Shi Tiezhu slung a pack over his back, bid farewell to his old blacksmith father, and, just as he had when he entered Stone Rock County Martial Academy with Zhao Hongxiu all those years ago, happily headed straight for the Imperial Capital.
Only, Senior Sister Hongxiu was no longer by his side this time. He was alone, a solitary shadow.
Sister Lan and Senior Student Secret Pearl were speechless.
Back then, Chu Qing had taken Zhao Hongxiu away. Later, the things he did in the state city grew ever more earth-shaking, and some people began to value them highly.
Especially after learning that the two of them had once served as Chu Qing's attendants, those people regarded them even more highly.
The Cui Lineage, the Nangong Lineage, and other lineages, whether deliberately or otherwise, took care of them.
All they wanted was for Chu Qing to one day happen to remember these two attendants, and for the attendants to put in a few good words for them after meeting him.
It was a gamble on probability.
The odds were small, but even if these great houses had fallen on hard times, they could still offer some care in a little place like the prefectural city.
What was more:
Sister Lan and Senior Student Secret Pearl had both come from Wu Fortresses and cultivated martial arts.
Back then, they had even obtained resources from Chu Qing. With their current strength, they counted as experts in a small place like the prefectural city.
Once they returned to Stone Rock County, they would be experts among experts.
Moreover:
Starting the year before last, Tang Wuming, who had entrenched himself at the quarry on Stone Ridge Mountain, learned about Sister Lan and began looking after them, intentionally or otherwise.
The two women lived fairly