Old Jack

Biodata

Background / History

Old Jack first encounters Tang Ling after a courtyard suddenly appears on an empty plot at Holy Soul Village's entrance. Though initially suspicious, he accepts Tang Ling's explanation as a traveler and receives ten gold coins for the land; he then spreads word that an important figure has arrived in the village. 6

After Tang Ling demonstrates his power against Spirit Hall, Old Jack becomes notably reverent around Tang Ling's courtyard. 8 Despite this fear, he continues his ordinary village routine, later appearing at the village entrance to smoke and discuss the harvest with other elders. 38

When the village children must undergo martial soul awakening, Old Jack personally leads the group across two mountains to Notting City, finds them lodging, keeps the children together in the city, and handles their registration at the Spirit Hall branch. 18

Tang San's sudden loss of soul power greatly concerns him. Believing that the power may only be hidden rather than gone, Old Jack transfers Holy Soul Village's work-study quota to Tang San and promises to escort him to Notting Academy. 27 He later accompanies Tang San and Xiao Wu to the academy, where he unsuccessfully tries to reason with a hostile gatekeeper before Xiao Wu intervenes. 30

Appearance

An elderly villager with graying hair and a long-used smoking pipe, Old Jack dresses plainly but makes an effort to appear respectable on important occasions. 18

• Has lived for more than sixty years. 19
• Keeps a worn smoking pipe at his waist, described as having been used for thirty years. 18
• Wears simple gray cloth robes; for the awakening trip, he presses and neatly arranges his clothing and hair. 18
• Walks with an unsteady gait when visiting Tang Hao's blacksmith shop. 27

Personality

Old Jack is responsible and attentive toward the children of Holy Soul Village. He treats the martial soul awakening journey as an important occasion, ensures the children are prepared, and guides them through the unfamiliar city. 18

He is humble before authority and social status, bowing to the Spirit Hall registration deacon and trying to placate Notting Academy's gatekeeper despite being insulted. 18 30 However, his concern for Tang San outweighs his caution: he spends a sleepless night considering Tang San's situation and gives him the village's work-study placement because he believes Tang San deserves a future beyond blacksmithing in Holy Soul Village. 27

Relationships

• Tang San — Cares deeply about Tang San's future. He escorts him to the awakening ceremony, worries over his vanished soul power, gives him Holy Soul Village's work-study quota, and takes him to Notting Academy. 18 27 30
• Tang Hao — Fellow Holy Soul Village resident and Tang San's father. Old Jack discusses Tang San's academy prospects with him and seeks his approval for Tang San's enrollment. 27
• Tang Ling — Met Tang Ling upon his arrival in the village and accepted payment for the courtyard plot. After Tang Ling's display of power, Old Jack treats him with heightened reverence. 6 8
• Xiao Wu — Travels with her and Tang San to Notting Academy. He interprets her teasing and physical closeness toward Tang San as concern. 30
• Holy Soul Village children — Serves as their organizer and escort for the Notting City martial soul awakening ceremony. 18

Notable Actions

• Recognized Tang Ling as an unusually important newcomer after witnessing his sudden courtyard and generous payment. 6
• Led eight children from Holy Soul Village to Notting City's Spirit Hall branch for their martial soul awakenings. 18
• Was stunned by Tang San's awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor and Clear Sky Hammer. 19
• Argued that Tang San's soul power might be concealed rather than truly lost. 27
• Reassigned the village's work-study quota to Tang San and personally escorted Tang San and Xiao Wu to Notting Academy. 27 30