The Unforeseen Encounter

I'll be damned, it's the Box of Frost! The bone-chilling cold was about to hit me. Guan Heng shivered, cursing inwardly, That bastard Loki, he took this thing from Odin's treasure vault again. If the vault has no guards, when can I grab some treasures too?

No time to think, Guan Heng suddenly exerted all his strength and took a step forward. Bang! Crack! He stomped a huge pit in the floor tiles of the palace corridor. With a roar, Guan Heng unleashed both fists, controlling his Qi to cleave the air. His fists, carrying the violent force that tore through the air, met the swirling cold.

The invisible fist energy, spanning two meters, was actually frozen by the cold into a pair of massive, ice-encased fists. Bang! They fell to the ground.

"Hmph, catching one blast of cold might not mean you can catch two." Loki blew on the box twice more. Two hurricanes of ice and snow surged towards Guan Heng again.

"Bastard!" Guan Heng cursed. In desperation, he rapidly drew the Chengying Sword from his back and hurled it towards the two whirlwinds.

The spinning Chengying Sword suddenly generated a huge suction force, rapidly drawing the two ice and snow whirlwinds into its body.

"Heh, just as I expected. This Chengying Sword can absorb any energy." Guan Heng's heart settled. It really isn't picky about what it absorbs.

In an instant, the cold air was completely absorbed by the Chengying Sword. Clang! The sword fell to the ground. Guan Heng quickly reached for it. "So cold! Freezing! The extreme cold of the Box of Frost is no joke."

Guan Heng tore off a strip of his clothes to wrap his palm, barely managing to pick up the Chengying Sword and slide it back into its scabbard. "This sword is like a giant ice block now. I can't use it for now." He casually put on his fingerless gloves, just in case.

At this moment, Loki had already entered Odin's bedroom. Loki's wife, Sigyn, was desperately banging on the door.

"Loki, open the door! You can't make one mistake after another!" Sigyn, her face streaked with tears, grabbed the doorknob and cried, "Please, don't do something you'll regret forever!"

"I say, Sister-in-law, don't just cry at the door." Guan Heng was a bit puzzled. "Why don't you go in and stop him?"

"The door to Odin's bedroom is protected by divine power," Sigyn said. "Only he himself, and Odin's two closest sons, Thor and Loki, can enter."

"Is that so? Others can't get in, but I can." Guan Heng suddenly smiled, then waved his hand. "Er Ni, come out and pull me in."

In an instant, Er Ni used his Wall-Penetrating Ability to pull Guan Heng into Odin's bedroom, then was put back into the Corpse Storage Bag by him.

"Haha, so what if the door is reinforced with divine power?" Guan Heng chuckled. "There's nowhere the Phantom Cat Ability can't go. While that's not absolutely true, it's infinitely close."

At this moment, Loki had arrived before the great bed where Odin slept.

"Dear Father, is it really that hard to gain your approval?" Loki murmured, looking at the sleeping Odin. "Although I'm adopted, I don't think I'm any worse than Thor. My divine power, my intelligence, how can they compare to that simple-minded Thor?"

"Look, I've broken free from the shackles and chains again and come to your bedside." Loki's tone carried a hint of pride and smugness. "As long as I recite the incantation, the Box of Frost in my hand can freeze you, the sleeping and weakened you, to death. By then, I, Loki, will be the master of this Asgard Realm palace!"

"No!" Loki heard these words. Guan Heng, who had stepped forward, hurriedly called out, "You won't do this!"

"It's you again, you guy!" Loki turned to look at Guan Heng, surprise flashing in his eyes. A cold light glinted in his eyes. "Even Odin's divine gate couldn't stop you. Who exactly are you?"

"Actually, I'm just a passerby." Guan Heng said helplessly. "It's just that I happened to be able to get in. Hey, wait a minute!"

Seeing Loki holding the Box of Frost and about to blow on him again, Guan Heng quickly stopped him. "Your father Odin placed divine power on this bedroom door to block outsiders. Only the three of you father and sons can enter this bedroom door. Do you know why? Because he considers you and Thor his closest people."

Guan Heng took a breath and continued, "Even after you brought the Ice Giants into the palace last time, Odin didn't execute you for such a crime. He only imprisoned you. You should understand that he always cherished father-son affection. Odin treats you as his own son. From beginning to end, Odin never treated you as an enemy of the giant race. Can't you see that with your intelligence?"

