For that very reason, when Odin learned of the Senzu Beans, treasures that could heal injuries, he wondered if he could obtain some and see whether they could prolong his life.
Han Yu saw through Odin's thoughts and shook his head. "The Senzu Bean's healing effects are powerful, but that's all it can do. When the oil in the lamp has run dry, it can't help."
After a long, long time, Odin let out a deep sigh. At that moment, Han Yu felt that he was not the god king who had dominated the Nine Realms, but an old man whose final years were drawing to a close.
Han Yu could not help sighing inwardly. Even someone so glorious could not escape the day death came for him.
Odin was silent for a while before he said, "I agree to your request. May I... make one more request?"
"Yes."
"Asgard—could I ask you to help me protect it until Thor is truly capable of taking on the role of god king? Although he's strong now, he isn't ready to be king. After I die, there will surely be people eager to make a move against Asgard. I'd like a little more peace of mind."
Han Yu said, "I can do that."
Odin stared at Han Yu for a long while. Seeing the serious look on his face, he smiled in relief and held out his hand. "I look forward to working with you."
Han Yu smiled too and shook his hand. "Likewise."
Just as the two reached an agreement, an urgent alarm suddenly rang out beyond the room, followed by the sound of guards running back and forth.
Han Yu asked, "What's going on? Where's that alarm coming from?"
Odin immediately recognized where the alarm was coming from. "It's the dungeon where the prisoners are held. Someone broke through the barrier!"
"Do you need my help?"
"No, Thor will take care of it."
Hearing that, Han Yu, who had started to rise, paused for a moment before sitting back down. Sigh, forget it. This is something they have to go through. I won't interfere and change it.
He knew who had broken through the barrier. It was one of Malekith's men who had infiltrated Asgard. Their operation to seize the Reality Stone had begun, and during it, Thor would lose his mother.
From this point on, Thor would begin losing his family one after another. First his mother, then his father, and even his younger brother Loki, who had faked his death many times, would truly die.
"Forget it, I'd better go take a look!"
Han Yu could hardly sit still. He had been fine until he thought about it, but now that he did, he felt that Thor had it rough. Although he did not have much of a good impression of Thor, he did not have a bad one either. Thor had made some contributions to Earth's safety.
After taking his leave of Odin, Han Yu shot out of the room like an arrow loosed from its bow and raced through the great hall.
"Damn, I should've asked Odin which way to go before I left. I was too hasty."
In the vast palace, Han Yu felt a little embarrassed. He was lost. The palace was even larger on the inside than it looked from outside, and its passages were a maze.
Han Yu took out the Mind Stone, intending to use the fact that both it and the Reality Stone were Infinity Stones to find Jane's location. But the Mind Stone simply lay quietly in his palm, looking like an ordinary stone.
"You little thing, you're no use when I actually need you."
Han Yu rolled his eyes, too fed up to dwell on it. It seemed he would have to make an Infinity Gauntlet to control the stones. Otherwise, he could not put them to any use at all; they would be nothing but decorations.
"There's another one! Kill him!"
Just as Han Yu stopped to get his bearings, several strange-looking aliens suddenly came running out from somewhere with knives in hand. Years of confinement in Asgard's dungeon had long left them nursing a great deal of pent-up resentment.
Now they killed everyone they saw, their eyes red with bloodlust.
As they said this, they were eager to savor the panic on Han Yu's face. But when they looked up at him, they froze instead.
Not only was Han Yu entirely unalarmed, but a trace of delight also appeared on his face when he saw them.
The aliens never even had a chance to speak again. Their heads suddenly spun, and then they fell to the ground. Before they lost consciousness, they saw their bodies standing ramrod straight, with the heads on their necks already gone.
Along the way, Han Yu casually shook several alien escapees into nothingness. When he passed a few injured Asgardian Warriors, he rushed over to them at once and asked, "Have you seen Thor or the girl from Earth he brought with him?"
The Asgardian Warriors looked Han Yu over in confusion. Seeing that he did not seem to have any ulterior motives, they pointed him in a direction.
Han Yu glanced at the Asgardian Warrior being supported by two others. A huge gash had been cut across his abdomen, an injury that would already have been fatal to an ordinary person.
The warrior looked quite young. The reason he was still alive was probably that his tenacious vitality had kept death at bay, but unfortunately, an injury this severe would not let him last long enough to reach the treatment room.
"Thanks. Eat some of these. They can heal your injuries."
Han Yu thanked them, left them a few Senzu Beans, and vanished before their eyes like a gentle breeze.
"He's so fast!"
"What's this little thing? It looks like food?"
"He said it can heal injuries. I'll try it. I'm dying anyway!"
Unable to contain his curiosity, the injured Asgardian Warrior tossed the Senzu Bean straight into his mouth.
"Hey, don't..."
Someone tried to stop his companion from eating the Senzu Bean. They did not know who Han Yu was, and even if the warrior was going to die, he could not die like this.
But the sight before him slapped him hard in the face. Before he could finish speaking, his companion's injuries recovered faster than he could get the words out. Within a few breaths, the wounds on his body rapidly healed.
"I suddenly feel like I can fight again!"
The young Asgardian Warrior struck a "strongman" pose and stood up excitedly. The knife wound on his abdomen had healed, and his smooth skin showed no sign that it had ever been cut.
The other Asgardian Warriors stared blankly at the Senzu Beans in their hands. Only now did they understand what kind of treasure they were holding.
Following the direction the Asgardian Warriors had pointed him in, Han Yu arrived too late.
Thor's mother, Frigga, had already been stabbed to death by the Dark Elves. Their leader, Malekith, had been injured when Thor's lightning struck half his face, and his companions had carried him away.
Han Yu stood to the side, watching the grief-stricken expressions on Thor's and Odin's faces, and felt a little upset. Thor's mother had clearly been a powerful sorceress herself, yet she had used a melee weapon against her enemies.
Han Yu was quite speechless about that. Even if she had used magic to create an illusion, she could have escaped. Her opponents had no way to break such an illusion.
"Han Yu, could I trade all the divine power I've cultivated in my life for a chance to save Frigga?"
Odin held his wife tightly as he spoke in a low voice.
Han Yu narrowed his eyes and said nothing.
Thor, however, was not so calm. He blurted out, "Father, what are you saying? What do you mean, all the divine power you've cultivated in your life? Asgard can't be without you!"
Odin paid Thor no heed. He slowly raised his head and looked at Han Yu. The wisdom and shrewdness in his eyes were gone, leaving only endless sorrow.