Half an Hour Earlier
On the horizon, two figures could be seen—two men, one younger and the other older. Their appearances were similar yet distinct. Both held wooden swords, gripping them in opposite hands—the younger man in his right and the older in his left.
They stood at a distance, facing each other in silence. Then, without warning, both pushed off the ground, surging forward at full speed. Their movements were swift as they closed the distance between them.
As they neared one another, the older man suddenly halted. In a single motion, he adjusted his stance and raised his sword, preparing to strike.
A moment later, his wooden blade sliced through the air, aiming for the younger man's waist.
David's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react and dodge—
'Smack!'
A sharp impact rang out as the force of the blow struck him hard.
At first, David felt nothing, still in shock. But as he was thrown off balance, a searing pain shot through his side.
'Argh!'
His body twisted from the force, and a pained expression flashed across his face. He barely had time to register the hit before he hit the ground with a thud.
'Ow…!'
Lying on his side, he clenched his jaw, trying to push past the pain. After a brief moment, he turned his gaze toward the older man—his father—and called out with frustration.
"Did you really have to be that brutal?!"
His voice carried a mix of irritation and lingering pain as he clutched his side. Even so, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.
His father, William, simply watched him with a calm expression before a small smile formed on his lips.
"You're getting better… If you keep improving like this, it won't be long before you catch up to me—at least in swordsmanship."
David let out a tired, humorless chuckle before responding.
"Sure… That's easy for you to say. You're keeping your strength at Energy Gradering 9 just like me, and yet, you still toss me around like a ragdoll."
His voice carried a hint of sarcasm as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
His body was aching, exhaustion setting in, but before he could fully process it—his father moved again.
David's eyes widened in alarm.
William launched another attack in the exact same way, charging at him once more.
Realizing this, David reacted instantly. Despite the pain in his side, he quickly jumped back, barely dodging the strike in time.
But William wasn't done.
He continued pressing forward, swinging at David again and again. This time, however, his strikes were slightly slower—not to land a hit, but to encourage David to block instead of just dodging.
As he watched his son fight back with everything he had left, a small smile played on William's lips.
........
Ten Minutes Later
David lay flat on his back, chest rising and falling rapidly as he gasped for air. Exhaustion weighed down his entire body, leaving him motionless on the ground.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
He had been lying there for a while now, too drained to move. Every muscle in his body ached from the relentless training.
"Huff… huff… Damn… why do you have to be… so brutal?"
His voice was weak as he turned his head slightly to the side, his half-lidded eyes meeting his father's.
Unlike him, William sat calmly on the ground, completely unbothered by their training session. Not a single sign of exhaustion could be seen on his face.
Hearing his son's words, William finally turned to look at him, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"David… don't you think that's something you should've mentioned earlier?"
His voice was lighthearted, almost teasing.
David furrowed his brows slightly, his exhausted mind struggling to process what his father meant. Seeing his confusion, William continued.
"I know you want to join a sect… but why didn't you say anything about it before?"
His tone was softer now, and the smirk faded into a more serious expression. His eyes held something else—concern.
David blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected that question.
Slowly, despite the heaviness in his limbs, he pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"I just… didn't want to give you and Mom more to worry about…"
His voice was quiet, his tired eyes fixed on the ground. There was a weariness in his tone, but beneath it was something else—genuine concern for his family.
William's eyes widened slightly at his son's words.
For a moment, he felt… regret.
He had always known David was observant, that he paid attention to the things left unsaid. He must have noticed the struggles his family faced, and instead of adding to them, he had chosen to stay silent.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Then, William stood up and took slow, steady steps toward his son.
David, sensing his approach, lifted his head just as he felt a strong yet gentle hand rest on his shoulder.
"Son… you don't have to worry about anything."
His deep voice was steady, carrying warmth and reassurance. His dark eyes met David's tired but bright ones. Taking a breath, he continued.
"And you don't have to stay here either. I've always known… you're not the type of person who can stay in one place."
David's eyes widened slightly at those words.
William let out a quiet sigh.
He felt… guilty.
Despite all the time they had spent together, he had never once asked his son why he chose to remain at home. And now that he finally understood, a wave of regret washed over him.
Lowering his head slightly, he continued.
"I always knew you wanted to travel… but I never understood why you stayed. Now that I do… I want you to know that you don't have to hold yourself back for our sake."
His voice remained steady, though a hint of guilt lingered in it.
"You can leave whenever you want. But no matter where you go, remember—this will always be your home."
His words carried a quiet sincerity, a reassurance David hadn't even realized he needed.
And in that moment, for the first time in a long time—David felt relief.
For so long, he had put his own dreams aside, thinking it was the right thing to do.
But now, as he sat there, feeling the warmth of his father's presence beside him, he realized—he didn't have to carry that burden alone anymore.
...…
Returning to the Present
Seated on soft cushions around a low but spacious table, a family of four shared a meal, laughing and talking. Their laughter echoed through the room as they chatted about various events—some amusing, others intriguing. The atmosphere was warm and filled with joy.
