Hong Fei stepped forward and found himself inside a building. Bookshelves lined both walls, and at the center stood a dark wooden table bearing a model spire. Turning, he saw the Sorcerer Ancient One exactly as expected—monk's robes, hands clasped behind her back, that inscrutable smile playing on her lips.
"Good afternoon, Sorcerer."
He inclined his head.
"Have you eaten?"
Ancient One flicked her wrist, the small fan in her hand snapping open with practiced ease.
"I have. And you?"
Hong Fei glanced down at his clothes.
"You can probably tell I've been busy. Got any food here?"
"Of course."
With a wave of her fan, a Portal enveloped them both, the space around them shifting instantly.
Hong Fei turned his head—then barely suppressed an eye-twitch. They'd moved barely ten meters.
"Seriously? That's your grand magic trick?"
Pulling out a chair, he sat and dug into the meal without ceremony. Ancient One watched from across the table, silent. After a few bites, Hong Fei spoke around a mouthful of food.
"If you've got something to say, Sorcerer, just say it."
"Very well."
She set her fan down with deliberate care.
"When do you plan to leave Earth?"
Hong Fei's chopsticks stilled. He chewed slower.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Haven't you considered it?"
"Obviously. But how would you know?"
Ancient One's smile didn't waver.
"A guess."
Liar. Hong Fei set his bowl down.
"I'll leave. But not permanently."
"I know. Earth holds your connections. Your power base."
"That's part of it."
He jabbed his chopsticks toward her.
"More importantly, I'm human. I'd rather live with humans than blue-skinned freaks or golden snobs."
"The Kree and Sovereign would take offense."
"Let them. I'll beat them until they agree with me."
"Do you always default to force?"
"Yes."
Hong Fei leaned back.
"In this world, it's the simplest solution. The most effective."
A pause.
"But not the only one. Sometimes, strategy works better."
Ancient One's eyes gleamed.
"I've noticed. When men of violence employ cunning, it tends to catch opponents off guard."
"Exactly."
Hong Fei smirked.
"People assume brute strength means a brute mind. They hate admitting someone can have both."
"Is that vanity talking?"
"Fact."
"So?"
Ancient One pressed.
"Your timeline?"
"No fixed plan. Sometime next year, probably."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
"I'd like to act while you're away."
Hong Fei choked on his rice.
"Well. That's blunt."
If Ancient One wanted something done, though, he'd play along. Counting on his fingers, he frowned.
"You've got over two years. Why rush?"
She sighed. "A thousand years of service would make anyone impatient for retirement."
Ah. That explained it. Hong Fei mirrored her sigh with theatrical precision.
"I wish I could be as carefree as you."
Ancient One couldn't suppress a chuckle—then dropped her bombshell.
"Would you like to become Sorcerer Supreme?"
Hong Fei's eyebrows shot up.
"Are you joking?"
She shook her head.
He considered for barely a heartbeat.
"Obviously, I'd take it."
"I've always believed you can never have too many skills."
Hong Fei leaned forward, eyes bright.
"Magic interests me greatly."
"The Sorcerer Supreme must be more than a student of magic."
The Ancient One's tone carried centuries of weight.
"Of course. Rights and obligations go hand in hand."
He spread his hands.
"If I held the title, I'd take my duties seriously. But—"
"But?"
"Like we discussed earlier, I wouldn't remain on Earth permanently."
The Ancient One nodded.
"That would present difficulties. Departing in person means you might miss an invasion or be unable to return swiftly. Even a Portal has its limits across vast distances."
A knowing smile touched her lips.
"Though if you could overcome such obstacles, I suspect the title itself would hold little appeal."
"Fair point."
After a thoughtful pause, she extended an invitation.
"Should you wish to study magic, you're welcome at Kamar-Taj."
"Done!"
Hong Fei's agreement came instantly. The difficulty of spellcraft concerned him less than the prospect of sparring with Kamar-Taj's masters. Defeating each in combat would prove he'd grasped their arts—not arrogance, but the natural outcome of his abilities.
"Your Dragon Power fascinates me," the Ancient One remarked abruptly.
Hong Fei barely blinked, now accustomed to her conversational leaps.
"It is remarkable," he agreed.
"Your application differs entirely from previous Iron Fists."
"Oh?"
His attention sharpened.
"You've seen many. How did theirs manifest?"
A distant look entered her eyes.
"Their power remained internal or flowed through weapons. Few could project it externally."
Her gaze refocused on him.
"More crucially, none manifested draconic forms like yours. Even your chest emblem differs—their Shou-Lao versus your Eastern dragon, distinct again from your White Dragon."
Hong Fei's smile held private amusement.
"That's the true dragon as I envision it."
"Precisely the difference. You reshape the Dragon Power's very symbol. I believe you don't merely wield it—you understand it profoundly."
He kept silent, thinking: Soul fusion explains that.
"Yet each Iron Fist ever received only half the Dragon Power."
"Half?"
Hong Fei's eyebrows rose. He'd known his power felt incomplete, but this was news. Half exceeded his estimate—he'd assumed one-third at most. Had Shou-Lao been unusually generous?
The Ancient One continued, "The other half is Shou-Lao."
Hong Fei's frown deepened.
"Say that again?"
"You heard correctly."
Her emphasis made the distinction clear: not that Shou-Lao possessed the remaining power, but that the entity itself constituted the Dragon Power.
