Tony's rebuilt beach villa welcomed an unexpected guest. The moment he stepped inside, Tony fired off three rapid questions: "Why are you here? Why do we keep running into each other? And why are you always causing trouble?"
Behind him, the other Avengers suddenly found the ceiling fascinating as they shuffled past with bowed heads. Only Steve paused to hide a smile and give Hong Fei's shoulder a sympathetic pat before moving aside.
New recruit Yelena bit her lip hard, her face contorting with suppressed laughter. Banner, Barton, Rhodes, Luke Cage, and Sam all sidled into the room like they were trying to avoid stepping on landmines.
Hong Fei strolled to the living room like he owned the place. He vaulted onto the sofa, snatched an apple from the coffee table, and crunched into it before drawling, "That's slander."
"Bullshit," Tony shot back.
"Language," Steve chided automatically.
Tony rolled his eyes skyward before dropping into the chair opposite Hong Fei. Crossing his arms, he demanded, "Then explain what the hell just happened."
"Didn't you already check the scene? Some CIA clowns were chasing two international thieves—the 'Male and Female Duo' or whatever ridiculous name they picked. My grandma could've come up with something better."
"So you killed them?"
"I didn't kill them!"
Tony's face remained stony.
"That woman's corpse is currently cooling on a rooftop."
Hong Fei had the decency to look sheepish.
"I barely touched her! Besides, she'd already shot several CIA agents and took potshots at me with a sniper rifle. That's textbook self-defense. And the guy's still alive, isn't he?"
"Cervical fracture. Deep coma. Might as well start picking out his coffin."
"I could fix him."
Tony exhaled sharply.
"What about the CIA agents? Why open fire on them? Why kill one?"
"Now that's unfair." Hong Fei sat upright and called out, "Jarvis!"
The AI responded instantly. "Yes, Mr. Hong?"
Tony's eye twitched.
"Pull up the surveillance footage from earlier. Let our brilliant Mr. Stark see the truth."
Jarvis hesitated.
"Sir?"
Tony waved a hand.
"Just show it."
The projected footage drew everyone's attention. The first half showed the CIA's botched operation—agents getting outmaneuvered, taking casualties, and being pinned down until Hong Fei burst onto the scene like a one-man SWAT team.
The second half played out in stark clarity: Hong Fei's Ten Rings disabling rooftop snipers, the CIA surrounding him, then—crucially—one agent suddenly raising his weapon. What followed was a blur of motion as Hong Fei reacted, and within seconds, every armed agent lay disarmed and groaning. Except one.
Tony frowned at the footage of the now-deceased agent making his fatal decision.
"Was he always this stupid? Did he not know who he was pointing a gun at?"
Given Hong Fei's track record, it seemed less like bravery and more like a death wish. Served him right.
Hong Fei spread his hands.
"See? They started it. At worst, it's justified defense."
Steve settled beside him with a knowing smile.
"I had a feeling it'd be something like this."
Tony watched them, convinced Steve had been thoroughly corrupted by Hong Fei's influence.
"But you didn't have to kill them."
"That's not right, and it makes absolutely no sense."
Hong Fei shook his head vigorously. As confused looks circulated, he activated his three combination cards before explaining: "First, let's agree I was helping them initially. No dispute there, right?"
Nods all around.
"Second point—they were the ones who came after me first, right?"
The group nodded in agreement.
"If I were just some regular guy, I'd have to surrender when they pointed guns at me. No matter what they did to me, I'd have no choice but to take it. But as it happens, I'm... not exactly ordinary. So when faced with an unknown threat, I took decisive action. That's not wrong, is it?"
More nods.
Tony cut in, "But they're CIA agents! Government employees—"
"What's that got to do with me? If anything, I've got zero trust in your government, and I despise the CIA."
Tony shot back reflexively, "You're standing on American soil—you follow our laws!"
Hong Fei didn't miss a beat.
"Does your law say decent citizens have to let themselves get held at gunpoint?"
"You—"
"What 'you'? Now that you mention laws, remind me to have Big Head assemble a legal team. I'll be suing them later."
Tony scoffed.
"With what grounds? You were packing illegal firearms."
"Actually, I've been licensed for ages. All paperwork in order. Annoying, isn't it?"
Tony's face twisted—he looked ready to explode.
Hong Fei pressed on.
"They threatened me, and I've got witnesses. The law shouldn't protect violent organizations—it should shield vulnerable groups like our unofficial ops."
Tony suddenly jabbed a finger.
"Hold on! You went there to capture someone, not play hero. Otherwise why'd you show up out of nowhere?"
"Fair point. But I did help. Maybe I didn't assist in their actual target, but I prevented further casualties, no?"
"You shot them! Every last one!"
Steve chose that moment to interject.
"They fired first." Tony's mouth snapped shut like he'd swallowed a lemon. Steve turned to Hong Fei.
"Legally speaking, you're correct."
Hong Fei gave him an approving glance before continuing.
