The meeting between Tony and Xu Wenwu had ended on such a sour note that the planned dinner was scrapped. Hong Fei and Steve exchanged knowing glances—if they'd tried to sit down for a meal, fists would've flown by dessert. Tony glared at Xu Wenwu.
"Your little performance back there made things impossible for me."
Xu Wenwu smirked.
"Impossible? Then let's not bother."
With a sharp motion, he flipped the table.
The room froze. Everyone clutched their bowls, staring in stunned silence as dishes clattered to the floor. Steve escorted the group to the door, his tone apologetic.
"Thank you for your hard work."
They'd traveled all this way, only to leave hungry. Hard work indeed.
Hong Fei waved it off.
"Don't worry, it's no trouble. We'll be back soon enough."
His gaze shifted to Yelena, who stood behind Steve with a bored expression.
"Yelena's young," he added. "Please keep an eye on her for the next three months. If there are any issues, I'd appreciate your patience. But if she causes serious trouble, let me know directly."
Yelena rolled her eyes but quickly plastered on an innocent smile the moment Steve glanced her way. He nodded reassuringly at her, then turned back to Hong Fei.
"Don't worry, I'll keep her safe. At the very least, I won't let anyone bully her."
Hong Fei smiled in gratitude.
Steve's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
"To be honest, I wanted to be the first to swap, but Tony wouldn't agree. There was nothing I could do."
Hong Fei patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"It's fine. There'll be plenty of chances in the future."
Steve nodded firmly.
"Next time, I'll fight for it. I'm curious to see what makes your team so special. You know, I've always admired disciplined, organized groups—it's the soldier in me."
Hong Fei's eyes flicked to Matt Murdock, who was quietly boarding the aircraft.
"I'm looking forward to working with you too," he said to Matt. "I think it'll be a rewarding experience."
Steve smiled and waved. "Alright, see you next time."
"Goodbye!" Hong Fei called back.
Once aboard, the hatch sealed shut. The aircraft's engines roared to life, lifting it vertically into the sky. It ascended swiftly, then banked sharply, hurtling into the distance. Steve watched until it became a speck and vanished. His smile faded as he turned, meeting Coulson's stern gaze. Coulson's own smile slowly dissolved.
Steve strode toward Tony, who stood a short distance away. Their conversation quickly escalated into a heated exchange. Steve stormed off, his face dark, while Tony crossed his arms, clearly displeased.
Coulson sighed, already feeling the weight of his role as the Avengers' mediator. Steve wasn't just his idol—thanks to decades of government propaganda, Captain America had fans across the country, from toddlers to octogenarians, including some fiercely loyal ones. Tony Stark was no slouch either. His skills were unmatched, and his "Iron Man" persona had earned him a legion of new admirers. Not to mention, he was a billionaire. In this land, money could bend almost any rule.
In short, both men had massive followings. Either could run for President and stand a real chance. Combined with their individual capabilities and independent habits, mediating their conflicts was far from easy. Coulson didn't want to be caught in the middle, but with Fury no longer active in S.H.I.E.L.D., he had no choice. As one of Fury's designated liaisons for the Avengers, he couldn't shirk the responsibility.
After giving it some thought, he decided to look for Steve first. Not only because Steve was his idol, but because someone with Steve's grassroots background was more likely to listen to and accept advice from others. As for Stark, he was like a stone in a latrine—smelly and hard.
Bruce Banner, as one of the Avengers' main combatants, was usually reticent when not in Hulk form, provided the topic had nothing to do with his seven doctoral degrees. The most frequent action he took was scratching his head from time to time. Right now, he was just sighing continuously at Tony and Steve while shaking his head slightly.
Barton was considered Fury's confidant, though he was different from Coulson. In fact, he was similar to Natasha; both were mid-way converts, but he had been in the business a bit longer than Natasha, that was all. So, at this moment, he showed no reaction, maintaining a completely detached attitude.
