Tony, look on the bright side. Maybe the satellite didn't capture you taking off your pants. Or, even if it did, the Military wouldn't sell it to the tabloids," Zhou Xuan said, feigning comfort.
With that interruption, Tony Stark also snapped back to reality. Since Zhou Xuan, who had just used extraordinary power, didn't seem to care, the satellite must have just found them.
Moreover, even if the previous footage was captured, he shouldn't be the one panicking. He just took off his pants; its value is far less than spatial equipment and superpowers.
But... why did he still feel so panicked?
"Let's wait here for a while. A helicopter will probably come to rescue You soon, Tony," Zhou Xuan said.
"No, no, no..." Tony Stark shook his head repeatedly, determined to take Zhou Xuan with him, and said,
"You're wrong. They're not just coming to rescue me, but also You, Zhou. Aren't You coming with me? This desert is quite large, and it will take a long time to walk out of it on foot."
"Can I? Tony. You know, I'm an unregistered person in this World, with no existing information. If I enter the Military's sight like this, won't I be interrogated?" Zhou Xuan asked.
"Hey, Zhou, none of that is a problem for me." Tony Stark raised an eyebrow, revealing a slightly smug smile:
"In the United States, the government and society serve wealthy people like me. I can easily solve your identity problem with just one phone call."
"Is this capitalism?" Zhou Xuan exclaimed.
"That's right, this is capital. The United States is a paradise for the rich and hell for the poor."
Tony Stark spread his hands towards the Sun, making a gesture of embracing the World.
Seeing Tony Stark's unbridled arrogance, Zhou Xuan didn't pay much attention.
Rules have always been to restrain ordinary people and protect the vested interests of those in power.
In a capitalist society, super-rich individuals like Tony Stark are the ones in power!
After embracing the World for a while, Tony Stark suddenly heard a roar from afar. He immediately looked up at the distant sky.
At the end of his vision, three black dots appeared.
A relaxed smile appeared on his face. Tony knew that his rescue helicopter had arrived.
As time passed, the roar grew louder, and the black dots also revealed the outline of helicopters, constantly enlarging in Tony Stark's eyes until he could clearly see the people inside.
"Hey... Rhodey..."
Tony Stark shouted loudly to his good friend sitting at the helicopter's hatch, simultaneously taking two steps forward and spreading his arms, waiting for his good friend's concerned hug.
Seeing Tony Stark looking very well, Colonel Phillips James Rhodey was no longer in a hurry. After the helicopter had settled, he slowly walked over with the search and rescue team.
Seeing Rhodey like this, Tony Stark twitched his mouth, turned directly to the side, put on an indifferent expression, and looked at the distant sky, seemingly lost in thought.
Colonel Phillips James Rhodey walked up to the two with a smile, looked at the neatly dressed Tony Stark, and then at Zhou Xuan, who was similarly dressed, guessing in his heart that Tony might have been rescued by Zhou Xuan.
However, Zhou Xuan's hands were empty, and he wasn't carrying any firearms. He didn't look like someone who could take on a group of Terrorists.
With doubts, Rhodey approached Tony, patted his arm, and teased, "Hey, Tony, where's your happy Humvee?"
'Happy Humvee' was the name Tony Stark gave to the car he rode in on his way back after testing the power of his newly developed Jericho missile.
Rhodey wanted to ride in the same car with him at the time but was refused, told by Tony to go sit in his own 'angry Humvee' in the back.
As for the fate of the 'happy Humvee'?
The scene was too beautiful; only wreckage was left after it was blown up.
Tony Stark's eye twitched when he heard Rhodey's teasing. He recalled his terror when he was attacked by Artillery Fire at close range earlier, gave his bad friend a sidelong glance, and said nothing, waiting for his gesture.
Rhodey shook his head helplessly and had to give him a hug, saying with concern, "Next time You go out, don't leave me again, okay?"
After receiving comfort from his good friend, Tony Stark nodded, indicating his agreement. Then he patted Rhodey's back, put his arm around his shoulder, and pointed at Zhou Xuan, saying:
"Let me introduce You to my new friend I met in the desert, Zhou Xuan.
He is a Kung Fu master, and I have hired him as my Kung Fu consultant, specifically to teach me Kung Fu.
Next time I encounter Terrorists, I will knock them down one by one with a single punch, so You won't have to rescue me again."
Kung Fu master? Knocking down Terrorists one by one with a single punch.
Rhodey's forehead couldn't help but wrinkle.
Please, the Terrorists who kidnapped You this time even used missiles. How can You take them down with Kung Fu?
"Rhodey, what's with that expression? Don't You believe I can take down Terrorists?" Tony Stark yelled at Rhodey.
After putting on the Iron Man Armor he built in the cave, he truly knocked down Terrorists one by one, making them cry for their parents.
"Colonel Phillips James Rhodey, a Military man, it's a pleasure to meet You." Rhodey ignored Tony Stark, extended his right hand to Zhou Xuan, and said.
"Zhou Xuan, a martial artist practicing in the desert, it's also a pleasure to meet You." Zhou Xuan said as he shook hands with Rhodey.
Rhodey's first impression of Zhou Xuan's hand was that it was firm and strong, but his second impression was the exact opposite: it was soft and pliable.
This contradictory feeling greatly shocked Rhodey. The perfect fusion of strength and flexibility, just by feel, indicated a physical constitution far beyond ordinary people.
Perhaps he really could take down Terrorists one by one with a single punch? This thought inexplicably arose in Rhodey's mind. After nodding to Zhou Xuan, he turned to Tony Stark and asked:
"Alright, Tony, tell me, where are those Terrorists? I'll contact the U.S. Military Base immediately and dispatch counter-terrorism forces to wipe them out.
Also, how did You escape? Did Zhou Xuan rescue You?"
Tony Stark opened his mouth, his words swirling a few times before he swallowed the part about him building the Iron Man Armor and massacring the Terrorists.
The Arc Reactor combined with the Iron Man Armor was a powerful weapon. He didn't want it to end up in the hands of Terrorists to be used against him, the developer, just like his Stark Industries missiles.
This powerful weapon, the Iron Man Armor, was better kept in his own hands as an interesting toy and should not be sold as a weapon.
So he went along with Rhodey's words and said, "That's right, Zhou saved me. He rescued me from the Terrorists."
Rhodey raised an eyebrow and looked at Tony, instinctively feeling that something wasn't right.
Given Tony Stark's arrogant and unruly personality, why wasn't he bickering this time?
Turning to look at Zhou Xuan, his gaze scanning him up and down, Rhodey felt some suspicion.
Although he didn't know how strong Zhou Xuan's martial arts were, even if Zhou Xuan's physical constitution was several times that of an ordinary person, he couldn't deal with a group of fully armed and heavily firepowered Terrorists with just his bare hands, let alone with Tony as a burden.
"Zhou, can You tell me how You rescued Tony? I need to report to my superiors," Rhodey asked Zhou Xuan.