GUARDIAN OF THE MARVEL REALM

Behind them, a group of men in black suits and sunglasses quietly emerged from the shadows, their movements calculated and deliberate.

Under normal circumstances, Qi Mu Nanxiong would have teleported away before they even reached the rooftop. However, this wasn't his usual world, and he wasn't at full power. Instead of a god-like existence, he was now a level-one newbie with significantly weakened abilities—even his telepathy range was drastically reduced.

Not that he minded. The quiet was a welcome change.

"This was bound to happen," Shen He muttered, unfazed. "I mean, I did kind of summon you in the middle of a public street." He turned to Qi Mu Nanxiong. "What's the plan?"

"It's up to you."

Shen He blinked, then quickly realized what this meant. Qi Mu Nanxiong wasn't interested in unnecessary trouble.

He pondered for a moment. "Do they intend to attack?"

"They're waiting for someone named Agent Coulson." Qi Mu Nanxiong's voice echoed in Shen He's mind, devoid of emotion.

Coulson. One of the quintessential "novice village chiefs" in the Marvel Universe.

According to countless crossover scenarios, Coulson, Tony Stark, and Peter Parker were the top three most common first-contact characters for newcomers in this world. Shen He weighed his options. Normally, avoiding S.H.I.E.L.D. would be the smartest move. But as someone with no legal identity in this world, it wasn't like he could stay off the grid forever—unless he wanted to spend the rest of his days hiding in a remote mountain. Which sounded like an absolute nightmare.

"Let's wait for him," Shen He finally said. "I don't exist in any records, and even with money, getting a hotel without an ID is a pain."

There was no harm in dealing with the novice village chief.

For now.

---

Meanwhile, on Coulson's side…

Agent Phil Coulson was not having a great day.

Dealing with a billionaire who insisted on flying around in a metal suit and a gamma-radiated behemoth was already a full-time headache. Now, two unknowns had appeared, one of whom demonstrated abilities in broad daylight.

"Sir, I think we've been made," came his subordinate's voice over the comms.

"Please don't tell me they disappeared with a 'whoosh,'" Coulson said dryly.

"No, sir. They're still in the same place."

"Then neither do you move."

Coulson's easygoing tone barely masked his unease. If these two hadn't run, it meant one of two things: either they didn't perceive S.H.I.E.L.D. as a threat, or they were confident they could handle whatever came next.

He hit the gas, weaving through traffic and ignoring the red lights. Ten minutes later, he arrived at the scene.

"They're still on the rooftop?"

"Yes. Sniper is in position, equipped with an anesthetic rifle."

"Stand down for now. Show me what we have on them." Coulson glanced at his phone—nothing. No reports. No files. No ID matches.

"We found nothing," the agent confirmed.

"Nothing?" Coulson frowned.

"We ran them through every global database. There's no record of their existence. We even checked street surveillance. The Asian male appeared out of nowhere." The agent hesitated. "Sir, they're like… aliens."

Aliens.

To an ordinary person, the word might sound ridiculous. But Coulson knew better. He had seen things—ruins with technology beyond human comprehension, strange anomalies defying scientific logic, and events no rational explanation could cover up.

"What are they doing now?" Coulson asked as he entered the elevator with a few agents.

"Uh… staring at each other. Affectionately."

---

Back on the rooftop…

Shen He was doing his best to persuade Qi Mu Nanxiong.

Speaking aloud was unnecessary. Instead, he stared into Qi Mu Nanxiong's eyes with utmost sincerity, sending his thoughts telepathically.

"I get it. You just want a normal life. That's completely valid. But let's be real—you can't have that. Your powers aren't just strong; they're unstable. You've spent your life suppressing them, but maybe I can help you control them."

That was the key. Shen He knew exactly what Qi Mu Nanxiong truly desired—something he himself had never been able to grasp.

"Help me?" Qi Mu Nanxiong's skepticism was clear.

"Yes." Shen He nodded firmly. "Your abilities are so overwhelming that you rely on the devices on your head to keep them in check. But right now, your powers have been weakened significantly. That means… you might be able to control them for the first time in your life."

Qi Mu Nanxiong's expression didn't change, but he fell silent, considering the possibility.

"This system I have," Shen He continued, "allows me to strengthen my followers. I believe I can use something called 'Enhancement Stones' to refine your abilities gradually. With time, you could master your powers—no more hearing every thought around you, no more worrying about accidentally hurting someone. Total control."

He let the words sink in.

For the first time, Qi Mu Nanxiong felt something unusual. The idea that his powers could become something manageable, something he didn't need to constantly restrain… It was tempting.

Just then, the rooftop access door swung open.

Coulson stepped out, accompanied by a few agents. His eyes quickly took in the scene. Two young men, sitting close, locked in an intense, silent conversation. Empty dessert boxes scattered nearby.

He recalled the surveillance footage. One of them had frozen in place when the pink-haired individual appeared—almost like a scene from a dramatic lovers' quarrel.

Coulson made a snap judgment.

A couple. One of them exposed their powers in public due to emotional distress. The one with pink hair seems to have abilities beyond normal comprehension. The other is the anchor.

He was about to introduce himself when—

"If you keep thinking along those lines, I'll make sure you become a woman from the inside out."

A voice—sharp, precise—suddenly rang in Coulson's mind.

His blood ran cold.

Telepathy? Memory reading? Thought intrusion?

He immediately tightened his mental discipline, years of S.H.I.E.L.D. training kicking in. This was dangerous. If someone could access his mind… He didn't even want to think about the classified information in his head.

"Qi Mu, don't scare him," Shen He said, standing up, looking rather pleased with himself.

Coulson refocused, noting the clear dynamic between them. Shen He was the talker, the one making deals. Qi Mu Nanxiong… was something else entirely.

Shen He's next words confirmed it.

"At the cost of two coffee puddings per day, Qi Mu Nanxiong has agreed to help me—within reason."

Coulson exhaled slowly. This was going to be a long day.