"Auntie, perhaps you don't need to be so troubled. I have a way to determine whether Ye Lingling's grandfather is alive or dead."
"Really?" Ye Lingling's previously dim eyes instantly lit up, as if she had found a glimmer of hope in endless darkness. She instinctively reached out toward that light.
In that moment, she suddenly realized her impropriety and quickly withdrew her hand. Her fair cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, not daring to look directly at Gu Feng.
As a member of the Ye family, she understood the weight of what her mother had just said.
Ye Qingqiu furrowed her brows. "Xiao Feng, are you sure? This is no small matter."
If anyone else had said this, she would have scoffed, as a method to directly determine life or death was unheard of.
But standing before her was the grandson of Bone Douluo, a figure of great renown in the soul master world. How could his grandson spout nonsense?
Even if it was a gamble, she was willing to take the chance.
Ye Qingqiu gritted her teeth and said, "Xiao Feng, are you certain what you're saying is true? Please don't deceive me. If it's true, I'm willing to give you that bottle of Spring of Life for free."
Hearing this, Gu Feng's face lit up with joy, and he smiled. "Of course it's true. You can give me an item that carries his aura, and I can help you determine it right now."
"Alright!" Ye Qingqiu turned and went back to her room, returning with a bracelet in hand. She handed it to Gu Feng. "This is a bracelet that Lingling's grandfather used to wear. I'm counting on you."
"Got it!" Gu Feng agreed.
Under the gaze of the two, Gu Feng silently thought, "Old Yi, you heard that, right? If you want the Spring of Life, you'll have to work for it."
Electrolux's slightly aged voice echoed leisurely in Gu Feng's consciousness. "You little rascal! When there's something good, you never think of me, but the moment trouble arises, you immediately remember this old bone?"
"Old Yi, this is their ancestral Spring of Life. It's incredibly precious. It's only fair to put in some effort."
Electrolux was well aware of the rarity and value of the Spring of Life. His earlier words were merely venting.
After all, spending so much time with Gu Feng, even someone with the strongest temper would inevitably feel stifled.
"Kid, I can't argue with you. Release control of your body."
"Alright, here we go!"
Gu Feng immediately relaxed his mind, carefully transferring control of his body to Electrolux.
As Electrolux took over, Gu Feng's aura suddenly changed. The previously gentle atmosphere was now enveloped in a mysterious and slightly eerie presence.
Beside him, Ye Lingling shivered, thinking it was due to the weather.
But when she glanced out the window, she saw it was a clear, sunny day.
Electrolux, controlling Gu Feng's body, slowly raised the bracelet with both hands, palms facing each other. Between them, faint black mist began to coil and churn like threads.
As Electrolux chanted under his breath, the black mist grew denser, gradually forming a shimmering, illusory sphere with an eerie glow.
Within the sphere, countless figures flickered, and soon, an elderly figure emerged.
Seeing this familiar figure, Ye Qingqiu's face lit up with joy, her eyes fixed intently on the scene.
However, no one could have anticipated what happened next!
The bracelet, after coming into contact with the mysterious sphere for just a few seconds, suddenly and without warning shattered with a loud "bang."
Seeing this, Gu Feng's body jolted violently, and Electrolux immediately withdrew his magic.
Gu Feng slowly opened his eyes and gently shook his head: "Auntie, please accept my condolences..."
Ye Lingling, who still had tear stains on her face, suddenly broke into a smile and took Ye Qingqiu's hand, saying:
"Hehe~ Mom, now you're the only Nine Heart Begonia left in the world! Plus me, that makes exactly two!"
Ye Qingqiu looked at Ye Lingling's joyful expression, feeling warmth in her heart, but it was soon replaced by a tinge of bitterness.
Although she no longer had to choose to end her life to pave the way for Ye Lingling, how much longer could her deteriorating body hold on?
Ye Qingqiu reached out and gently tidied the stray hair by Ye Lingling's ear: "Yes, Lingling, Mom won't die. I'll stay with you from now on. Later, I'll personally awaken your Martial Soul, okay?"
