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

Jack is highly appreciative of rare educational opportunities for the village children. He earnestly urges Ao Yin to accept Spirit Hall Academy's invitation and later tries to persuade him to become Yu Xiaogang's disciple, believing both prospects would benefit the boy's future. 4 10 He is likewise relieved when Tang San ultimately gains admission to Notting Academy through Tang Hao's recommendation letter and Yu Xiaogang's support. 12 13

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

Initially, after Ao Yin refuses Spirit Hall Academy's invitation, Jack intends to assign Holy Soul Village's sole Notting Academy work-study position to Tang San. Ao Yin then challenges Tang San for the position, prompting the two boys to fight. 4 5 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

Following the confrontation at the academy gates, Jack explains the gatekeepers' misconduct to Yu Xiaogang and is reassured when Yu verifies Ao Yin's enrollment qualification and expels the guards. Jack is distressed when Ao Yin rejects Yu Xiaogang's offer of discipleship and attempts to convince him not to discard another valuable opportunity. 10 During Ao Yin's public challenge to Yu Xiaogang, Jack collects the copper soul coins thrown by spectators at Ao Yin's direction. 11

Jack encounters Tang San at Notting Academy when Tang San arrives with Tang Hao's recommendation letter. Initially believing Tang San has been badly affected by losing the work-study position, Jack worries about his condition, but he is relieved after learning that Tang San can enroll through Yu Xiaogang. He then returns alone to Holy Soul Village in his battered carriage. 12 13

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. He repeatedly encourages Ao Yin to pursue opportunities at Spirit Hall Academy and under Yu Xiaogang. 2 4 6 7 9 10
• 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 through Tang Hao's recommendation letter. 1 6 12 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. Jack is overjoyed by Su Yuntao's confirmation of Ao Yin's Innate Full Soul Power and supports his invitation for Ao Yin to attend Spirit Hall Academy. 2 4
• Yu Xiaogang — Jack meets Notting Academy's Master during Ao Yin's enrollment dispute. He explains the gatekeepers' actions to Yu and respects his decision to validate Ao Yin's credentials, though he unsuccessfully urges Ao Yin to accept Yu as his teacher. 10

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
• Jack is so worried when Tang San arrives at Notting Academy without the village's work-study position that he checks the boy's forehead and pulse, fearing Ao Yin's earlier beating had harmed him. 12