"Hmm..."
Li Ge was not surprised that the Ancient One knew his origins and his current level of existence.
After all, once he began interacting with mutants-or rather, once he came into contact with Peter and the others-he was bound to change the original timeline.
And the Ancient One, who had been using the Time Stone to peer into various timelines all along, would surely notice these anomalies and discover that something was off about him.
Until he gained the ability to conceal his own timeline and hide all information about his past,
his past was as obvious before the Ancient One's Time Stone as lice on a bald man's head-plain for all to see.
"So, Ancient One, what would you like to say to me?"
Li Ge merely narrowed his eyes, took another sip from his teacup, and asked curiously.
"Li Ge, you are someone who should not exist in this world. Ever since you awakened your mutant ability, everything in the future has become increasingly unpredictable."
"So, will you destroy Earth?"
As she spoke, the Ancient One's gaze grew sharp as a blade as she carefully watched Li Ge's expression.
"Are you joking, Ancient One?"
"My parents in this life and I all live here. Why would I destroy Earth?"
"At most, I'll just reshape this world a little!"
Li Ge had not expected the Ancient One to raise the issue to a global scale right from the start. He did not mind her vigilance; it was precisely a sign of her sense of responsibility.
Nor did he hide his desire to reshape this world. After all, he had already created Krakoa.
"Then, Li Ge, I hope you can make this world exciting enough!"
"There is a great deal of magical knowledge here. I imagine you must need it very much right now. You may stay here and study for a while."
The Ancient One studied Li Ge's face closely, seemingly trying to determine whether his words were true.
Then she slowly lowered her eyelids. Her fingers paused against the outside of her teacup, but in the end, she made no further move.
"I will have Master Mordo arrange everything. The library will also be fully open to you."
"Come in, Mordo."
Having finished speaking, the Ancient One finally lifted her teacup and took a gentle sip.
Hearing the Ancient One's call, a tall Black sorcerer pushed open the door and entered, walking straight over to Li Ge.
"This way, please!"
Li Ge watched the Ancient One sip her tea, then looked at Master Mordo's hand gesturing toward the door.
He had not expected the Ancient One to open Kamar-Taj's library to him before he had even asked.
Was it because of the Time Stone?
That seemed to be the only possibility.
Laws truly were powerful things!
It looked like he really needed to properly study the various fields of knowledge that directly analyzed laws!
Whether magic or technology!
Only then could he make his designs smoother and more logical, and raise the heights he could reach.
He could not become a brute who relied solely on talent.
Even the patriarchs and Daoist venerables of mythology never stopped comprehending the Dao and exploring its mysteries. He could not become a frog at the bottom of a well.
"Then I'll be imposing on you in the days ahead, Ancient One."
"Master Mordo, sorry for the trouble I'll be putting you through."
Since they were being so generous, Li Ge was naturally not going to be rude.
He stood up and greeted Master Mordo, then followed him out of the tearoom, winding through the complex of buildings.
Occasionally, they saw a sorcerer hurry past along the way, greeting Mordo and giving Li Ge only a curious glance before paying him no further attention.
Perhaps being escorted by Master Mordo had made them realize that Li Ge was no ordinary visitor.
In truth, Li Ge was somewhat curious about what these sorcerers were busy doing, but studying was the most important thing right now.
As they passed a training ground, Li Ge happened to spot someone very familiar.
A long face, a neatly trimmed beard, and slightly curly hair-these features made him easy to recognize.
Familiar was not quite the word; he was simply very familiar with him from the films of his previous life.
Yes, it was none other than that unreliable Doctor Strange-Strange, who caused huge trouble whenever he caused any at all.
Seeing Li Ge keep staring at the people on the training ground, Mordo assumed he was drawn to the magic they were practicing.
He could not help introducing it to him.
"These are all newly arrived sorcerer apprentices. What they are practicing is the most basic spell: a portal."
"Since the Ancient One has already permitted you to study Kamar-Taj's magic, you can join them if you wish to learn."
As someone who had always deeply respected the Ancient One, Mordo carried out every decision she made to the letter.
Since Li Ge had already received the Ancient One's permission, he would naturally make sure Li Ge could study magic properly.
"No need, Master Mordo. I'm just a little curious. Please take me to the library instead. The knowledge there is what I need most."
After letting his gaze linger one last time on Doctor Strange's constantly trembling hands as he struggled to trace circles, Li Ge declined Mordo's suggestion.
Who knew what this world's timeline looked like now? Hulk had not even appeared yet, but Doctor Strange was already studying magic at Kamar-Taj.
Was this the butterfly effect caused by his existence?
Still, none of this could affect him.
Li Ge gave it only a moment's thought before putting the question of the timeline out of his mind and continuing toward the library with Mordo.
Strange struggled to control his hands and keep them from shaking. Never before had he missed his once-steady, precise hands so much.
To heal his hands, he had spent all his savings and tried every method.
Now, after finally learning about Kathmandu from a former patient, he had endured countless hardships to find Kamar-Taj, this sacred haven of magic.
After the Ancient One shattered his worldview by sending his soul traveling through the multiverse, he had been working hard to learn magic.
But his hands refused to obey him, trembling without pause.
While the other sorcerer apprentices could already draw out a few sparks, or even trace an incomplete circle,
he still could not produce so much as a single spark.
He began to wonder whether he lacked the talent to learn magic, whether his constantly trembling hands were preventing him from truly mastering it.
When Mordo brought Li Ge past earlier, he had seen them too.
He did not know whether he was imagining it, but that child, who looked only in his teens, seemed to keep staring at him-and at his hands in particular.
That curious gaze made his face grow hot, as though it were mocking him for how badly his hands shook and why he still could not produce any sparks.
He glanced in the direction Li Ge and Mordo had come from. It seemed to be the Ancient One's tearoom, which made him somewhat curious about Li Ge.
After Li Ge and Mordo left, Strange drew a deep breath, suppressed the frustration in his heart, and continued concentrating on tracing circles.