"I don't know."
Scatena silently lowered his head, looking at the box in his arms, that heavy compilation collection, and sighed lightly after a long ti: "I want to go out and see, even if I don't learn anything, it's good to see more."
The roommate was silent, patted his shoulder, casually took over the heavy box, and sent him out of the workshop.
Under the scorching sun, a slight chill had already erged in the early winter.
Finally, the box was placed into Scatena's arms.
"You... you wait for in the city for two days."
During the final farewell hug, the sound of the roommate's voice ca to his ear: "I'm coming with you."
Scatena was stunned for a mont, looking at his roommate.
The roommate smiled, turned, and walked into the workshop.
Two days later, in the crowded cheap hotel in the small town by the sea, Scatena heard the sound of knocking and saw a tired young man.
The two looked at each other in silence, saying nothing more.
Putting the luggage down on the floor, the young man sighed after drinking two bottles of water in one go: "This ti I really offended the teacher... There's no staying anymore, have you thought about where to go?"
Scatena thought for a mont, stroking the heavy cover in his hand, and suggested: "I heard Master Hu is planning to reopen the Dust legacy... How about going to Tianshu?"
"The ferry ticket is a bit expensive."
"I heard they're recruiting over by the Coast, the pay is quite good, and the Chosen One gets extra allowances and bonuses." Scatena proposed: "Earn so money first?"
"Then what are we waiting for?"
The young apprentice laughed, grinned, and picked up the luggage: "Let's get going!"
Amidst the shimring waters, echoes of the setting sail ca from the port.
They disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again.
The workshop that lost two apprentices remained busy, soon with two more fresh young faces, just like all the newbies, eyes naive and full of longing.
Whether coming or going, everyone is filled with anticipation.
Gazing into the future.
.
.
Contrary to expectations, there was no public outcry or angry denunciations; the release of the eighth edition compilation was fervently received, with buyers coming in droves.
Even the steep pricing of over a dozen points did not dampen the enthusiasm of the purchasers.
Ten points, perhaps not much for a craftsman, but a registered apprentice might work a whole year without saving that much... yet after word spreads from one to ten, ten to hundreds, even with doubts, people would team up with companions to pool so points together, buy a set to look through, or even borrow and circulate among each other.
Sadly, buying doesn't equate to learning.
Learning doesn't necessarily an mastering.
The routine folks are still red-eyed, gnawing at the basics in the front, while the truly gifted apprentices, looking at the supplentary parts behind, incomprehensible like divine script, still can't help but glow with excitent.
Not just apprentices, but even craftsn, gazing at the pages of complex, almost incomprehensible supplents, start burning the midnight oil, scratching their heads.
Is this really basic material?
Good news, the old guys finally taught the burning technique.
Bad news, it's indecipherable!
And the vast majority of buyers, when they look at the author column and preface on the front page, flash a look as if an old man is reading a smartphone.
What on earth is this?
Among the editorial team, the second author after Hu Jian's na... wait, who is Ji Jue?!
Is it the one I know?
Damn, how is it really him!
Within the Association, those who were waiting to watch a good show were a bit overwheld, flipping through the entire compilation, hard to understand.
Are you crazy, buddy?
Just a couple of days ago you were at each other's throats, how today are you suddenly sugar and honey?
Going as far as to bow down, actually getting a newbie who hasn't been a craftsman for less than a year to write the preface for you?!
The world suddenly changed too fast.
Everyone felt a bit unable to accept it, as if they missed two episodes and didn't know whom to consult.
In response to such doubts, Hu Jian remained indifferent, offered no reply, submitted a resignation to the Association, and after announcing the Dust legacy revival, he abandoned the status he'd painstakingly built over these years, started packing his bags, preparing to leave Tianshu and return to his hotown.
As for the avalanche of criticisms like 'overambitious', 'misleading young people', 'malicious intentions', he rely sneered, indifferent.
As for the resulting accusations and apprentice resignations, it was none of his business.
Those who hang carrots and draw pies in front to exploit apprentices, only to be burned by a reference book, though the barking sounds pleasant, the face is difficult.
If you wish to make a spectacle, go ahead, consider it my loss if I even take a glance.
No matter how much annoyance or reluctance, few craftsn openly oppose, even having to pinch their nose to say thanks.
This is by far the highest quality compilation publicly issued by the Association in recent years, even arguably the best in decades.
Not only genuinely revealing many secrets and techniques, the lineup is first-rate intimidating.
Even without considering Hu Jian's previous position, just look at the authors of those supplental contents... besides Ji Jue, all masters!
Even Ji Jue, after this event, everyone realized, this fellow really isn't far from becoming a master.
Hu Jian used his life's reputation and face as stepping stones for him, not to ntion the verification from other participants, and the supplentary content openly sharing, from theory to practice, all secret techniques.
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