Inside the Thach Anh's inner space, she danced around for a while before remembering that this was her spiritual root, something important in her body, so she let go of it. Luckily, it didn't feel dizzy, so it remained suspended normally.
"This is the first time I've seen a spiritual root react to what I said. Are you really a spiritual root?" - Thach Anh
The spiritual root blinked twice.
"But what kind of spiritual root reacts to my words? My mother always said that spiritual roots are like a part of the body and don't have their own independent will." - Thach Anh
The spiritual root didn't blink; instead, its light seemed to dim. She panicked, thinking her words had upset the spiritual root, and nervously tried to appease it.
"No, no, no, I didn't say anything sensitive to you. I'm truly sorry!" - Thach Anh
The light of the spiritual root flickered continuously, as if it were laughing at her. The child pouted, not expecting to be teased like this.
"You tricked me! I can't believe it, I thought my words had hurt you... Who would have thought you..." - Thach Anh said in a dissatisfied tone.
The spiritual root couldn't speak; if it could, it would probably be gloating at having tricked her.
Suddenly, the spiritual root stirred, emitting red energy. Thach Anh rubbed her eyes, but the spiritual root was still yellow. Perhaps she had misread it, or perhaps...
"Hey, do you have more than one attribute? You're not simply a spiritual root with one elemental attribute, are you?" - Thach Anh
Instead of flickering, the spiritual root began to fly away. Before Thach Anh could answer, she chased after it.
"Wait a minute! You haven't answered me yet!" - Thach Anh
Before she could even start running, she was submerged in water, only managing to catch a glimpse of a spiritual energy emanating from the surface.
Opening her eyes wide, Thach Anh realized she was on a tree branch, startled, she frantically clung to the tree.
"Help! Help me! Aunt! Dad! Mom!" - Thach Anh screamed
Her scream echoed throughout the forest, so loud that even the villa could hear it. Grandpa Hoan heard his granddaughter's scream and took a sip of hot tea, while the man opposite him didn't pick up his teacup to drink.
"You've come all this way, why not have a sip of tea to quench your thirst, Son Lam*?" - Grandpa Hoan
The man opposite him was a middle-aged man younger than Grandpa Hoan, wearing a military suit, his face serious, his eyes fixed elsewhere.
"Aren't you going to change your mind?" - Son Lam
"Brother, once I've decided something, I won't change it. I've spent more than enough on the battlefield year after year." - Grandpa Hoan
"But as long as there's no peace, the war will continue."
"That's because of those stubborn people with insatiable greed." - Grandpa Hoan
The man opposite slammed his hand down on the table, creating a huge tremor that caused the ground beneath them to sink.
"So many people, from old to young, are ready to stand up and go to the battlefield."
"But do those people ever return?" - Grandfather Hoan
"If you don't go, you can send your son..." - Son Lam
Willow branches shot out, surrounding the two of them, forming a tight cage, impenetrable from the inside out. This was one of Grandfather Hoan's magical techniques.
The man in military uniform sighed helplessly.
"Brother Hoan, I respect you, please return and continue to lead us. Among the senior members, you are one of the most outstanding, possessing all the qualities of a captain."
Grandfather Hoan poured another cup of tea.
"I've dedicated more than half my life to fighting, and the rest of my life I only want to enjoy in my old age. But...sigh, it's truly difficult to escape duty." - Grandpa Hoan
"I'm very tired too, but with this constant fighting, sooner or later, peaceful life won't last long." - Son Lam
The willow branches slowly loosened and retracted back into their original positions.
"If you understand that, then why did you still come here to find me? There are many talented people, not just me." - Grandpa Hoan
Hearing this, the man in military uniform sighed helplessly, knowing he couldn't sway the person before him. He then finished his cup of tea in one gulp, put on his military cap with a red ribbon around it and a golden national star.
"Anyway, it's a pleasure to see you again, Hoan brother." - Son Lam
The figure in military uniform left, leaving the man sitting alone in the room, with an invisible weight still pressing down on his shoulders.
Son Lam slowly descended the stairs, glancing at a little girl being led home by her mother. The man's gaze followed the girl, finding her familiar; if he remembered correctly, his old friend had a son, but he seemed to have left home after getting married. And that woman was his son's wife.
Unexpectedly, the little girl resembled both her father and mother so much.
Meanwhile, Thach Anh, after calling for help, was fortunately assisted by her mother.
"I still don't understand how I managed to climb up there, but after meditating, I saw my spiritual essence. It's truly beautiful." - Thach Anh.
"Excellent, you learn quickly." - Thuy.
"And the surprise is that I've completed the task my aunt assigned me. Watch my performance!" - Thach Anh
Holding the piece of metal in her hand, it was rough and ugly, not very smooth, but the edges were very sharp. Thach Anh raised it towards the rock and threw it with all her might. Normally, a child's throw like that would have deflected it. But the piece of metal embedded itself in the rock, not deeply, but enough to pierce it.
"Ta-da!" - Thach Anh
Her mother's eyes widened in astonishment. She turned to look at her little daughter and ran to hug her tightly.
"My daughter is such a clever child." - Thuy
It seemed she had just seen something in her mother's eyes that looked like... fear. Or perhaps she was imagining things.
"Excuse me, may I ask something?" Son Lam
The two of them turned their gaze towards the man in military uniform. Seeing a stranger, Thach Anh immediately hid behind her mother. They had just met family members, and now suddenly a stranger appeared, and moreover, the man didn't seem friendly at all.
"Mr. Son Lam, are you here to meet my father-in-law today?"- Thuy asked.
"Yes, as always, he maintains his own opinions. But that's just his personality, always has been." Son Lam replied.
The man's gaze fell on the little girl hiding.
"Is this your daughter? How old is she?" - Son Lam
"She's almost starting elementary school. She still needs to improve a lot." - Thuy
"That's right, kids these days grow up so fast." - Son Lam
"Your daughter looks so small, but it seems like she has a tough road ahead." - Son Lam mumbled.
"What did you just say?" - Thuy
"Oh, nothing, just talking to myself. I've been so busy lately, so I'm just talking to myself to comfort myself." - Son Lam
After saying that, the man turned and left.
Thach Anh peeked out from behind, watching the man leave, and couldn't help but ask her mother. Seeing her daughter's expression, the mother gently patted her head.
"That's a friend of your grandfather's. He came here to discuss business." - Thuy
Hearing that, she didn't think much further and returned to her excited expression of having successfully seen her spiritual root.
Passing through the gate, Son Lam saw his friend's son walking in the opposite direction. As they passed each other, the man in military uniform stopped and spoke.
"It's been a long time since you've been back, Son. How have you been lately?" - Son Lam
"Same as usual, as long as I'm doing well." - Son
The man ignored the scrutinizing gaze of the man in military uniform and continued walking.
"You know, I've met your wife and daughter. To be honest, you and your wife have given birth to an extraordinary child. I saw her just now; she can use the metal element." - Son Lam
Suddenly, droplets of water rose and gathered into tentacles pointing directly at the man in military uniform, threatening that if he uttered another word, those tentacles would surely...
"You know the consequences, I'm only refraining from harming you because you're my father's friend." - Son
"You're his eldest son; you should have had a brighter future, like your younger sister, for example." - Son Lam
"That's her decision, not mine." - Son
After saying that, he left. The man in military uniform pulled his cap down, concealing his eyes, which held murderous intent and cunning calculations.
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*Sơn Lâm: mean mountains and forests