Colonel Rhodes, War Machine, although he had the additional identity of an Avenger, his actual relationship was still with the government. He was good friends with Tony, but Steve was a fellow soldier, so he was currently very conflicted. Luke Cage was still immersed in the painful realization that his good buddy had been swapped away, unable to pull himself out.
Sam Wilson, Falcon, could probably only stand on Steve's side because he was the newest recruit and had been receiving personal instruction from Steve. Yelena, as the swapped member, blinked her eyes innocently on the side, looking very much like a young girl who had not yet seen much of the world.
Maria Hill, the acting Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., observed the whole process, but her performance was much more stable. Unlike Coulson, although her rank was higher than Coulson's during Fury's tenure and she was no less valued by Fury, she was clearly different from Coulson because she was not a die-hard subordinate of Fury.
For Fury's orders, she would execute the reasonable ones, and she would unhesitatingly raise questions about those she had doubts about. In short, she possessed her own independent thinking, judgment, and even execution spirit at all times. If one had to find Hill's background, it could only be the direct superior of S.H.I.E.L.D.: the World Security Council.
After observing the whole process, Hill remained cold and even somewhat indifferent, taking in everyone's expressions, yet she did not act for a long time. Her inner thoughts were: Analyzed as individuals, they could indeed be called qualified Avengers, but from the perspective of a team like the "Avengers," they were still far from it. What was missing? Maybe it was because Coulson didn't die.
On the other side, Hong Fei's team sat in the aircraft without saying a word, everyone rooted to their seats like statues. Matt, relying on his superhuman senses, could feel the atmosphere at the moment, so he unconsciously gripped his blind cane, feeling a bit uneasy. The high-speed aircraft soon arrived over Sokovia.
Ivan, who was piloting the aircraft, turned to look at Hong Fei in the co-pilot seat. Before he could ask, Hong Fei nodded directly. Thus, the aircraft soon landed at the Sky Base. Since the member exchange agreement had been successfully signed, there was no need to keep the Sky Base hidden any longer.
More people would be swapped over in the future, and it was even highly likely that Tony would be the one to come next. Hong Fei didn't think the Sky Base could evade his surveillance. Therefore, rather than being discovered in the future, it was better to show it openly now.
Anyway, he wasn't afraid of anyone daring to make a move against his Sky Base now; otherwise, he could directly plant a "little mushroom" precisely on their forehead. Stepping off the aircraft, Matt was immediately shocked upon sensing where he was. Hong Fei looked at him and asked directly, "We don't have any missions right now, and there are no action plans in the short term. There were nine of us in total, myself included. You can pick someone to shadow for as long as you like, observing their daily routine until you decide to switch to someone else. Whoever you choose, I'll make sure they don't hide anything from you. You'll have full access to their life, free and clear. If there's something specific you want to learn, you can bring it up—provided the person agrees. How does that sound?"
Matt stiffened at the words, adjusting his sunglasses to mask his reaction.
"That's a very generous arrangement. Thank you."
"Cut the formalities. Think it over. Who do you want to follow first? Or if there's anyone you'd rather avoid, say so now. Since everyone's here, speak up, and I'll handle it directly. No point wasting time."
Matt frowned, considering for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't know your team or the members yet, so I'll defer to your judgment."
"Good."
Hong Fei glanced at the row of people standing behind him, then pointed casually.
"You. Stop looking around—it's you. Starting today, Matt shadows your every move. Answer any questions he has, clearly and thoroughly. If there's something he wants to learn, it's up to you whether to teach him. Understood?"
Big Head pouted slightly.
"Got it, boss."
Hong Fei turned back to Matt.
"From now on, you'll follow Big Head. If you want to switch, find someone else yourself. But let me make this clear: they're obligated to explain things to you, and you're free to voice your opinions. However, the final call is theirs. Additionally, we have an operation in a month. You can participate, but during the op, you follow orders without question. Otherwise, you'll face the consequences."
Matt's chest tightened.
