NOVEL NEXT Chapter 108: Chapter 108: A Rare Guest
Early in the morning, Han Yu woke up and gently tucked the blanket around the still-sleeping Wanda before getting out of bed to start his day. On his way to the door, he passed by the computer room and was surprised to hear voices coming from inside.
"Pietro, just take the gold! How many times do I have to tell you, don't grab the cash. Gold is worth way more than cash!"
"Why are you yelling at me? I thought cash was more valuable!"
Hearing Ultron and Pietro's bickering, Han Yu couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head in amusement. Choosing not to intervene, he headed downstairs to open the shop.
As he pushed open the shop door, the crisp morning air greeted him, refreshing and invigorating. Han Yu stretched lazily, only to notice a figure standing by the doorway.
The person wore a hooded robe, their face obscured. Their attire was entirely out of place with the surroundings: a distinctly Eastern-style yellow robe cinched at the waist.
When the person noticed Han Yu looking at them, they spoke slowly, their voice revealing a female tone. "Excuse me, is this the 'There's This Shop'?"
Recognizing the voice and outfit, Han Yu immediately guessed the visitor's identity. Smiling, he said, "Well, well, what a rare guest. The Sorcerer Supreme herself, not teaching Strange magic in Kamar-Taj but visiting my humble little shop—it's an honor."
Under the hood, the guest's brow—devoid of eyebrows—arched slightly as she pulled back her hood, revealing a bald head.
It was none other than the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme, Earth's most powerful sorcerer tasked with defending against threats from the magical realm.
The "Strange" Han Yu had mentioned referred to Stephen Strange, the next in line to inherit the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, commonly known as Doctor Strange.
"I see why the Avengers respect you—you're not only worthy of lifting Mjolnir but also knowledgeable about so much more. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm the Ancient One."
The Ancient One extended her hand with a gentle smile. Han Yu smiled in return and shook it.
"And you're no less informed than I am. I'm Han Yu. Come in, let's talk."
Han Yu wasn't surprised that the Ancient One knew he could lift Thor's hammer. With her abilities, such knowledge was trivial to uncover.
He stepped aside to let her in, and the Ancient One nodded in acknowledgment before entering the shop. Han Yu led her to the dining area, where they sat in a quiet corner for their conversation.
"So, what brings the Sorcerer Supreme here personally? Is something wrong?" Han Yu asked as he set down two cups of tea, placing one in front of her.
"It's not a major issue," the Ancient One replied, taking a small sip of tea. The fragrance spread through her mouth, prompting her to raise an eyebrow in appreciation. "Excellent tea."
"Glad you like it," Han Yu said, taking a sip himself. "So, what's the matter? I assume Strange should have already reached Kamar-Taj by now."
The Ancient One remained silent, swirling the tea in her cup as she observed the tea leaves settling at the bottom. After a moment, she spoke, "Mr. Han, you're not from this timeline, are you?"
Han Yu, who was also gazing into his cup, briefly let a sharp glint flash through his eyes. Narrowing them slightly, he kept his composure and replied, "What do you mean?"
"I believe you already understand," the Ancient One said calmly. "As Sorcerer Supreme, it is my duty to safeguard one of the Infinity Stones—the Time Stone."
Han Yu looked up at her, tilting his head slightly, signaling her to continue.
"I once used the Time Stone to observe changes in the future. After that, I knew exactly what would happen. I never tried to alter anything, I simply let things unfold naturally. But one day, suddenly, something changed—events began to unfold ahead of schedule. When I looked into the future again using the Time Stone, I found that it could no longer see what was to come."
"Furthermore, Strange didn't come to find me. The day before he was supposed to have a car accident, he passed through it unscathed."
"I realized there could only be one explanation—someone must have intervened in this timeline, causing it to shift. Even the Infinity Stones couldn't foresee the changes in the timeline!"
The Ancient One locked her gaze on Han Yu and continued, "I believe it was your arrival, Mr. Han, that caused the timeline to change."
"You do not belong to this world—or rather, this universe!"
At this point, Han Yu, who had been silent until now, slowly smiled, a mysterious, unreadable expression on his face.
On the surface, the Ancient One remained calm, but her hand, which had been resting by her side, subtly touched the ring hanging at her waist—the Eye of Agamotto, a special ring capable of opening portals. If Han Yu showed any signs of aggression, she would immediately use it to defend herself.
Normally, she wore it at her waist, but today it was hanging at her thigh. She felt that Han Yu would invite her to sit, and placing her hand on her thigh would appear more natural than resting it at her waist, which would be too conspicuous.
Suddenly, Han Yu lightly clapped his hands. A few seconds later, he smiled and said, "No wonder you're the Ancient One, having lived for centuries by absorbing the dark energy of Dormammu. Your knowledge is truly vast, as you're the first to learn my true identity. So, what's your plan? Are you going to kill me?"
Han Yu leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and rested his hands on his knees. As he spoke, a subtle but noticeable pressure emanated from him, swirling around the Ancient One without overwhelming her.
Hearing that Han Yu knew about her use of dark energy to extend her life made the Ancient One's expression shift slightly. This was something even her closest disciples didn't know, which revealed just how much Han Yu understood.
She could feel the pressure in the air, and though it didn't press down on her, the occasional shift in its intensity made her facial muscles twitch. This young man in front of her could very well be the most difficult opponent she had encountered in all her years—perhaps even someone she might not be able to defeat!
She took a deep breath and said, "No, I'm not here to fight. I actually have a request."
"Oh? A request? Do tell," Han Yu replied, his pressure lifting as he leaned in with interest.
The Ancient One exhaled deeply, relieved, and said, "I wanted to ask if you could allow Wanda, from your shop, to come to the Sanctum Sanctorum. I'd like to train her to be the next Sorcerer Supreme."
This request caught Han Yu completely off guard—it was something he hadn't expected at all. He picked up his tea cup again, and to his surprise, the tea refilled itself on its own, hot and fresh.
He asked, "Why her?"
The Ancient One replied, "I know she has awakened a powerful magic called Chaos Magic. In the timeline I saw with the Time Stone, she would need at least five years to reach this level. But now, she's already achieved it—and she's even stronger than the Wanda I saw. If she comes to me, I'm confident I can train her to surpass me, to surpass Strange, and become the next Sorcerer Supreme!"
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