A Chance Encounter on the Official Road: Star Bells Bind Fate, Foreshadowing an Old Retainer

At daybreak, the Shrek Group's carriage left the academy and headed toward Heaven Dou City. The wheels crushed the gravel on the official road with creaking sounds. Inside the carriage, Xiao Wu leaned by the window, watching the trees flash past and occasionally sharing snacks with Ning Rongrong. Tang San held the Mystic Star Wheel, channeling Soul Power through his fingertips as he studied the patterns of star markings on the disk. Lin Zhixia sat in a corner, gently rubbing the Star Guidance Bell at her waist. It occasionally gave off a faint chime, as though answering her anticipation for Heaven Dou City.

"There seems to be a large rock ahead!" Zhao Wuji, who was driving, suddenly shouted and yanked hard on the reins. But the carriage had too much momentum. The rear wheel still slammed into a protruding rock by the roadside with a bang. The carriage jolted violently, followed by a crisp crack—the wheel on the right had snapped clean off. The carriage immediately tilted, and everyone inside hurriedly braced themselves against the walls to avoid being thrown out.

"What happened?" Flender lifted the carriage curtain. When he saw the broken wheel, his face darkened. "There's no village in front of us or behind us. Where are we supposed to find a new wheel?"

Zhao Wuji jumped down and inspected the wheel, then said helplessly, "The axle's broken. It can't be repaired. We either need to find someone who knows forging to fix it, or replace the wheel entirely."

Lin Zhixia got out as well and looked around. Dense woods lined both sides of the official road, and a small mountain could vaguely be seen in the distance, but there was not a soul in sight. Just as she was about to release her Soul Power to search the surroundings, she suddenly heard hoofbeats from behind, accompanied by the clear ringing of a bell, drawing closer and closer.

Everyone turned around to see a man in a moon-white robe slowly approaching on a white horse. A bronze bell hung from his waist, and he carried a forging toolbox in one hand. He was handsome and gentle in temperament. When he saw the disabled carriage and the group by the roadside, he immediately reined in his horse, dismounted, and walked over. "Have you run into some trouble? Do you need help?"

"You know how to repair carriages?" Zhao Wuji watched him warily. Out in the wilderness, trusting a stranger rashly was hardly safe.

The man smiled and nodded, raising the toolbox in his hand. "I'm a blacksmith. I happened to be passing by and saw that your carriage was damaged. If you don't mind, I can try fixing the axle, though it will take some time." His gaze swept over the group before finally landing on Lin Zhixia. He paused slightly. The Star Guidance Bell at the girl's waist glowed with a faint blue light, and its patterns looked somewhat similar to those of a Soul Tool he remembered.

Lin Zhixia met his gaze, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening. She hurriedly looked away and said softly, "Then we'll have to trouble you. We can pay you."

"It's no trouble. There's no need for payment." As he spoke, the man had already crouched down, opened his toolbox, and taken out a hammer and iron blocks. He began dismantling the broken axle. His movements were practiced, his fingers flying as he struck the iron with precise force. Sweat slid down from his brow, yet it did nothing to disrupt his concentration.

Standing nearby, Lin Zhixia watched his serious expression and could not help asking, "What is your name? Why are you passing through here?"

"My name is Gu Zhinian. I'm heading to Heaven Dou City to deliver some forged Soul Tool components." Gu Zhinian looked up and smiled at her. "What about you? Are you heading to Heaven Dou City too?"

"We're from Shrek Academy. We're going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy for an assessment." Lin Zhixia answered softly. Her fingertips unconsciously touched the Star Guidance Bell, and it gave a soft chime. Gu Zhinian's eyes flickered slightly at the sound, but he did not ask further.

The two chatted idly, moving from forging techniques to the customs of Heaven Dou City. When Gu Zhinian spoke of the Soul Tool markets in Heaven Dou City, his eyes were filled with longing. When Lin Zhixia mentioned her Star River Shattering Bow, he could accurately point out the key aspects of forging arrows. Before they realized it, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had quietly lifted the carriage curtain and watched the two chatting happily by the road, mischievous smiles curling across their lips.

"Look at Zhi Xia and Young Master Gu. They really get along well." Ning Rongrong poked Xiao Wu's arm and teased in a low voice. "The way Zhi Xia looked at him just now, her eyes were practically sparkling!"

