The gentle, jade-green light emanating from the Lac bird pottery shard illuminated four faces, each bearing a completely different expression. The light was not blinding; rather, it was warm and brimming with life-force, like the full moon of the mid-autumn festival—a silent blessing echoing from ancient times.
The resonance between the three Lac Viet relics—the Sun Essence Guardian shard, the Shamanic Map, and the Lac bird token—lasted for only a few breaths before slowly fading away. The pottery shard in Lam Vy's hand returned to its original, rustic and weathered appearance.
Yet, the shock it left behind remained, stirring the tranquil depths of everyone's hearts.
"The ancestors have protected us! The ancestors have truly protected us!" The elderly protector, Trinh Cong, was the first to break the silence. His voice trembled, and his aged eyes grew red, brimming with tears. He no longer looked at Tran Kien with the gaze of someone indebted, but with the eyes of a devout believer witnessing a divine manifestation. "The Princess Consort's dying words... were true! The Chosen One... has truly appeared!"
Lam Vy was equally stunned. She stared blankly at Tran Kien, then looked down at the shard in her hands. Her small hands tightened around her mother's token. The fear and confusion following the pursuit seemed to have dissipated significantly, replaced by a flicker of hope and a powerful, newly kindled trust. The youth before her, whom she had only recently met and whose origins she had been curious about, turned out to be the person whose destiny was entwined with hers.
Tran Kien was the most bewildered of all. He withdrew his hand, the warmth from the resonance of the three relics still lingering in his palm. He did not understand. He was merely an ordinary youth from Fallen Leaf Town who had stumbled upon a few karmic chances. How had he suddenly become the "Chosen One"? Why was he suddenly burdened with the responsibility of protecting a noble young lady?
The chessboard of his life was supposed to be about reclaiming the legacy and reviving the Lac Viet culture. But now, a fragile yet vital "King" piece had suddenly appeared on that board, forcing him to reconsider every move.
"Little boy, it seems your journey to the Indigo Capital has gained an additional burden, has it not?"
Uncle Sword's voice rang out, pulling Tran Kien from his chaotic thoughts. The middle-aged man remained seated at the bow, but his gaze toward the boy held a deeper meaning—a mix of evaluation, scrutiny, and a hint of expectation.
"Senior..." Tran Kien hesitated. "Junior does not understand. Why me?"
"I do not know either," Uncle Sword shook his head. "Destiny, or what we call 'Heaven's Will,' is not something we mortals can easily see through. Perhaps it is because you carry the pure Lac Viet bloodline. Perhaps it is because your will and temperament align with the ancestral legacy. Or perhaps, quite simply, it is because you appeared at the right time and the right place. But whatever the reason, the truth remains. The token has recognized its master. You are the one the Princess Consort trusted and entrusted."
He paused, his voice becoming more solemn. "Tran Kien, I know this is sudden for you. You have the right to refuse. If you do not wish to be embroiled in the power struggles of the capital, I can take you to a safe ferry crossing and provide you with enough travel funds to reach the Indigo Capital alone. Our Dingguo Ducal Estate will remember and repay the debt of saving the Young Lady later. Your path is yours to choose."
This was a crossroads. One path led to a solitary, free existence with a single goal of seeking the legacy. The other path was fraught with peril, bound by responsibility, and forced a confrontation with gargantuan political forces he had never known.
Tran Kien remained silent. He looked at Trinh Cong and saw the plea and entrustment in the old protector's eyes. He looked at Lam Vy and saw the trust and a faint, fragile reliance in her large, round eyes. She had lost her father and mother and was fleeing from the pursuit of her own kin. Suddenly, he saw a reflection of himself in her—equally lonely, equally helpless, and equally yearning for a place to belong.
He tightened his grip on the Sun Essence Guardian shard in his chest, recalling its meaning: "Guardian." The ancestral legacy was not just power; it was a responsibility. The responsibility to protect. To protect the weak, to protect the bloodline, and to protect what truly belonged to them.
If he turned his back today, would he still be worthy of inheriting this legacy?
After a long silence, Tran Kien raised his head. The hesitation in his eyes had completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented resolve.
"Uncle Sword," he said, his voice no longer that of a youth, but of a man making a solemn vow. "I am not one to abandon companions mid-way. Since we are in the same boat, we shall reach the destination together. On the road to the Indigo Capital, I will journey with them."
He turned to look at Lam Vy. "Protecting you is not because of any dying wish. It is because you are my friend. I have saved you once; I will not let you fall into danger a second time."
Lam Vy froze, her eyes suddenly reddening. Since her parents passed away, this was the first time someone who was not a relative had spoken such firm and heartwarming words to her.
Trinh Cong let out a sigh of relief and then solemnly bowed deeply to Tran Kien.
Uncle Sword watched the scene and finally burst into hearty laughter, his voice echoing across the river surface.
"Good! 'In the same boat'—well said! Tran Kien, you have not disappointed me! Fine, since you have decided so, from now on, we are one family."
He stood up and walked toward the cabin. "The journey to the Indigo Capital is long. Though Ly Thuan was scared off, the Marquis of Vinh An will certainly not give up so easily. The road ahead will only grow more dangerous. For the next few days, stay on this boat to rest and recover. Trinh Cong, tend to your wounds. Lam Vy, tell Tran Kien what you know about your mother's token. As for you, Tran Kien..."
Uncle Sword looked at him with a profound gaze. "Do you wish to see what the true swordplay of our Dingguo Ducal Estate looks like?"