Hong Fei continued, "Of course, you're free to watch instead. But if you do, keep your mouth shut. No objections, no commentary. Otherwise, you'll be held accountable. And if you deliberately oppose us, you'll only have one identity: enemy. Do you understand?"
"This..."
"What 'this'?"
"I..."
"What 'I'? I asked if you understand. Is that so difficult?"
Matt inhaled sharply.
"I understand."
"Good."
Hong Fei turned to the others.
"Same goes for all of you. What I just told Big Head applies to everyone. If Matt comes to you, no one refuses. That's the rule. Understand?"
"Understood!"
The response was immediate and unified, each voice firm and resonant. Matt stood silently, his emotions tangled. Based on Hong Fei's tone and the way he'd laid out the terms, the upcoming mission likely wouldn't be straightforward.
Given his limited but significant history with Hong Fei—the man had once shot him in the leg without hesitation—he suspected it would be something unsavory. Still, watching the team's unquestioning loyalty to Hong Fei, their cohesion and unity, he sensed a dynamic entirely different from what he'd experienced with the Avengers. In that sense, he'd already learned something valuable the moment he arrived.
As a team, there must be a core leader, someone who gives orders, and others who follow without debate. Though he hadn't yet seen the tangible benefits of this structure, his instincts told him there was merit to it. When the briefing ended, Hong Fei leaped down from the Sky Base into the castle. Dr. Helen Cho waited quietly in the bedroom instead of the laboratory. She sat cross-legged on the thick, soft carpet, her posture serene. When Hong Fei entered, he walked straight to her and settled down opposite her. Moments later, Helen opened her eyes, meeting Hong Fei's gaze. She shook her head, disappointment flickering across her face.
"Don't rush yourself," Hong Fei said gently, his voice steady and reassuring. "You've only just begun. Even in K'un-Lun, where Qi is practiced more than anywhere else, not everyone masters this ability quickly. Once you do, though, it'll set you apart from ninety percent of ordinary people."
Helen nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful.
"I don't want to hurry, but Qi... it's different. When I learn other subjects, even if they're challenging, I have the foundation of science to rely on. I know that if I study hard, I'll eventually understand. But Qi? It's something I've never encountered before. Until now, I didn't even believe such power existed. It feels... like trying to build a castle in the air. I don't know if I can truly grasp it, and that uncertainty worries me."
"You're right," Hong Fei acknowledged.
"Qi does contradict Earth's current scientific understanding. But don't doubt yourself—and most importantly, don't doubt me."
As he spoke, he raised his right hand. A golden thread of Dragon Power materialized, coiling and shimmering in the air.
"Qi itself is invisible, but I've infused it with Dragon Power to make it tangible. Watch closely."
The golden thread adhered to the fabric of Hong Fei's clothing, moving in tandem with his breath and intention. It traced a slow, deliberate path along the surface of his body, completing a full circuit.
"Qi doesn't appear from nothing," he explained.
"It originates in the space between breaths. The universe is filled with countless forms of energy, and Qi is one of them. Once refined, absorbed, and stored by the human body, it takes on unique characteristics. Close your eyes. Feel it."
Hong Fei extended a finger, pointing toward the center of Helen's forehead from a distance. His presence was calm yet commanding, a guide in this unfamiliar terrain.
A month slipped by. Matt had spent several days in the laboratory with Big Head, but boredom eventually drove him away. After bidding farewell to Big Head, he sought out Ivan. Yet Ivan proved even more reclusive, rarely leaving the lab except for meals and sleep. Matt lasted a day before giving up. Neither biology nor mechanical science aligned with his legal expertise.
So he turned to Antonia, the youngest of the group. This time, the two seemed to share common ground. Matt hadn't bothered seeking out a fourth person since. Today, Antonia sparred with him, her usual enthusiasm undimmed. But suddenly, she paused mid-movement. Matt, ever perceptive, retracted his long stick just in time.
"The boss is calling us," Antonia said, her tone urgent. "We need to assemble. Now."