Damn, that was the Box of Frost! Its bone-chilling cold was almost upon him. Guan Heng shuddered and cursed inwardly: Loki, you bastard. You've gone and taken that thing from Odin's vault again. If the vault isn't guarded, maybe I should go in and grab a couple of treasures myself sometime.
There was no time to think. Guan Heng suddenly planted his foot and lunged forward with all his strength. Boom! Crack! His foot smashed a huge hole in the floor tiles of the Asgard corridor. With a furious roar, he thrust both fists forward, using Qi Control to unleash a pair of punches that tore through the air with tremendous force and met the freezing whirlwind head-on.
The invisible force of his punches, spanning two meters, was frozen into a pair of enormous icy fists. Bang! They fell to the ground.
"Hmph. You stopped one blast of cold. That doesn't mean you can stop two." Loki blew into the Box of Frost twice more, and two icy cyclones rushed toward Guan Heng.
"Damn it!" Guan Heng swore. In desperation, he quickly drew Chengying Sword from his back and hurled it toward the two cyclones.
The spinning Chengying Sword suddenly generated an enormous pull, sucking both icy cyclones rapidly into its blade.
"Hey, just as I thought! Chengying Sword really can absorb any kind of energy." Guan Heng relaxed. "It really isn't picky."
In an instant, Chengying Sword absorbed every bit of the cold. With a clatter, it hit the ground. Guan Heng hurried to pick it up. "So cold! I'm freezing! The extreme chill from the Box of Frost really is no joke."
Guan Heng tore off a piece of his clothing and wrapped it around his hand, then managed to pick up Chengying Sword and slide it back into its sheath. "This sword's like a giant ice cube now. I can't use it for the time being." He put on his knuckle guards just in case.
By now, Loki had entered Odin's Bedroom. Loki's wife, Sigyn, was pounding desperately on the door.
"Loki, open the door! You can't keep making the same mistake!" Sigyn's face was streaked with tears as she gripped the handle and pleaded, "Please, don't do something you'll regret."
"Hey, sis-in-law, you can't just stand outside crying," Guan Heng said, puzzled. "Why don't you go in and stop him?"
"Odin's Bedroom door is protected by divine power," Sigyn explained. "Only he and Odin's two closest sons, Thor and Loki, can enter."
"Is that so? Other people can't get in, but I can." Guan Heng grinned, then waved his hand. "Er Ni, come out and pull me inside."
In an instant, Er Ni used her Wall-Penetrating Ability to pull Guan Heng into Odin's Bedroom. He then returned her to the Corpse Storage Bag.
"Haha, so what if the door's protected by divine power?" Guan Heng chuckled. "The saying that nowhere can stop someone with the Phantom Cat Ability isn't absolutely true, but it's pretty close."
Just then, Loki had reached the bed where Odin lay sleeping.
"Dear father, is it really that hard to earn your approval?" Loki murmured as he looked at the sleeping Odin. "I may be adopted, but I don't think I'm any worse than Thor. My divine power and intelligence—how could that big oaf Thor possibly compare?"
"Look, I've broken free of my chains again and come to your bedside." Loki's voice held a hint of smug pride. "All I have to do is speak the spell, and the Box of Frost in my hand will freeze you, weak and asleep, to death. Then I, Loki, will be the master of Asgard's Asgard Realm."
"No!" Guan Heng shouted, hurrying forward. "You won't do this!"
"You again!" Loki turned to look at Guan Heng in surprise. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Even Odin's divine barrier couldn't stop you. Just what are you?"
"Honestly, I'm just a nobody," Guan Heng said helplessly. "I just happen to be able to get in. Hey, wait!"
Seeing Loki holding the Box of Frost and preparing to blow on it, Guan Heng hurried to stop him. "Your father, Odin, set divine barriers on this bedroom door to keep outsiders out. Only the three of you, his sons, can enter. Do you know why? Because he considers you and Thor the people closest to him."
Guan Heng took a breath and continued, "Even after you brought the Frost Giants into Asgard last time, Odin didn't execute you for such a grave offense. He only imprisoned you. You should understand: he's always kept your father-son bond in mind. Odin has always treated you as his own son. He's never regarded you as an enemy just because you belong to the Frost Giants. With your intelligence, how could you not see that?"
