The three children had spent years scraping by in the Market Ward. They had long learned to serve different dishes to different guests, so there was no way they failed to understand what I meant.
Great Heat and Ping An both swallowed hard. After her initial bewilderment, Winter Solstice accepted the outcome.
"Senior... what should we do now?" Winter Solstice's gaze held three parts ingratiation and seven parts fear. It was likely an instinct honed from living in danger for so long.
I stroked her head and said, "I will take you to where your clan lives. As for those two, now that they are free, they may naturally leave as they wish, join some sect, or continue scraping by in the Market Ward."
"Senior, please take us with you! We can do anything! Whatever you tell us to do, we'll do it!"
"Other than knowing the Market Ward, we have no special skills. But we're both smart—we can learn anything at a glance!"
Great Heat and Ping An were terrified that I would leave them behind because of this.
I looked at the two of them, pinched my fingers in calculation, and smiled. "The karmic chance between you two and me has run its course. Your futures do not lie with me. Still, I can divine them for you. How about it?"
"Please enlighten me, Senior!" Great Heat gritted his teeth and dropped to his knees.
"Ping An also asks for Senior's guidance!" Ping An followed suit. His posture was even lower, and he was practically sprawled on the ground.
I nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "Great Heat, head east. When you come upon a mountain whose summit vanishes beyond the clouds, seek out its gate and enter. That will be your great opportunity."
Great Heat knocked his head