Chinatown's Tragedy

Before Natasha and the others could react, Xia Yu appeared on the TV screen.

Right next to that reporter who was talking non-stop just now.

"I don't know what those Avengers are doing. They're high and mighty now, enjoying technology far beyond what's available on Earth, yet they never share this advanced technology with the rest of the world. We..."

The female reporter's remarks were interrupted by a cameraman's exclamation.

Xia Yu appeared out of thin air behind her, surrounded by reporters, and soon a chorus of gasps arose.

Xia Yu had just seen that female reporter on TV. Taking advantage of Xia Yu proximity, although her speech was interrupted, she immediately ran excitedly to Xia Yu with the microphone.

"Mr. Xia, your Avengers have finally appeared. I'd like to ask you..."

"Mr. Xia, why hasn't your Avengers shown up yet after this disaster?"

"Yu Shen, I heard that this terrorist attack came from outer space and happened because of your personal reasons. What are your thoughts on all of this?"

"As far as I know, the United Nations allocates a large amount of funds to the Avengers every year, and you also have certain communication with government departments of various countries. So why did you only come here after the disaster happened for so long? Have you already abandoned Earth?"

Before the female reporter could finish her question, reporters swarmed around her, cameras and microphones surrounding Xia Yu completely.

The reporters were so focused on asking questions and stirring up trouble that they completely failed to notice Xia Yu's increasingly dark expression.

"The first group of reporters to arrive was clearly arranged by someone. I'm afraid Xia won't be able to control things if this continues. Tony, could you go and help deal with the reporters?"

The Captain looked at Xia Yu on the screen and said to Tony.

Natasha wanted to go too, but the Captain stopped her. Given their relationship, if Natasha went over now, the reporters would probably ask her all sorts of weird questions.

"You have one second, all of you, get out of my way..."

Xia Yu completely ignored the reporters' questions and said with a dark face.

"We have the freedom to interview. Aliens attacking Earth is your Avengers' fault for failing to protect us. You..."

The reporters weren't so easily intimidated, and some immediately retorted. Unfortunately, Xia Yu wasn't in the mood to argue with them.

"Roll!!"

As soon as the word "get lost" was uttered, a shockwave suddenly appeared centered on Xia Yu, pushing the reporters far away.

Fortunately, Xia Yu managed to retain some composure. The reporters were all dazed and confused from the fall, but none of them were actually injured.

However, the cameras that were broadcasting live simultaneously started crackling and spitting sparks, clearly indicating that they were all unusable.

After doing all this, Xia Yu ignored the reactions of the reporters who had fallen to the ground and slipped into Chinatown.

The building where my family lived had completely collapsed, and there were some unidentified corpses mixed in with the ruins, but without exception they were all Huaxia people with yellow skin and black hair.

While firefighters and paramedics rushed around rescuing people, Xia Yu made no attempt to help. He crouched down and picked up a photograph from the rubble.

This is a photo of Uncle Wang's family, who rented the first floor of his house to run a pharmacy. His wife and daughter are smiling as they stand at the entrance of the shop.

Xia Yu still remembers that every year when Uncle Wang paid his rent, he would always call him and ask him to come back home so he could treat him to a home-cooked meal.

Every time he saw Xia Yu, he would always pull Xia Yu to take a picture. Xia Yu knew that he hung every photo of him and Xia Yu in the store and would brag to everyone he met that Yu Shen was the nephew he had watched grow up.

This is an ordinary person who is a little mercenary and a bit cunning, but kind at heart.

When he lived in Chinatown, he would always save a copy for Xia Yu whenever he brought something back from China.

Across the street, medical staff carried a young woman out of the rubble; she was already dead, her chest mangled and bloody from being crushed by the collapsed concrete blocks.

Xia Yu knew her; she used to work as a cashier at the hot pot restaurant. She had even flirted with Xia Yu before. The owner of the hot pot restaurant was her relative, and it was said that he later sold or gave the restaurant to her.

I heard a couple of years ago that she went back to China to go on blind dates and found a very honest man. The two of them run this hot pot restaurant together, and the business is doing quite well. I wonder if they have children yet.

Xia Yu exuded a cold aura, forming a stark contrast with the busy people around him. He kept looking at the familiar faces, some whose names he could recall, and some whose names he couldn't.

Some have already died, some have lost limbs, and some have lost loved ones.

A tear slid down Xia Yu's cheek.

They should have settled down here, living a happy and simple life.

It's all because of me, it's all because of me.

Xia Yu was consumed by endless self-blame when suddenly, a middle-aged man with a missing arm stumbled out of an ambulance.

He ran up to Xia Yu, grabbed Xia Yu's collar with his remaining left hand, and roared at Xia Yu.

"You dare come back? Where were you all this time? Where were you when that alien came? Aren't you a Hero? Aren't you a god? Give me back my wife and kids!"

The middle-aged man roared at Xia Yu, his only remaining left hand frantically slapping Xia Yu's body.

Xia Yu carefully contained the energy within his body, fearing he might injure the man.

"Smack!"

A resounding slap landed on Xia Yu's face, and the man shouted at Xia Yu, tears streaming down his face.

"Say something! Say something! Give me back my wife and children! Give me back my wife and children..."

The man punched and kicked Xia Yu desperately, yelling at Xia Yu to give him back his wife and children.

The middle-aged man's right arm was only simply bandaged. He was unconscious when he was rescued, but he woke up in the ambulance and saw Xia Yu.

Xia Yu looked at the blood dripping from the gauze on his wound, his lips trembled, and it took him a long time to utter a single sentence.

"Uncle Wang, I'm sorry."

The simple apology from "Uncle Wang" caused the middle-aged man to break down completely. All his strength seemed to drain away instantly, and he collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself under his breath.

My wife and children...

In the distance, Tony, who had arrived in Chinatown, was dealing with those annoying reporters. Their cameras had been damaged by Xia Yu, and now they all pulled out their phones and pointed them at Tony.

"We have nothing to explain. Some people, for certain purposes, blocked news of the disaster. We only saw it on television. I now solemnly warn some conspirators: no matter who you are, no matter what your purpose is, you are dead."

"Mr. Stark, please answer my question directly. It's said that this was an alien attack caused by some members of the Avengers getting into trouble outside, leading to this tragedy. Is that true?"

These reporters clearly didn't engage with Tony's remarks, instead focusing their questions on a specific area.

Tony snatched the phone from the reporter's hand and shouted.

"If the Avengers have gotten into any trouble outside, it's because we've protected Earth from alien invasion. That's why you idiots are still standing here asking me these questions."

"Then who should be held responsible for these people who died and lost loved ones?"

Another reporter pressed on relentlessly.

"I'll take responsibility!"

Tony was about to explode when a voice interrupted him.

Xia Yu appeared behind Tony at some point.

He ignored the reporters, turned around, and stretched out a hand, pointing it directly at the entire Chinatown.

A pure energy bracelet emitting a green glow appeared on her wrist, marked with time markers.