To persuade Loki to stop, Guan Heng desperately racked his brain, recalling the movies he'd seen and what he'd recently learned about Norse mythology.
Guan Heng's words seemed to affect Loki. The hand holding the Box of Frost lowered slightly, and he said quietly, "So what if he didn't kill me? I was chained to a boulder, and a snake's venom tormented me day and night. If my wife hadn't caught the venom in a cup, I'd have died long ago."
"Doesn't that prove that there are still people who love you?" Guan Heng was putting everything on the line now, saying whatever came to mind, whether it was true or not. "Let me tell you: it was actually Odin who ordered your wife to catch the venom. He couldn't openly show you leniency because of the dignity of the Allfather, but he allowed your wife to do it. That proves he still cares about you as his son."
"It's time for you to stop." Guan Heng's eyes shifted as he tried to reason with Loki. "You know what they say: third time's the charm. This is your second offense. If you walk out that door now, you'll hear your wife crying and the Frost Giants gasping out their dying cries. Look back at what you've done. You've offended both the Asgardians and the Frost Giants, pleasing neither side. You're like a bat, neither bird nor beast."
"Remember, whether they're gods or mortals, it's love that connects them. Blood ties aren't necessarily the most important thing. Can't Odin's love for you as the one he raised temper your murderous intent? If Odin hadn't picked you up from that bloody, frozen battlefield back then, you wouldn't have become the Fire God—you wouldn't even have a spark of life left. And to be honest, the Frost Giants you brought here have already been routed by Thor and Sif, who've returned. You have no reinforcements left."
"Hmph. Who said I was going to kill him?" Loki casually set the Box of Frost aside. "I only wanted to prove myself. But it seems you're determined to stop me."
"Stranger, state your name." Loki knew he'd failed this time. He seemed to have made up his mind. "I challenge you, a mere mortal, here beside the Allfather's bed. If you defeat me, I'll offer my neck and leave my life or death in your hands."
The next chapter starts here.
"You said it." Guan Heng clenched his fists until they cracked, then lunged forward. "Remember my name! I'm Guan Heng, and I'm going to beat you into a pulp!"
Loki suddenly closed his eyes and thought, How tragic. Everything I've done has been meaningless. Father Odin disapproves of me. My brother Thor doesn't blame me, and my wife Sigyn pities me, but I'd rather die than endure the gods' contemptuous stares. Instead of continuing to suffer punishment, I'd rather die here, as someone who should never have existed in Asgard.
"Come on, mortal. I'd rather die at your hands than endure any more drawn-out suffering." Loki was practically offering his neck. Hey, letting an ordinary person kill me, a traitor, can be the gods' final mockery and prank.
But Guan Heng's fist paused. He only tapped Loki lightly on the forehead.
"Heh. If I really hit you, that one-eyed old man over there would be awfully protective of his son. I don't want to get smacked by Odin's divine spear." Guan Heng grinned. "Your finger just moved, didn't it, Allfather? You've been pretending to sleep and watching the whole time."
"Yes. This all needs to end. I've lain here long enough." A majestic voice echoed through the spacious bedroom.
"Heh. Another ridiculous family drama, with a father testing his son." Guan Heng stroked his chin and thought, I just happened to stumble into it this time.
Loki heard the familiar voice that made him tremble, as if struck by lightning from a clear sky.
Odin, the one-eyed Allfather, slowly sat up in bed and looked at his son beside him.
Loki hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, his face filled with fear. "Father, I..."
"You needn't say more," Odin said. "Come with me in a moment. And you too, Mr. Guan Heng. We'll go to the hall of Asgard, where everything will be judged."
"Oh, one more thing." Odin suddenly asked, "Where did you hide your brother Thor's belt?"
"I hung it on the highest roof ridge in Asgard," Loki replied hesitantly.
"Heh, quite a prank." Odin muttered to himself. "Come, let's go to the hall of Asgard."
"Oh, it really was here." Following Loki's directions, Guan Heng climbed to the highest roof ridge in Asgard and found Thor's enchanted belt.
Guan Heng ran back to the hall of Asgard and found Thor standing in a corner with his arms folded. "Here's your belt. Try not to lose it again."
