Chapter 23: Her Story

"What does a child like you understand? It's easy for me to let go, but what about her?" Leng Yaozhu's eyes turned hollow as she murmured to herself.

Gu You froze. Her? Did his stunningly beautiful master from Spirit Pagoda have a story he didn't know about?

Leng Yaozhu seemed to see right through his thoughts.

"She is my younger sister. You probably didn't know that."

Gu You's heart settled. Having read Soul Land III: The Legend of the Dragon King, how could he not know about this tragic past?

Without warning, Leng Yaozhu instantly teleported Gu You to a special room, leaving a bewildered Long Ya Li standing outside.

She had been looking forward to a show, but in the blink of an eye, all of Leng Yaozhu's anger had vanished. Long Ya Li shook her head in disappointment and walked away.

—

"Let me tell you a story."

"Master, I think you should probably not—your emotions—"

"My emotions are fluctuating too much? That's normal. It's fine."

Leng Yaozhu smiled. Seeing this, Gu You held back his words and simply listened.

If Leng Yaozhu always had this personality, with her beauty, she would undoubtedly surpass even Ya Li. After all, the original novel did say she was the most beautiful woman in Spirit Pagoda.

"My younger sister's name was Leng Yulai. Her talent was extraordinary—when we were the same age, she was even more gifted than me. But her martial soul was a special one: the Dark Phoenix. It had an extremely high risk of falling into darkness and becoming an evil soul master.

"Because of that, our Leng family took extra precautions with her. Every time she left the house, at least one or two Title Douluos would accompany her. Everything was going well—until he appeared.

"Yun Ming.

"My sister and I… both fell in love with him.

"I had long understood my sister's feelings, so one evening, I approached Yun Ming and told him about my sister's affections. I planned to step aside for her.

"But what I never expected was… my sister saw everything.

"She misunderstood.

"She thought I was meeting Yun Ming in secret. She believed I had betrayed her.

"In her anger, she left that very night.

"Decades have passed, yet I haven't heard a single trace of her.

"I regret it so much. I regret falling in love with Yun Ming. I regret telling him those things.

"If I hadn't done that… my sister and I wouldn't have ended up like this."

The more Leng Yaozhu spoke, the more emotional she became. Tears welled in her eyes before finally falling.

Gu You wanted to tell her the truth.

But if she learned that Leng Yulai had already fallen and become an evil soul master—the Four Heavenly Kings' strongest member—wouldn't that be even more devastating?

—

"I feel a lot better now." Leng Yaozhu wiped her tears away and sighed. "At least I finally had someone to talk to.

"As for you becoming Ya Li's godson… I guess I'll let it slide."

She suddenly narrowed her eyes.

"But if you dare to randomly recognize another mother, I'll skin you alive."

—

"Master…"

"Hmm? What, you pity me? Good. You should pity me.

"The man I love is beyond my reach. My dearest sister is gone because of me.

"As my disciple, if you truly feel sorry for me, then train hard. Grow strong.

"When you've truly matured… help me find my sister.

"I just want to see her once before I die, even if she hates me."

Leng Yaozhu's smile was faint, yet filled with sorrow.

Gu You's emotions were affected as well.

There was no pain greater than this.

—

"Come now. Let me see what you've learned in these past three years.

"If Ya Li didn't teach you anything worthwhile, I'll have to give her a piece of my mind."

Leng Yaozhu suddenly switched gears, her emotions adjusting so quickly that even Gu You was taken aback.

If this were his past life, she would have been an Oscar-winning actress for sure.

Gu You puffed out his chest proudly and patted the four-and-a-half-star forging emblem on it.

"Huh?"

Leng Yaozhu blinked.

It was the first time she had seen a ranking emblem in this design.

—

"Hehe, Master, your disciple is going to become a Divine Craftsman in the future!

"Forget all your worries.

"One day, I'll personally craft you a God-tier mecha and the most perfect Four-Word Battle Armor!

"Who knows, maybe I'll even create an unprecedented Five-Word Battle Armor!" Gu You boasted.

Leng Yaozhu burst into laughter.

"Pfft! Keep dreaming! You say it like it's nothing! Five-Word Battle Armor?!"

Gu You's face turned red.

He wasn't bragging—Douluo Dalu IV even had Six-Word Battle Armor!

Of course, the prerequisite was the evolution of the Douluo Plane itself.

Once the Abyssal Plane was devoured, with his talent, he could definitely break through to Godhood and craft even higher-level battle armor.

—

After that, Gu You shared his future plans with Leng Yaozhu.

—

"You're serious? Zhen Hua actually took you as his disciple?" Leng Yaozhu was completely shocked.

She had already thought Gu You's talent in cultivation was monstrous enough.

But she hadn't expected his forging talent to be even more terrifying!

"Alright, alright, but tell me—what does someone who's about to leave in a few days want from me?" Leng Yaozhu cut straight to the point.

"Master, you really understand me."

Gu You smirked.

"My request isn't too excessive. I just want a Seventh-Rank Soul Device—a Milk Bottle that can store a massive amount of soul power and continuously supply me."

—

Pfft!

Leng Yaozhu had just taken a sip of water—only to spit it all over Gu You's face.

Gu You remained perfectly calm.

After all, when asking for favors, one must be patient.

—

"A Seventh-Rank?! Are you joking?!

"Do you even know how many Seventh-Rank Soul Engineers still exist today?!" Leng Yaozhu's eyes widened in disbelief.

Soul Engineers had originated five thousand years ago. It was once an extremely prestigious profession. The first Tower Master of Spirit Pagoda, Huo Yuhao the Ice God Douluo, was said to have surpassed the Ninth Rank and reached the legendary Tenth Rank.

However, the field of soul engineering required extensive knowledge—manufacturing, forging, carving soul formations—it was too demanding. Over time, it had been replaced by newer secondary professions.

Now, true all-rounder Soul Engineers were incredibly rare.

Moreover, Milk Bottle Soul Devices weren't even popular in this era anymore, and Seventh-Rank ones were even harder to find. They had to be custom-made.

—

"That's exactly why I came to you, Master!" Gu You said playfully.

—

"Fine, fine! I get it! Three days. I'll have it ready for you in three days." Leng Yaozhu waved her hand impatiently.

"In the meantime, go prepare whatever you need for your journey.

"As for the design of your Milk Bottle… I'll decide that myself."

—

"Thank you!" Gu You was so overjoyed that he leaped toward her.

BAM!

"Get lost!"

Leng Yaozhu smacked him away with a single slap.

—

(End of Chapter)