“Alright.” Rogers nodded.
With a short run-up, he launched a kick straight at Zhang Xi.
Captain America’s combat skills were top-tier even in the Marvel Universe.
Enhanced by the Super Soldier Serum, his body was the pinnacle of human potential.
The force of the kick was immense.
Despite Zhang Xi’s readiness, he was still sent flying backward.
Upon landing, Zhang Xi stumbled back several steps before dropping to one knee.
A suffocating pressure crushed his chest, making it hard to breathe.
Rogers loosened his muscles and said, “I can do this all day.”
*Yeah, I know, I know,* Zhang Xi thought helplessly.
*That’s his signature line.*
He couldn’t just sit and wait to be defeated.
Lightning crackled in his hand as he fired a bolt at Rogers.
He was fast, but Rogers was faster.
In an instant, the Captain raised his shield to block the attack, then hurled it forward with a powerful throw.
“What a tough guy!” Zhang Xi muttered, dodging the shield.
But Rogers’ fist was already upon him.
It was true that Zhang Xi was strong, but it all depended on who he was up against.
In terms of strength, skill, and experience, he was no match for Rogers.
It was a complete rout.
Zhang Xi was utterly crushed.
In no time, his face was a bruised and swollen mess.
“Sorry, pal. I went a little too hard,” Rogers said, shaking his head.
“But you need to tell me the truth.”
*The truth?
How am I supposed to say that?*
Just as Zhang Xi was at his wit’s end, the door swung open again.
This time, Tony Stark walked in.
“Tony,” Rogers said, “this man might be trouble.”
Stark shrugged, walked over to Zhang Xi, and helped him up.
“If you’ve got a problem, sit down and talk it out. Use your words. Oh, and Captain, your fists are like bricks. Look at what you did to this guy. He’s a mess.”
“This is no time for jokes, I—”
“Alright, Captain,” Stark said.
“Loki’s incident has already served as a wake-up call for us. Someone is eyeing Earth. Whoever he is, he’s on our side right now. You shouldn’t have done that.”
Rogers knew Stark was right, but he still felt that being with someone of unknown identity was a dangerous thing.
So, even though he felt a strange sense of familiarity toward the man, he had still struck out.
“I’m fine. I’ll head back now,” Rogers said, turning to leave.
Stark patted Zhang Xi on the shoulder and said in his characteristic tone, “Buddy, don’t take it to heart. After all, he’s a nearly hundred-year-old man. His thinking is still pretty conservative.”
Zhang Xi smiled bitterly and said nothing.
He held no grudge against Rogers, because the man had only acted out of a sense of responsibility to his country and its people, not out of malice.
Besides, this beating wasn’t a complete loss for him.
At the very least, he had collected a few more fragments of Captain America’s serum, further enhancing his strength.
“Buddy, come on, have a seat,” Stark gestured for Zhang Xi to sit down, then asked, “What brings you to see me?”
Zhang Xi had intended to get straight to the point, but after what had just happened with Rogers, he didn’t dare act recklessly.
All this time, he had viewed the Marvel Universe simply as a place to boost his attributes.
Though it was dangerous, he believed it was danger he could handle.
Only now did he realize that he wasn’t just facing threats—integrating himself into the Avengers was going to be an incredibly difficult task.
Zhang Xi’s eyes darted around.
He then pulled the throwing knife Uncle Li had used for the assassination from his coat, handed it to Stark, and said, “The material of this knife is unusual. It’s incredibly hard, and I can’t figure out what it is. I brought it to you, hoping you could take a look.”
Stark took the knife, casually grabbed an apple from the table, and began peeling it.
He nodded as he spoke, “Hmm, not bad. It’s indeed very sharp.”
“Uh, Mr. Stark?” Zhang Xi froze.
Stark continued peeling the apple, then flicked his wrist.
A voice immediately rang out.
“Yes, Boss. What are your orders?”
“Jarvis, analyze the material of this knife for me.”
“Right away, Boss.”
Jarvis, Stark’s AI system, came equipped with every feature you could possibly imagine.
Whatever you wanted, whatever you asked, he could help you achieve. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
He was truly formidable to the extreme.
A red beam of light shot from Stark’s wristband, scanning the throwing knife.
The light moved slowly, analyzing its material.
After about half a minute, Jarvis’s voice rang out.
“Boss, the knife’s material is primarily iron, mixed with some unknown alloys. It’s not Vibranium, nor is it titanium. It’s incredibly hard yet highly ductile. While not as impressive as Vibranium, it’s still remarkable—even a viable alternative for your Iron Man suit!”
“That impressive?” Tony exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.
He quickly grabbed the knife, examining it intently.
Zhang Xi hadn’t expected such a result.
Seeing the fascination in Tony’s eyes, he felt a surge of joy, but it was quickly followed by a nagging question.
The Marvel Universe was technologically advanced—countless times more so than the real world.
Yet this metal had managed to captivate a genius like Stark.
*My god, what kind of metal is this?
How could such advanced technology exist in reality?*
Stark said, “Alright, X, I’ll take this. I’ll study it thoroughly.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Zhang Xi nodded, then stood up and said, “I’m leaving now, I won’t disturb you any longer.”
“Leaving so soon? Let me guess—are you still mad at Cap?”
“No, I already said I understand. By the way, Thor and the others aren’t here, right?”
“Nope, he took Loki back to Asgard. They’re not back yet.”
“Oh, alright.”
After getting a quick update on the situation, Zhang Xi said his goodbyes to Tony.
Before he left, Tony gave him his private number, telling him he could call directly if anything came up.
This trip had been a major success for Zhang Xi.
He had obtained a fragment of Captain America’s serum and befriended Iron Man—both of which would be incredibly beneficial for his future.
Of course, there was one more takeaway: he had gained a profound understanding of the gap between himself and these superheroes, which only strengthened his resolve to grow stronger.
Rubbing his sore nose, Zhang Xi returned home.
Just as he walked through the door, he received a call from Chen Xueyu.
“Hello? Brother Zhang Xi, why did you leave so suddenly? You didn’t even stay until the end of my birthday party!” Chen Xueyu said, her voice brimming with frustration.
(End of Chapter)