devin," Jinwoo said, wiping his mouth with a cloth. "I had no idea you were such a good cook."
Devin chuckled and shrugged. "My mother taught me a thing or two about cooking. I had to take care of my younger brothers and sister after my father passed away."
Jinwoo's expression turned serious. "I'm sorry, Devin. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
Devin waved his hand dismissively. "It's alright. It happened a long time ago. I've learned to move on."
Just as they finished their breakfast, a large, burly man approached their table. He had a rough, unshaven face and shifty eyes, and Devin immediately felt on guard.
"Excuse me, young man," the man said, addressing Jinwoo. "I couldn't help but overhear that you're in need of some fabric for your sister's wedding. I happen to have some top-quality silk that I could sell you at a discounted price."
Jinwoo looked interested, but Devin placed a hand on his arm, shaking his head slightly. Something about this man seemed off, and Devin didn't want Jinwoo getting mixed up with him.
"Thank you for the offer," Jinwoo said, trying to be polite. "But I think we'll pass. We're just trying to get to the capital as quickly and cheaply as possible."
The man's expression turned sour, and he let out a low growl before storming off. Devin watched him go with a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for looking out for me, Devin," Jinwoo said, turning to him with a grateful smile. "I have a feeling that guy wasn't exactly on the up and up."
Devin nodded, glad that Jinwoo had heeded his warning. He knew better than to trust strangers in this world, especially ones with ulterior motives.