Su Yi took Pietro away from the Helicarrier's disciplined environment and, with a quick flash, deposited him inside the serene, ancient courtyard of Kamar-Taj. The contrast from the metal walls and whirring fans of the training room to the peaceful stone and fragrant incense was jarring. Pietro, though initially resentful of Su Yi, was immediately elated to see his sister.
Wanda rushed to meet him, her movements more grounded, less manic than before. The siblings embraced, their connection remaining the strongest anchor in their chaotic lives.
While the Maximoffs caught up, the Sorcerer Ancient One approached Su Yi, her expression a mixture of profound contemplation and resigned curiosity. She led him away to a private corner, where the air felt strangely heavy and still.
"Your actions in Asgard have not just created ripples, Su Yi. You have rerouted the river of destiny entirely," the Ancient One stated, her voice as smooth and deep as polished granite. "The future, even with the aid of the Time Stone, is now an amorphous, turbulent space. I cannot predict what will happen in what you call The Avengers 1."
Su Yi shrugged, leaning against a carved stone railing. "A destiny where Loki conquers Earth, where Natasha Romanoff is just a simple spy reporting to S.H.I.E.L.D., and where a Chitauri invasion kills hundreds of thousands is not a destiny worth preserving, Ancient One. I prefer the future I'm building."
"The scale of the change is unprecedented," she countered. "Loki is imprisoned on Asgard, the Tesseract is secure, and S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently attempting to salvage an entirely different strategic project without its core resource. The events that were meant to unite the heroes—to forge the Avengers—have been neutralized."
"Then the heroes will find a new reason to unite," Su Yi replied with unwavering confidence. "Perhaps they will fight to protect the very peace I have delivered. Or perhaps, they will fight me. Either way, change is inevitable."
The Ancient One studied him, a faint, knowing smile touching her lips. "You are an agent of chaos, yet your motivation appears to be... domestic bliss. A compelling paradox. You have ensured that when this timeline's Wanda Maximoff finally emerges, she will definitely be more powerful, more stable, and more in control of her gifts than the woman destiny had planned."
"That is the aim. Controlled cultivation is always superior to a chaotic awakening," Su Yi confirmed. "She is building her foundation slowly, brick by brick, not through an accidental explosion."
Su Yi stayed at Kamar-Taj for a little while longer, observing Wanda's training. She had made significant progress in meditative control and had mastered the fundamental Portal spell, though her power was being channeled primarily into character cultivation, a deliberate method by the Ancient One to ensure she could harness her inherent Chaos Magic without being consumed by it.
"Wanda, it seems you're progressing very quickly," Su Yi commented as the siblings approached him.
Wanda, looking healthier and more focused than he had ever seen her, still maintained a cool reserve toward him. "Thank you for bringing me here to learn magic. It is invaluable. However, I hope Tony Stark has already prepared the information to clear his name and admit to his misdeeds regarding Sokovia. I have been gathering information, and I'm ready to hear his full explanation."
"It's probably soon. He's a busy man, but he is preparing his case. Once he's ready, I'll inform you," Su Yi promised.
"I'll wait for his explanation," Wanda said, her eyes narrowing slightly in warning. "And thank you for taking care of Pietro. However, I don't want him to become an unscrupulous agent or a weapon for S.H.I.E.L.D."
Pietro, who had just endured a grueling training regime only to be treated like a child, felt his pride sting. "Wanda, I appreciate the concern, but you know, I was born a few minutes before you. I'm the older brother, and I know what I'm doing. I am training to protect us."
Wanda faced her brother, a flicker of exasperation crossing her features. "Okay. Just be careful who you trust, brother."
"Of course, I'm just cultivating his abilities. What kind of person he chooses to be is up to him. I merely provide the environment for maximum growth," Su Yi interjected smoothly, reinforcing his control without appearing to. "Well then, I won't bother you further. I'll take him back now."
The portal Wanda had learned to cast was, for now, too unstable and physically draining for intercontinental travel. So, this kind of logistical task still had to be performed by Su Yi.
Leaving the mystical tranquility of Kamar-Taj and the military rigor of the Helicarrier, Su Yi teleported directly back to his New York villa. He had planned to execute his time management plan by taking another beautiful companion out for dinner, but the moment he materialized in the foyer, an unfamiliar, delicious aroma of Asian spices and stir-fry hit him.
He found Qi Lin busy in the kitchen. She was wearing a simple, pale grey casual home outfit, her hair tied back, and she was gracefully moving between the cutting board and the stovetop, a pair of wireless earbuds in place, listening to quiet classical music. Her movements were beautiful—precise, fluid, and economical, every chop and stir executed with the same controlled focus she would apply to sighting a target.
Looking at Qi Lin's poised back and the focused concentration on her profile, Su Yi was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected the goddess-tier sniper from the Super God World to also be a beautiful chef.
Su Yi moved closer, quietly admiring the unexpected domestic scene. "Qi Lin, are you making dinner?"
