The Mother and Daughter of Paradise Island

Antiope, the general of Paradise Island, stood tall and solemn as she slowly bent her knees before Li Qi, offering him the most respectful salute. A string of praises, each like a pearl or jewel, poured from her lips like a clear spring.

Hearing this, Li Qi was momentarily taken aback and felt deeply undeserving. After all, in his eyes, dealing with this invading rabble had been as easy as reaching into his pocket.

Looking over the armed forces that had attacked Paradise Island, he reckoned that even without his intervention, its brave, fearless female warriors could have driven the enemy back with their resilience and wisdom, though perhaps at a far heavier cost.

Li Qi stepped calmly out of his armor, his movements agile. Behind him, the godlike weapon of war stood proudly, radiating a cold and powerful aura.

Immediately afterward, the other seven mechs descended like divine soldiers from the heavens. With low rumbles, they landed behind Li Qi one after another, forming a neat semicircle, their imposing presence like an army of steel awaiting inspection.

Li Qi also expressed his respect for the general, his expression sincere and his gaze steady as he said,

"General, this was my duty. I came here to seek your island's young princess, Princess Diana. Since I happened upon this, I naturally could not stand aside."

Hearing that the man before her had come looking for the young princess Diana, Antiope, the general of Paradise Island, froze briefly, her delicate brows furrowing. Paradise Island had been isolated from the world since ancient times, like a secluded paradise, and they had lived here for nearly seven thousand years.

How had Diana, who lived on the island, come to know this man? Antiope could not help thinking of the Transmission Stone, the island's only means of communicating with the outside world, and doubts crowded her mind.

Just as Antiope hesitated to speak, the queen's majestic voice drifted over from afar. "Outsider, you must have ulterior motives for coming to our Paradise Island, mustn't you? These invaders had barely arrived before you followed on their heels. Speak. What sinister ambitions do you harbor? Guards, seize him first!"

Hippolyta, the queen of Paradise Island, approached with regal grace, her steps elegant and steady. Behind her was a contingent of her personal guards, all strong, muscular female warriors clad in gleaming armor and carrying sharp blades, their bearing imposing.

The queen herself wore magnificent, high-grade golden Amazon armor. Its contours were smooth and its craftsmanship exquisite, with rounded, protruding protective plates over her chest that gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight.

On her head sat a distinctively shaped golden Amazon crown, set with several brilliant gemstones that gave off a mysterious luster.

A long, narrow Amazon shortsword hung at her waist, its hilt also set with gems that complemented her crown. A golden cloak fluttered in the wind behind her, lending her even greater majesty and solemnity.

At that moment, her mature, alluring face was clouded with doubt, and vigilance flickered in her beautiful eyes.

Naturally, she was furious that Paradise Island had been attacked. The appearance of this man of unknown origins on its beach only made her more wary.

The power displayed by those eight war machines had made Hippolyta feel the might of the war machines on Mount Olympus. That such mortal war machines could rival the power of the demigods on Mount Olympia truly shocked her.

What worried and angered her even more was that this fellow had actually come looking for her daughter. Any mother would instinctively grow wary when someone came to her door seeking her daughter, and Hippolyta was no exception.

Thus, anger rose within her, and she ordered the guards beside her to seize the man and take him back into Paradise Island first.

Just then, Wonder Woman Diana came running over, her expression anxious. She reached out and caught the queen's arm, pleading urgently with a hint of tears in her voice,

"Your Majesty, this man is my friend. He risked his life to help our Paradise Island and has done us a great service. Mother, you cannot arrest him. You should welcome him as an honored guest instead."

Diana's face was filled with urgency, tears welling in her eyes and nearly spilling over. She knew the queen's ways very well. This was a paradise for women, and for thousands of years, outsiders-especially men-had been forbidden to enter. Thus, Li Qi coming to find her was no different from a sheep walking into a pack of wolves.

Diana turned toward her younger aunt-Antiope, the general of Paradise Island-and desperately blinked signals at her, her eyes full of pleas for help, hoping the general would also speak up for Li Qi.

Indeed, Hippolyta, the queen of Paradise Island, and General Antiope were sisters, making the general the princess's younger aunt.

Looking at the queen before him, Li Qi thought to himself, This queen is decisive and has a powerful presence. Dressed in standard golden armor, she exudes majesty with every movement. Judging by her exquisite face and graceful figure, though it is difficult to tell at a glance whether she is full-figured or curvaceous, she undoubtedly radiates the unique charm of a mature woman. In terms of age and personality, she really is a formidable one who would be difficult to tame. Compared to the innocent, pure, and worldly-inexperienced Diana, the queen is the true treasure.

Thus, Li Qi quietly changed the goal of his visit to Paradise Island. Besides winning Diana over, he would have to bring this queen under his command as well.

As for General Antiope, with her powerful presence and ruthlessly decisive fighting style, he would leave her alone for now. After all, Paradise Island also needed a female general who commanded such immense respect among its people.

Antiope also pleaded with her elder sister. Diana's expression eased a little; having her younger aunt on her side relieved a considerable amount of pressure.

Li Qi smiled slightly at the queen, revealing a set of straight white teeth. He stepped forward and cupped his fist in salute. "Your Majesty, I came to the island specifically to find the young princess. I hope you will forgive my rashness and intrusion. I mean no harm. I merely came to see Diana as a friend and take her out for a few days of fun."

By then, several of the queen's guards had reached Li Qi. They swiftly grabbed his arms, intending to restrain him and escort him into the interior of Paradise Island.

The queen's expression grew increasingly furious. The more Li Qi spoke of coming to find her daughter, the more he touched her sore spot, setting her heart ablaze with anger and filling her beautiful eyes with fury and resolve.

An outsider had now come seeking the daughter she had protected for five thousand years, transforming her five thousand years of worry into an even stronger obsession with protecting her.

The queen's face was dark and expressionless as she said indifferently, "Sorry, this is no place for outsiders. Any outsider who comes here either becomes a prisoner or ends up in the jaws of the sharks in the sea. I imagine you would not want to throw your life away."

The queen gestured for the guards to take this foreign man into the interior of Paradise Island first. Then she turned resolutely, her skirts fluttering in the wind, and led her guards away from the beach ahead of them.

Seeing her mother being so unreasonable, Diana became even more desperate to leave the island. She forcefully pulled away the hands of the female guards holding Li Qi and, looking flustered, said to him,

"Li Qi, hurry and have your war machines take you off this island. If you enter the interior of Paradise Island, you will never have another chance to leave. Put on your war armor and run!"

As Diana spoke, her face was filled with urgency, and tears gathered in her eyes, on the verge of falling.

Seeing Diana's anxiety, Li Qi grew even fonder of this princess who knew so little of the world.

He reached out and gently rubbed Diana's face, which was covered in dust and traces of battle. His touch was light, and he was just about to offer some words of comfort.

Just then, Antiope, the female general of Paradise Island, reached out and grabbed Li Qi's arm. Though her face still showed respect, her words had grown somewhat colder.

"Our benefactor, I advise you not to entertain any designs on our princess. To repay your kindness, I will now take you away from Paradise Island. Do not come back, and do not reveal our location."

Antiope intended to take Li Qi away and save his life, but how could Li Qi leave so easily? The purpose of his trip was precisely this mother and daughter.

He resolutely pulled free of the general's hand gripping his arm, his gaze firm and his tone determined. "No, General, I will not leave. I came here for Princess Diana. If I leave, I will certainly take the princess with me."