However, at that very moment, when no one was speaking and most of them were quietly eating, David suddenly opened his mouth and, with a slight smile and a hint of excitement in his eyes, announced, "I have something to tell you!" His voice was a little louder than usual, drawing everyone's attention to him. Yet, among them, only one person seemed truly surprised.
That person was Evan—our protagonist—who looked at David with mild curiosity. "What is it?" he asked in an inquisitive tone.
Hearing his younger brother's words, David didn't hesitate and immediately spoke up.
"I want to join a sect."
As he said those words, he carefully observed everyone's reactions—his mother, Sophie; his father, William; and finally, his younger brother.
What he saw surprised him. His father's expression remained calm, his usual subtle smile unchanged, which was exactly what David had expected. But his mother's reaction was unexpected—she was smiling. She wasn't sad or worried; she genuinely smiled. And finally, he turned to look at his younger brother, whose face lit up with a wide grin.
"Really?! When? And which one?!" Evan asked enthusiastically. Yet, deep down, he felt a mix of emotions—both happiness and a strange sadness that he couldn't quite describe.
David scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed but happy with how his family had responded. "Yes... but I haven't really decided which one yet. I didn't think about it much before…"
Then, as if realizing something, he looked toward his mother. "Mom… aren't you… mad? I mean, I'll be risking my life." His voice was softer now, uncertain.
His mother, upon hearing his words, narrowed her eyes slightly before answering. "Why would I be mad? I am worried about how you will manage… but more than that, I'm happy. Happy that you're finally speaking openly about what you truly want, just like when you were little." She gazed at him with a gentle smile full of motherly warmth.
Hearing this, David smiled as well, feeling relieved that his confession had gone so well.
....
Half an Hour Later
Evan and David had left the house and were now sitting on the grass in the courtyard, basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun after a satisfying meal. Evan, full of excitement, bombarded his older brother with questions.
"So, when are you planning to leave?" he asked, looking at David curiously.
David, turning his head slightly, responded with a hint of uncertainty. "I'm not sure… probably in about four months."
There was hesitation in his voice. Despite all his training with their father, he knew he still had a long way to go. From the stories he had heard, he was well aware of how dangerous the outside world could be.
Hearing this, Evan felt a slight pang of sadness, but he quickly covered it up with enthusiasm. "Seriously?! That's awesome!" He tried to sound excited, though deep down, he wasn't sure why he felt so conflicted. But deep down, he knew he was starting to grow attached to the people around him.
David noticed his younger brother's enthusiasm and chuckled. Lying back on the grass, he smirked. "You know… I remember how you always wanted to train with me, but Mom and Dad never let you. Maybe now's our chance?" He arched a brow and gave Evan a teasing grin.
Evan's face lit up with excitement. "Yes! Finally!" he shouted joyfully.
Seeing his reaction, David quickly sat up and grinned. "Then let's go!" He pointed forward with determination.
....
A Few Minutes Later
Evan followed David at a steady but slow pace. David wasn't entirely sure how strong his younger brother was, so he didn't rush. They walked along a narrow path leading out of the village, which eventually branched off toward vast farmland. That was their destination.
Meanwhile, Evan was deep in thought.
"Hmm… My cultivation is at Energy Gradering, Sub-Realm 6… but I can't let anyone see that. So what should I do?"
He hesitated for a moment before speaking mentally. "System."
A robotic voice immediately responded in his mind.
[How can I assist?]
"Is there a way to suppress my strength temporarily?"
[Affirmative. The host may either suppress their cultivation entirely or to a certain degree. However, the system recommends complete suppression.]
Evan's eyes widened slightly. "Completely? I mean, I know how to control my strength, but I don't know how to suppress it fully…"
[The system can handle the suppression, but only for a limited duration.]
Evan sighed in relief. "How long?" he asked, expecting a short time frame.
[Approximately… five years.]
Evan nearly choked on his own breath. "You call five years a short period?! That's ridiculous!" He mentally shouted at the system, but it remained silent.
Letting out a deep sigh, he shook his head. At that moment, David, noticing his brother's sigh, turned to him with slight concern.
"Something wrong? If you're tired, I can carry you on my back." He offered, his voice laced with genuine worry.
Hearing this, Evan quickly shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong… I was just admiring the fields." He looked away, then gave a mental command to the system.
"Suppress my cultivation completely until I tell you to stop."
[Understood.]
A moment later, he felt an overwhelming sensation—his entire strength draining from his body. His muscles felt sluggish, his energy slipping away like water through his fingers.
"What the…? Is the difference really this big?" He was utterly shocked. "How am I supposed to train like this?" He felt a mix of frustration and confusion.
David, noticing Evan's exhaustion, didn't hesitate. He knelt down, lifted his younger brother onto his back, and spoke with a small smile.
"Rule number one—never exhaust yourself before training. And you, little brother, have already lost most of your energy."
Hearing this, Evan had no choice but to accept his situation, silently resigning himself to his brother's care
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[A/N:
Hi, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Don't forget to add the book to your library. That's all from me for today. Sorry for the late update... See you!]