After a while, Uncle Jack called Arthur and Jing Liu to eat first since it was already noon. The cool spring breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of flowers from the trees in the front yard. Uncle Jack's house was surrounded by a small garden with green grass and pastel-colored flowers beginning to bloom. Inside, the wooden table was simply set: warm, fragrant soup, grilled fish with crispy, golden-brown skin releasing a savory charcoal aroma, and steaming white rice.
Uncle Jack told the children playing in the garden to come inside and rest. But just as Arthur and Jing Liu were about to sit down, there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me, Uncle! Someone's looking for you!" shouted a child who had been playing in the garden, their voice still cheerful though slightly out of breath.
Uncle Jack furrowed his brow and walked to the door. As soon as it opened, he saw Su Jin standing on the threshold—the man who had previously helped awaken Arthur's martial spirit. His face looked a bit more tired than their last meeting, but his smile remained friendly.
"Benefactor Su Jin? Please, come in. What perfect timing—we were just about to eat. There's plenty of my homemade hot soup," Uncle Jack said, opening the door wide.
"No need to go to any trouble, sir. Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt your meal. I just need to say something quickly," Su Jin replied politely, though his stomach rumbled slightly at the tempting aroma of the food. The scent of chicken soup with ginger and scallions, plus grilled fish with crispy skin and tender flesh, seemed to dance in the air.
Just as Su Jin was about to explain his purpose, Arthur came out from inside. "Who is it, Uncle Jack?" he asked. The moment he saw Su Jin, Arthur briefly thought the man had come to recruit him for the Spirit Hall. But that assumption was quickly dismissed.
"Oh, you're that boy from before. You look healthier and taller. Good thing you're here—I can give this to you directly," Su Jin said, pulling a token from inside his robe. The token was made of shiny, dark metal with a single shimmering symbol—just one, not two or three like ordinary tokens.
"What kind of token is this, sir? Did you already register me with the Spirit Hall?" Arthur took the token, confused.
"Not that. This is a permit to enter the Spirit Hunting Forest without time limits. However, it can only be used once," Su Jin answered calmly.
"What? But... I still don't understand. Why give something so valuable to me?" Arthur furrowed his brow, his fingers touching the symbol, which felt warm.
"Consider it an investment. The truth is, I've been assigned to a rather dangerous area. I have a younger sister—my only family. I'm not asking you to protect her, but... if she ever needs help in the future, please assist her. Don't refuse my request," Su Jin said frankly, then bowed his head slightly.
"You do know I'm just a child, right? What if I take this token and don't do what you're asking in the future?" Arthur stared into Su Jin's eyes with a sharpness beyond his years.
Su Jin stared back without blinking. "I'm confident you won't be like that. Do you think I made this decision without careful thought? I've heard news from the academy—what happened after you enrolled, how you managed to unite the part-time students and made the academy change its teaching methods. You're no ordinary child, Arthur."
The air between them grew tense, but not from hostility. It was more from unspoken mutual respect.
Just as the two were locked in a stare, Jing Liu's voice suddenly exploded from inside: "WHAT'S TAKING YOU SO LONG?! There's a sweet, starving girl out here!" she shouted irritably, but the moment she saw the stranger at the door, she froze. Her formerly pouty face turned bright red with embarrassment.
Uncle Jack laughed heartily. "See? You've embarrassed the little girl. Come on, Su Jin, eat first. It'd be a shame to have come all this way only to leave on an empty stomach."
After much insistence, Su Jin finally sat down in an empty chair. "Haha, sorry for disturbing your meal," he said with an awkward smile.
At first, the atmosphere was a bit stiff. Jing Liu was still embarrassed, eating only small bites. But once she tasted Uncle Jack's warm soup—savory broth with sweet chunks of carrot and tender chicken—her face lit up. The grilled fish was also special: a marinade of soy sauce, garlic, and a touch of honey perfectly absorbed, with soft white flesh and slightly charred edges. She began eating heartily.
"This is so delicious, Uncle!" Jing Liu exclaimed without realizing it, all her shyness gone.
Uncle Jack winked. "Eat up, both of you. You too, Su Jin—you need to eat."
Slowly, Su Jin began to enjoy the meal. The scent of ginger from the warm soup blended with the woody aroma from the kitchen, while the spring breeze carried flower petals in through the open window. Occasionally, birds could be heard outside.
After eating, Arthur wiped his mouth and asked seriously, "So, Uncle Su Jin, where are you being transferred? What will you do there?"
Su Jin straightened up. His previously relaxed face turned serious, his gaze looking far out the window, into the distance.
"I'm going to..."
TO BE CONTINUED...