Chapter 231 - 230: What a Good Son

Chapter 231: Chapter 230: What a Good Son

Gu Qingyin’s brow furrowed. She subconsciously glanced at Huo Yunjing, but his expression was calm. He must have been mentally prepared for Dongfang Lingjun to make such a request, but he showed no intention of clearing up her confusion.

Gu Qingyin let out a mental ’tsk’. "Why?" she asked.

Dongfang Lingjun pressed his lips together and said no more. His gaze settled on a single point, as if he were lost in thought.

’I’m not entirely against it if you’re sincere and have a good reason,’ Gu Qingyin thought with some resignation, ’but what’s with this silence?’

Huo Xingchen, who had been listening quietly to the adults talking, suddenly widened his eyes and stared at the space beside Gu Qingyin.

Gu Qingyin paused. Turning her head, she saw a translucent soul body gradually manifest. It was a female ghost with delicate features.

Gu Qingyin was speechless.

’This is the first time a ghost has gotten this close without me noticing. What’s going on? There’s not a trace of ghost energy or Yin Qi. If she hadn’t materialized, she’d be as unnoticeable as thin air.’

The female ghost looked at Huo Xingchen in surprise. "You have the Yin Yang Eye?"

The moment she spoke, Dongfang Lingjun snapped back to his senses. He instinctively looked at the female ghost, his pupils quickly focusing. His expression turned somewhat bitter. "Yaoyao..."

The female ghost ignored him, looking curiously at Huo Xingchen, waiting for his reply.

Huo Xingchen nodded. "A little. It’s not very clear."

The female ghost sighed in admiration. "A talented child. Have you started learning Xuan Techniques?"

Huo Xingchen answered every question. "My talent with talismans is pretty high. Mom has always been the one teaching me."

The female ghost then turned to Gu Qingyin and raised an eyebrow. "You’re skilled with talismans?"

Gu Qingyin replied humbly, "I’m alright." In reality, however, she could be considered a master when it came to talismans and Spells.

"In life, I was also a very powerful talisman master. It’s a pity I won’t have the chance to spar with you." The female ghost shook her head and sighed.

Hearing this, Dongfang Lingjun’s expression grew even more bitter. "Yaoyao..."

The female ghost frowned and finally looked at him. "I’ve told you not to walk around with a long face sighing all day. You’re scaring all the good luck away."

Dongfang Lingjun tried to adjust his expression and was about to speak, but the female ghost shot him a fierce glare. He reflexively started to form a bitter smile, but thankfully, he slammed on the brakes and began managing his features, turning to Gu Qingyin with a stiff face.

"This is Dongfang Xiyao, my youngest daughter." Dongfang Lingjun suppressed the urge to sigh and continued his introduction. "Years ago, I was obsessed with researching a new Array. An accident occurred, and Yaoyao was caught up in it. She merged with the Array and became its Array Spirit."

"For all these years, I’ve been trying to find a way to free her from the Array so she can reincarnate, but an ownerless body is too hard to find." A plea unconsciously entered Dongfang Lingjun’s eyes. "You are the only one."

"Dad!" Dongfang Xiyao’s tone was sharp. "I’ve told you countless times, I’m fine just like this. I don’t want to be reincarnated, and I certainly don’t want to be revived. Stop making a fuss."

A sorrowful look appeared on Dongfang Lingjun’s face.

Dongfang Xiyao heartlessly turned her head away. "The Space-Time Array is quite a challenge. You should just accept this commission. It’ll keep you from dwelling on pointless things all day."

After saying this, she once again faded from view and disappeared.

Dongfang Lingjun sighed, his once straight back slumping slightly. "I agree. We’ll proceed with the normal commission price. As for the previous condition..." He fell silent for several seconds, then let out a long breath. "Forget it."

Gu Qingyin, who had felt troubled by the request, breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathetic regret.

"Actually, the Huo Yunjing from that other world died too, but it doesn’t stop our family from being together. As long as the feelings don’t change, it doesn’t make much difference whether you’re a human or a ghost."

Dongfang Lingjun was stunned.

Dongfang Xiyao reappeared. "Exactly! You just love to overthink things. Besides not being able to leave the courtyard and not having a body, everything else is the same as before. Plus, I don’t need to sleep or eat, and I have endless energy every day!"

"You shouldn’t keep dwelling on the past. I’m doing great like this. You could even say my dream of eternal youth came true." Dongfang Xiyao touched her face. "It doesn’t get any better than this."

Dongfang Lingjun fell silent, once again lost in thought.

’Could an old man this obsessive and prone to spacing out really construct a Space-Time Array?’ Gu Qingyin worried.

Before they could get a clear answer, Huo Yunjing stood up and said, "Today is your birthday banquet, so we won’t take up too much of your time. Whether you choose the conditional exchange or a normal commission, it’s not too late to decide after discussing it with your daughter."

Although Gu Qingyin privately felt the exchange was a bad idea, she still had to smile and agree. "That’s right. Please consider it carefully. Don’t make a decision too quickly, and don’t let it harm the relationship between you and your daughter."

’It’s not that I’m reluctant to give up this body. The original owner’s soul is gone, so there’s nothing to be attached to.’

’The main issue is that if Dongfang Xiyao were truly resurrected in this body, getting past Zhou Lang and Sheng Wan would be a huge problem.’

’The couple are both intelligent people, shrewd their entire lives. The excuse of amnesia causing a personality change can only be used once. If I suddenly have another drastic personality shift so soon, they’ll think I’ve lost my mind.’

Huo Xingchen took the old man’s hand, seizing the last chance to put on a cute act. "Grandpa Dongfang, I’ll come see you again in a few days."

Dongfang Lingjun hadn’t been around such a young child in many years. Plus, Huo Xingchen was good-looking, well-behaved, and sensible. Even though they had only just met, he genuinely liked the boy.

He bent down and patted Huo Xingchen’s cheek, his smile warm and kind. "Our meeting today was too hasty. Next time, Grandpa will have a gift ready for you."

Huo Xingchen didn’t refuse, nodding in agreement, his big eyes filled with anticipation.

Gu Qingyin could hardly bear to watch. ’Huo Xingchen is really leaning into this whole ’child’ act.’

After leaving the reception room, the three of them didn’t linger and left directly. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

As luck would have it, just as they were about to get in the car, they ran into the belatedly arriving Sheng Wan and Zhou Lang.

"Yinyin?" Sheng Wan’s voice was tinged with surprise. "You received an invitation too?"

Gu Qingyin’s mind raced. She smiled and shook her head. "No, I’m here helping a friend babysit." As she spoke, she patted Huo Xingchen, who was beside her.

Huo Xingchen cleverly flashed a sweet smile. "Hello, Auntie. I’m Huo Xingchen."

Sheng Wan looked down and was instantly captivated. This formidable businesswoman, so decisive in the corporate world, actually blushed in front of a child. "What do you mean, ’Auntie’? You should call me Grandma."

Huo Xingchen blinked innocently. "But you look about the same age as my mom."

Sheng Wan bloomed into a radiant smile. "You’re such a sweet-talker, you little thing. So adorable! Another day, have your mom and Aunt Gu bring you over to Grandma’s house to play."

Huo Xingchen blinked blankly again, then looked up at Gu Qingyin. "But Mom is right here."

The smile on Sheng Wan’s face froze.

Beside them, Zhou Lang’s expression suddenly darkened as he looked at Huo Yunjing, who had also been silent the entire time.

As for Gu Qingyin... she felt like she was about to crack.

’Huo Xingchen, you are truly mother’s greatest son!’