Chapter 128: The Ancient One Arrives, Two Sisters
The next day, Saturday.
At Xi Nian's home.
There was no need for an alarm clock. Wanda had long since developed the habit of waking early and diligently starting her day's work.
After washing up and changing into her casual clothes, the very first thing she did—naturally—was head to the second bedroom to wake Xi Nian. But when she opened the door, the bed was empty. There was no trace of the boy.
Diana, who had also left the house, had left behind a note saying Xi Nian had gone to a friend's place, and that he might not return until tonight or tomorrow.
A friend's place? Which friend could that be?
And why hadn't he told her last night? Why had he left so early in the morning…
Wanda couldn't help thinking about it, her little face showing disappointment. Still, she quickly pulled herself together. Since Xi Nian wasn't at home, it was the perfect time to give the house a thorough cleaning.
Today, her special school lessons were also canceled.
Wanda clearly remembered what Xi Nian had said before: that this morning at ten, someone would come to pick her up to learn something new.
So.
After finishing breakfast, Wanda cleaned the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. She also took the blankets, pillows, and clothes from Xi Nian's room, tossing them into the washing machine to clean and dry in batches.
"What's this…"
The scarlet-haired girl squatted in front of Xi Nian's wardrobe, staring curiously at a bottom drawer. When she opened it and lifted a white shirt, she found two special suits hidden beneath.
One was a black-and-white hooded suit with a web pattern and a white spider emblem.
The other was a full black suit with a cape, its chest emblazoned with a clear "S" crest.
…
Wanda wasn't someone who ignored current events. Ever since her training as a maid and housekeeper, she had been following the news far more closely than Xi Nian ever bothered to.
So the moment she saw these two very different battle suits, she immediately connected them to recent events.
Xi Nian was not an ordinary person—this, Wanda had always known.
For example, he had once lifted her out from five meters beneath a collapsed ruin with his bare hands. Or how his hair sometimes mysteriously changed color.
Quietly, Wanda placed the white shirt back into the wardrobe, covering the two battle suits again. For some reason, she felt a pang of sadness. Not because Xi Nian was keeping secrets from her, but because in some areas, as his maid and housekeeper, she couldn't offer him even the slightest bit of help.
That was nothing short of a failure of duty.
Just as Wanda was thinking this, she suddenly heard a strange noise from the living room.
She realized that it was already ten in the morning—the exact time Xi Nian had said someone would come to take her for lessons.
Quickly leaving the bedroom, she stepped into the living room—only to freeze.
Right in the center of the room, sparks of fire were spinning, forming a strange circular portal in the air. Standing before it was a bald woman with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression kind.
The bald woman's face betrayed no age. Smiling faintly, she looked at Wanda and said, "Hello, Wanda Django Maximoff."
"Hello. You must be the teacher Master spoke of, the one who will guide me?" Wanda asked instinctively.
"Teacher?" The Ancient One paused, then shook her head. "Not exactly. I only accepted Xi Nian as my student. But since he didn't want to study, he asked you to learn in his place."
"So you don't need to call me teacher. Just call me the Ancient One."
Learning could be substituted? Her Master really was…
Wanda had a strong urge to complain, but instead she nodded earnestly. "I will study properly on Master's behalf!"
The Ancient One gave her a deep, meaningful look, then turned and stepped into the portal. "Come with me."
Wanda showed no fear, following her into the gateway.
As the two disappeared inside, the fiery portal shrank, until only a few sparks were left, before vanishing into the empty living room.
…
Los Angeles.
The largest city on the American west coast, long known as the City of Angels. Even Tony Stark had built himself a luxury seaside villa here.
There were no resident superheroes in Los Angeles. Strangely enough, perhaps because of that, the city had also escaped the large-scale extraordinary events that struck New York, Gotham, Metropolis, and Washington in recent years.
At this moment, on a main road in LA, a bus was heading steadily toward the city center.
In the back row sat a green-haired girl around thirteen, and a black-haired boy just past sixteen.
The boy held a backpack on his lap, the zipper only halfway closed. Inside it were a small orange cat and a glass jar.
It was, of course, Lorna and Xi Nian—now back in his normal form.
"Um. Boss Polaris, could you not hold my hand?" Xi Nian whispered.
"What, embarrassed already?" Lorna teased, though her voice was still weak.
"No, it's just that…" Xi Nian's eye twitched. Once again, he could feel the curious stares from other passengers on the bus.
After all, anyone could see the two of them weren't siblings.
And when Lorna wasn't wearing her usual smoky makeup, her delicate pale face made her look just like a doll. Sitting on the seat with her short legs swinging, she looked like an innocent young girl.
Meanwhile, Xi Nian himself wasn't much older, with a cap pulled low and a mask covering his face. Together with Lorna, the two looked more suspicious than anything.
He wanted to say, compared to her, he was the one who was truly inexperienced with the world.
The bus shook slightly as it hit a bump.
Lorna frowned faintly and muttered, "Little brother, I want candy."
"Wait a second."
Xi Nian pulled a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapping the colorful plastic. He was about to hand it to her, but saw that although she had let go of his hand, she had now stuffed both hands into her pockets, tilting her head and opening her mouth with a cool little gesture.
She was the boss—and a sick patient…
Xi Nian endured it, gently placing the candy into her small mouth.
Her pink tongue coiled around the lollipop like a serpent, and she clamped it between her teeth, sucking as if it were a cigarette. Then her eyes closed in visible satisfaction.
As Xi Nian shoved the wrapper into his pocket, Lorna spoke around the candy. "Do you want a taste?"
Xi Nian glanced at the glossy, wet lollipop and shook his head.
Lorna seemed to pick up on something, and with a sly smile, she asked softly, "Just this isn't enough, is it? You can only gain powers… through that way?"
"Something like that."
Xi Nian wasn't sure how to explain. His ability required not just exchanging fluids, but also physical contact.
So no, the lollipop alone wouldn't work.
"Then how about a taste?" Lorna teased, sticking out her tongue. "You need it right now, don't you?"
"Not necessary!"
Xi Nian refused immediately.
He was afraid if he really did that, the strange looks people were giving will turn into a brawl.
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