A young boy in a blue robe sat by the pool, barefoot. His eyes were as dark as ink beads, with sharply defined black and white, but they held not the slightest spark of life.
Hearing Shi Lan and the others enter, the boy merely glanced up, then lowered his head again and stared blankly at the bottom of the bath.
Shi Lan studied him for a moment and gradually sensed something amiss. Her body was far more sensitive to its surroundings now than before the martial gathering. She could sense an immense energy seemingly concealed within Gu Qingcang.
Lowering her eyes, Shi Lan activated the Heavenly Eye on her spiritual platform and looked toward the boy sitting by the pool.
A seven-colored rainbow of fortune stretched from behind Gu Qingcang and climbed into the sky. Its light was somewhat dim, and a pitch-black chain wound around it layer upon layer, binding its upward momentum.
However, the black chain had begun to crumble, and the seven-colored light atop the rainbow of fortune was gradually returning.
Shi Lan closed her Heavenly Eye and looked thoughtfully at Gu Rentong and his son. Earlier, she had thought Gu Deyuan was simply devoted to his son, while Gu Rentong merely doted on his grandson, which was why they had spent so much effort trying to restore Gu Qingcang's mind.
Now it seemed the reason was not so simple.
Gu Deyuan walked slowly to the pool and pressed several switches. Streams of green liquid, trailing rising steam, flowed gradually into the bath.
The medicinal fragrance in the room grew richer, and the spiritual energy thickened, condensing into wisps of mist that drifted through the air.
"Since matters have come to this, I won't hide it from you, young lady. Qingcang was born with all nine