The necklace wasn't just beautiful—it was practical. Most importantly, it made the wearer nearly immune to a wide array of toxins and poisons. Crafted with a touch of ancient elven enchantment and imbued with subtle magic from the Tree of Life, the necklace shimmered faintly with emerald hues under the light.
Lin Feng had spent 100,000 reputation points on it. Not cheap by any stretch, but it was well within his means. For someone who had just punched a raging, gamma-mutated monster into orbit, it was a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Without saying much, he stepped behind Susan and gently fastened the chain around her neck.
The soft click of the clasp felt strangely symbolic.
Susan, already stunning under the moonlight, now looked even more radiant. The delicate charm of the necklace accentuated her elegant neckline, and as the surrounding sea of roses danced in the evening breeze, it created an ethereal vision. Susan—golden-haired, spirited, intelligent—now looked like an elven queen from some forgotten legend.
The two locked eyes, unaware of how long they stared.
In that moment, everything else melted away—the city's noise, the chaos of the world, the uncertainty of tomorrow. There was only the warmth of their gaze, the shared heartbeat between them.
Two people, each experiencing love for the first time, stood in a sea of roses under a cloud-kissed moon. And somewhere in the sky, the shy moon slipped behind a passing cloud, as if bashful in the presence of such emotion.
…
Late into the night, Lin Feng and Susan fell asleep in each other's arms—entwined by emotion, warmth, and trust.
While they drifted off in peaceful slumber, many across the world remained wide awake. Some couldn't sleep. Others wouldn't allow themselves to.
One of them was Director Nick Fury.
At that very moment, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.—often referred to by his agents as "Black Braised Egg" behind his back—sat in a dimly lit room, rubbing the dark circles under his eye.
He had just finished a grueling, hours-long video conference.
The topic? The "Twister Incident."
More specifically—Lin Feng.
The footage had already made its rounds through the highest echelons of global intelligence. A single man, unaided and in no recognizable armor, had engaged a massive mutated monster and launched it into the stratosphere with a single blow. The energy signatures alone were off the charts.
Fury's instinct was sharp. Lin Feng had played the role of hero for several days now, and from what they'd gathered, he genuinely helped people. He wasn't hiding. In fact, he seemed to be actively pursuing justice. That was enough for Fury to urge patience.
But not everyone in the meeting shared his sentiment.
Several powerful figures from the global defense apparatus wanted Lin Feng controlled immediately. Some weren't even subtle about it. If control proved impossible—they whispered of containment. If containment failed, destruction.
Fury had argued. Firmly.
He reminded them Lin Feng had saved lives. That he was becoming a symbol. That Superman wasn't just a name people shouted—it had already begun to represent hope. But the others, more paranoid and less forward-thinking, remained adamant. They seemed united in fear.
Unable to sway them, Fury was forced to retreat—for now.
The meeting ended in deadlock.
As he marched back to his office, the usual stoic calm on his face gave way to frustration.
"Mother—"
He slammed his palm against the oak desk with a loud crack.
Agent Coulson, who had been standing nearby, flinched.
"Sir?" he asked carefully.
"Control? CONTROL?" Fury barked. "They sit in those plush chairs and think power is something you can keep in a jar on a shelf! You see that footage? What kind of leash do they think would hold someone like that?!"
Coulson, choosing his words carefully, offered him a fresh cup of coffee.
"Your coffee, sir."
"Thanks," Fury muttered, though the fire in his eye hadn't cooled.
He took a sip and stared at the digital screen flashing Lin Feng's image again and again. The young man's strength—raw, elegant, and seemingly unlimited—wasn't something even Steve Rogers could match. The only one with similar potential, in Fury's eyes, was Captain Marvel.
And calling her back from the far reaches of space just to handle Lin Feng?
Insanity.
Besides, Lin Feng hadn't broken any laws. On the contrary, he was saving people.
"Mess with that kid now," Fury muttered, "and the fallout won't be measured in headlines—it'll be measured in mushroom clouds."
He exhaled and looked at Coulson.
"Pack up. We're visiting Lin Feng tomorrow afternoon. Personally."
