When the light faded, Han Feng found himself still sitting on the stone bench, with the Star Mirror lying quietly in his palm, and the two grandparents and grandchildren from the East looking at him with burning eyes.
"I was right." Dongfang Lin breathed a sigh of relief. "You are the Star Soul Lord of this generation."
Dongfang Wantang gently pressed the star mark on her forehead, which was emitting a faint light in sync with the Star Mirror. Her gaze towards Han Feng became less distant and more inquisitive.
Han Feng gripped the Star Mirror tightly, feeling its surging power. But at this moment, only one thought remained exceptionally clear to him:
What will be the reactions of Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan when they meet Dongfang Wantang?
The Star Mirror gradually cooled in his palm, but the strange connection became increasingly clear. Han Feng could feel that this magical artifact had become an extension of his body; with just a thought, the stellar power contained within it would surge forth.
"What's the current situation with the Zhang family?" Han Feng looked up at Dongfang Lin and asked the most mysterious of the three great families.
Dongfang Lin stroked his beard: "Like our Dongfang family, we've guarded the secret of the Star Soul Master for generations." A look of reminiscence flashed in the old man's eyes, "Only the Zhang family is more reclusive, having had almost no contact with the outside world for over a century."
The ancient trees in the courtyard rustled, and a fallen leaf drifted onto the stone table. Dongfang Wantang gently brushed it away, the star mark on her forehead gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
"They only took action after the Star Mirror reacted," Dongfang Lin continued. "Now that you've received a Star Mirror, the Zhang family should receive the news soon. Within three days, someone will definitely come looking for you."
Han Feng frowned. Of the three great families, two were on his side, leaving only the Shangguan family, whose attitude remained unclear.
"What are the chances that the Shangguan family will cooperate with Mu Xiaoxiao?" he asked directly.
Dongfang Lin exchanged a glance with his granddaughter. Dongfang Wantang parted her lips slightly: "The Shangguan family... is very complicated." A wisp of starlight gathered at her fingertips, outlining three intertwined family crests on the stone table. "Although I've divined through astronomy, they haven't officially agreed to the other party's request yet, but the starlight representing them has dimmed considerably."
Han Feng smiled bitterly to himself. This Mu Xiaoxiao always surprised him. This time, she actually joined forces with the Shangguan family, a family that even the highest levels of the Chinese government couldn't get in touch with.
A hint of worry flashed in Dongfang Lin's eyes: "Knight, what I'm really worried about isn't that, but rather that if the Shangguan family violates their ancestral precepts, you won't be able to collect all three Star Mirrors."
Before he could finish speaking, Han Feng already understood the danger involved. If he truly couldn't collect all the Star Mirrors, he would have no way of knowing anything about the Star Soul Lord. Even Zero's knowledge was currently limited, and it was now asleep, its awakening unknown.
"Patriarch Dongfang, could you perhaps send someone to keep a close eye on the Shangguan family?" Han Feng stood up, the Star Mirror subtly disappearing into his sleeve. "Especially if you could provide me with some information about their family."
Dongfang Lin nodded in agreement: "Wantang will bring it to you. She'll come to your house in three days."
This arrangement made Han Feng pause. He turned to Dongfang Wantang, who was calmly adjusting her sleeves, as if they were just discussing tomorrow's weather.
"Um..." Han Feng carefully chose his words, "I also have two other people at home..."
"Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan." Dongfang Wantang interrupted him, a knowing glint in her eyes. "I will make our relationship clear."
Han Feng's Adam's apple bobbed: "My parents' side..."
"Don't worry." Dongfang Wantang interrupted again, a confident smile playing on her lips. "I have my own methods; I won't cause you any trouble."
The feeling of being completely seen through made Han Feng's temples throb. He wanted to say something, but saw that Dongfang Wantang had already turned and left, her skirt sweeping across the bluestone slabs, leaving behind a faint fragrance of plum blossoms.
"This girl..." Dongfang Lin shook his head and smiled wryly, "She's always been opinionated. But Lord Star Lord, you don't need to worry; she knows how to behave."
"Um, Patriarch Dongfang, please just call me Han Feng. I'm really not used to you calling me 'Sir' all the time," Han Feng said with a hint of helplessness.
"That won't do!" Dongfang Lin firmly stated his opinion.
Han Feng could only offer an awkward but polite smile. All he wanted to do now was rush home and prepare his family before that "well-mannered" young lady arrived.
At the exit of the Dongfang family's secret realm, the moment Han Feng's shoes touched the asphalt of the real world, the spatial ripples behind him silently closed. The antique pavilions and towers from a moment ago instantly transformed back into ordinary mountain forests on the outskirts of Kyoto.
"That's enough for now," Han Feng said, turning to Dongfang Xun. He saw the other man tilting his head back and taking a deep breath, as if he wanted to inhale all the outside air into his lungs.
"The air outside is definitely different," Dongfang Xun grinned. "It smells like car exhaust."
Han Feng raised an eyebrow: "You guys really can't just come out whenever you want?"
Dongfang Xun made a throat-slitting gesture: "Anyone who leaves the secret realm without permission will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from their family." He shrugged. "Of course, Wan Tang is an exception."
"Why is she able to..."
"Because she's the only one in our Dongfang family to awaken the Star Divination skill," Dongfang Xun said in a low voice. "Our ancestors dote on her too much to bear punishing her."
Han Feng's temples began to throb again. A young girl who could see through people's hearts, backed by a hidden family with a history of nearly a thousand years, was going to appear at his doorstep in three days—it felt like knowing that a typhoon was about to make landfall but having nowhere to escape.
"Um," Han Feng asked somewhat awkwardly, "Does your sister have any...taboos? Like, what foods she doesn't like, or what colors she dislikes?"
Dongfang Xun revealed a playful smile: "What, you're already gathering intelligence?" He patted Han Feng on the shoulder, "Don't worry, although Wan Tang is a bit arrogant, she has a pure heart. It's just..." He suddenly stopped speaking.
"What is it?"
"She's just sometimes too blunt," Dongfang Xun said, his eyes darting around. "When she was five, she told the entire clan that the Third Elder was hiding snacks in his pants, which kept the old man from leaving the house for three months."
Han Feng's vision went black as he began to imagine Dongfang Wantang speaking recklessly in front of Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan.
"Oh, right." Dongfang Xun suddenly remembered something, took out a white jade pendant from his sleeve, and handed it to Han Feng. "Take this. When Wan Tang comes to see you, she'll be more obedient if she sees this."
玉佩触手温凉，正面刻着繁复的星图，背面是个小小的\"棠\"字。韩枫刚想问详情，东方逊已经后退几步，身影逐渐变淡。
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