After observing for a moment, Ye Feng felt a bit more assured. With a unique smile gracing his lips, he addressed the two before him, "May I ask your names?"
"Forgive my rudeness; I am Xu Youxiang, and this is my wife, Gan Yi, along with our daughter, Xu Qian." As Ye Feng spoke, Xu Youxiang quickly introduced his family, a hint of anxiety clouding his brow, but his steady demeanor revealed a resolute spirit.
"I heard from my friend Ma Tianqi that Mr. Ye is an expert in exorcism," Xu Youxiang continued, glancing at his daughter cradled in his wife's arms, her once rosy cheeks now pallid. Concern flickered in his eyes. "I came to seek your help to understand what has happened to my daughter."
Ye Feng nodded, smiling. "Mr. Xu, running an exorcism hall is my trade; there's no need for awkwardness. However, I must inform you that regardless of the outcome, my fee is one hundred thousand upfront. If I can save her, we can negotiate the final price."
Though money isn't everything, it's essential. Ye Feng navigated a world steeped in the supernatural while still rooted in the mundane; he had no desire to live a life devoid of earthly pleasures, for what is life without the ability to enjoy its offerings?
Xu Youxiang, clearly prepared, showed no surprise. He reached into his coat pocket and produced a checkbook, swiftly writing a check for one hundred thousand, sliding it towards Ye Feng. "I'm familiar with Old Ma's rules. Money is not a concern; I'd pay even a million if it means restoring my daughter to health." His confidence radiated, an aura befitting someone of his standing.
"Refreshing!" Ye Feng grinned, accepting the check. "In our line of work, we follow the adage: you take money to do the deed. Rest assured, I will exert every effort." He then turned to the little girl in Gan Yi's arms. "Please, recount what has happened to her."
Without hesitation, Xu Youxiang detailed their ordeal. Three days prior, during a visit to their hometown for ancestral worship, they had encountered an inexplicable gust of wind as they turned to leave. Their three-year-old daughter fell into an unresponsive state. Doctors had found no ailments; it was as if she merely slept, yet no amount of calling would rouse her—she resembled a living doll.
Naturally, they refused to accept this fate and suspected a supernatural cause. The Xu family, affluent and knowledgeable, did not dismiss these matters as mere superstition.
"Please, you must save my daughter," Gan Yi implored, her eyes glistening with tears. "She is our only child; if anything happens, I..."
Ye Feng nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Mrs. Xu. As long as it lies within my abilities, I will help your daughter." He motioned for them to place Xu Qian in the adjacent room, ensuring privacy.
Once alone, Ye Feng stood before the girl, and an inky black taiji pattern emerged in his eyes, spinning in opposite directions.
"Eye technique—Heaven's Eye!" he commanded, and a bright light enveloped his pupils, unveiling truths hidden from ordinary sight—spirits, souls, and more.
With a single glance, the scene within Xu Qian unfolded before him, prompting a knowing smile. "Just as I suspected."
Upon first seeing her, he sensed something was amiss, a void within her that led to her unending slumber. Now he confirmed his intuition.
Without lingering, Ye Feng closed his eyes, returning to the living room where the Xu couple awaited anxiously. Xu Youxiang whispered reassurances to his wife, though his own eyes betrayed his worry.
"Mr. Ye, what's wrong with my daughter?" Xu Youxiang maintained composure, but Gan Yi's distress spilled forth as she urgently questioned him.
Ye Feng's expression remained unchanged. "Do you know about soul loss?"
"Soul loss?"
"Precisely," Ye Feng affirmed. "In our realm, soul loss means a person's spirit has departed."
"The human soul comprises three primary souls and seven corporeal souls—missing any part disrupts existence. We call this phenomenon soul loss."
Xu Youxiang and Gan Yi gasped, unable to mask their alarm.
"Indeed, I found that your daughter possesses only two souls and six corporeal souls. The absence of one soul and one corporeal soul has plunged her into this state." This was Ye Feng's first encounter with such a case, knowledge gleaned from ancient texts.
"Mr. Ye, how can we restore her? I'd sacrifice half my fortune for her health," Xu Youxiang insisted, now believing in Ye Feng's words.
Ye Feng smiled gently, shaking his head. "In our line of work, we don't seek fortunes; I'll do my utmost with the payment received. But prepare yourselves—it won't be simple."
Soul loss can occur in various ways: fright leading to voluntary departure, capture by malevolent entities, or in the worst case, dissolution into nothingness.
Ye Feng hesitated, sensing the gravity of his words.
"Mr. Ye, what is the worst-case scenario?" Gan Yi pressed, her voice thick with emotion.
"The last possibility is that the lost soul has either dissipated into the ether or been violently torn apart. If so, even with her remaining two souls and six corporeal souls, your daughter may live a life akin to that of a vegetable."
The absence of even one part renders a person unable to awaken, leaving them vulnerable—ideal prey for restless spirits.