Xiao Wu nodded with a grin. "Exactly! Young Master Gu is handsome, knows how to repair carriages, and understands Soul Tools. He's such a good match for Zhi Xia!"

Though they spoke quietly, Tang San still heard them. He looked out the window and saw the rare, relaxed smile on Lin Zhixia's face. A trace of relief flashed through his eyes. Ever since the projections of her parents had vanished, although Lin Zhixia had untangled the knot in her heart, she had rarely laughed and chatted so freely.

Not long after, Gu Zhinian repaired the axle, reattached the wheel to the carriage, and clapped his hands. "Done. I reinforced the axle, so there shouldn't be any problems for the rest of the journey."

Lin Zhixia quickly thanked him. "Thank you, Young Master Gu. Without you, we don't know how long we would have had to wait here."

Gu Zhinian looked at her and suddenly asked, "Miss Lin, is the Star Guidance Bell at your waist something from the Lin Family?"

Lin Zhixia froze and instinctively tightened her grip on the bell. "How do you know? My mother left it to me."

A complicated expression flashed through Gu Zhinian's eyes. He said softly, "I was once an old retainer of your father, Mister Lin Jingyuan. Back then, in the Soul Engineer workshop, I helped him forge Soul Tool components. I saw Mister Lin's Star Guidance Bell once. The star patterns on it were exactly the same as yours."

His words stunned everyone. Flender immediately stepped forward. "You were one of Lin Jingyuan's old retainers? Then do you know about how Spirit Hall persecuted the Lin Family back then?"

Gu Zhinian nodded, his tone heavy. "I know. When it happened, I had just gone elsewhere to deliver components. By the time I returned, the workshop had already been burned down, and Mister Lin and his wife..." He paused and looked at Lin Zhixia. "All these years, I've been searching for Miss Lin's whereabouts. I never expected to meet you here."

Lin Zhixia's eyes instantly reddened. She had never expected to encounter one of her father's old retainers. "Brother Gu, do you know why Spirit Hall targeted my father back then?"

"I don't know the exact reason, but I remember that Mister Lin was researching a device capable of countering Spirit Hall's Soul Tools. Perhaps that was why Spirit Hall set its sights on him." Gu Zhinian said, "I'm going to Heaven Dou City this time to gather more information about Spirit Hall as well, to see whether I can avenge Mr. and Mrs. Lin."

Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a look, both seeing the delight in the other's eyes. Gu Zhinian was not only one of Lin Jingyuan's old retainers, but also knowledgeable about Soul Tools. To them, he was undoubtedly another valuable ally.

"Young Master Gu, since we're headed in the same direction, why not travel to Heaven Dou City together?" Ning Rongrong suggested with a smile, her eyes shifting between Lin Zhixia and Gu Zhinian. "We'll have company on the road, and we can talk more about what happened back then."

Gu Zhinian nodded. "Sure. I also want to learn more about Miss Lin's life these past years."

The carriage set off again. Gu Zhinian rode his white horse alongside it, while Lin Zhixia sat by the window and occasionally exchanged a few words with him. Sunlight fell over the two of them, creating a warm atmosphere. Ning Rongrong leaned close to Lin Zhixia and teased softly, "Zhi Xia, look how attentive Young Master Gu is toward you. Maybe..."

Lin Zhixia's cheeks instantly flushed, and she hurriedly pushed her away. "Don't talk nonsense! Brother Gu was my father's old retainer. I only see him as an older brother."

Yet she knew it herself. While Gu Zhinian had been repairing the carriage, her gaze had kept following him. When she learned he was her father's old retainer, there had been more than surprise in her heart—there was also an indescribable flutter. Perhaps from the moment Gu Zhinian appeared, some things had already become different.

The carriage continued onward. The rising sun dyed the official road gold. Lin Zhixia looked at Gu Zhinian beside her, then touched the Star Guidance Bell at her waist and thought silently, Father, Mother, do you see this? I met one of your old retainers. I'm one step closer to the truth. Tang San looked at the Mystic Star Wheel in his hand and also realized that this journey to Heaven Dou City was not merely for the Elite Competition assessment. Perhaps it would uncover even more secrets about the Lin Family.