Su Yi looked at Qi Lin in front of him; she was truly beautiful. Her looks and figure were exquisite, embodying the serene elegance of an Eastern beauty paired with the lethal discipline of a top-tier soldier. She stood perfectly still, her presence quiet yet utterly formidable, even without her armor.
Su Yi and Qi Lin had a brief, cordial conversation. He learned that Qi Lin, like other summoned entities, had no memory of her previous world, only a vague, compelling memory of a mission and a summons that brought her here. Although she was summoned by Su Yi, she possessed a natural inclination toward respect, obedience, and an almost magnetic trust toward him.
However, Su Yi couldn't just treat Qi Lin as a blank slate or a prize. He respected her quiet strength. But, since the system had sent her, a goddess-tier Eastern beauty, right to his doorstep with innate affection, he certainly wouldn't be a good-for-nothing and fail to cultivate the relationship.
"Qi Lin, you can live here from now on. This will be your base," Su Yi offered, gesturing around the spacious, sunlit living room of the New York villa.
Qi Lin's response was simple and immediate, devoid of unnecessary emotion. "Okay."
"By the way, do you have any normal clothes? I see you came straight from the armory," he chuckled, glancing at her combat suit and the enormous Divine Punishment rifle leaning against the wall, looking entirely out of place next to a floral centerpiece.
"No," she replied.
Su Yi nodded, running a hand through his hair. "It seems I'll have to go buy you some clothes first. I'll give you a set of my clothes for now; they might not fit perfectly, but that'll do for five minutes. You can change into them, and I'll go out and buy a temporary wardrobe."
"Alright."
Of course, Su Yi took the opportunity to ask Qi Lin for her exact measurements, arguing that he needed to ensure the clothing fit well and avoided excessive returns. Qi Lin, despite the obvious intimacy of the request, treated it with the same military precision as sighting a target, providing him with the private information calmly and clearly.
Su Yi drove out and returned just over an hour later, his large SUV packed with shopping bags from high-end boutiques and a few department stores. He had purchased everything from casual wear and basic necessities to—as a calculated move—lingerie.
After Su Yi handed the overflowing bags to Qi Lin, she retreated to the master bedroom suite. It was about half an hour later that Qi Lin reappeared, completely transformed.
She was dressed in a casual yet elegant white T-shirt and a dark, short pleated skirt that fell just above her knees, showcasing her breathtakingly long, powerful legs. The contrast between the soft fabric and the woman who wielded an anti-materiel sniper rifle was stunning.
Su Yi observed and admired for a moment, letting his eyes linger. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect," he murmured.
Qi Lin met his gaze directly, unflustered by his appraisal. "I wanted to ask, what is the purpose of the lace nightgowns? Are they standard in this world?"
Su Yi maintained a neutral expression, fighting a smile. "Is there a problem? I just happened to see some appealing styles and bought them on a whim. Don't waste time analyzing civilian apparel; let's go shopping again. You still haven't stocked up on your daily necessities, specialized items, or the right training gear."
Qi Lin didn't press the issue. It was a fair point. Even if Su Yi hadn't bought them, she would have bought some herself eventually, though perhaps not as aesthetically bold as the ones Su Yi selected. The easy, casual flow of their interaction established a comfortable foundation for their relationship—military obedience mixed with domestic warmth.
He took Qi Lin out for a second, longer shopping spree, securing all the necessary electronics, supplies, and more specialized clothing. They then had a quiet, pleasant dinner out, where Qi Lin asked surprisingly insightful questions about the "Marvel Universe's" geopolitical landscape, displaying a mind as sharp as her aim.
On the way home, Qi Lin sat in the passenger seat, admiring the scenery of the brightly lit New York streets. She felt a profound, long-lost sense of leisure. Being summoned by Su Yi to this world—free from the constant threat of intergalactic war she instinctively knew—seemed like an incredibly good thing.
The two of them returned with a mountain of purchases. It was clear that Qi Lin would need a long time to sort everything out and organize her new life.
"Qi Lin, I'm going out for a bit now," Su Yi announced, checking the time. "I have some important military business to attend to. Do you want to come with me, or do you want to get settled?"
"I think I'll still need over an hour to finish tidying up this quartermaster inventory," she replied, gesturing to the piles of clothes and gadgets with a touch of dry amusement.
"Alright then, I'll go first. I might not come back tonight. There's plenty of food in the refrigerator; you can make dinner yourself."
"Understood."
Su Yi instantly vanished, bypassing all S.H.I.E.L.D. security protocols and reappearing silently in the command center of the Helicarrier.
His sudden arrival immediately put Melina Vostokoff, who was overseeing operations with her usual unflappable efficiency, on high alert. Her hand instantly twitched toward the emergency comms button. However, upon recognizing the familiar face and energy signature, Melina immediately breathed a deep, relieved sigh.
"Hello, Melina. Sorry for the theatrics. Where is Natasha?" Su Yi asked.
Melina knew Su Yi's capabilities and roughly guessed the nature of his deep, if complicated, relationship with Natasha. "Natasha is in the training room. She found the administrative duties taxing, so she handed most of the management work to me."
