Supreme Sorcerer

Howard Estate

Early morning.

A piercing shout shattered the silence.

Tony, forcibly dragged onto the bed, and Pepper, whom Qin Yi had secretly lured over, stared at each other's naked bodies in terror.

"Ah!"

Pepper's scream rang out once again.

In the dining room.

Facing Aunt Maria's questioning gaze, Qin Yi made an OK gesture.

To make sure nothing went wrong, he had reinforced both of their bodies with different kinds of energy yesterday and had even used dark magic that could induce arousal.

Before long.

Tony came downstairs awkwardly, carrying two prepared breakfasts upstairs.

Qin Yi raised his eyebrows at Tony with a mischievous look.

Aunt Maria served Qin Yi some food beside him. Clearly, she was very pleased with Qin Yi's arrangement, though she still asked somewhat worriedly,

"Little Qin, isn't this a bit unfair to Pepper?"

Qin Yi pretended to think it over before speaking.

"Don't worry, Auntie. My master, the Supreme Sorcerer Ancient One, read their fortunes. They're destined to be together. I've even thought of names for their children."

Master Yao, you can take the blame for this one.

Hearing that, Aunt Maria finally set aside her worries. Though she had never met that Supreme Sorcerer, from what Qin Yi and Miss Qin had said, their master was the strongest sorcerer on Earth. She should not have gotten it wrong.

In recent years, both she and Howard had felt their health declining. They only hoped to see their children settle down soon. If Qin Yi were not still so young, Maria would have wanted him to get married and have children as soon as possible too.

Qin Yi gave Aunt Maria a thoughtful look, then lowered his head and continued enjoying the food.

A long while later.

Tony accompanied Pepper downstairs and greeted Aunt Maria in the living room.

Qin Yi happened to be walking over from the kitchen with a watermelon in his arms when he saw Tony and Pepper looking so embarrassed that they could practically dig a hole in the floor with their toes.

Pepper had joined Stark Industries long ago. A few years earlier, when Uncle Howard retired and Tony took over Stark Industries, he had promoted Pepper heavily.

She became Tony's assistant, responsible for managing his daily life at the company while also handling some other messes.

Still, the relationship between the two was hard to define. Pepper might have been a little infatuated with Tony—his air as a wealthy bachelor with substance, brains, and looks.

As for Tony lately, Qin Yi could not quite put his finger on it. Ever since returning from the Zombie Universe, he had not gone out for nighttime activities in a long time. He had even handed the company over to Pepper and his second-in-command, Stane, to manage.

Most of his time was spent researching Iron Man armor in the underground laboratory of Howard Estate.

He had not gone out until yesterday, when he attended Rhodes's celebration banquet for his promotion to colonel.

In the living room.

Aunt Maria held Pepper's hand as they sat together chatting.

Tony squeezed in beside Qin Yi, who was holding a watermelon, and sat down with one hand supporting his chin.

He could not understand why it had happened in his own bedroom. Last night, Rhodes had picked two Black girls, while he had picked two blonde, long-legged, busty girls. Why had he woken up beside Pepper? Though Pepper was pretty great too.

That morning, when Tony questioned what had happened.

Qin Yi did not even need to lie. Howard stepped forward and explained directly to Tony,

"We all thought you and Pepper were dating. You were very drunk yesterday, and Pepper brought you back. I have to say, Tony, your mother and I are quite satisfied with Pepper."

Even with an IQ as high as 270, Tony could not figure it out. He merely made a silent resolution that he would never get drunk again.

By the time Tony saw Pepper off, it was already evening.

Qin Yi sat on the sofa, rubbing his head as he wondered whether he had forgotten something.

There should not be anything going on lately, right? The mutant matter had been resolved too, but why did he feel like someone had him in mind?

"Fuck!"

Qin Yi sprang up from the sofa.

He had forgotten to bring Wanda and Pietro over.

When he rushed back to Kamar-Taj and found the two of them, Pietro was excitedly pestering Mordo to teach him how to make a sling ring portal.

Little Wanda shyly glanced at Qin Yi. After Qin Yi explained why he had come to Wanda and Pietro.