"Is it a lifeform born from the Dragon Power?" Hong Fei asked uncertainly.
"No."
She shook her head.
"Your phrasing still separates them. They've always been one. The Dragon Power is alive—Shou-Lao is that life."
"Then why only half?"
"Because of K'un-Lun."
The bond between K'un-Lun and Shou-Lao stretches back through centuries. While I don't know the exact details, Shou-Lao must be bound by some ancient pact—compelled to bestow half its Dragon Power upon K'un-Lun's mightiest warrior, forging each generation's Iron Fist as the city's protector. There's an exchange happening here."
Hong Fei gave a slow nod.
"That tracks."
"But if the Dragon Power originates from Shou-Lao, why hasn't it reclaimed what's rightfully its own?"
"Because it's currently dead," Ancient One replied, "and hasn't completed its cycle of rebirth."
Hong Fei's brow furrowed. This changed everything. Coming from Ancient One, the information carried weight. If true, the Dragon Power flowing through his veins wasn't as secure as he'd believed. The portion fused with his soul might be permanently his, but what of the rest? Dragon Power Fusion Rate: 27.04% That left 72.96% vulnerable to recall the moment Shou-Lao awakened. Hong Fei's jaw tightened. Like hell he'd let that happen. What's mine stays mine. No one takes what I won't surrender. Ancient One studied his sudden intensity.
"Do you credit all your strength to the Dragon Power?"
"Not a chance."
The denial came sharp as a blade.
"I'd excel with any power—might even surpass my current self. The Dragon Power simply fits."
He gestured dismissively.
"Look at history's Iron Fists. Most were mediocre at best, especially the last two. The power didn't make them strong—it's me who makes the Dragon Power formidable."
Hong Fei drove the point home like a hammer strike: "My strength belongs to Hong Fei. The Dragon Power's just along for the ride."
"Good answer."
Ancient One's smile deepened, eyes glinting with approval.
"Still, you'll want to claim the remaining Dragon Power before Shou-Lao does. Unless you're itching for a messy fight."
"Understood. My thanks, Sorcerer."
Hong Fei pressed his fists together in genuine gratitude. This warning might have saved him from disaster. He'd assumed the unfused Dragon Power was already his in all but name—never suspecting the danger beneath the surface. Worse, if Shou-Lao is the Dragon Power's source, it already senses their severed connection. That explains K'un-Lun's sudden interest in me. The beast will rush its rebirth to reclaim what's missing. And one more complication—Shou-Lao's female. A dragoness plays by different rules than her male counterparts. Far more unpredictable.
"Think nothing of it. Finished eating?"
"Surprisingly good for London Sanctum cuisine. You order from Chinatown?"
As Hong Fei wiped his mouth, Ancient One flicked her wrist. The world blurred—then resolved atop a windswept peak. Looking around, ancient buildings were nestled against the mountainside like sleeping giants. Below, robed figures moved between structures, their paths occasionally illuminated by Kamar-Taj's signature golden sparks.
"Kamar-Taj?"
"Indeed."
Ancient One pointed to the winding trail below.
"The entrance hides from ordinary sight. When you return, follow this path until the veil parts."
"Keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles lie ahead."
Hong Fei nodded, then grinned.
"Tell me something—does Kamar-Taj have Wi-Fi? If I text you, could you portal me back?"
The Ancient One's lips curved in silent amusement.
"Fine," Hong Fei huffed, pocketing his phone.
"I'll fly myself next time."
He turned away, thumb already swiping across his screen as he muttered under his breath. The Ancient One arched an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to connect to your Wi-Fi."
"You know the password?"
Hong Fei scratched his head.
"Took a guess. 'HHHHGYSL' didn't work."
Sokovia. The White Dragon descended onto the Sky Base, its massive form casting shadows as it deposited crates with meticulous care. With a final beat of its wings, it dissolved into the clouds. Natasha emerged from the cabin, a squad of Black Widows at her back. She scanned the deck before catching Jessica's eye.
"Where's the boss?"
"Meeting an old friend, he said."
Jessica shrugged.
"Oh, and I think I saw magic."
"Magic?"
"Yeah. Sparkly circle. He stepped through and vanished."
Natasha smirked and pointed behind her.
"Like that?"
Jessica spun around just as Hong Fei strolled out of a shimmering portal.
"Back already?"
Natasha teased.
"Didn't go far. Just a quick European tour."
Hong Fei jerked his chin at the crates.
"You two handle inventory. And—" He paused.
"Set aside anything interesting. I owe someone a thank-you gift."
Ulysses straightened as Hong Fei approached.
"We can leak the transaction details in three days."
"Good. Where for the exchange?"
"Your call, sir."
Hong Fei tilted his head.
"Where would you pick?"
Ulysses tapped his chin.
"Seoul or Tokyo. My usual ports."
Hong Fei's lips twitched.
"Seoul's better," Ulysses added. "Tokyo cracked down after that tank incident. Inspections are brutal now."
The twitch became a full grin.
"You know who drove that tank?"
"No, but I'd love to meet them. Getting an Abrams through customs? Legendary."
Hong Fei pointed at himself. Ulysses' jaw dropped.
"Scrap Seoul."
Hong Fei clapped him on the shoulder.
"Tokyo it is. I've got a soft spot for the place."
You might not know, but whenever I hear that name, I feel an inexplicable warmth in my chest. His smile widened, unstoppable as sunrise.