Jack

Biodata

Appearance

Jack is an elderly man who leans on a cane and wears a short brown garment. 1

• Elderly and physically frail. 9
• Usually carries a cane. 1
• Uses a battered carriage to travel between Holy Soul Village and Notting Academy. 9 13

Personality

Jack is compassionate and practical, having cared for the orphaned Ao Yin for years and continuing to provide him food, work, and encouragement after his martial soul awakening. 2 7 He values fairness: when Tang San injures Ao Yin with a stone, Jack reprimands Tang San rather than excusing him. 1

Although easily flustered by conflicts involving the village children, Jack repeatedly tries to de-escalate them. He attempts to stop Ao Yin and Tang San's fight before they destroy the village's Spirit Hall branch, then explains the dispute honestly to Tang Hao. 5 6 His concern extends to Tang San as well; he advises Tang Hao to stop neglecting the boy and find him an academy opportunity the following year. 6

Background and Story Role

Jack serves as Holy Soul Village's village chief during Ao Yin and Tang San's childhood. When Tang San attacks Ao Yin over a bamboo dragonfly, Jack scolds Tang San for using a stone and reminds both children that the following day is their martial soul awakening ceremony. 1

After Ao Yin awakens in the orphan's body, Jack checks on him, gives him a handmade bamboo dragonfly, and urges him to attend the ceremony, hoping that awakening a martial soul will prevent others from bullying him. 2 Jack is astonished when Su Yuntao confirms that Ao Yin possesses Innate Full Soul Power and later tries to persuade him not to refuse Spirit Hall Academy's invitation. 4

When Ao Yin and Tang San fight over Holy Soul Village's sole work-study position at Notting Academy, Jack unsuccessfully attempts to stop their escalating battle. 5 After Tang San admits defeat, Jack awards the position to Ao Yin and promises to personally escort him to Notting Academy in three months. 6

During those three months, Jack feeds Ao Yin and gives him firewood-chopping work so the boy can earn his meals. Ao Yin's growing strength allows him to bring back enormous quantities of wood, leaving Jack stunned by his efficiency. 7 8 Jack later escorts Ao Yin to Notting Academy, where Ao Yin defends him from gatekeepers who mock them as country beggars. 9

Relationships

• Ao Yin — A longstanding caretaker and benefactor to the orphaned Ao Yin. Jack provides food, work, guidance, and personally escorts him to Notting Academy. 2 6 7 9
• Tang San — A child from Holy Soul Village whom Jack reprimands after his attack on Ao Yin. Despite this, Jack remains concerned for Tang San's education and helps send him off after he gains admission to Notting Academy. 1 6 13
• Tang Hao — Jack openly criticizes Tang Hao's drinking and neglect of Tang San, urging him to improve the boy's circumstances and seek an academy placement for him. 6
• Su Yuntao — As village chief, Jack respectfully receives the Spirit Hall deacon when he arrives to conduct the village's martial soul awakening ceremony. 2

Trivia

• Jack gives Ao Yin a larger handmade bamboo dragonfly after the dispute with Tang San over one. 2
• During Ao Yin's confrontation with Yu Xiaogang, Ao Yin gives Jack the copper soul coins collected from spectators drawn to the public spectacle. 11