Evelyn Ross was about to turn twenty-three.
Joseph Cortez had already sent people to San Francisco to bring her back to New York.
He wanted everyone to meet the legendary First Senior Sister.
He was particularly fond of this disciple.
Joseph Cortez had always been meticulous.
Since becoming the sect leader, he had been extremely cautious about accepting disciples.
It concerned the succession of the next Cortez Sect leader.
He personally examined the bone structures of all the children in his family, his own son, and every child in New York who came seeking martial arts training.
Yet, not a single one met his standards.
Years passed like this.
He adhered to the principle of quality over quantity.
He refused to accept a disciple easily.
As a result, Ethan Valentine, the eldest disciple of his second junior brother, became the popular candidate.
Everyone speculated that Ethan Valentine might marry into the Cortez family.
He would inherit the Cortez Sect and become the new leader.
Joseph Cortez had also considered this idea.
But it was a last resort.
If he had a choice, he would find the best candidate in the world.
He began traveling across the country to find the most suitable successor.
Seven years ago, he arrived in San Francisco.
That day in the park, he was observing the children running and playing.
But his attention was drawn to a little girl selling balloons.
The girl seemed to have just finished school.
She arrived late and had to sell balloons from a corner.
Other vendors bullied her.
They forced her to sit down, complaining that she was blocking the light.
The girl didn't have a stool.
She simply assumed a horse stance and stood there.
Joseph Cortez found it amusing.
Any martial artist knew this stance was extremely taxing.
He wanted to see how long the girl could hold it.
An hour passed... then two hours...
The girl maintained that half-squat for three and a half hours!
Even more astonishing, she showed no signs of strain.
Joseph Cortez immediately examined her bone structure.
The moment he did, he was captivated by Evelyn Ross.
It was like a starving wolf seeing meat.
That led to him pestering her later.
He insisted on teaching her martial arts and forcing her to call him master.
It was only later that he learned this girl had a formidable mother.
She had been beaten and scolded since childhood.
Her resilience and strong physique were forged through hardship.
Even though the child was fifteen, long-term malnutrition made her physical age only about ten.
This coincidentally meant she hadn't missed the best period for martial arts training.
An ordinary child couldn't have grown up in such extreme conditions.
Her neglectful mother had, unintentionally, done one good thing.
Joseph Cortez, delighted by her talent, wanted her to drop out of school and follow him.
But Evelyn Ross insisted on continuing her education.
Joseph Cortez had no choice but to stay in San Francisco for her.
At first, she practiced for one hour a day.
Then it became two hours.
In the end, Evelyn Ross actually defeated him!
Joseph Cortez had nothing left to teach.
He decided to leave.
He told her he would bring her back to New York after she graduated from university, when she turned twenty-three.
How could the Cortez Sect's First Senior Sister remain outside?
After returning to the Cortez Sect, he mentioned this to his second junior brother and the disciples.
From then on, everyone eagerly awaited the First Senior Sister's return at twenty-three!
Finally, this day arrived.
Joseph Cortez was tied up with sect affairs and couldn't go personally.
He sent people to fetch her.
But the people he sent returned and told him that First Senior Sister Evelyn Ross, also Mrs. Vance, had drowned!!
Joseph Cortez couldn't believe it.
He went to San Francisco himself.
He indeed saw her tombstone and the photo on it.
It was his beloved disciple!
Joseph Cortez was devastated.
He returned to New York deeply distressed.
He shut himself in his room, depressed.
Now, the entire Cortez Sect still didn't know about the First Senior Sister's accident...
He didn't dare imagine the grief that would sweep through the Cortez Sect if this news got out!
He looked at the photo of him and Evelyn Ross on his phone.
The girl in the picture was aloof and stunning.
Her voice and smile felt so vivid, making his eyes redden.
His good disciple probably never knew, even in death, that she was the First Senior Sister of Cortez Sect, the largest martial arts sect in the country.
She never knew how important she was to the Cortez Sect!
Thinking of this, Joseph Cortez clutched his chest again.