Saying goodbye to Xiao Zhan, Han Feng headed to Gu Xun'er's residence.
The little girl seemed to have just woken up, her hair a little messy at her forehead.
As soon as she opened the main door, the little girl's dazed eyes widened.
"Mr. Han, you're here so early!"
She hurriedly went back into the house and quickly put away the "treasure" on her table. She didn't want Han Feng to see her gift clearly before it was even finished.
The "sharp-eyed" Han Feng pretended not to have seen anything, an indulgent smile on his face.
After hastily tidying things up, Gu Xun'er turned around and smiled at Han Feng, elegantly yet awkwardly.
"Hurry up and wash your face, then have breakfast."
Han Feng opened the window, letting the sunlight from the garden permeate the room.
"After breakfast, I'll take you somewhere."
Gu Xun'er picked up a towel to wipe her face. Her rosy cheeks looked like a porcelain doll's.
"Where are we going?"
Han Feng smiled. "Eat first."
———
After Gu Xun'er finished her breakfast, Han Feng once again took her hand and walked towards the city gate.
Just as Gu Xun'er thought they were going to a scenic spot outside the city, Han Feng led her into a small shop by the city gate and sat down.
"Huh?"
Gu Xun'er looked at the unremarkable shop around them and then looked at Han Feng with curiosity.
"What are we doing?"
Han Feng pointed to the people coming in and out of the city gate early in the morning.
"Take a guess, what do these people do for a living?"
Hearing this, Gu Xun'er looked towards the city gate, carefully observing the passersby. After staring for a while, she said, "Some are mercenaries, some are merchants, and some are farmers."
"On this Dou Qi Continent, these are the most numerous people. They either have no cultivation or their cultivation is low. There are few things they can do, but they work hard every day, enriching their lives."
Han Feng then asked, "Do you know why your father sent you to the Xiao family?"
Gu Xun'er blinked. The first thought in her mind was: Father sent me to the Xiao family with the mission to obtain the Xiao family's Ancient Jade!
But she couldn't say this to Han Feng, so after a moment of thought, Gu Xun'er shook her head.
Han Feng just smiled at this and then began to talk about his own experience. "I was born into an ordinary family. I might have originally become one of these people, but unfortunately, before I even learned to speak, my family was massacred."
Gu Xun'er was no ordinary child. At this moment, she listened intently to Han Feng's story.
"Later, I was rescued by a cultivator. He discovered my extraordinary talent for cultivation and led me through the gates of cultivation."
"He is my master and also my adoptive father. His name is Yao Chen."
"I was much more mischievous than you when I was a child," Han Feng said, looking at Gu Xun'er.
"My master indulged my every whim. Whatever I wanted, he gave me."
"Do you know what the consequence of that was?"
Gu Xun'er shook her head.
"I was spoiled. I became arrogant and conceited, and almost made a huge mistake."
Surprise showed in Gu Xun'er's eyes. She couldn't imagine Han Feng having such a past.
How could such a gentle person have been arrogant and conceited?
She couldn't picture it.
"Later, my master took me to travel through the mortal world. We spent ten years traveling the continent, seeing all aspects of life. At that time, I didn't truly understand these things, but my temperament did indeed become more restrained."
"My master used ten precious years of his life to teach me a principle."
Han Feng looked at Gu Xun'er and said in a very serious tone, "To cultivate yourself, you must first cultivate your character."
Gu Xun'er's eyes were a little misty.
Han Feng patted her little head and smiled.
"Your father probably hopes for the same. Only those who have been tempered in the mortal world will not forget their original intentions when they grow up."
"You will surely stand at the pinnacle of this entire continent in the future. When that time comes, you must never forget that the foundation of this continent is these countless living beings."
Gu Xun'er nodded, seeming to understand yet not fully comprehending.
At this time, the morning had passed, and the shop's business was gradually picking up. Han Feng prepared to leave with the little girl.
"Sir, that was a great story just now, but you haven't paid for your tea yet!" the waiter called out to Han Feng.
Gu Xun'er burst out laughing, quickly covering her face with her hands.
Han Feng smiled elegantly yet awkwardly, put down a silver coin, and hurried away.
"Sir, I haven't given you your change yet!"
"Keep the change."
Han Feng disappeared into the crowd with Gu Xun'er.
"Mr. Han, I understand what you meant. However, you also need to practice more in the mortal world!" Gu Xun'er said with a smile.
Han Feng shook his head and murmured.
"I told you, I've been detached from the mortal world for too long."
———
After that, Gu Xun'er was anxious to return to the Xiao residence to continue working on her secret gift.
She also shooed Han Feng out of the room, saying he wasn't allowed to peek.
Sitting on the roof with Ling Ying, Han Feng said, "To be honest, I'm quite puzzled. Why did the Gu Clan send Miss Gu to the Xiao family?"
"Hmm? Could it be that what you said just now, Mr. Han, was all made up?" Ling Ying said with a mischievous smile.
Han Feng was helpless. What he had said earlier was based on the premise that Gu Xun'er had already been sent to the Xiao family.
If one disregarded this fact, then it would certainly be better for the Gu Clan to educate her themselves. Right now, this was purely free-range parenting.
"Actually, the Clan Head's intention is probably similar to yours, Mr. Han. As a Dou God clan, although the young head's status is extraordinary, the pressure she has to bear is also incomparable to that of ordinary people," Ling Ying said. "The Clan Head would rather give the young mistress a normal childhood."
Han Feng nodded. It seemed that the great clans also had their own difficulties. Every family has its own problems.
"Of course, the above is also my speculation about the Clan Head's actions. Mr. Han should just take it as a joke," Ling Ying added evasively. He was quite a humorous person.
Han Feng smiled and shook his head.
"By the way, Elder Ling, there is one thing I still need to tell you."
"Go on."
Han Feng looked in the direction of Xiao Zhan's residence and said, "In the future, at the Xiao family's residence, try not to get involved in their affairs. Don't let outsiders know that the Xiao family is also related to the Gu Clan."
"I will naturally keep this matter confidential. Besides, ordinary people probably wouldn't know as much about our Gu Clan as you do, Mr. Han."
Han Feng sighed.
"The current Xiao family seems calm, but if any conspicuous waves are made, it will quickly be noticed by those with ulterior motives."
Ling Ying frowned. "Are you saying... someone has designs on the Xiao family?"
Han Feng looked at Ling Ying with a faint smile.
"Don't look at me like that. If the Clan Head had any ideas, he would have had me make a move long ago," Ling Ying retorted.
"In short, please pay more attention, Elder Ling, and don't make a move casually. You can also communicate with Clan Head Gu. I think for the current Xiao family, survival is more important than heritage."
"If you change your mind and decide to make a move in the future, please also protect the lives of the Xiao family members."
Ling Ying looked at Han Feng, his tone a bit playful. "I'm actually a little curious. What exactly is the power behind you?"
"The Falling Star Pavilion shouldn't care about these things, right?"
"Moreover, I heard that Venerate Yao has gone missing?"
Han Feng's face was expressionless.
"Yes, I killed him."
"Tch!"
Ling Ying clearly didn't believe him and jumped off the roof.
"Alright, I'll remember what you said. Please also keep the matter of the young mistress a secret."
"I will."
A promise was made between the two men. Then, Ling Ying merged into the shadows and disappeared.
Only Han Feng was left sitting on the roof, silently gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with a deep sadness.