A Chinese Funeral

After hanging up the call, Tony remained silent for a while.

Upon seeing this, Rhodey quickly asked, "What happened?"

"He said he had just beaten his uncle here, and that... Odin was dying, and he even asked me to prepare a wreath for him."

"So, the struggle for the throne of Asgard has already begun?"

"Yeah, it's started. I wonder how Thor is doing... I hope he's not dead."

Then, they both fell silent.

According to tradition, the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj is buried in the towers at the back of the mountain, and the Ancient One was no exception.

After Ancient One's burial, many monks would hold a memorial service here for three-quarters of an hour, hoping that his soul could return to the embrace of Vishanti.

However, just as the ceremony began, a gust of wind blew in and extinguished all the candles.

Mordo quickly led his men to relight the fire.

As the ceremony resumed, the gale arrived as predicted...

Seeing this, Strange somewhat puzzled. "Should we wait for our senior brother? Perhaps our teacher didn't see him and doesn't want to leave?"

Upon hearing Strange's words, everyone nodded in agreement, knowing full well how much Ancient One doted on Lin Xu.

Of those present, only Lao Wang and his son Hamir knew some of the inside story. The two exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke.

Is this Lin Xu's problem? Is it a question of whose embrace he should return to...?

"Huh? Were you waiting for me?"

Everyone turned around and saw Lin Xu wearing a custom-made all-black suit with a large white flower pinned to his chest.

"Senior brother, what's wrong with you...?"

"Attending a funeral? Hey, you guys go about your business, don't worry about me."

As he spoke, Lin Xu arrived in front of the Ancient One's golden pagoda and began to take things out from the Sub-Dimension. The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of wreaths framed with white peonies.

This thing was originally supposed to be made of plastic with a bamboo frame, but since it was prepared by Tony, how could he use something so cheap?

The monks present came from all over the country. While everyone else looked completely bewildered, the Chinese and other ethnic Chinese, led by Lao Wang, immediately recognized what it was. They then silently lowered their heads to suppress their laughter.

He even heard Korean from behind him. "Aigoo~" (In Korea, wreaths are generally used for weddings).

"Ahem, with deepest sorrow, we mourn the passing of the Ancient One Anthony Edward Stark and Pepper Potts of the Stark Industries."

After Lin Xu finished reading, he noticed that everyone was staring at him blankly without any reaction. He quickly kicked Strange: "What are you standing there for? Kneel down and thank him!"

Strange pointed to himself. "Me?"

"Nonsense! You inherited the Sorcerer Supreme, you're now the dutiful son. If you don't kneel, do you expect me to?"

Strange was extremely unwilling, but out of respect for the Ancient One, he knelt down.

But just when he thought he was only kneeling once, Lin Xu pulled out a pair of wreaths~

"Deepest condolences on the passing of the Ancient One, Steve Rogers, the wanted criminal from America!"

"... Respectfully yours, Air Force Colonel James Rhodes, America."

"Deepest condolences on the passing of the Ancient One, King Odin Borson of Asgard mourns her passing!"

As Lin Xu placed all the wreaths around the Ancient One's golden pagoda, Strange's eyes began to redden.

Whether it was from sadness or from kowtowing, no one who saw this scene would sincerely exclaim: What a filial son!

Some monks initially had reservations about Lin Xu's actions, but after seeing the new Sorcerer Supreme cooperate, they all remained silent.

After finally reading out the names of all the 'givers' of the wreaths, Lin Xu quickly pulled out four large speakers.

Just then, he suddenly heard the voice of the Ancient One.

"Kid, don't go too far!"

'How can this be considered excessive? Isn't this mourning for you?'

"I won't say anything about sending a wreath, but what's with these speakers?"

"Play funeral music! How can a funeral be without funeral music? Don't worry, the pieces I found have all stood the test of time; I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

After waiting for a long time without hearing a reply from Ancient One, Lin Xu immediately placed the speakers around the Golden Pagoda.

Take out your phone, connect via Bluetooth, and start playing.

[Ah K Curry, ho ya ho, stupid~]

"Lin Xu!!"

"Ahem, sorry, wrong thing~"

[Even if I die, I'll still love! I won't be satisfied until I've loved to the fullest!]

Universe numbered Earth-120703. (What If...? Series, Killmonger Universe, see Chapter 111)

At his Malibu beach villa, Tony stared blankly at the watch and a vial of serum on the table.

A year has passed since Wade disappeared. The watch that Wade entrusted to him for repair has been fixed, and even Wade's flesh and blood tissue has been thoroughly studied.

Based on the activity of Wade's cells and using the information left by Howard, he found Maya Dr. Hansen, with whom he had a one-night stand a few years earlier.

A new Super Soldier Serum was eventually developed.

With the help of this serum, ordinary people can gain strength and speed that surpass the limits of the human body, superhuman self-healing abilities, and... controllable molten lava transformation...

The basement door was pushed open, and Dr. Maya walked in. "Tony, Wakanda is too strong. America's attacks are having no effect on them. This is a golden opportunity!"

What opportunity?

"We have serum, and the army has wounded soldiers; we just need to dilute it and sell it..."

"No! Maya..." Tony interrupted her, "This isn't a just war, and I'm not sure what kind of disaster releasing this into the market would bring to the world. That wasn't my intention."

"Then what's the point of us studying this?"

"Yes, but what's the significance?"

Maya narrowed her eyes as she looked at Tony, then silently walked out of the basement.

Half an hour later, the phone rang.

"Tony, it's me."

"Rhodey?"

"Listen to me, Tony, didn't you develop the Super Soldier Serum?"

"How could you... damn it!" Tony instantly realized that Maya must have told the military to use him as leverage.

"Tony, listen, whatever decision you make, I'll support you, but... I can't make that decision, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Rhodey..."

"... Protect yourself first!"

After hanging up the phone, Tony looked at the serum in front of him, his gaze hardening. Rhodey was right; whatever decision he made, he had to first have the ability to protect himself.

Just like back then, he ignored all advice and insisted on riding in the jeep; if it weren't for the Killmonger saving him, he probably would have died.

He picked up the serum and walked toward the medical radiation chamber in the corner.

This time, let the inventor handle the clinical trials and all that!