This Lady Is Mine Tonight

Although he was now one of the strongest beings on Earth, the thrill of opening a box still made his heart race.

Something good had better come out... Even Kryptonite would do. At least then I'd know what the stuff looks like.

"Ding! Draw complete!"

Two spheres of light appeared in his mindscape.

The first sphere burst open, revealing an exquisite blue vial.

Item: Compound V (System-Purified Version) x1

Description: Vought's core technology. Improved by the system, with all side effects removed.

Effect: After use, it can grant ordinary people random superpowers or strengthen the existing abilities of superhumans.

Note: Because the side effects have been removed, its potency has been reduced. Given the host's current physique, the improvement would be negligible—equivalent to drinking a can of Red Bull.

"..."

Wu Yanzu looked speechlessly at the little blue bottle that had appeared in his hand out of nowhere.

"A genuine Vought energy drink?"

"It does nothing for me... but it has no side effects either."

He toyed with the vial, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Ashley, who was looking at her tablet, before shifting to Jessica beside her, whose expression screamed for strangers to stay away.

"Next."

The second sphere of light radiated an intertwined black-and-white glow.

Item: Combat Module—High-Martial Primal Tai Chi

Description: Still troubled by only knowing how to swing your fists with brute force? Still getting mocked for fighting like a street thug? Once this template is loaded, the host will instantly master grandmaster-level Tai Chi theory and practical combat techniques.

Effect: Borrow force to counter force, redirect force, dissipate force. Balance hardness and softness. Greatly improves the host's fine control over strength and adaptability in close combat.

Passive: "Still Mind" greatly increases mental resistance.

"...Tai Chi?"

Wu Yanzu froze.

This was something that could come out of a blind box too? He had thought it would be an Infinity Stone fragment or Batman's utility belt.

"Homelander doing Tai Chi..."

The image was too beautiful. He did not dare imagine it.

But then he reconsidered.

"Wait... this can even partially replace the Biological Force Field, so I won't casually rip people to pieces."

And if he ran into several skilled fighters like Soldier Boy and Butcher attacking him together, he would not end up getting pinned down and beaten if the difference in their attributes was not overwhelming.

With a thought, Wu Yanzu chose to load it immediately.

"Ying ying ying—!"

A cool current instantly flowed through his entire body before converging in his brain.

Countless fragments of memory surged forth: receive, neutralize, release.

೭(´･ᴗ･`)╮

Ward off, roll back, press, push; pluck, split, elbow, shoulder; five consecutive whips.

That mysterious, ineffable sensation somehow produced a wondrous chemical reaction with the violent, destructive power inside him.

He tried moving his fingers.

Before, his strength had been like a raging flood—either bursting its banks and swallowing everything, or being blocked off completely.

But now...

That power flowed around his fingertips, smooth and effortless.

"Hoo..."

Wu Yanzu let out a long breath, steady and unbroken. At least to some extent, he no longer needed to tread on eggshells quite so carefully.

"Sir," Ashley said from the diagonal seat, still frantically scrolling through her tablet, "Twitter has gone insane. The top three trending topics are all about us!"

"The number one trend right now is: #TheSeven#."

"Number two is: #QueenJones#."

"Number three is: #WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility#."

Ashley looked up, her eyes filled with admiration. "That line was incredible! Even our copywriting team couldn't come up with dialogue that profound! Did you improvise it on the spot?"

"Of course." Wu Yanzu took a sip of champagne without batting an eye. "Just something I felt in the moment."

Just then, the car suddenly slammed on the brakes!

"Screech—!!"

"Fuck!" the driver cursed from the front seat. "A drunk ran out in front of us!"

The inertia was tremendous.

Caught completely off guard, Ashley cried out. The tablet flew from her hands, and she pitched forward awkwardly, about to smash into the hard table inside the car.

Jessica Jones beside her reacted quickly and was just about to reach out and grab her.

But someone was faster.

Wu Yanzu remained seated, his back not even leaving the seat.

His left hand extended lightly, as if it had no bones.

Just as Ashley was about to collide with the table, the back of his hand gently rested on her shoulder.

One brush, one pull.

In that instant, Ashley's forward momentum vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

She felt herself guided by a gentle force and steadily returned to her seat. Not even her hair was out of place.

"..."

Still shaken, Ashley touched her face. "I... I'm okay?"

Jessica Jones's hand froze in midair, her eyes wide. She was strong; she knew exactly how much momentum that sudden stop had generated.

If she had acted, she would have grabbed Ashley by the clothes, perhaps even bruising her from using too much force.

But Wu Yanzu...

What he had just done was as light as brushing away a speck of dust.

"You..." Jessica swallowed. "What was that just now... karate?"

Azu withdrew his hand, straightened his cuff, and slowly closed his eyes, sensing the force of yin and yang circulating within him.

"No, Queen."

"This is called... kung fu."

Beverly Hills, Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, ballroom.

A celebratory banquet for Homelander: Origin was being held here.

Compared with the uproar of the premiere earlier, this place was a carnival of power and capital.

Hollywood giants, Wall Street tycoons, and political dignitaries mingled amid clinking glasses and glamorous company.

Wu Yanzu had changed into a dark blue velvet suit. Holding a glass of wine, he moved through the crowd of "important people" with practiced ease.

"Mr. Starr! Congratulations! This is absolutely a miracle in cinematic history!"

"Anthony, we're very optimistic about Starr Group's stock price next quarter..."

"Homelander, I have a niece working at the Pentagon. She admires you greatly..."

He smiled as he made small talk, but his gaze drifted toward Jessica Jones in the corner.

This newly minted "Queen Jones" was clearly extremely uncomfortable with such an occasion.

She held a glass of champagne as though it were poison, standing there stiffly from head to toe.

Several wealthy businessmen surrounded her, their eyes roaming brazenly over the skintight combat suit she had yet to change out of.

"Oh my, Miss Jones, that outfit really shows off your figure..."

"Would you be interested in coming to my yacht for some photos?"

Jessica's fists had already clenched. She felt she was about to lose it and shove these old perverts' heads into the champagne tower.

Just one second before she exploded.

A hand gently settled on her shoulder.

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

Wu Yanzu appeared behind her. Though he wore a smile as warm as spring sunlight, the flicker in his brows made no one dare act rashly.

"This lady is mine tonight."