Indeed, Natasha preferred action to paperwork. She continued to train relentlessly, staying in peak condition, always ready for the next unknown mission. The entire operation—the Black Widows, the Helicarrier, and all the accumulated military hardware—was sustained by the countless riches Dreykov had secretly accumulated over the years, which Natasha and Yelena had liquidated.
When Su Yi arrived at the training room, he saw Natasha and Yelena Belova, the two sisters, locked in a fluid, vicious sparring match.
Beautiful women fighting with lethal grace is always a sight to behold. They moved like perfectly matched serpents, exchanging rapid strikes, joint locks, and acrobatic maneuvers.
Of course, Su Yi was discovered very quickly. Both Natasha and Yelena were top-tier Agents; even while training and supposedly relaxed, their habits were ingrained. They broke the lock instantly, their eyes snapping to the new presence.
A sweat-drenched Natasha, her hair clinging to her temples, appeared before Su Yi, a challenging smile playing on her lips.
"Didn't you go on a trip with the beautiful astronomer, making cosmic waves in the desert?" she teased, wiping her brow with the back of her glove.
Su Yi closed the distance, lifting Natasha's chin with his finger, his gaze intense. "What? Are you jealous, Widow?"
Natasha leaned into his touch, her gaze affectionate and seductive. "I am indeed jealous, Su. Because I can't leave this giant metal bucket and stay by your side permanently."
Her look of desire instantly captivated Su Yi. Disregarding Natasha's current sweat-soaked state, he leaned in and kissed her—a deep, lingering kiss that spoke volumes of missed time and affection.
"You won't stay here forever," Su Yi whispered against her lips. "I'll take you home soon, and besides, you know I need your help. You are the only one I trust to handle my harem's internal affairs."
Natasha knew what Su Yi meant. It was nothing more than asking Natasha, the master manipulator and diplomat, to help mediate the delicate interpersonal relationships in his growing circle of gifted women to prevent any chaotic internal strife.
When it came to handling interpersonal relationships and securing assets, Natasha was undoubtedly the best wingman—or, in this case, the best wing-wife—he could ask for.
"I brought you a gift, actually two gifts," Su Yi said, pulling back. "Do you want to see them now or later?"
"I need to go wash up first," Natasha replied, gesturing to her damp outfit.
Su Yi showed a mischievous smile. "No problem. I'll be right here. Or I could join you."
Yelena, who had been watching the entire exchange with a mixture of detached interest and sisterly amusement, finally spoke up. "Don't mind me. I'll just be in the corner, polishing my knives and trying to forget that I have a family."
Once Natasha returned, fresh and dressed in a comfortable black tracksuit, she sat with Su Yi on a bench, while Yelena observed from a distance, pretending to stretch.
"I've prepared two new Talismans for you," Su Yi began, pulling out the first one, a small, intricate carving of a serpent. "The first is the Snake Talisman. It grants perfect, instantaneous Invisibility."
Natasha looked at the talisman in Su Yi's hand. After obtaining the Horse Talisman last time (which granted immediate healing), she no longer found these magical artifacts strange. Under the Horse Talisman's effect, Natasha had already healed most of the Black Widows, cleansing them of their physiological sterilization and emotional programming.
"Excellent for my line of work," Natasha commented, accepting the Talisman and feeling the immediate, subtle surge of power.
"And the other one?"
"You pick the other one yourself," Su Yi said, pulling up a holographic list of the ten remaining Talismans.
The list detailed the core power of each: Ox (Strength), Tiger (Spiritual), Rabbit (Speed), Dragon (Fire/Combustion), Ram (Astral Projection), Monkey (Shapeshifting), Rooster (Levitation), Dog (Immortality), Pig (Heat Vision), and Rat (Inanimate movement).
Natasha was very smart. Although she didn't know the specific method Su Yi used to obtain the Talismans, she could guess that these things were not easily acquired.
"Okay," she said, studying the list, considering her assets. She already had two critical auxiliary powers: Horse (Healing/Restoration) and Snake (Invisibility/Stealth). What she lacked was a lethal, area-of-effect offensive power that could take out a squad of enhanced enemies quickly.
After a minute of careful thought, she pointed. "I choose the Dragon Talisman."
"Good choice," Su Yi affirmed. The Dragon Talisman provided the ability to release powerful, concussive bursts of Combustion Energy (Fire). It would give her instant, potent ranged firepower, ensuring she wasn't reliant on gadgets or melee alone.
Su Yi instantly generated the Dragon Talisman and handed it to her. He received a destiny point feedback from the system for the transfer, but his own DP balance—though close—still hadn't broken through the 10 million mark.
"I also have one more piece of equipment," Su Yi added, pulling out a smooth, swirling red orb that pulsed with latent heat—the Fire Spirit Orb. "This can grant control over Fire and complete immunity to Fire damage."
He nodded. "I plan to give it to Yelena. What do you think?"
Natasha's gaze softened as she looked at her sister. She could foresee the escalating cosmic dangers they would encounter in the future. The Fire Spirit Orb was clearly not ordinary and could make Yelena stronger, granting her immense self-preservation abilities. While Natasha's Horse Talisman could heal others, she couldn't always be by Yelena's side when danger struck.
"I agree," Natasha said firmly. "Yelena needs that kind of protection and power. It also gives her a unique combat niche."