Anyways, after spending years confined to a wooden wheelchair, Ethan had developed a composure far beyond that of most teenagers his age.
However, drinking large amounts of bitter herbal medicine every day had left his complexion pale and sickly, robbing him of much of the youthful vigor he should have possessed.
He also preferred solitude, often sitting quietly by himself and losing himself in his thoughts.
"Hmm. My luck was pretty good today. I managed to find something useful, and I felt a little tired, so I came back early."
After closing the wooden door behind him, Ryan walked over and gently patted Ethan’s shoulder, answering casually.
Although his tone was casual, Ryan secretly glanced down at his brother’s legs.
A faint, almost imperceptible ache flashed through his eyes.
He had already sworn that one day, he would heal his brother’s legs.
He would let Ethan stand again. He would let him run freely across sunlit grasslands, feeling the wind against his face like any other healthy teenager.
But that day would have to wait.
Although he now possessed the Boundless Creation Furnace, he hadn’t properly tested it yet. Until he was absolutely certain of its abilities, Ryan didn’t want to touch upon his brother’s deepest pain or make a promise he might not be able to fulfill.
Because Ryan understood that hope could sometimes be more painful than despair.
Once hope was given and then shattered, the resulting pain could be devastating.
Thus, the heartache in his eyes appeared for only an instant before disappearing, replaced once more by his usual calm expression.
Ryan had never intended to hide his gains from his family.
However, the Boundless Creation Furnace had yet to be properly tested, and its existence was far too significant. If word got out that he possessed such a treasure, it could easily bring disaster upon the entire family.
For the time being, therefore, it was better not to reveal too much—even to his younger brother, Ethan.
"Brother, you’re back! Come play with me~"
Before Ethan could say anything else, a tender child’s voice echoed through the hall.
In the next moment, a cute, skinny little boy wearing an oversized, patched garment excitedly rushed out of the side room and wrapped his arms around Ryan’s thigh, acting spoiled.
This was Toby, Ryan’s youngest brother.
He had just turned five this year and was still very young. Unlike his two older brothers, however, Toby was relatively healthy despite his small and thin frame. He had yet to awaken his Bloodline.
He was an adorable child with a round, chubby face and a mischievous personality.
Unfortunately, the Cole family was poor and rarely had the money to buy new clothes. As a result, Toby could only wear the old clothes his two older brothers had outgrown. They were slightly too large for him, making his already thin body look even smaller inside the oversized garments.
"Okay, okay. I’ll play with you later, little one. Right now, I have something important to take care of. Go play with your second brother for a while, alright?"
Ryan squatted down and lovingly stroked Toby’s little head.
But when he saw his younger brother’s thin body swallowed by those oversized, worn-out clothes, his eyes instantly reddened, and his heart ached.
I’m sorry, little brother. It’s all my fault for being useless and making you suffer alongside us adults at such a young age.
Just wait a little longer. Give me some time. I will definitely work hard to give all of you a good life.
"Oh... okay, then."
Toby was completely unaware of the thoughts running through his brother’s mind. He looked at Ryan with a hint of disappointment before turning around and running over to Ethan, clinging to his second brother and happily causing trouble.
Although Toby was young and loved to be mischievous, he could also be quite obedient and sensible at times.
It wasn’t mealtime yet, and their parents were still out working as construction helpers, so there was no way they would be home this early.
Watching his two younger brothers playfully fool around without a care in the world, the gloom in Ryan’s heart gradually faded, replaced by a warm feeling.
Compared to the harsh reality outside, family was indeed a warm harbor.
Thinking of this, Ryan shook his head with a smile and turned toward the bathroom.
He quickly took a shower, washed away the unpleasant stench clinging to his body, and changed into clean clothes. Only then did he feel some of his energy return.
After leaving the bathroom, Ryan entered his own room and closed and locked the wooden door behind him.
The room was small, only about three to five square meters, but it was clean and tidy, with spotless window frames and barely a trace of dust.
There wasn’t much furniture inside.
A simple, worn-out wooden bed, a patched quilt, a small wooden stool, and a large cloth bag used to store various pieces of waste and miscellaneous items.
Everything was simple and modest.
After washing himself clean, Ryan felt completely refreshed.
More importantly, the anticipation he had been suppressing all the way home could no longer be contained.
He was finally alone.
And now, it was time to properly test the functions of the Boundless Creation Furnace.
However, for a moment, despite possessing such a treasure, Ryan simply scratched his head, unable to figure out how to use it.
"Mira." Ryan softly called out to the Artifact Spirit. "We’re safe now. We can start the experiment. What should I do next?"