Chapter Fifty-Nine: Awaiting the Right Moment

“Shouldn’t he be scorned? Can’t we let Tony blow off some steam?” Natasha smiled warmly.

Yang Xin shook his head, waved his hand, and released the people from the mirror dimension. “Everyone, go your separate ways. Wanda, Hawkeye, and Falcon—come back to S.H.I.E.L.D. with me. Black Panther, if you’re interested, you can head over to this place.” As he spoke, Yang Xin cast another illusion, passing Zemo’s information to Hawkeye through the spell. Hawkeye gave Yang Xin a thoughtful look, then gestured, and a highly futuristic aircraft appeared by Black Panther’s side. As Black Panther stepped aboard, the entire craft vanished instantly.

“Damn, it can turn invisible too.”

“Should we follow and take a look?” Natasha asked.

“No need. Some things Tony has to face himself. Still, I feel uneasy about him going alone. I’d better give him some insurance.” With that, Yang Xin dialed Pepper Potts.

“Hi, Miss Potts.”

“Hello, Xin, long time no see.”

“Can you pinpoint Tony’s exact location?”

“Of course. Tony never puts up any barriers with me.”

“Good, suit up in your Iron Armor and go help Tony. He’s about to face a major turning point in his life, and only you can support him.”

“What happened? Is Tony in danger?” Pepper’s voice was tense.

“Not exactly, but just in case, put on your armor. As for what happened…” Yang Xin hesitated for a long time before finally saying, “The real cause of Tony’s parents’ death. But I think it’s best not to tell him just yet—let him unravel it himself.”

There was a long, heavy silence on the other end. At last, she replied softly, “Understood.”

“Let’s go! Back to S.H.I.E.L.D.!” Yang Xin drew a glowing, golden portal with a sweep of his hands. One by one, everyone stepped through. As Yang Xin was about to step into the portal himself, he paused, sensing he’d forgotten something. He thought for a long time, but nothing came to mind.

As his left foot crossed the threshold, he glanced back instinctively—and there he saw Spider-Man, Peter Parker, frozen solid and utterly alone.

“Damn!” Yang Xin hurried back out, hefted the ice-bound Peter Parker onto his shoulder, and stepped through the portal.

He hadn’t even set foot on the ground in S.H.I.E.L.D. when Nick Fury’s roar greeted him. “How many times have I told you—knock before you come in! And what’s the meaning of bringing them here?”

“If I don’t bring them to you, then where?” Yang Xin retorted irritably.

“They can stay in S.H.I.E.L.D. for twenty-four hours at most. After that, the Security Council will take them away,” Fury replied, face impassive.

“Why?” Yang Xin was puzzled.

“To put it bluntly, S.H.I.E.L.D. is already essentially an independent organization. The Security Council won’t tolerate another power outside their control. That’s the real reason behind the Sokovia Accords. All that talk about public panic and so on is just political nonsense—do I need to spell it out any clearer?” Fury rolled his eyes.

“I see.” Yang Xin nodded. As Hawkeye and the others grew anxious at the prospect of impending imprisonment, Yang Xin abruptly changed the subject. “By the way, what happened to Hammer Industries?”

“Hammer Industries?” Fury shot him a glance. “To put it in your Eastern terms, after decades of hard work, it all went up in smoke overnight. After some wrangling with the military, they ended up as an in-house weapons manufacturer for the armed forces.”

“They didn’t go bankrupt?” Yang Xin was surprised.

“Does it matter? Hammer Industries was always the military’s attempt to pit someone against Stark Industries. Since their high-end weapons can’t match Tony’s, they’re focusing on conventional arms and manufacturing. In that middle-to-low-end market, Hammer excels.”

“Oh?” Yang Xin blinked. “So they’re back to their roots. What about General Ross?”

“Still a general. One of the Pentagon and White House’s brightest stars. Why are you asking?” Fury replied smoothly, but a glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.

“I think it’s time General Ross took the fall for something else.” Yang Xin grinned, forming hand seals rapidly.

“Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.”

“Transformation Technique.”

First, Yang Xin split into three clones. Then, those clones transformed into Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man.

“Whoa! You can do that?” Falcon exclaimed. Instantly, everyone realized what Yang Xin was planning.

“This makes no sense!” Scott Lang stared at the clone that looked exactly like him, shouting in disbelief.

“It’s so real—even the scent of shampoo in the hair is identical,” Wanda murmured, touching her clone’s hair in amazement.

“In truth, there are differences. To my eyes, they’re just energy constructs,” Vision said, tapping his temple.

“You can tell, but the fools from the Security Council can’t. All they need to do is spend half a day in prison, then pin the blame on General Ross.” Yang Xin waved it off casually.

“Agent Barton, Sam, Scott, Wanda, go to the New York Sanctum—one of the three great sanctums of Kamar-Taj. Don’t go anywhere else but Kamar-Taj,” Yang Xin instructed.

“What about Steve?” Natasha suddenly asked.

“Let Steve and Lieutenant Barnes lay low outside, appearing from time to time so you all stay useful. When needed, I’ll send shadow clones disguised as Hawkeye and the others to show up in public... As the old saying goes: when the cunning rabbit dies, the hound is boiled; when all the birds are gone, the good bow is put away. Since the Security Council wants to settle accounts after the fact, we’ll keep a few threats in reserve to maintain our leverage.” With that, Yang Xin swept his hands through the air and conjured another portal.

Hawkeye stepped in without hesitation. Falcon hesitated a moment, then followed. Ant-Man looked around with a scientist’s meticulousness before entering as well. Wanda smiled at Yang Xin, then stepped through.

Yang Xin didn’t go with them. Instead, he took out his phone and called Fat Wong. Yes, he made a call—Kamar-Taj has Wi-Fi; of course, phones work.

After arranging for the four to be looked after, Yang Xin turned to Nick Fury. “About that thousand ninja quota I promised you—have you got the people ready?”

“They’ve been ready for a long time!” Fury’s eyes lit up.

“Notify China—you have one week to select your elite candidates. I’ll give you another two thousand spots, for a total of three thousand including the original thousand.”

Fury immediately called the Chinese side and relayed Yang Xin’s instructions.

“Within a month, have them quietly and in batches arrive in Nepal. I’ll be waiting there.”

“Is something big about to happen?” Fury asked, frowning.

“Yes. An even more brutal war is coming.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“Wait for Dr. Banner to ride his seven-colored cloud and come stepping among the stars.”