Yielding the gang leader's position

Li Qi had already gained a thorough understanding of Xu Wenwu's fighting style and the Ten Rings' abilities, and knew there was no need to waste any more time exchanging blows with him.

He decisively chose the most direct and convenient method-using his mind-control ability to turn Xu Wenwu into his puppet, servant, and subordinate, then absorb the Ten Rings completely.

In an instant, the mind-control ability granted by his powerful golden finger surged like a raging tide, enveloping Xu Wenwu tightly.

As an extremely unconventional and advanced technological creation, the ten rings seemed almost sentient, possessing a certain instinct to protect their master. They instantly activated their anti-intrusion protocol.

However, against the powerful system golden finger, the ten rings' resistance was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot. They only slightly delayed the mind-control ability's invasion before succumbing in an instant.

The ten rings slipped off Xu Wenwu's arms on their own, traced a distinctive pattern through the air resembling the Big Dipper, then circled and danced around Li Qi.

They vibrated constantly, releasing a dazzling energy shield, as though they had finally found their long-lost, beloved master. They even let out cheerful humming sounds, and the ripples vibrating through the surrounding air were clearly visible, as though outwardly expressing their joy.

Xu Wenwu froze at first, his eyes filled with bewilderment, but he soon fell under mind control. Deep within his mind, the golden finger system engraved the foundational logic: "The master comes first. His orders must be obeyed."

From then on, he lost his personal freedom and became Li Qi's puppet, just like the puppet Tony. However, he still retained his independent personality and a considerable degree of awareness,

but his deepest underlying logic was that he could never betray his master, and he had no privacy whatsoever. The system had engraved this deeply into his mind, as well as the minds of every puppet, servant, and female slave.

Xu Wenwu's shoulders instantly slumped, his head dipped slightly, and his body relaxed. He stood quietly beside Li Qi like a wooden figure, displaying utter deference, as though his soul had been drawn out and only the instinct to obey remained.

Over the sea, the three armed helicopters Xu Wenwu had brought slowly approached the battlefield in a triangular formation, preparing to provide fire support for their leader.

Li Qi glanced at the Ten Rings squad aboard the helicopters. Among them were two captain-level minor leaders. One was a burly Westerner whose missing right arm had been fitted with a bladed weapon. The weapon gleamed coldly in the sunlight, as though recounting tales of past bloodshed;

the other was an Eastern ninja wearing a theatrical mask and black stealth robes. The mysterious patterns on his mask exuded an inscrutable air.

Both lay at the cabin doors, staring intently at the battlefield, waiting only for their leader's command to unleash all the helicopters' weapons upon the enemy.

Now, seeing their leader standing so obediently and respectfully before that man with an Eastern face, they were filled with confusion.

Li Qi did not use his psychic ability on these squad members. In his eyes, these two captain-level figures were merely small fry whom he could not be bothered to control. To him, they were nothing more than insignificant minor characters.

Li Qi's first order to Xu Wenwu was to have the men he had brought land and inform them that the position of leader of the Ten Rings had been yielded to his countryman from the mysterious great nation of the East, Dragon Country-Li Qi.

Xu Wenwu obeyed his master's wishes without question. He turned around and raised his head again, his usual confidence and poise returning to his face.

It had to be said that Xu Wenwu, the former leader of the Ten Rings, was handsome and dashing, with considerable bearing and masculinity. He had typical Eastern features, and although he lacked bulging muscles and a brawny frame, he wore the standard attire of a martial artist, its fabric's textures seemingly recounting the stories of passing years.

Thanks to a thousand years of martial arts practice and exercise, his physique was by no means lacking. He truly looked slim in clothes and muscular without them.

He waved to the three helicopters nearby. His subordinates understood and landed them on the beach, instantly whipping up clouds of sand that mingled with the salty sea breeze to form small tornadoes, as though a mysterious dance were unfolding amid the swirling dust.

After disembarking from the three helicopters, the squad members jogged over to their boss.

Xu Wenwu looked around and solemnly announced to his subordinates, "Effective immediately, I am yielding my position as leader of this gang to my countryman, Li Qi. He possesses extraordinary abilities and will surely lead our gang back to its former glory, while I voluntarily step down to become deputy leader. From now on, all of you must obey Leader Li Qi's orders."

Volunteering to serve as deputy leader was also an instruction Li Qi had remotely authorized Xu Wenwu to carry out.

Faced with his subordinates' shocked, confused, and bewildered gazes, Xu Wenwu merely gave a somewhat handsome, charming smile, and everyone accepted the order.

They knew full well how formidable Xu Wenwu was. Anyone whom their former leader admired and yielded his position to had to be extraordinary. Thus, everyone shouted to Li Qi, "Our leader is mighty! Our leader is wise! The Ten Rings will surely regain its former might and shine across the world!"

For a thousand years, the Ten Rings had enjoyed a formidable reputation throughout Asia and Europe. The nation in North America had been founded only a little over two hundred years ago, and the Ten Rings' development there fell far short of its presence in Eurasia.

In fact, ever since Xu Wenwu had found someone he loved and had children more than a decade ago, he had lost interest in managing the gang. As a result, the Ten Rings had gradually declined over the past decade or so, its circumstances far worse than before, almost falling from a first-rate gang to a second-rate one.

Thus, restoring the Ten Rings to glory was the dream of every member. Although this thousand-year-old gang had struggled somewhat over the past century, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse, and its accumulated resources remained substantial.

Just like that, Li Qi acquired his second "asset." The first was Stark Industries, and the second was the Ten Rings.

Calm and composed, Li Qi looked at the gang members kneeling prostrate on the ground and nodded lightly for them to rise. Then he beckoned and led Xu Wenwu toward his villa. The other members were to set up a temporary camp near the villa, away from the crowds, and await orders.

After receiving their orders, the one-armed man and the masked ninja respectfully saluted their new leader, then led the other members back aboard the armed helicopters. They landed beside the hill where the villa stood and set up a temporary camp, which would be left aside for now.

Li Qi led Xu Wenwu slowly toward the villa. The artificial intelligence JARVIS had already notified the potbellied head of security, Happy, to drive over and bring his master back to the villa.

Li Qi and Xu Wenwu had been walking for less than two minutes when Happy raced up in a black luxury sedan like a black panther and stopped before them. Li Qi brought Xu Wenwu into the car, and the sedan sped toward the villa's main entrance.

Daisy Johnson and Xu Xialing waited on either side of the entrance to welcome their master home.

Daisy Johnson had an athletic bearing and a capable look in her eyes. She wore a tight combat suit that perfectly outlined her slender figure;

Xu Xialing had neat, short hair and delicate features. She wore a fitted black leather jacket that displayed a distinctive, dashing air.