If others wanted war, let them play their games.
Fury had other plans.
Elsewhere in the city, another man was burning the midnight oil—Tony Stark.
After a quick call with Lin Feng earlier that evening, Tony had instructed J.A.R.V.I.S. to begin compiling a complete biometric and physiological analysis of the young man. The results? Both shocking and… fascinating.
"I knew he was strong, but this…" Tony muttered, watching the data render in real time.
It wasn't just that Lin Feng had survived in space—it was the fact that he had exited the Earth's atmosphere on his own, at will. That required not just strength, but energy output that dwarfed known propulsion systems.
"Sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. said, interrupting the stream of thoughts, "Mr. Lin Feng's data is now compiled. Should I upload it to the Stark Industries central archive?"
Tony shook his head.
"No. Keep it on my private server. No one sees this but me."
"Understood."
Another sleepless night in the world of heroes, shadows, and secrets.
---
The Next Morning
Susan, ever the determined reporter, was already up and limping her way toward the office.
Despite Lin Feng's gentle protests, she insisted. "News doesn't rest," she had said with a tired smile before leaving.
Left alone in the massive villa, Lin Feng groaned and pulled the blankets back over his head.
"She's a workaholic…" he mumbled into the pillow.
After a few more minutes of lazy indulgence, he finally got up. The scent of roses still lingered in the air—and when he opened the door to the living room, he realized why.
Thousands of rose petals were still scattered everywhere.
Even with all his superpowers, cleaning up flowers wasn't exactly something heat vision or super strength could solve.
After an hour of trying to tidy the mess himself, he finally gave up and called in a cleaning crew. Not even Superman could win against rotting rose petals.
Once the villa was finally spotless again, Lin Feng collapsed on the couch with a long sigh.
"Superman or not… housework is still exhausting."
His eyes drifted to the game controller. The last time he tried to relax, Natasha Romanoff had shown up disguised as a pizza delivery girl. This time—he was determined to actually enjoy some downtime.
He reached for the controller… but fate had other plans.
A golden ring of light spun into existence in the middle of the living room—its edges lined with arcane runes. A portal.
A shiny bald head poked through.
"Supreme Sorcerer?" Lin Feng sat up, wide-eyed.
Sure enough, stepping through the glowing circle was none other than the Ancient One—the most powerful mystical guardian on Earth, wielder of the Time Stone, and protector against cosmic threats like the Dark Dimension.
Clad in her familiar yellow robes, her presence filled the room with calm intensity.
"You know me?" she asked, a slight, amused smile on her face.
"I'm a fan," Lin Feng replied honestly. "Though I didn't expect a house call."
"May I come in?"
Lin Feng nodded immediately. He had long expected her arrival. Someone of her insight and magical awareness would surely take notice of someone with Kryptonian power flying across New York.
And truthfully, he held deep respect for her. Magic was one of the few things that could actually threaten him. The Mirror Dimension alone could trap even someone as strong as him.
"Please, have a seat," Lin Feng offered. He quickly exchanged 50,000 reputation points in his system store for a rare tea—crafted from the leaves of the Life Tree of the Elven Realm—and brewed it with care.
As he poured the tea, the Ancient One paused.
She sensed it immediately—an energy she hadn't felt in any realm. A pure, gentle life force.
She raised the cup, inhaled the aroma, and took a sip.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Even she, the one who had peered into countless futures and touched the threads of destiny, was taken aback.
"This tea…" she murmured, "is miraculous."
"It's just rough tea," Lin Feng said modestly.
But Gu Yi knew better.
Even that single sip coursed with soft vitality. Healing, refreshing, even extending life subtly. Had she possessed something like this when her time came, perhaps she wouldn't have needed to borrow power from the Dark Dimension.
She set the cup down slowly.
Then looked at him with serene gravity.
"Lin Feng… I have come today because one day, I will need your help. The future is… uncertain."
Lin Feng met her gaze steadily.
For the first time, someone who could peer through the veil of time was looking not just at what he was—but what he might become.
And the world, she knew, might one day hinge on that.