Summoning Black Widow to the Villa
Before sunset, everyone returned safely to the villa aboard the armed helicopters.
By then, Li Qi and Daisy Johnson had finished bathing and were enjoying dinner in the cozy, elegant dining room. Exquisite tableware and a lavish spread filled the table, while soft lighting created a relaxing atmosphere.
The core members then entered the dining room one after another, their faces glowing with the ease and satisfaction of completing their mission. They all waved to Li Qi in greeting.
Seeing this, Li Qi smiled and gently told them to wash up first, then come back to eat.
Li Qi and Daisy Johnson had returned early this time because he had a clear plan: he intended to have Black Widow send Daisy Johnson to S.H.I.E.L.D. for training.
At present, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s full name was still the Homeland Strategic and Logistics Support Bureau, but this did not affect the steady progress of his plan.
Li Qi had already contacted Black Widow Natasha. In her usual brisk, decisive manner, Natasha said she would introduce Daisy Johnson to her old colleague, Agent Phil Coulson.
Li Qi had also specifically asked Black Widow to arrange a meeting between him and Phil Coulson.
Before long, the others finished washing up and returned to the dining room, all looking refreshed and behaving properly. They first bowed respectfully to Li Qi before taking their seats to eat.
During the meal, Li Qi highly praised everyone's performance that day. His face was full of gratification as he sincerely expressed how satisfied he was.
After dinner, Li Qi brought Xu Wenwu, Ying Li, and the adorable pet Dijiang to the study.
A faint scent of books filled the study, and its walls were covered with old calligraphy and paintings.
Sitting on a comfortable sofa, Li Qi earnestly asked them about Ta Lo Village.
Li Qi planned to visit the mysterious Ta Lo Village next, to pay his respects to the guardian divine dragon and the mysterious tribe there.
After returning from Ta Lo Village, he would head to the Ten Rings base, then set off for the S.H.I.E.L.D. base to meet Phil Coulson. His upcoming itinerary was packed.
Xu Wenwu knew very little about Ta Lo Village, but Ying Li had once lived there and knew it very well.
Her eyes revealed her longing for her homeland as she talked to Li Qi at length about it.
The most interesting detail was that Ta Lo Village was almost entirely populated by women. At the very least, women made up the vast majority, with only a handful of male members.
After hearing this, a trace of curiosity and longing flashed through Li Qi's eyes, and he looked forward to Ta Lo Village even more.
When they discussed how to enter Ta Lo Village, Ying Li gently nudged Dijiang, who was happily rolling around on the study floor, with her foot. With an indulgent smile, she told Li Qi that this little fellow could guide them inside.
Li Qi nodded in understanding. The adorable pet Dijiang seemed to understand their conversation and immediately ran to Li Qi's feet, affectionately rubbing against his thigh.
Dijiang had no head at either end and looked quirky and mischievous. Emerald-green wings resembling a goose's grew on either side, fluttering as though in response to them. The sight was quite amusing.
Li Qi also gently nudged the adorable little pet with his foot. As though coaxing a child, he said with a hint of teasing, "If you can lead us into Ta Lo Village, I'll give you lots of tasty food." He held out
an extremely tempting offer.
After hearing this, Dijiang shook excitedly and flapped those wings hard, as though agreeing.
Seeing this, Ying Li smiled and pulled Dijiang away by a wing to keep the pet from bothering Li Qi.
Li Qi asked Ying Li a few more questions about Ta Lo Village before ending their conversation.
Their next objective was to make their way into Ta Lo Village. Everyone would rest at the villa for a day, then depart on schedule early the morning after tomorrow.
Li Qi arranged for Xu Wenwu and the other Ten Rings members to take Dr. Maya back to the Ten Rings base first.
Xu Wenwu nodded solemnly as he accepted the order, then left the study to relay it.
Li Qi had JARVIS notify Dr. Maya to follow Xu Wenwu to the armed helicopters.
Maya had been preparing to rest in her room when she received the order relayed by JARVIS. She obediently rose from the soft bed, straightened her clothes, and went to the villa's entrance.
Xu Wenwu was already waiting there. When they met, they merely nodded slightly in greeting without saying anything more, then walked out of the villa side by side toward the Ten Rings members nearby.
The sun had just dipped below the sea's horizon, and the sky was still bright. Viewed from the beach, the sea and sky blended into a dreamlike, hazy scene before nightfall. Soft afterglow spilled over the shimmering water.
The helicopters were parked a short distance from the villa. Xu Wenwu ordered Razor Fist and the ninja wearing an opera mask to protect Dr. Maya, specifically stressing, "These are the leader's orders. She's vital to our organization."
Afterward, Xu Wenwu returned to the villa, while three armed helicopters carried the Ten Rings members toward their base in the mountains.
That night, Li Qi did not continue developing and building his armor. Instead, he enjoyed a good night's sleep in the warm, comfortable bedroom, with Daisy Johnson quietly keeping him company.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows into the room. It was another ordinary day.
Li Qi went down to the basement, which was filled with all sorts of high-tech equipment and armor components.
He continued optimizing and improving the iron armor, with JARVIS methodically assisting him.
To deal with whatever situations might arise next, he had to ensure that the armor could be updated and upgraded at any time.
Xu Wenwu was talking with the potbellied security chief, Happy, on the villa's balcony. The balcony offered an expansive view overlooking the beautiful sea.
Xu Wenwu was refined and handsome, and spoke with cultured courtesy. As he chatted with Happy, the two were like old friends reunited after a long separation.
Xu Wenwu told Happy how he had gradually emerged from grief and painful emotions over the past decade or so. He also said that meeting Li Qi would be the most important turning point in his life.
Happy greatly envied Xu Wenwu's ease of spirit and nodded in agreement from time to time.
Around noon, Black Widow Natasha drove a red convertible supercar along the path below the mountain, speeding toward the villa's gates like the wind. The supercar's engine gave a low rumble, like a roaring beast.
JARVIS controlled the gates. Once they slowly opened, the red sports car swung its tail around beautifully and braked sharply, coming to a steady stop beside the villa.
After getting out, Black Widow Natasha abandoned her carefree manner behind the wheel and walked properly toward the villa's entrance with an agile, elegant bearing. Her steps were light, as though each carried a unique rhythm.
Happy greeted Black Widow from a short distance away in the villa's courtyard, then continued chatting with Xu Wenwu.
Xu Wenwu looked at Black Widow. As fellow subordinates of Li Qi, he naturally knew that this dashing-looking woman was also one of Li Qi's people.
At the villa's entrance, JARVIS told Black Widow to go straight to Li Qi's bedroom.
Black Widow Natasha followed the instructions, walking properly upstairs with confident strides and arriving at the master bedroom.
She pushed open the door to find Li Qi waiting inside. He had already told Ying Li to go to another room and chat with Xu Xialing, so only he and Black Widow were in the room now.
Black Widow Natasha closed the master bedroom door and walked gracefully toward Li Qi.
Li Qi glanced at her. She wore a black leather jacket and jeans, the fitted jacket perfectly outlining her voluptuous curves.
Her long orange hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her red lips were luscious, her nose high-bridged, and her large eyes sparkled as she glanced around. Her whole body radiated captivating charm.
Black Widow Natasha had always followed Li Qi's arrangements, helping him handle various matters.
The two then entered the bathroom together. Only after they had washed and felt fresh and comfortable did Li Qi ask Black Widow about the progress of the tasks he had previously assigned her.