Grandpa Liu's words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Han Feng's head. He stood there, his hands clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. Overseas forces, Mu Xiaoxiao hiding in the shadows, ancient martial arts families... these previously scattered threats suddenly twisted into one rope, suffocating him.
"Three years..." Han Feng's voice was hoarse. "I originally had three more years."
According to the original plan, the completion of the Star Vein Map and the expansion of the Reverse Scale Squad would be enough for him to protect himself. But now, the appearance of Wang Ma is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up uncontrollable ripples.
Old Master Liu sighed, "Things are unpredictable. The Nangong family's proposal for an early marriage might very well be a way of probing your true intentions."
Han Feng suddenly looked up: "Where's Meng Ran? Should we let her know?" He asked this question almost through gritted teeth.
A brief silence fell over the study. Old Master Liu turned and walked to the window, the dim light casting a long shadow of his hunched back.
"I called you here for this very thing." The old man's voice suddenly sounded much older. "Mengran has to attend that day, but how do I tell her..." His rough hands rubbed the window frame. "The Liu family already owes her enough."
Han Feng's eyes instantly turned cold. He slowly walked behind Old Master Liu, his voice as cold as ice: "So, you're still planning to push Meng Ran into the fire?"
Grandpa Liu's back stiffened, and he turned around abruptly: "What do you mean I pushed her into the fire? She's still my granddaughter—"
"What's the point of all this?" Han Feng interrupted directly, his eyes swirling with uncontrollable starlight. "So, you're just going to let her return to her family and then watch helplessly as you hand her over to the Nangong family?"
"Outrageous!" Old Master Liu slammed his fist on the table, the teacup rattling loudly. "Do you think I wanted this? Now that the Liu family is in this state, what can I possibly protect?"
"You're already giving up on something that's still unresolved?" Han Feng's voice was like a blade scraping across ice, each word carrying a chilling edge. "Didn't you say they were only interested in my abilities, maybe just gathering information about me? But at this point, you've already given up?"
Grandpa Liu was rooted to the spot by this barrage of questions, his aged face appearing particularly ashen under the lamplight. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Han Feng stepped forward, the power of stars flowing around him, the air in the study seemingly distorted by the energy fluctuations: "If that's the case, then I might as well take Meng Ran and leave immediately, let that damned Nangong family come looking for me if they have any problems!"
"You—" Old Master Liu's chest heaved violently, his withered fingers trembling as he pointed at Han Feng, "Do you know what the Nangong family means? They—"
"I don't care who they are!" Han Feng slammed his fist on the mahogany desk, instantly cracking the solid surface with spiderweb-like patterns. "You keep saying you owe Mengran too much, but when faced with trouble, all you do is run away? The righteous old man of the Liu family who swore he wouldn't rest until he avenged this when we first met, is he now a coward?"
These words struck Old Master Liu like a heavy hammer. The old man staggered back two steps, bumping into the bookshelf, causing several ancient books to clatter to the ground. A pained expression appeared on his wrinkled face, as if Han Feng's words had reopened a wound he had never dared to look at.
After a long silence, Old Master Liu slowly slid into his armchair, as if his spine had been suddenly ripped away. He stared at the scattered books on the floor, his voice hoarse beyond belief: "...You're right."
Han Feng's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but the starlight in his eyes did not go out.
"All these years..." Old Master Liu swallowed hard, "I've been deceiving myself. I thought that as long as I swallowed my anger, the Liu family would still have a glimmer of hope." He raised his head, his cloudy eyes bloodshot, "But the Nangong family is like a malignant tumor, slowly gnawing away at our very foundation..."
Han Feng's voice calmed down at this point: "So? How do you need me to cooperate with you next?"
"When the Nangong family comes to our door a week from now, I will clearly tell them that Mengran has already left." Old Master Liu finally revealed the imposing presence befitting a patriarch of a powerful family. "As for Mengran..."
"I will protect her," Han Feng said firmly, "but you must promise me that you will never again have any thought of sacrificing her. Also, if the Nangong family attacks the Liu family, you must pin the blame on me."
Grandpa Liu gave a bitter smile: "I'd rather give up my old life than let my granddaughter suffer even the slightest injustice again." He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you planning to... tell her the truth?"
Han Feng looked out the window and saw Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan chatting and drinking tea with Liu Xiaoran in the courtyard. Fortunately, the room was surprisingly well soundproofed, so no one outside knew what was happening inside.
"Speak, but not all." Han Feng turned to face Old Master Liu. "Mengran has the right to know her situation, but she doesn't need to endure unnecessary fear."
Old Master Liu nodded, then suddenly bowed deeply to Han Feng: "The Liu family... I entrust it to you. Thank you for waking me up today."
Han Feng grabbed Old Master Liu's arm, preventing him from completing the bow. The old man's withered wrist trembled slightly in his palm, yet it contained a strength that should not be underestimated.
"You're shortening my lifespan." Han Feng's voice was soft, but every word was as firm as iron. "Meng Ran is my person, and protecting her is my duty."
Old Master Liu straightened up, his cloudy eyes flashing with a sharp light. In an instant, the image of the indecisive family head vanished, replaced by the "Iron Hand Judge" who had once stirred up a bloodbath in the ancient martial arts world.
"The matter with the Third Elder will be resolved tonight." As the old man spoke, the leaves of the green plant on the windowsill moved without any wind. "Over the years, he has caused the deaths of seven collateral relatives by colluding with the Nangong family to sell family secrets..."
Han Feng noticed the bulging veins on the old man's temples. Those deceased members of the Liu family were probably related to the old man by blood.
"Do you need my help?" Han Feng asked directly.
Old Master Liu sneered, and suddenly inserted his five fingers into the solid wood coffee table as easily as poking into tofu: "Although I am old, I still have the strength to clean house." When he withdrew his hand, wood chips fell down, and the edges of the five finger holes were as smooth as a mirror.
"One week later." Han Feng walked towards the door, his back to the old man, and held up three fingers. "If the Nangong family dares to invade, I will make them remember this day."
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