General Deng Xian stroked his long beard and laughed heartily. "In terms of pride, you're not much different from old Yan. But in terms of intelligence and wit, you've clearly surpassed him."
Deng Xian slowly got up and walked over to Ling Feng. With a sigh, he looked at Ling Feng, a hint of pleading in his eyes. "Young friend Ling Feng, to be honest, I do have a favor to ask!"
"Senior Deng, since you are an old friend of Elder Yan, if there's anything you need from me, just say the word. There's no need to speak of it as a favor."
Ling Feng quickly stood up and bowed to Deng Xian. "Please, Senior, tell me what you need. I'll do my best to help."
In his mind, Ling Feng calculated that if he could help Deng Xian with his request, then Deng Xian might be willing to give him the crystal core of the demonic shen.
After all, while the crystal core was valuable, it wasn't something Deng Xian couldn't part with.
"It's all about my granddaughter!" Deng Xian sighed and turned away, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "You know, my granddaughter is spoiled and headstrong. She's really a handful."
"Uh..." Ling Feng's mouth twitched. Could it be that those jokers, Ouyang Jing and the others, were right?
Is Deng Xian planning to find a husband for his granddaughter and wants me as the son-in-law?
"No, no, absolutely not!" Ling Feng quickly waved his hands. "Senior Deng, if it's any other matter, I would gladly help. But your granddaughter has such high standards. How could she ever fancy someone like me? Besides, I come from a humble background and could never be a match for her."
Deng Xian turned to look at Ling Feng and saw his fearful expression. He couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Young friend Ling Feng, you misunderstood my intentions!"
"Huh?" Ling Feng's face flushed with embarrassment. He coughed awkwardly and thought to himself, Old man, you are being so ambiguous. Anyone would misunderstand given how you phrased it.
"What I mean is, I hope you can become Little Shi's teacher. Teach her how to be calm and composed and how to be respectful and courteous."
Deng Xian smiled and continued, "You see, my granddaughter isn't unattractive. Yet young talents like you keep your distance from her, while only those without real skills who flatter and fawn stick around her like flies. As they say, 'close to red, one becomes red; close to black, one becomes black.' If this continues, Little Shi will end up completely spoiled!"
Deng Xian sighed deeply again. "I've pampered her too much since she was a child and can't bear to be harsh with her. Now, only you can save her."
"Well..." Ling Feng rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. He said with a wry smile, "Senior Deng, this might not be appropriate..."
He wants me to save Deng Yongshi?
This spoiled girl is even more headstrong and willful than Qin Wanwan.
But then again, Qin Wanwan's temper had toned down quite a bit lately. Maybe he did have a knack for this sort of thing...
"Why not? What's inappropriate about it?" Deng Xian squinted his eyes and chuckled. "Your teacher is an old friend of mine. By seniority, you're actually Little Shi's senior uncle. So being her teacher is quite proper and justified."
Ling Feng was inwardly distressed. Teaching someone else might have been fine, but Deng Yongshi? That woman was full of resentment towards him. How could he possibly teach her?
This has to be a joke!
Seeing that Ling Feng was still hesitant, Deng Xian gritted his teeth and said, "Young friend Ling Feng, don't worry. If you agree to become Little Shi's teacher, I will give you anything I can! If that's not enough, I'll kneel down to you. Would that be enough?"
Saying this, he actually started to bend his knees.
"Senior Deng, you must not do this!" Ling Feng quickly stepped forward to support Deng Xian. "You're putting me in an impossible position!"
One had to understand that someone of Deng Xian's stature, a powerful figure, didn't even need to kneel before the Emperor. Yet now, he was about to kneel to Ling Feng.
"Ah, young friend Ling Feng, you don't understand. Little Shi lost her mother at a young age, and her father has been stationed at the border for years. Although it seems she has everything, she's actually very lonely inside."
Tears glistened in Deng Xian's eyes. "I hope you can understand a grandfather's heart. Since I saw you at Tianmeng, I've been convinced that only you can help Little Shi."
Seeing Deng Xian on the verge of tears, Ling Feng couldn't help but sigh. The deep affection Deng Xian had for his granddaughter reminded him of his own grandfather, Ling Kun.
Even though Ling Kun wasn't his biological grandfather, he had been the only family Ling Feng had since childhood. He deeply understood Deng Xian's feelings—those of a grandfather wanting the best for his granddaughter.
"Alright, Senior Deng, I will try my best." Ling Feng nodded slightly. "However, I can't guarantee that I will be able to help."
"You definitely can." Deng Xian said, patting Ling Feng's shoulder heavily. "Think about it, you've already outbid Little Shi twice at auctions. That's fate bringing you together!"
"Heh..." Ling Feng's lips twitched. Fate? Really?
"Senior, to be honest, I came here today to ask for something as well," Ling Feng took a deep breath and said slowly. "As it happens, I also need the crystal core of the thousand-year-old demonic shen."
"Haha, see? It's fate!"
Deng Xian stroked his beard. "I've already mentioned that the crystal core is with Little Shi as a birthday gift. If you become her teacher and win her over, you can easily get the crystal core."
Deng Xian laughed and added, "Don't worry, I won't give the crystal core to the Lieyang Sect, nor will I let Madam Jinyun or Helian Kuang come into contact with Little Shi. The rest is up to you. I'm entrusting her to you. As long as you don't snatch it from her, I won't interfere."
Ling Feng felt a severe twitch in his mouth. Heavens, what have I gotten myself into?
How was he supposed to make Deng Yongshi obedient?
Ling Feng's future suddenly seemed bleak and uncertain.
"Young friend Ling Feng, I believe in you!"
Deng Xian beamed, his eyes gleaming with delight. Secretly, he hoped that Ling Feng might even end up winning over his granddaughter. That would truly set his heart at ease.
Taking a deep breath, Ling Feng clenched his fists, trying to reassure himself. At least this way, he was closer to the crystal core. In the worst case, he could always drug Deng Yongshi and take it while she was unconscious.
Although that idea was somewhat underhanded, it was a last resort.
Now, he could only hope that Deng Yongshi wouldn't hold a grudge over their past encounters and stubbornly refuse to give him the crystal core.
One could only hope...