Chapter 44: Is the Thigh Collapsing?

In response to Cheng Xiao's teasing, Ye Renxin didn't get angry. After all, Cheng Xiao was just a teenager, and it was natural for young people to be a bit impulsive.

So, when Cheng Xiao suggested feeling his pulse, Ye Renxin just found it amusing. With a change of mind, he nodded in agreement, "Alright, how do you want to do it?"

"Please sit here, sir. Just wait for a cup of tea, then hand me your hand." Cheng Xiao raised his hand and led Ye Renxin to a nearby teahouse. After throwing a few copper soul coins to the waiter, he sent him away.

Then, Cheng Xiao explained to Ye Renxin, "Feeling the pulse requires some precautions. Before feeling the pulse, avoid vigorous movements and maintain a seated or supine position..."

Ye Renxin listened quietly. When the time was about right, he extended his hand. Cheng Xiao placed his middle finger on the Cun pulse and his index finger on the Chi pulse, pressing down with his ring finger, and Ye Renxin's breathing gradually slowed.

Ye Lingling held a teacup in her hands, her slightly raised eyelashes fluttering as she watched Cheng Xiao's movements, completely absorbed.

At first, Cheng Xiao teased Ye Renxin while playing with Ye Lingling, "Lingling, your talent is not bad. Are you going to steal my supreme art?"

A blush appeared on Ye Lingling's face as she pouted and softly complained, "I won't, who would want to learn your stuff."

Cheng Xiao's expression froze.

It wasn't because of Ye Lingling's adorable pouting but because of Ye Renxin's pulse! It was off!

Initially, Cheng Xiao's eyes had a playful gleam, but gradually, the joy faded away. His eyes widened until they were at their widest, and his eyebrows furrowed with an unshakable seriousness.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Ye Lingling seemed to sense that something was off and asked with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing, nothing." Cheng Xiao forced a smile.

As time passed, Cheng Xiao procrastinated, hoping for a miracle to happen, but no matter how much he delayed, that ominous feeling in his heart remained unshaken.

After a while, Cheng Xiao retracted his fingers.

"How is it?" Ye Renxin asked with a smile.

Cheng Xiao pondered for a moment, then clasped his hands together, expressing regret, "I was too impudent, sir, and couldn't read your pulse accurately. I hope you won't take offense."

"Hahaha, it's alright, it's alright." Ye Renxin waved his hand. "It was just out of curiosity."

"You're right, sir," Cheng Xiao agreed.

"I thought I'd see something interesting." Ye Lingling felt a bit disappointed.

"Haha, if you want to see something interesting, how about I take you to..." Cheng Xiao skillfully changed the subject.

Then, they discussed where to go later, and the three of them seemed to have completely forgotten about what had just happened. However, the cunning Ye Renxin could tell that Cheng Xiao was already distracted.

"Lingling, go buy some tea leaves from the shopkeeper. These tea leaves are good; buy a little of each." Ye Renxin patted Ye Lingling's head affectionately and said kindly.

"Huh? Oh, okay." Ye Lingling agreed and left the tea table.

"Speak up, kid." When his granddaughter left, Ye Renxin's smile disappeared from his face, and his gaze fell on Cheng Xiao.

"Hmm? What are you talking about?" Cheng Xiao pretended not to understand.

Ye Renxin's somewhat cloudy eyes gradually sharpened, as if they could see through people's hearts. "I've lived for over ninety years and seen more people than you've had meals. Your little tricks can't fool me."

Cheng Xiao fell silent for a while, then sighed, "I won't hide it from you, sir. I truly couldn't read your pulse accurately."

"Oh? Then tell me what you know!" Ye Renxin heard the implicit meaning in Cheng Xiao's words—it wasn't that he couldn't read it; it was that he didn't read it correctly!

"Sir, please listen. If there are any mistakes, forgive me. It's just that I'm still young and inexperienced, a bit too arrogant." Cheng Xiao organized his words, "Your pulse is a bit strange. Your left Cun pulse is weak, and your heart qi has declined..."

After finishing his explanation, Cheng Xiao paused and glanced at Ye Renxin. Ye Renxin remained calm. "Go on."

