Great, both of them should still be alive and were able to return, indicating they didn’t suffer any fatal injuries.
Although they haven’t been found yet, this is already very good news, and Hua Chengtian could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The words spoken yesterday were just to comfort them; in truth, he was still quite anxious inside.
After all, wolves are ferocious animals, and it’s really difficult to escape from them.
Following the marks on the trees, everyone searched and walked, and eventually, after half an hour they found the marked large pine tree and the cave several feet away behind it.
Even though they sped up, because they had to search for marks, it was already past noon by the ti they reached their destination, and they were eating their cakes while walking.
"Chengtian brother," finally when they found the place, they did not rush into the cave, but looked towards Hua Chengtian.
"Let’s go check it out, everyone be careful."
Even though they followed the marks, they couldn’t be careless. Hua Chengtian raised a crossbow in one hand and carried a large knife in the other, walking ahead.
The ten or so feet were quite close, and they didn’t deliberately soften their movents; if the people inside were alert, they could hear the noise.
However, after a mont passed, no one ca out.
It made people wonder, could it be that there’s no one inside?
Being cautious, they intentionally made more noise and waited for a while, but still, no one ca out, so Hua Chengtian decided not to wait any longer.
He cautiously raised the crossbow and walked towards the pitch-black cave, and as he reached the entrance without any signs, he frowned and quickly walked inside without hesitation.
It was no wonder there was no movent; the two people inside were leaning against the wall with their eyes closed, with only smoldering embers left in the fire pit ahead.
It’s unclear whether they were unconscious or asleep; Hua Chengtian suspected they were more likely asleep, given the heavy sll of blood on them, suggesting they suffered injuries to varying degrees.
Indeed, as he walked in, he sensed a strange sight; their dark faces were glowing, almost purple, evidently in the midst of a fever, and a high fever at that. As soon as he touched them, their heat was alarming.
Hua Chengtian quickly stepped forward and fed them each a few pills. This made his heart ache, as the protective dicine his daughter had given him had always been saved for ergencies, yet half of it had been used up by the Sun brothers, leaving him with little supply.
He then checked their wounds; besides so infections, they weren’t as severely injured as he imagined, at least better off than Sun Lao Si.
Following that, despite the brothers being unconscious, he didn’t prepare to delay further, packing up the belongings of the two brothers from inside the cave, he quickly made a stretcher, and Hua Chengtian prepared to leave with them.
Even at the quickest pace, carrying two people was no easy task, and by the ti they returned to the resting cave, it was already pitch black outside, taking nearly four hours to complete the journey. But at last, they were back, everyone was starving.
Along the way, the younger of the two brothers woke once, shocked and nearly fell off the wooden fra. Fortunately, he was held back by others, and only when Hua Chengtian arrived did Sun Lao Er’s emotions gradually stabilize after his surprise.
He almost thought he was captured by cannibals.
Thank goodness, thank goodness, after drinking so hot water, he fell asleep again without realizing it.
The Sun brothers are sizable; though not fat, they are quite hefty. Carrying them back, even with frequent changes of carriers, wasn’t an easy task.
Upon returning, quite a few people just collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Finally, the three brothers lay together; Sun Lao Si, after being awake for more than an hour at noon, ate sothing and took the dicine Hua Chengtian left behind before falling asleep again, resting until now.
As long as his breathing was stable, sleeping more was beneficial for his severe injury, indicating his body’s recovery, as Uncle Sanshan often said. The group of n rembered this, so they didn’t disturb him even during als.
Sanshan uncle also followed to the valley; with him around, no one had to worry about maladies or injuries. However, he didn’t co back; he was too old to endure.
Everyone felt at ease seeing Hua Chengtian return, and went to sleep.
This weather made sleeping wrapped in blankets warm.
So with closer ties to Hua Chengtian sat by him, chatted for a while showing concern, helped serve the cooked food from over the fire, watched the brothers fill their stomachs, and only then succumbed to sleep.
After eating, with food in their bellies, everyone felt comfortable; except for those on night watch duty, the breathing in the cave gradually beca steady.
Hua Chengtian was also quite exhausted, seeing the Sun brothers not showing any intention of waking, he placed the remaining at porridge by the fire to keep warm and fell asleep as well.
However, he had barely slept when he was awakened by the conscious Sun Lao Si and the intentionally hushed voices of the Sun brothers.
Tired Hua Chengtian originally didn’t want to open his eyes, but considering the Sun brothers were awake, they needed to eat sothing and take more dicine to ensure the earlier dicine wasn’t wasted, he decided to get up.
At this mont, seeing his eldest and second brother really had been brought back, Sun Lao Si was ecstatic, his already red eyes turning even redder; the seven-foot-tall man unbelievably shed tears.
Especially seeing his brothers, both covered in blood stains, but as long as they were alive, that was the most important thing—otherwise, what would their parents do if they lost so many sons at once?
Excitedly, he couldn’t help but call out a few tis, successfully waking everyone up; the reunion of the three brothers was a passionate affair, their voices unknowingly growing a little louder.
"You’re awake," Hua Chengtian said as he struggled to sit up and put on his boots, then moved forward to feel each of them briefly, feeling their warmth, reassuring him.
He then brought the food from beside the fire over, "Now that you’re awake, eat sothing. With food in your stomach, your body will recover faster."
"Chengtian brother..." As the eldest of the Sun brothers, Sun Yiliang, whose injuries were the lightest, propped himself up to sit and respectfully saluted Hua Chengtian.
"Thank you for saving my brothers and tirelessly searching for us. This kindness we promise to repay even if we have to work like horses and cattle for life."
Sun Yiliang understood that injuries in such extre temperatures were life-threatening. In fact, they had prepared for not returning, just couldn’t bear leaving their parents and family.
Yet they survived, and the valiant man set aside his agenda and gathered people to find them—the brothers couldn’t ever repay these acts.
"Yes, elder brother is right," Sun Erliang said, not as articulate, but nodded in agreent, gratefully looking at his sister-in-law’s man, slowly managing to prop himself up as well.
The man rescued not just the three brothers but their whole family.
There was no doubt in their minds; without the three brothers, how could the remaining siblings and half-grown children protect their ho? Just thinking about what his wife and children might face made Sun Lao Er even more grateful.
Not only were they saved, but given precious dicine, their bodies were noticeably improving, they could clearly feel it, although debilitated from the fever, they were genuinely recovering, their minds clear.
Unlike when they scattered to escape and barely made it back, just managing to leave marks, returning to the cave and reluctantly setting up a fire before losing consciousness.
All of this was thanks to Hua Chengtian; this gratitude was indeed profound.
"Alright, we’re all family here. No need for formalities. If I were injured, Sun brother, would you just stand by?" Hua Chengtian retorted.
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