Qi Lin startled, dropping a clean spoon with a small clatter as she heard his voice right behind her. Her body instantly tensed, a reflex that was immediately overridden when she realized who it was. She quickly recovered.
"You said I should prepare my own dinner," she replied, picking up the spoon. Her ability to instantly suppress surprise and return to calm was a testament to her training.
Su Yi had fully intended to go out, but the aroma and the sight of Qi Lin cooking filled his heart with unexpected warmth and pleasure. "I hadn't expected such efficiency. That smells incredible." He leaned over, looking at the stovetop. "I see two finished dishes, and you're still working on another. Three dishes is quite a feast for one person."
Qi Lin explained logically, "I am a first-generation divine body. My metabolic rate and recovery needs mean my appetite is considerably larger than an ordinary person's. That amount is necessary for full energy restoration."
Su Yi feigned a deep sigh of regret. "I am deeply saddened that I will miss out on this delicious, home-cooked meal prepared by my beautiful housemate."
He wasn't going to give up, however. "Is that so? Then why not just make two more dishes? If there's not enough rice, we can have noodles. I'm a surprisingly good sous chef."
Qi Lin paused, considering. It was an entirely reasonable request, and Su Yi was paying for the groceries. "Alright then, I'll make two more dishes. I'll make a stir-fried beef and a scallion scrambled egg. You prepare the ingredients; I'll handle the heat."
Su Yi enthusiastically joined in, pulling out the ingredients. "Okay. It's a deal."
Qi Lin was responsible for the high-heat stir-frying, while Su Yi prepared the beef slices and chopped the scallions beside her. The small space of the kitchen felt wonderfully intimate.
"Qi Lin, I didn't expect your cooking skills to be this good. It seems you had to be quite independent in your world."
"I'm not sure," Qi Lin mused, her eyes focused on flipping the wok contents. "It seems I always knew how, as if it was a core skill. Like assembling a rifle."
"I didn't expect to have a beautiful chef living here. It seems I won't have to cook myself anymore," Su Yi teased, trying to solidify his arrangement.
Qi Lin quickly countered, glancing at his hands. "No way. Cooking often can affect your skin and hands. You also know how to cook; I saw you handling that knife. We'll take turns, that's fair."
Su Yi smiled at the unexpected, subtle care in her tone. "Alright, then we'll take turns. Fifty-fifty split, starting tomorrow."
"That's more like it," Qi Lin replied sweetly, a small, genuine smile finally showing.
About ten minutes later, they were sitting at the dining table, enjoying the spontaneous meal. The food was genuinely superb—richly flavored, perfectly balanced, and highly satisfying. Su Yi quickly devoured his noodles while Qi Lin worked her way through her generous portion.
"Qi Lin, would you like to have a drink or two? To celebrate your first day and your housewarming?" Su Yi suggested.
"Sure. A low-alcohol wine would be acceptable," she agreed.
Su Yi chose a bottle of premium Italian white wine. Dining and drinking with a great beauty like Qi Lin was an undeniable pleasure. Her reserved demeanor only made the rare, genuine smiles more rewarding.
"Weren't you planning to go out for dinner with someone else?" Qi Lin asked directly, having overheard his earlier plans before the spontaneous kitchen rendezvous.
Su Yi took a sip of his wine, laying out his strategy. "Yes, I have too many wonderful companions—my 'Hong Yan'—and I'm busy with time management. But, I decided I can't get everything done today anyway, so I might as well continue tomorrow. What's more important, today is your first official day in this world, and it's a housewarming. We need to celebrate, and you need to stretch your legs."
Qi Lin knew his intentions were far from pure, but the innate connection, combined with his straightforward honesty and the genuine celebration, kept her anger in check. "Actually, it's fine without a celebration. I don't mind these things."
"You may not mind, but I can't ignore it," Su Yi pressed, continuing his calculated offense. "After dinner, let's go see a show. Mary Jane Watson might have a performance tonight in the city. We can go watch her together."
Qi Lin was surprised. "Mary Jane Watson? She's one of your close friends, isn't she? It seems a bit inappropriate for me to go with you, doesn't it?" She was testing his boundaries, checking for any attempt at concealment.
Su Yi met her gaze squarely, ensuring she saw his sincerity. "You are not a secret. You're just my newest companion, and you've just arrived. Mary Jane won't be angry; she understands my life is... complex. Even if you eventually become one of my closest companions, Mary Jane can accept it. You'll have to meet the people around me sooner or later. I can't just keep the beautiful sniper hidden away, can I?"
After Su Yi's gentle but firm persuasion, Qi Lin admitted the logic. Hiding away was contrary to her nature and training. An introduction was an efficient way to integrate.
"Alright then," Qi Lin said, meeting his eyes with a touch of resignation and excitement. "After dinner, let's go see the performance together."
The invitation was successful, the first concrete date secured. Su Yi finished his wine, pleased. Conquering the mind and heart of the goddess-tier sniper from the Super God World might not be as difficult as he first imagined.