A Secret Signal's Trail: Father Reunites with Son and Niece, Revealing the Truth to Mother

The cheers for their first Preliminary Match victory still echoed over Heaven Dou City as the Shrek Group returned to the academy beneath the gathering dusk. Lin Zhixia walked at the back of the group, unconsciously rubbing the Star Guidance Bell with her fingertips. When she had left earlier, she had sensed something strange beneath the Old Scholar Tree on the eastern side of the Soul Dueling Arena. When she looked back, she had seen only swaying shadows of branches, yet half a Black Iron Token engraved with the character "Hao" lay on the ground. Along its edge was a wolf-fang pattern she had known since childhood.

It was Tang Hao's personal token. Lin Zhixia's heart jolted, but she calmly tucked it into her sleeve. Using the excuse of buying a bottle of medicine for injuries, she bid the others farewell and hurried toward the outskirts of the city, following the lingering Soul Power aura on the token.

As night deepened, the abandoned post station outside the city had long been covered in vines. Moonlight shone through the broken window lattice, casting mottled patches of light across the floor. The moment Lin Zhixia stepped inside, she heard a familiar deep voice. "Zhi Xia, you came sooner than I expected."

Tang Hao stepped out of the shadows, his black cloak concealing most of his face and revealing only the stubble on his chin. Looking at Lin Zhixia, a trace of gentleness flashed through his eyes. "You've had a hard time taking care of Little San all these years."

"Father!" Lin Zhixia's eyes reddened as she quickly stepped forward, only to stop three paces away from him. She understood Tang Hao's concerns, and she knew how difficult it had been for them to meet like this.

Tang Hao nodded lightly and took