Ye Lingling's eyes lit up, and she excitedly waved her small fist: "Yay!"
Then, Ye Qingqiu turned to Gu Feng with a gentle smile:
"Little Feng, come with me. I'll take you to get the Spring of Life."
Gu Feng cupped his hands and said, "Alright, thank you, Auntie."
With that, he followed Ye Qingqiu into the room.
As soon as he stepped into the room, Gu Feng couldn't help but glance around. The room was tidy and cozy.
Ye Qingqiu walked straight to an antique wooden cabinet, gently opened the door, and carefully took out an object wrapped in a small cloth.
She held it in both hands and slowly walked over to Gu Feng, gently unwrapping the cloth.
Inside was a bottle of liquid emitting a soft green light. The light was gentle and warm, as if it contained immense vitality and energy.
Ye Qingqiu handed the bottle to Gu Feng and said softly, "This is the Spring of Life passed down by my Ye family ancestors. It has been handed down through generations, and now there's not much left. You can take the rest."
"Thank you, Auntie."
Gu Feng, filled with curiosity, slowly reached out and took the Spring of Life. He unscrewed the cap and dipped his finger into it.
The moment he touched the Spring of Life, a strange sensation washed over him. His first feeling was one of immense comfort, as if it had dispelled all his fatigue, and every cell in his body seemed to be cheering.
Gu Feng couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "The Spring of Life truly lives up to its reputation."
Then, he placed the Spring of Life into his Soul Guidance Ring and thought, "Old Yi, the Spring of Life is here!"
A faint gray light flashed in the ring, as if in response.
After a while, Electrolux's voice echoed in his mind: "Little Fengzi, not bad! The purity of this Spring of Life is very high. I need to refine it properly. Don't disturb me for the next couple of days."
Hearing this, a slight smile curved Gu Feng's lips as he thought, "As long as you're happy, Old Yi. I'm still waiting for you to teach me Undead Magic."
Looking at the young man before her, Ye Qingqiu hesitated for a long time, opening and closing her mouth several times before finally speaking: "Little Feng... can I ask you for a favor?"
Gu Feng was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Ye Qingqiu to suddenly make a request, but he quickly nodded and said:
"Auntie, please feel free to speak. Given the bottle of Spring of Life you've offered, if it's something within my ability, I'll certainly help. But if it's beyond my capabilities, I'm afraid I won't be able to assist."
Hearing Gu Feng's straightforward and candid response, Ye Qingqiu couldn't help but chuckle softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "You're such an honest child, and your words put my heart at ease. Actually, this matter shouldn't be too difficult for you."
She paused, her gaze drifting unconsciously toward the courtyard, where Ye Lingling was squatting on the ground, happily playing with a puppy.
"I just hope that if you have time in the future, you'll come and spend time with Lingling. Even if it's just talking, that would be enough."
A gentle smile appeared on Ye Qingqiu's lips, though it was tinged with a hint of bitterness.
"This child is truly lonely. To be honest with you, she's never seen her father since she was little. While other children her age have gone to Martial Soul academies, she hasn't even awakened her Martial Soul yet."
"All these years, she's been alone, without even a companion to talk to."
At this point, Ye Qingqiu sighed softly, her gaze returning to Gu Feng.
"To be honest, when I saw you today, I truly hoped from the bottom of my heart that the two of you could become good friends. Although neither of you mentioned it, I could tell that you've only just met today, right?"
Gu Feng remained silent for a moment, then hesitantly nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, we only met today."
"That's enough," Ye Qingqiu said softly, her tone earnest. "The value of friendship lies in understanding each other's hearts, not in how long you've known each other. Just from the fact that you didn't lie to me earlier, I can tell you're a good child worth getting close to."
"So, Xiao Feng, can you promise me this request?"
"I know it might seem a bit selfish," Ye Qingqiu added, her eyes slightly reddened, her voice trembling. "But with my health the way it is, I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany Lingling for much longer… I'm truly worried about her."
(End of Chapter)