After a long, long while, Lou Gao slowly opened his eyes.
The pain, struggle, and confusion in his gaze receded like the tide, finally settling into a near-tragic resolve.
It was as if an invisible mountain had collapsed in his heart, yet a new pillar had risen resiliently from the ruins.
Lou Gao took a deep, deep breath, the sound long and heavy, as if he were drawing all the iron scent of Gengxin City into his lungs.
He looked at Lin Xia, his gaze complex beyond measure—relief, sentiment, helplessness but in the end, only resoluteness remained.
"…Perhaps,"
Lou Gao's voice was unusually hoarse, yet carried the strength of one burning bridges and determined to see it through.
"Perhaps… you are right."
He lifted his rough, calloused hand and pressed it heavily on Lin Xia's shoulder. The weight was like a mountain, silently conveying trust and responsibility.
"For the Association… for those thousands of mouths that rely on this trade to survive…"
Lou Gao's gaze passed over Lin Xia, toward the front yard of the Association, as if piercing through walls to see the anxious craftsmen.
"This old body, this little reputation, and… these bonds of brotherhood…"
His voice sank low, carrying a barely perceptible tremor, then surged high, firm and unyielding.
"None of it matters anymore!"
The last words, "none of it matters anymore," carried both the exhaustion of laying down a thousand-pound burden and the determination of one who had burned all bridges.
The complex light in his eyes finally settled into a calmness Lin Xia had never seen before, weighed down by the heavy responsibility he bore.
Lin Xia watched his teacher's slightly hunched but still mountain-like posture and felt his throat tighten.
He wanted to tell Lou Gao that perhaps things were not as tragic or complicated as he imagined—that joining the Martial Soul Hall to seek protection was not betrayal, but a way to ensure the survival of many more.
But in the end, Lin Xia did not speak.
He understood that from Lou Gao's position—bearing loyalty to Taitan, responsibility for hundreds of Association members, and decades of resisting local Martial Soul Hall forces—making this decision was tantamount to tearing apart the principles he had long upheld. The inner torment and the sacrifice were far heavier than Lin Xia could imagine.
This was not a simple "cooperation," but an active step into a once-hostile system, for the sake of survival and the future.
Lou Gao seemed to sense the weight and understanding in Lin Xia's gaze. He turned around, forcing a reassuring smile onto his face, and patted Lin Xia's shoulder firmly, as if transferring his strength.
"All right, Xia."
His voice regained its usual volume, though still carrying a faint hoarseness.
"Don't look at your teacher with that expression. The sky won't fall! I'm not old and foolish—I know what must be done."
He paused, his gaze resolute and full of expectation.
"I will personally write the letter and send Silong with my token and the Association's resolution, secretly traveling to Martial Soul City to present it directly to His Holiness the Pope."
"We will explain our intentions, as well as… the current situation of the Martial Soul Hall in Gengxin City. The news of the Blacksmith Association joining the Martial Soul Hall system will be officially announced only after the Pope's approval."
His gaze fell on Lin Xia, the expectation almost tangible.
"What you need to do now is focus on your growth! Your talent, and your Larvitar, are the true hope and backbone of our Association's future! Don't let these troubling matters distract you."
Lou Gao's tone shifted, and a slight smile of relief and care appeared on his face, showing the warmth of a master.
"Also, I have good news. The people sent to track the Yellow Sandstorm Rats have returned, confirming the locations of several active rat colonies, as well as the general activity range of a thousand-year-old leader. Once I finish arranging the most urgent Martial Soul Hall contacts, I will personally take you to hunt their Souls!"
"Yellow Sandstorm Rats!"
Lin Xia's eyes lit up instantly, like stars igniting in the dark night!
The gloom that had clouded his mind over the past few days was instantly dispelled by this sudden, joyous news.
Could his multi-trait Soul Ring plan—the arduous, full-of-potential path—finally take its first substantial step?
A wave of excitement and gratitude surged uncontrollably in his heart.
Lin Xia immediately calmed himself, bowing deeply to Lou Gao, his voice filled with genuine excitement.
"Thank you for your efforts, Teacher!"
"All right, all right, no need to be so formal with your teacher!"
Lou Gao waved his hand carelessly, his face showing the natural, hearty demeanor he always carried.
"You are my disciple. Helping you obtain the most suitable Soul Rings is my duty! Now, you prepare yourself and adjust your condition. Once I finish handling the urgent matters at hand, we will depart!"
After speaking, Lou Gao once again patted Lin Xia's shoulder heavily, as if solidifying his promise. Then he said no more, turning and striding out of the backyard. His figure, though carrying a hint of desperate determination, also seemed relieved of the long-borne heavy burden, his steps slightly lighter.
The next morning.
When the first rays of sunlight, tinged with the metallic scent of Gengxin City, spread across the backyard of the Blacksmith Association, Lou Gao's figure appeared once more before Lin Xia.
Unlike yesterday's tense and oppressive mood, Lou Gao now looked visibly relaxed. Though a trace of fatigue lingered in his brow, his spirit was noticeably lighter, and the corners of his mouth carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile—a sense of relief now that things had begun to fall into place.
"Teacher! You're here!"
Lin Xia had already risen, and Larvitar, unusually, was not gnawing on a piece of ore, but stood alert at his feet. Its gray-green scales glimmered faintly in the morning light, while subtle purple arcs of electricity flickered around its body—residual Lightning energy from its recent "feast" on the Purple Lightning Iron that had yet to be fully absorbed.
"Hm,"
Lou Gao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant pair. Satisfaction deepened in his eyes as he asked directly.
"How's your condition? Ready to depart?"
"Ready anytime!"
Lin Xia's voice was filled with fighting spirit.
Lou Gao, seeing the uncontainable excitement and eagerness in Lin Xia's eyes, could not help but smile.
"Silong took my personally written letter and token last night and has secretly departed for Martial Soul City under the escort of several skilled experts. What happens next will be decided by the Pope. Now, it's time for our main task, you and I!"
Lin Xia's heart stirred at these words.
"Teacher… you've already sent people to the Martial Soul Hall?"
"Yes."
Lou Gao nodded firmly. He did not elaborate on the details, but the expression of relief on his face spoke volumes about his confidence in the arrangement.
"All right. For now, set aside the Martial Soul Hall matter. Focus your mind on the task at hand!"
Lou Gao then pulled a seemingly inconspicuous storage Soul Device from his waist and produced a finely drawn map of the Gengxin City surrounding mines and wasteland terrain. He pointed to a region circled in red.
"The Yellow Sandstorm Rat colony is seventy miles southwest of the city, deep within the vast shifting sands beside a small, abandoned Red Iron mine that has been out of use for many years!"
"Our people have confirmed repeatedly within this area are several thousand-year-old Yellow Sandstorm Rats and a dozen or so hundred-year-old Yellow Sandstorm Rats. They are perfectly suited to be your first Soul Ring!"
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