"Thank you, Guan Heng!" Thor was overjoyed and murmured, "The Asgardian diviner was right after all. You really did find my belt."
The gods had gathered in Asgard's great hall. Heimdall, Sif, Thor, and the others stood beneath Odin's throne, waiting to hear the Allfather's judgment.
Looking at Loki, who sat dejectedly below with chains all over him, Odin sighed. He pointed his divine spear at the chains, and as divine light flashed, they abruptly vanished.
Though the restraints were gone, Loki's face remained pale. His heart was dead as he said, "Are you pitying me? I don't need that. I only need to be acknowledged."
"Loki, in my capacity as Allfather, I find you guilty and sentence you to lifelong confinement. You are not to leave Asgard," Odin said. "But since you hesitated at my bedside and didn't strike down your father, I won't imprison you. You may walk freely within the palace. You can still use your intelligence to help the gods, and they will give you the recognition you desire. As for bringing the Frost Giants into Asgard, you must also be punished."
After a moment's thought, Odin delivered his verdict. He pointed his divine spear at Loki and said, "In my capacity as Allfather, I strip the Fire God Loki of one-third of his divine power to punish him for the trouble he caused the gods of Asgard. Let the sentence be carried out immediately."
In an instant, the divine spear shone brightly, and a source of red divine power was forcibly drawn from Loki's body. Odin compressed the Source of Fire God Power into a red sphere and casually placed it in the holy grail beside him.
"Guards, take Loki away." Odin waved his hand. "Keep him confined for a few days to reflect and mend his ways, then send him to the dwarf smiths in Asgard to work as a fire tender."
The dejected Loki was escorted away by two guards. Odin's one eye glinted sharply as he looked at Thor.
"Now, let's talk about you, my foolish son." Odin's voice was full of frustration. "I was in mortal danger during my deep sleep, but you were outside Asgard fighting a group of savage Frost Giants. An outsider had to step in and stop Loki from threatening me."
As he spoke, Odin glanced pointedly at Guan Heng. Guan Heng gave the Allfather a slight bow. "I was just lucky. You're too kind."
"Father, I failed in my duty." Thor quickly lowered his head in apology.
"Hello, dear Guan Heng." A gentle, benevolent light appeared in Odin's one eye. "I formally welcome you to the realm of the gods. I also want to thank you for stepping in at the right time and preventing the war that was about to break out." As he spoke, Odin raised a hand, clenched it into a fist, and struck his chest.
Seeing Odin offer such a solemn thanks, Guan Heng was stunned. After a long pause, he said, "Your praise is far too generous. It's an honor for a mere mortal like me to help the realm of the gods." He thought, I really didn't do much. Your sons and the others did the work, along with my Dabao. I just ran my mouth, but I didn't expect my talking to be so effective.
"No, my praise isn't too generous at all," Odin said. "What you said in the bedroom not only stopped Loki's murderous intent, but also rekindled my love for my son. That's why I couldn't bring myself to execute him or keep him imprisoned. You were right. For a long time, I remembered only that I was Odin and forgot that I was also an ordinary father."
Guan Heng thought, All I did in Asgard was kill two insignificant Frost Giants and talk Loki out of killing his father. Dabao took down a giant beast and several giants. Speaking of which, where is Dabao?
He looked around, searching, and finally spotted Dabao standing in the corner of Asgard's great hall.
Just then, Odin said, "By the way, I heard that your subordinate, the one who uses two shields, fought very bravely. I've decided to have the dwarf smiths imbue his shields with some divine power as a reward."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. He isn't good with words, so I'll thank you on Dabao's behalf." Guan Heng thought, Dabao, you're the first zombie Odin has praised and rewarded. You've really hit the jackpot. He's rewarding even you, so Odin certainly won't leave me out.
"In the name of the Allfather, I declare that Guan Heng, with his black hair and black eyes, is forever a guest of the realm of the gods," Odin announced, rising and striking the ground with his divine spear. "He may travel freely throughout Asgard and any of its territories without announcing himself."
Old Sha has a small group where he interacts with his dear readers and fellow writers. Everyone is welcome to join and share their valuable suggestions: 470842243
Before you continue