Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan entered the old woman's house and immediately noticed how humble the household was.
The interior was simple—one bedroom, a central hall, and a combined kitchen-dining area. The furnishings were modest yet very clean. Apart from a table, chairs, and a cabinet, there was only an old-fashioned pendulum clock.
"Granny, what's your surname? Do you live here alone?" Zhu Ziyang glanced around the house as Jiang Nannan gently asked.
"My surname is Yang. I have a little granddaughter. She's asleep," the old woman replied as she walked to the cabinet and began rummaging through it.
"What about your son and daughter-in-law? Are they not home?" Jiang Nannan asked instinctively.
"My son died. My daughter-in-law followed him soon after," the old woman said calmly, as if she were stating something completely ordinary.
"Ah…" Jiang Nannan immediately looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, granny."
"It's alright. I've grown used to it," the old woman replied. Her aged face showed no emotion—it was as wooden as a carving.
"Granny, what's the name of this village? It looks like there aren't many people left," Zhu Ziyang asked, smoothly changing the subject.
"This village is called Zhangyang Village. It's under the jurisdiction of Viscount Notting of Hetian Town," the old woman answered with a flat tone. "The rest of the villagers have all moved away."
"They moved away?" Jiang Nannan tilted her head, puzzled. "Why would they move?"
"If they didn't, their children couldn't awaken their martial souls," the old woman said at last with a touch of emotion—bitterness, struggle, and helpless despair laced her voice.
"Why?" Jiang Nannan couldn't understand. "Doesn't Falan City have a Soul Master Association?"
"Awakening at the Soul Master Association requires fifty gold soul coins," Zhu Ziyang answered for the old woman, his expression contemplative.
He didn't say everything aloud, but Jiang Nannan quickly grasped the truth. For a poor village like this, fifty gold soul coins could represent a family's entire life savings.
The Soul Master Association, established by the empires after the fall of the Spirit Hall, had taken over all soul master-related affairs, including awakening. But after ten thousand years, these associations had largely fallen into the hands of local nobility—a terrible reality for commoners. Villages like Zhangyang existed across all three empires.
"You're right," the old woman said after a pause. "When the old viscount was alive, he would send soul masters every year to help the children awaken their martial souls for free. But now, I haven't seen a soul master from the Viscount's estate in over ten years."
"These days, anyone who doesn't want to sell themselves to the noble houses must move away to give their children a chance. Those left behind are just us old folk and children who haven't awakened their martial souls yet. What future do we have..." Her voice trailed off, and then she caught herself. "Forgive this old woman for rambling on."
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan remained silent.
This was the harsh truth of the current age for ordinary people.
In this world, martial soul awakening had become the domain of the nobility. Commoners had only two choices: pay fifty gold soul coins at the Soul Master Association in any major city, or sell themselves to a noble house, where nobles would awaken their servants' martial souls.
There were rare exceptions—kind-hearted high-ranking soul masters who awakened souls as they traveled. But nobles like Anyang City's Lord Hong Zhen were few and far between.
This was a rigidly stratified society, where commoners were almost entirely shut out, left only with a sliver of opportunity that few could even reach.
Zhu Ziyang suddenly felt a deep sorrow, though he wasn't sure where the sadness came from.
The old woman found a key in the cabinet and moved toward the locked bedroom, saying softly, "You can rest in this room tonight."
"Thank you, and sorry to trouble you," Zhu Ziyang replied. His face was calm, but his eyes were dark and unreadable, lost in thought.
"This way, please," the old woman said as she opened the door and led them inside with an oil lamp.
The bedroom was decorated in festive red. The bed was draped with red curtains, and a large "Double Happiness" character was pasted above the dressing table.
Jiang Nannan's cheeks flushed slightly at the sight.
"This was my son's wedding room. They only stayed here one night before never returning," the old woman said while lighting a red candle. "Please make do."
"Alright, thank you," Zhu Ziyang replied. He might feel pity for others, but he wasn't the type to put on a false display of morality.
"I'll leave you to rest, then," the old woman said, her tone always respectful and distant, as if she'd realized who these two really were.
"Good night, granny," Jiang Nannan said softly.
The old woman closed the door behind her.
"Let's sleep. We've got a long road ahead tomorrow," Zhu Ziyang said.
"Mm." Jiang Nannan nodded, folded the bedding on the bed, and laid out her own from their luggage.
The two of them slept fully dressed.
The night passed quietly.
——
The next morning, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan stepped out to find the old woman already awake.
Beside her stood a timid little girl, four or five years old, peeking curiously at the strangers.
"Granny, you're up so early!" Jiang Nannan greeted cheerfully. She smiled and waved at the girl. "This must be your granddaughter. She's adorable!"
"Can't sleep much at my age," the old woman replied. But at the mention of her granddaughter, a rare warmth appeared on her face. Looking down at the little girl, she said, "Yes, Nannan, greet our guests."
"Hello…" the little girl said shyly.
Jiang Nannan smiled, crouching down to gently ruffle the girl's hair. "Your name is Nannan? That's just like mine—my name is Nannan too!"
"Really?!" the little girl exclaimed in surprise, her eyes lighting up with affection.
"Honored guests..." the old woman hesitated.
"Granny, do you need our help?" Zhu Ziyang asked, noticing her hesitation.
"Well…" The old woman looked at them hopefully. "Are you soul masters?"
"Yes," Zhu Ziyang nodded. He already had a guess about what she was going to say.
"Wonderful! That's wonderful!" The old woman's face was full of hope and desperation. "Could I beg a favor of you? If you ever pass through here again, could you help my poor little granddaughter awaken her martial soul?"
Zhu Ziyang had guessed correctly. He didn't answer right away.
Seeing his silence, the old woman grew anxious, but didn't dare speak louder. She was afraid of offending him, and could only bow lower in supplication.
"She lost her parents when she was still a baby. I'm old—I don't know how much longer I'll be around. But if she can awaken a martial soul, at least she'll have a chance to survive…"
"That's enough, granny. You don't have to say more," Zhu Ziyang interrupted gently, his voice calm.
The old woman froze, her face going pale. She thought she had offended him.
But Zhu Ziyang's next words brought color rushing back to her face.
"I promise you, granny," he said quietly, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. As a child of a commoner family himself, he felt it was his responsibility to do something.
"This… this…" The old woman was overjoyed. She trembled, about to kneel in gratitude, but Jiang Nannan rushed to stop her.
"Granny, I can promise you this," Zhu Ziyang continued. "One year from now, I will return. When I do, gather the other children from the village. I'll help them all awaken their martial souls."
"Thank you! Thank you!" the old woman cried, overwhelmed. To her, this promise—no matter how simply spoken—was everything.
With a slightly heavy heart, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan left Zhangyang Village.
(End of Chapter)
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