Elders' Secret Observation: Knots Untied, Hopes Entrusted to New Life

The warm yellow light of Clear Tea House shone through the window lattice, illuminating the embracing figures inside. Behind the Old Scholar Tree diagonally across from the tea house, three figures stood quietly—it was Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Zhao Wuji, who had secretly followed them. They had worried that Lin Zhixia might be in danger going out alone, but they had never expected to witness the Star Guidance Bell revealing its image. When the Orchid Fragrance drifted beneath the tree, Flender instinctively held back Zhao Wuji, who had wanted to step forward, and signaled with his eyes for him to wait and see.

Yu Xiaogang rolled a fallen scholar tree leaf between his fingertips, his gaze fixed on the faint blue-glowing phantom inside the tea house, his eyes full of complicated emotions. He had met Lin Jingyuan at the Spirit Master Association years ago—at the time, Lin Jingyuan had merely been an up-and-coming Soul Tool maker, holding blueprints for a Soul Tool of his own design and arguing with others in the association hall over the forging process for its components. The determination in his eyes had left a deep impression on Yu Xiaogang. "I never expected Lin Jingyuan and his wife to leave behind Remnant Souls within the Star Guidance Bell," Yu Xiaogang murmured. "This method of using Soul Power to preserve consciousness is considered top-tier even in the field of Soul Tools."

The aura of Flender's transformed Cat Owl martial soul had long since been concealed. Watching Lin Zhixia's reddened but gradually relaxing brow inside the tea house, a relieved smile curled across his lips. "The knot in that girl's heart after all these years has finally been untied by someone. No matter how much we teachers try to counsel her, it can't compare to a single word from her closest family." He recalled how Lin Zhixia would always stroke the Star Guidance Bell during breaks in training, her eyes hiding an unshakable gloom. Now that she could pour out her feelings to the phantoms of her parents, the worry hanging over his heart finally eased.

Zhao Wuji stood behind them with his arms folded, an unusually gentle expression on his rugged face. During a special training session, he had once seen Lin Zhixia practicing archery against a target when the arrowhead accidentally brushed the Star Guidance Bell at her waist. The panic and cherishing in her eyes at that instant had reminded him of his younger sister, who had died young. "Lin Jingyuan and his wife saw things clearly enough," Zhao Wuji said in his deep voice. "They knew it was better for Zhixia to follow Tang Hao than to live clutching onto hatred. With that guy Tang Hao protecting her, anyone from Spirit Hall who wants to lay a hand on her will have to think twice."

From inside came Lin Jingyuan's voice asking Tang Hao to accept his daughter as a goddaughter. A trace of approval flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "Though Tang Hao is solitary by nature, he values loyalty and affection. His agreement wasn't merely because of Lin Jingyuan's request, but because he saw Ah Yin's shadow in Zhixia. His protection will only be more thorough than we imagine." He turned to Flender. "For future team coordination training, we can appropriately incorporate cooperation between Soul Tools and martial souls. With the Mystic Star Wheel in Tang San's hands, its potential goes far beyond auxiliary control."

Flender nodded, his gaze falling upon the starlit wheel inside the tea house. "That's the Lin Family's ancestral Spirit Guiding Device. I heard it can form a Star Shield in critical moments. With it, Tang San's defensive weaknesses can be made up for considerably. Once the break is over, we'll have Tang San study it properly and see whether he can combine it with the control of Blue Silver Grass."

Just then, Lin Jingyuan's voice came from within the tea house, asking Dai Mubai and the others to be more understanding toward Lin Zhixia. Zhao Wuji could not help chuckling softly. "That old couple, even as phantoms, are still worrying about their daughter's little temperament. But it's no wonder. Zhixia may look strong, but she's more sensitive inside than anyone. With Xiao Wu and the others around her, she'll be less likely to overthink things in the future."

Yu Xiaogang watched the scene inside gradually grow livelier—Oscar offered up a sausage, Ma Hongjun scratched his head with a foolish grin, Xiao Wu held Lin Zhixia's hand as she chattered away, Tang San carefully studied the Mystic Star Wheel, while Tang Hao stood nearby, the oppressive aura around him softened considerably. Yu Xiaogang sighed softly. "Zhixia's heart has been untied, and that's a good thing for the entire team. Before, she always wrapped herself in a shell and didn't dare rely on anyone. Now, with her family's entrustment and her companions' company, she can truly let go and unleash the full strength of the Star River Shattering Bow."

Flender patted his shoulder. "All right, since everything's fine, we should head back. Don't let the children discover that we followed them, or Zhixia will be embarrassed." He turned first, the aura of his Cat Owl martial soul completely vanishing as he melted into the night. Zhao Wuji followed as well, but before leaving, he did not forget to glance back at the lights of the tea house, his eyes filled with reassurance.

Yu Xiaogang took one last look at the figures inside. The scholar tree leaf at his fingertips drifted gently to the ground. He knew that with their final Remnant Souls, Lin Jingyuan and his wife had not only untied their daughter's heart, but also paved a broader road for her—with Tang Hao's protection, her companions' company, and the support of the Mystic Star Wheel, Lin Zhixia was no longer the lonely girl who could only move forward while clutching hatred. She was now a soul master who could shine beneath the sunlight.

"The upcoming team coordination training needs to be planned properly," Yu Xiaogang murmured to himself as he turned and followed the other two. In the night, the three figures gradually faded into the distance, while the lights inside the tea house remained warm, illuminating the smiling faces of a group of young men and women, as well as a guardianship and entrustment that transcended life and death. What Lin Zhixia did not know was that her parents' wishes had not only been remembered by the companions at her side, but silently kept in the hearts of the three teachers as well, becoming an important consideration in their future training of Shrek's Eight Monsters—they would make this girl understand that she had never fought alone.