"Originally, I showed restraint. No fatalities—just removed their ability to harm me. Too harsh? I don't think so. But then someone aimed at my back, forcing me to protect myself. Let's revisit the core issue: Everything happened because I could fight back. You claim I shouldn't have—so what was the alternative? When your life's on the line, survival instinct kicks in. If I were ordinary, I might be dead now. Or they might be, because I wouldn't have had the means to save them at all. If they'd died, they'd pose no threat—so why rush out early? Wasn't that me trying to save lives? If my counterattack was wrong simply because my strength differs from others', then what's truly at fault? My reaction? My abilities? Or my very existence?"
The room fell into pensive silence.
"The law treats everyone equally. If I'm held responsible for being strong while they get a pass for being weak, isn't that just bullying the capable? Am I wrong?"
Another round of nods—even from Tony. The others shot him odd looks. Seriously? Arguing one minute, convinced the next?
Under their scrutiny, Tony snapped back to reality, his face flushing crimson. He abruptly stood and stalked to the bar, muttering under his breath.
Had Hong Fei just explained the situation to them? Maybe. But it definitely wasn't just that.
He just took the opportunity of this incident to give this group of heroes a preventative shot in advance, because the dilemmas and choices they will face in the future will be far more difficult than what Hong Fei just encountered, and the situation will be even more complicated. People are always blindly demanding equality. But who has ever taken the initiative to give these heroes equality?
Even if Master Hong doesn't want to admit it himself, in fact, he has already become a hero in the eyes of most ordinary people, and he has quite a lot of fans. Although his abilities dictate that his path will be half good and half bad, the things he does basically won't touch the interests of ordinary people.
Assuming one day it does, then ordinary people certainly wouldn't have the life to treat him as a villain. In short, there are times when he acts as the 'Dragon King,' a righteous hero in the eyes of the public. When that time comes, he doesn't want to suffer that kind of grievance. Tony was opening a drink unhappily, and Steve chuckled: "Don't blame him, he has always had this temper. By the way, why are you catching that person?" Hong Fei asked back: "Do you know Wakanda?"
"Heard of it."
"I'm going to let you see what the real Wakanda is."
Steve raised an eyebrow. The others heard it and although they were puzzled, they didn't ask. Yelena said excitedly: "Another operation? Can I join?"
Hong Fei turned his head with a full smile: "No!"
Yelena's smile froze immediately.
Hong Fei pretended to realize: "Oh, right, I suddenly remembered, we just finished an operation a while ago, there were many cute animals. Natasha even got a pet with six legs and four wings. We even have a dragon now!"
Yelena pouted immediately. Seeing Hong Fei was about to say more, she immediately covered her ears and ran away while shaking her head: "I'm not listening, I'm not listening..."
Looking at the way the two communicated, a trace of envy appeared in Steve's eyes. Up to now, the atmosphere of the entire Avengers team was still a bit awkward, like a bunch of completely incompatible foods mixed together and forced into a cake, which was neither good-looking nor delicious.
The others couldn't help but look at their teammates out of the corner of their eyes, sighing silently in their hearts. Finally, it was up to the old man to break the awkwardness. Steve asked curiously: "Is there really such a creature as a dragon?"
"Of course, but not the dragon you are used to seeing, but an Eastern dragon. Although it doesn't look fully grown yet, it's pretty much the same. Want to see it?"
"Sure!"
Hong Fei went to the floor-to-ceiling window and waved at the clouds in the sky. Immediately, the white clouds suddenly moved without wind. The white clouds scattered like mist, and a winding, slender body elegantly swam down from above the clouds. As the distance continued to close, the white dragon's body appeared increasingly real and huge.
When it floated outside the window with its long dragon body curved, and its dragon head, which was taller than an adult, faced the window, the Avengers all came to the window to admire it. Even Tony put down his reserve and walked up with his wine glass. Everyone's eyes were full of amazement. Yelena: "Can I ride it?"
The white dragon glanced at her immediately.
Yelena was slightly startled: "It's so smart."
Hong Fei: "I think it's much smarter than you."
Yelena couldn't help but hum. Hong Fei turned around and said goodbye with a smile: "Alright, I should go."
Steve was stunned: "Why not stay for a meal before leaving?"
"Forget it, the owner of this place doesn't welcome me."
Tony turned his back immediately upon hearing this.
Steve gave a helpless smile.
"You're overthinking it. Tony's not that kind of person."
"Relax, I know," Hong Fei chuckled.
"Just messing with you. I've got places to be—you guys eat. Looks like you've got important Avengers business to discuss."
Steve nodded.
"Let me walk you out."
Hong Fei turned to Yelena.
"Eat up. You're looking thin."
"Really?"
Yelena cupped her face, surprised.
"Yeah. When you look down, your chin only folds twice now. Used to be three."
Yelena's head snapped up. She bared her teeth at him, eyes narrowing into lethal slits.
Outside, Steve watched as the white dragon coiled through the air before dipping its head. Hong Fei stepped onto its scaled neck with practiced ease.
"Head back inside. See you around!"
"Safe flight," Steve called, waving as the dragon ascended. He couldn't help the idea taking root—maybe recruiting Hong personally for the Avengers wasn't such a stretch.
Reentering the house, Steve caught Tony's outburst mid-rant.
"Jarvis! Tell the kitchen to—no, scratch that. Make the usual portion. I'll use it to feed the damn dog!"
Jarvis: "Sir, there is no—"
"Shut up!"
"...Alright."