To persuade Loki to stop, Guan Heng desperately recalled the movies he had watched and the Norse mythology he had recently learned.

Seemingly touched by Guan Heng's words, Loki's hand holding the Box of Frost lowered slightly. He whispered, "So what if he doesn't kill me? I was chained to a giant rock, and the venom of the snake made me suffer day and night. If it weren't for my wife catching the venom in a cup, I would have died long ago."

This proves there are still people who love you. Guan Heng decided to go all out, saying everything he could think of, real or fake: "Let me tell you, it was actually Odin's order for your wife to pick up Venom. Openly, he couldn't show you any leniency due to his majesty as the All-Father, but he tacitly approved of your wife's actions. This proves Odin still cares about you as a father and son."

"It's time for you to stop," Guan Heng's eyes darted around as he began to persuade Loki. "You know, enough is enough. This is the second mistake you've made. If you walk out that door now, you'll hear your wife's cries and the dying roars of the Ice Giants. Look back at what you've done. You've offended both the Aesir and the Ice Giants, pleasing neither. You're like a bat, neither bird nor beast."

"You must understand that whether it's gods or mortals, what connects them is emotion, not bloodline. Can Odin's upbringing of you not dilute your murderous intent? I think if Odin hadn't picked you up from the bloody and cold battlefield back then, you wouldn't even be the Fire God now; your very spark of life would have long since vanished." Guan Heng dropped another bombshell: "To tell you the truth, the Ice Giants you brought have already been routed by Thor and Sif. You have no reinforcements left."

"Hmph, who said I wanted to kill him?" Loki casually set the Box of Frost aside. "I just wanted to prove myself. But it seems you're determined to stop me now."

"Stranger, state your name!" Loki knew he had failed completely this time. He seemed to have his own idea. "I challenge you, a mere mortal, before the All-Father's bed. If you defeat me, I will willingly lay down my life. Your decision."

Chapter Start

"You said it!" Guan Heng clenched his fists, making them crackle, and lunged forward. "Remember my name. The one who will beat you into a pig's head is Guan Heng!"

Loki suddenly closed his eyes, thinking to himself, How tragic. Everything I've done is meaningless. Father Odin doesn't approve. Brother Thor doesn't blame me, and wife Sigyn pities me, but I'd rather die than see the contemptuous gazes of the gods upon me. Rather than continue to be punished, let me, who shouldn't exist in Asgard, die here.

"Come on, mortal. Rather than suffer further torment, I'd rather die by your hand." Loki was essentially offering his neck for slaughter. "Heh, let this traitor die at the hands of an ordinary person. It's just the gods' final mockery and prank."

Unexpectedly, Guan Heng's fist paused and merely lightly touched Loki's forehead.

"Heh heh, if I really hit you, that one-eyed uncle lying there would protect his own. I don't want to be struck by Odin's Spear," Guan Heng said with a smile. "Your finger moved, didn't it? The All-Father, watching the fun, Odin, who is pretending to sleep."

"Yes, it's time for all this to end. I've been lying here long enough," a majestic voice rang out, echoing in the spacious bedroom.

"Heh heh, just another palace drama of a father testing his son," Guan Heng mused, stroking his chin. "This time, I just happened to catch it."

Loki heard that voice, which made him tremble, like a bolt from the blue.

The one-eyed All-Father, Odin, slowly sat up in bed, his gaze sweeping over his son beside him.

Loki hastily prostrated himself on the ground, his face full of fear. "Father, I..."

Odin said, "You don't need to say more. Later, you and I, oh, and this Mr. Guan Heng, will go to the Asgard hall, and everything will be judged there."

"Oh, and one more thing," Odin suddenly asked. "Where did you hide your brother Thor's trouser belt?"

"I hung it on the highest roofridge of Asgard," Loki stammered.

"Heh heh, quite a prank," Odin murmured to himself. "Let's go. We'll go to the Asgard hall together."

"Okay, it's really here." Following Loki's instructions, Guan Heng climbed to the highest roofridge of Asgard and found Thor's magic belt.

