"The core of the formation lies in 'borrowing momentum'," she said, her fingertips tracing shimmering paths in the air. "There's no need to control your own energy; you only need to guide the natural flow of the power of heaven and earth..."
Han Feng followed along in the demonstration and discovered that Chi Shangling's array formation subtly resonated with the Dongfang family's divination techniques and even the power of stars. When the last array pattern was completed, the potted plants on the balcony moved without wind, and glistening dewdrops condensed on their leaves—even though it was midnight.
"It seems you've completely mastered the array formations of the Moon Demon Clan," Han Feng exclaimed sincerely.
Aya Ikegami smiled faintly: "Don't forget our promise. I'll take good care of things here on Blue Star."
On Sunday evening, the four of them lay side by side on the beanbag chairs on the villa's terrace, watching the sunset. The setting sun dyed the clouds a magnificent purple-gold, like an overturned palette.
"You're leaving tomorrow?" Liu Mengran asked softly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the hem of Han Feng's clothes.
"Okay." Han Feng took her hand. "Let's set off before dawn."
Suddenly, Su Wanwan sat up abruptly, her long hair shimmering with gold in the sunset: "We'll take you to the teleportation point!"
"Yes!" Dongfang Wantang sat up as well, "We'll take you to the teleportation array together..."
Han Feng smiled and shook his head, placing the three girls' hands together: "Be good and wait for me at home. The situation at the teleportation point is complicated, and I don't feel comfortable letting you go."
"But..." Liu Mengran wanted to say something, but Han Feng pressed his fingertip to her lips.
"No buts." His gaze swept over the three faces filled with worry. "I promise you, I will return safely."
The last rays of sunlight disappeared below the horizon, and a sudden chill settled in the evening breeze. Han Feng stood up and ruffled each girl's hair: "Go back and rest. Get a good night's sleep tonight, don't stay up late waiting for me."
He deliberately lingered on Liu Mengran's hair for only a moment, secretly transferring a wisp of warm starlight power through his fingertips to dispel the chill from her body.
---This is the dividing line---
The lights in Villa No. 3 were brighter than usual. When Han Feng pushed open the door, his parents were sitting on the sofa in the living room; the TV was on but no one was watching it.
"Dad, Mom." Han Feng changed into slippers. "I'm here."
Han's mother immediately stood up and walked towards the kitchen: "Mom has prepared some food for you to take with you, as well as warm clothes. Things over there won't be like at home..."
"Mom," Han Feng said, pulling his mother's arm. "No need to prepare, I've already taken care of everything."
"That won't do!" Han's mother's eyes instantly reddened. "They're from another world, what if they don't like the food..."
Mr. Han put down his newspaper and gently shook his head: "Listen to the child. Xiao Feng knows how to act now."
Han Feng helped his mother sit back on the sofa and patiently explained, "High-level beings are very sensitive to foreign objects; carrying too much stuff makes them easier to be tracked." He wiped away the tears from his mother's eyes, "Don't worry, what storms hasn't your son weathered?"
Han's mother held his hand tightly, refusing to let go: "Last time you said you were going to R country on a business trip, but your father secretly told us that you were going to fight against some...some tribe..." Her voice choked with emotion, and she couldn't continue.
Han Feng glared at his father, who was pretending to watch TV—he really couldn't trust him to keep a secret.
"This time is different." He softened his voice. "We're going to other planes to establish contact points. Wang Hao is coming along too, just to scout things out."
Han's father suddenly spoke up: "I heard that the flow of time is different in that dimension than here?"
Han Feng roughly understood what was going on, and then nodded: "It takes about a day there, and an hour here. So don't worry, dinner might still be warm when I get back."
This finally made Han's mother laugh. She gently punched her son's shoulder: "Nonsense! You have to take good care of yourself no matter what..."
The wall clock pointed to ten o'clock. Han Feng chatted with his parents for a while longer, until the two old people looked tired.
"Let's go." Han's father patted his shoulder. "A man should always go and see a bigger world."
Han Feng solemnly embraced his parents at the door. As he turned away, he heard his mother whisper to his father, "It's just like that time you went on a mission to the south..."
Night had fallen, and the paths in the villa area were so quiet that the chirping of insects could be heard. Han Feng walked to the outside of Villa No. 1 and looked up to see that the light in the master bedroom was still on; the three girls were indeed still awake.
When Han Feng pushed open the door, the three girls were crammed onto the bed. Upon hearing the door open, all three pairs of eyes turned to him at the same time.
"Why aren't you resting yet?" Han Feng took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.
No one answered. Su Wanwan's keyboard clicks stopped, Liu Mengran's pages ceased turning, and Dongfang Wantang's astrologer fell silent. A silent worry filled the air.
Han Feng walked to the sofa, and the three girls stood up simultaneously. He said nothing, but simply opened his arms and gently embraced them. The power of the stars, mixed with his spiritual energy, swept over them like a spring breeze, bringing a reassuring warmth.
"Sleep," he whispered in their ears. "I promise I'll be back safely."
Liu Mengran wanted to say something, but felt a gentle drowsiness wash over her. Su Wanwan yawned, her eyelids drooping. Dongfang Wantang was the first to close her eyes, leaning against Han Feng's shoulder, breathing evenly.
Han Feng carefully carried them to the bed and covered them with the blankets. After placing a light, feather-like kiss on each of their foreheads, he stood by the bed for a moment—the three girls' sleeping faces looked exceptionally peaceful under the nightlight, as if they were simply having a beautiful dream.
"Wait for me," he whispered, his eyes sharpening as he turned away.
When Han Feng arrived at the location of the teleportation array, Wang Hao was already waiting there.
"Is everything arranged at home?" Han Feng asked.
Wang Hao nodded.
The teleportation array, composed of seven meteorites, was currently emitting a faint blue light. Han Feng stood at the core of the array, with Wang Hao following closely behind.
"This is your last chance." Han Feng looked at his childhood friend. "It's not too late to regret it now."
Wang Hao swallowed hard, his fingers trembling slightly, but his eyes remained unusually firm: "After following you for so many years, when have I ever backed down?"
Han Feng smiled and channeled the power of the stars into the array's core. The seven meteorites lit up simultaneously, their light completely engulfing the two of them.
"Coordinates set, Rota Realm." Han Feng's voice remained clear amidst the roar of energy. "Hold on tight!"
Space began to distort, and the surrounding scenery folded like a crumpled scroll. Wang Hao couldn't help but gasp and instinctively grabbed Han Feng's arm.
"Don't be afraid," Han Feng's voice was unusually calm. "Just think of it as riding a roller coaster."
An even stronger suction force came, and the two felt their bodies being stretched to an infinite length and then compressed to an infinite size.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom of Villa No. 1, Liu Mengran tossed and turned restlessly in her sleep, her fingers clutching the pillow Han Feng had used. Su Wanwan mumbled incoherently in her sleep, tears streaming down her face. Dongfang Wantang's astrolabe on the bedside table vibrated slightly, its pointer spontaneously pointing northwest—the location of the teleportation array.
Outside the window, a barely perceptible blue light shot into the sky, quickly disappearing into the clouds. The night sky remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
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