Upon hearing that they were going to New York, Wanda quietly nodded, while Pietro immediately hugged Mordo's leg and cried out,

"Master, I don't want to go to New York! He's stealing your beloved disciple! Beat him up, Master!"

Mordo froze for a moment. Then, when he noticed Qin Yi glancing at him, he gave a bitter smile and patted Pietro's head, silently telling his good disciple,

Good disciple, it's not that your master doesn't want to fight him. Your master just can't beat him. I couldn't beat this kid from the very first day he came to Kamar-Taj.

Mordo shook his head and sighed inwardly. What a pity.

He had finally found such an obedient and well-behaved disciple.

Though his talent was not much to speak of, that diligent and demanding attitude really was so much like his own.

"Qin, let them stay here."

Qin Yi turned around in surprise and looked at Ancient One, who had just walked up behind him.

"Master Yao...?"

Ancient One nodded and left.

Qin Yi cupped his hands toward Mordo.

"I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother Mordo."

Mordo hurriedly returned the gesture with both hands.

Only after Qin Yi headed off in pursuit of Ancient One did Pietro get up and dust himself off. Mordo then solemnly told him,

"Pietro, work hard. Do not disappoint the Supreme Sorcerer's expectations."

Pietro nodded vigorously, then quickly asked,

"Master, what is your relationship with the Supreme Sorcerer and that Qin?"

Though Mordo did not quite understand what his good disciple was thinking, he still explained,

"The Supreme Sorcerer is the master of Junior Brother Qin and me. She is Kamar-Taj's..."

Pietro did not hear another word his master said. He clutched his head and cried out inwardly,

How did I forget that he's Master's junior brother? Doesn't that mean I'll have to call him Martial Uncle from now on? What a huge loss!

In a Chinese-style courtyard within Kamar-Taj, Ancient One sat cross-legged on the ground. Tea had already been brewed before her. She sat quietly, clearly waiting for Qin Yi.

"Master Yao, why?"

Qin Yi found it strange. Just a few days ago, Old Yao had argued with him over this very matter and had refused to let Wanda and Pietro remain in Kamar-Taj.

Ancient One's wise, luminous gaze turned toward the sky before she told Qin Yi,

"Kamar-Taj needs fresh strength."

Rubbing his chin, Qin Yi asked Ancient One uncertainly,

"Old Yao, what did you see?"

Ancient One shook her head and fell silent for a while.

"Let Wanda train with me for a time."

Qin Yi nodded.

"That's for the best. Letting Mordo teach her magic would be such a waste of Wanda's talent."

"Don't be prejudiced against Mordo. He..."

Ancient One sighed helplessly as she thought of her two disciples.

Kaecilius had not returned to Kamar-Taj for a long time. Who knew where he was busy summoning Dormammu.

Mordo, meanwhile, was far too stubborn. In the future she had seen through the Time Stone, the two of them...

Ancient One suddenly looked at Qin with utter seriousness, her wise, luminous eyes fixed tightly upon Qin Yi.

"Qin, become the Supreme Sorcerer."

"Come on, Old Yao, you've been saying that for almost ten years. Even if you look at me that seriously, it's still no. I'm not suited for it."

A long while later.

Seeing Ancient One remain silent as she looked at him expectantly, Qin Yi leaned closer and said,

"You're serious, Old Yao?"

"I'm too tired, Qin."

All right, then.

The Supreme Sorcerer who had protected Earth for five hundred years said she was too tired.

As the experiences of Ancient One's legendary life flashed through his mind, Qin Yi could not help complaining inwardly,

Old Yao really had terrible judgment when picking disciples before she met me. Her first disciple after becoming Supreme Sorcerer, some Mister Jibo, parted ways with her because of his research into dark magic.

Later, Kaecilius became a follower of Dormammu, while blockhead Mordo turned evil after learning that Ancient One had extended her life with dark magic.

Other than the later Stephen...

Qin Yi nodded.

"Fine. As long as you can convince the major Sanctums to accept an underage Supreme Sorcerer. But let's make this clear first: once Stephen arrives, I'm giving the position to him."

Hearing that, Ancient One let out a long breath, then turned and walked away unsteadily.

As though she had never carried a burden upon her shoulders.