After a long while, Mr. Wang raised his head, his eyes red but without tears. He stood up, first carefully straightening his son's collar, then patting Han Feng on the shoulder.

"When did it start?"

"It's been almost a year," Wang Hao confessed honestly. "Brother Feng seems to have started even earlier; he was the one who guided me through all of this..."

Mr. Wang waved his hand to interrupt, "Let's not talk about the details, I know the rules." He looked at the two young men, his eyes filled with worry, but even more so with pride, "Your Uncle Han is right, some people are born to bear more burdens."

He suddenly grinned, revealing white teeth remarkably similar to his son's: "I never imagined that my son, Wang Jianguo's son, would become a superhero protecting the Earth."

This teasing remark immediately eased the tense atmosphere. Wang Hao's nose stung with tears, and he was about to say something when his father grabbed his shoulder.

"Stop crying! Old Han's son is watching!" Wang's father said loudly on purpose, his voice choked with emotion. "Remember this—if you encounter danger, don't be stupid and rush forward. If you can't win, run away. There's no shame in that!"

Han's father smiled from the side: "I said the same thing to you back then."

"Get lost!" Mr. Wang said with a laugh, then turned serious. "I'll keep this a secret from the family. But..." He looked sternly at the two young men, "You two need to let the family know you're safe whenever you have a chance."

"Yes!" Wang Hao stood at attention and saluted, only to be slapped on the back of the head by his father.

---This is the dividing line---

When they returned to the villa, Wang's mother and Han's mother were chatting, clearly unaware of the men's previous conversation.

"You're back?" She poked her head out. "I've made you some tea, drink it while it's hot!"

Mr. Wang answered and left, secretly winking at his son as he passed. Looking at his father's familiar back, Wang Hao felt a surge of warmth rise in his chest again.

Mr. Han patted the two young men on the shoulder: "Let's talk in the study."

Closing the study door, Han Feng could see Mr. Wang and Mr. Han chatting with Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Han in the living room through the window. He couldn't help but chuckle: "Uncle Wang's acting is quite good."

Wang Hao rubbed his sore nose: "He's always been like this; he can keep his feelings to himself."

The two briefly discussed their upcoming plans. Wang Hao would continue accompanying his parents to complete the remaining base tour, while Han Feng would check the operation of all the array bases before nightfall the next day.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come along?" Wang Hao asked, somewhat worried.

Han Feng shook his head: "You should spend more time with your aunt and uncle. As for the array base... I have some personal matters to attend to."

The next day at daybreak, Han Feng quietly left home, traversing the back mountain of the base alone. The faint, flowing light on the protective array base resembled stars fallen to earth, each node shimmering with a soft blue glow. He reached out and lightly touched one of them, feeling the steady fluctuations of the energy circuit.

(Relatively stable...)

These array bases not only protect the base, but more importantly, they maintain the fragile barrier between Earth and other planes. Since conquering the ancient martial arts forces on Blue Star, Han Feng, with the cooperation of Ikegami Aya, set up this massive array.

The last array base was set up on the edge of a cliff, the point where energy converged most densely. Before Han Feng even got close, he saw a tall figure standing in the moonlight.

"Xiao Ran?" Han Feng was somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Liu Xiaoran turned around, the epaulets on his combat uniform glistening with night dew: "Waiting for you." Concise and to the point, as always.

The two stood side by side, gazing at the lights of the base in the distance. The core crystal of the array base emitted regular pulses of light beneath their feet, like a sleeping heart.

"When are you planning to leave?" Liu Xiaoran suddenly asked.

Han Feng paused for a moment: "Wait a few days. There are still some preparations to be made..."

"Take me with you." Liu Xiaoran interrupted him, "I can fight."

Han Feng turned to look at his brother-in-law. Liu Xiaoran's profile was as cold and hard as if carved by a knife in the moonlight, but his eyes burned with a rare fervor.

"We need you here more than ever," Han Feng said, pointing to the array base beneath his feet. "While I'm gone, this protective array must be maintained. I can't think of anyone more suitable than you."

Liu Xiaoran's lips pressed into a straight line. This was a sign of his unwillingness, something Han Feng was all too familiar with.

"Once you reach the Great Dao Realm..." Han Feng continued, "you'll be able to find an alternative. Then, we'll go and confront those extraterrestrial forces together."

The night wind blew across the cliff, carrying the sound of distant pine trees. After a long silence, Liu Xiaoran finally nodded: "It's a deal."

There was no handshake, no vows; the agreement between the two men was as simple as discussing tomorrow's weather. But they both understood the weight of this promise—to protect and be protected, to leave and wait.

"Let's go back." Han Feng checked the array data one last time. "Uncle Wang is going to visit the space center tomorrow; you'll have to be his guide."

Liu Xiaoran hummed in agreement, but remained standing in place: "Does Mengran know you're leaving?"

Han Feng paused, his voice slightly hoarse. "I haven't said yet." "Before I leave..."

"Tell her as soon as possible." Liu Xiaoran unusually added a few more words, "She's stronger than you think."

The two descended the mountain one after the other, their shadows lengthening and shortening in the moonlight. The base's searchlights streaked across the night sky like silver swords cleaving through the darkness.

Back at the villa, Wang Hao was excitedly showing his parents the holographic projection of the training ground. His mother laughed heartily, while his father secretly gave Han Feng a thumbs-up.

Han Feng nodded in understanding, his gaze sweeping across the living room—Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan were snuggled on the sofa watching a movie, while Dongfang Wantang was fiddling with an astrological chart at the dining table; everything was as peaceful as any other ordinary night.

But how long could this calm last? The cold touch reminded him of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

(It'll be soon...)

He silently calculated in his mind. He returned to the villa.

Han Feng nodded in understanding, his gaze sweeping across the living room—Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan were snuggled on the sofa watching a movie, while Dongfang Wantang was fiddling with an astrological chart at the dining table; everything was as peaceful as any other ordinary night.

But how long could this calm last? The cold touch reminded him of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

(It'll be soon...)

The lively atmosphere of dinner still lingered in the air. Han Feng helped his mother clear the dishes and looked at the harmonious scene in the living room—his father was playing chess with Wang Hao, Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan were watching TV with his mother, and Dongfang Wantang was observing the stars on the balcony. This ordinary warmth was like a thin veil, temporarily concealing the coming storm.

"Dad, Mom, we're going back now." Han Feng stood up. "We'll come see you again tomorrow."

Han's mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands: "So rushed? Won't you sit for a while longer?"

"Young people have their own things to do." Han's father placed a piece, then exclaimed, "Checkmate! Old Wang, your chess skills have deteriorated!"