"Actually, I truly couldn't read it accurately," Cheng Xiao smiled bitterly, explaining, "I'm just halfway there in terms of skill. Perhaps I made a mistake in my assessment."

In all honesty, given this pulse reading, according to his experiences from his previous life, Ye Renxin should be lying on his deathbed, barely clinging to life. With a pulse like this, weak and feeble like a floating duckweed, how could he be frolicking around with his granddaughter?

But strangely enough, Ye Renxin was lively and energetic, as if nothing was wrong.

Before his father passed away, Cheng Xiao had checked the pulses of his family members, including his mother, uncle, and other relatives, and found no difference compared to his previous life.

But Ye Renxin's pulse at this moment left him bewildered, so he didn't dare to make a definitive judgment.

After pondering for a moment, the only difference he could think of was that Ye Renxin was a soul master, and moreover, a healing-type soul master!

"Hmm, I don't understand those terms. Why don't you be more straightforward?" Ye Renxin's expression had become somewhat indifferent at some point.

Helpless, Cheng Xiao could only say, "According to what I've learned, you're close to death."

There was silence from the other side. Cheng Xiao looked up to see Ye Renxin's complex expression, devoid of anger.

In a moment of revelation, a thought flashed through Cheng Xiao's mind: Could it be... he knows his own condition? Damn it!

He had started to doubt life because of this pulse reading, but unexpectedly, things took a turn.

But the problem was, he would rather have been the one to make the mistake!

After finally managing to establish a connection with a big shot in the soul master world, someone with some status and connections, telling him now that this big shot was about to die! That would be a disaster!

All his previous thoughts were washed away. Cheng Xiao felt worse than if he had killed himself.

"Don't tell Lingling!" Ye Renxin instructed as Ye Lingling turned around.

Cheng Xiao nodded, "I understand."

"Grandpa, I bought them." Ye Lingling jumped back to Ye Renxin's side, playfully.

Ye Renxin took the tea leaves and stood up, "Let's continue exploring the city."

"Alright, alright!" Ye Lingling nodded repeatedly, smiling.

With a heavy heart, Cheng Xiao stood up with a forced and stiff smile.

"Don't think too much, just have fun." Seeing his expression, Ye Renxin advised.

Cheng Xiao nodded helplessly, and the two of them kept the secret from Ye Lingling, continuing to explore until dusk.

Glancing at the sky, Cheng Xiao excused himself, "Sir, it's getting late. How about we call it a day here? I'll take my leave."

Ye Renxin squinted his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "You must be tired too, young friend. Why don't you join me for dinner at my old friend's house? What do you say?"

Young friend?

Cheng Xiao keenly noticed the change in address. For someone like Ye Renxin to use the term "friend" was not something he would say lightly.

If it were before, Cheng Xiao would probably be ecstatic, but after feeling Ye Renxin's pulse, how could he be happy now?

Good news: he had made a connection with a big shot. Bad news: the big shot was about to die.

Cheng Xiao's heart was in turmoil.

"Is that... appropriate?" Cheng Xiao hesitated. Bringing a guest to someone else's house wasn't proper etiquette.

"It's appropriate. My old friend likes to make new acquaintances." Ye Renxin made up an excuse on the spot.

"Grandpa is just talking nonsense again. Didn't you say before that your friend doesn't like to be bothered?" Ye Lingling didn't give face, mercilessly exposing the truth.

"Cough, cough. I was just giving him face before; it's not a bother. Bringing a guest isn't a big deal."

"Well then... I'll trouble you." Cheng Xiao accepted.

The three of them went to a secluded residence in Tian Dou City. Although it was secluded, the mansion was quite large, occupying a considerable amount of land and even more luxurious than the average noble's residence.

"You old man, still not opening the door?" Ye Renxin's gaze passed through the courtyard and looked up at the window, shouting with a smile.

"Creak—"

The door gradually opened, and a green figure swiftly approached them like the wind. Cheng Xiao's vision blurred for a moment, and when the gust of wind subsided, he finally managed to focus on the person before him. The sight of that green figure instantly changed Cheng Xiao's complexion.