Guan Heng ran back to the Asgard hall and found Thor, who was hugging his shoulders in a corner. "Here's your belt. Don't lose it again next time."

"Thank you, Guan Heng!" Thor was overjoyed and muttered, "The Asgard oracle was right. You really helped me find my belt."

In the Asgard hall, all the gods were gathered, including Heimdall, Sif, and Thor, all assembled beneath Odin's throne, waiting to hear the All-Father's decree.

Looking at Loki, who sat dejectedly below with his whole body in chains, Odin suddenly sighed. He pointed his Spear at the chains on Loki, and divine light flashed, causing the chains to vanish instantly.

Though his bonds were broken, Loki's face remained pale. He spoke with a heart turned to ash, "Are you pitying me? I don't need this. I only need to be acknowledged."

"Loki, I, as the All-Father, pronounce you guilty. You are confined to your chambers for life, forbidden to step outside Asgard. Odin said, but seeing as you hesitated before my bedside and did not commit patricide, I will not imprison you. You are permitted to walk within the palace. You can still use your intelligence to aid the gods, and they will give you the acknowledgment you crave. Furthermore, for the crime of bringing the Frost Giants into Asgard, I must still punish you."

After a moment of contemplation, Odin passed judgment. He pointed his divine spear at Loki, saying, "I, as the All-Father, shall strip Loki, the Fire God, of one-third of his divine power as punishment for the trouble he has caused the gods of Asgard."

In an instant, the divine spear flashed. A source of fiery divine power was forcefully extracted from Loki's body. Odin compressed this Source of Fire God Power into a red sphere and casually placed it in a nearby holy grail.

"Guards, take Loki away," Odin waved his hand. "First, confine him for a few days to reflect and cultivate his character, then send him to the Dwarf Blacksmiths of Asgard to tend the fires and assist."

Loki, dejected, was led away by two guards. Odin's single eye gleamed sharply as he turned to Thor.

"Now, let's talk about you, my foolish son," Odin said with a tone of disappointment. "While I was in deep slumber, facing death, you were fighting a horde of savage Frost Giants at the gates of Asgard, allowing an outsider child to neutralize Loki's threat to me."

At this point, Odin specifically glanced at Guan Heng, who bowed slightly to the All-Father. "Luck, pure luck. You flatter me."

"Father God, Thor has failed his duty," Thor quickly lowered his head. "Mistake."

"Hello, dear Guan Heng," a soft, benevolent light appeared in Odin's eye. "I officially welcome you to the divine realm. Furthermore, I express my deepest gratitude for your timely intervention, which prevented an impending war." After speaking, Odin raised his hand and punched his chest with his fist.

Seeing Odin's solemn thanks, Guan Heng was taken aback. After a long pause, he said, "Your praise is far too great. It is an honor for a mere mortal like myself to be able to contribute to the divine realm." He thought to himself, I really didn't do much. Your son and his companions did the work, and my Dabao too. I just opened my mouth, and I never expected my 'mouth cannon' to be so powerful.

Odin said, "No, my praise is not excessive at all. The words you spoke in my chambers not only stopped Loki's murderous intent but also awakened my former paternal love. That is why I could not bring myself to execute him or continue his imprisonment. You are right; for a long time, I only remembered myself as Odin, but I forgot that I am also an ordinary father."

Guan Heng secretly thought, This time, when I entered Asgard, I only dealt with two insignificant Frost Giants and stopped Loki from killing his father with a few words. Dabao, on the other hand, took down a giant beast and several giants. By the way, where is Dabao?

Scanning his surroundings, Guan Heng finally spotted Dabao standing in a corner of the great hall of Asgard.

At this moment, Odin said, "Ah, I heard your subordinate who wields twin shields performed admirably this time. I have decided to order the Dwarf Blacksmiths to imbue his twin shields with some divine power as a reward."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. He is not eloquent, so I will thank you on behalf of Dabao," Guan Heng thought to himself, Dabao, you are the first zombie to be praised and rewarded by Odin. You're really lucky! Heh heh, if even he gets a reward, Odin definitely won't shortchange me.

"I declare in the name of the All-Father," Odin stood up and struck the ground with his divine spear. "Guan Heng, with his black hair and black eyes, is forever a guest of the divine realm. He may enter Asgard and any territory of Asgard at will, without prior notice."

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