“What is this bitch doing here? And why is she not in handcuff yet?” Warren shouted as he saw Xialing sit in the same van as us.

Since Xu Wenwu had run away and the fighting club had already been sealed, all that was left was for us to return with Warren and Xialing to New York. As such, we were currently in a police van going to the airport.

“Calm down, young man! Don't get too anxious. I know that you have suffered in that fighting club but you are now free.” Captain said, consoling Warren.

“But what she did with me was clearly against human rights. She used me as a fucking showpiece. I was beaten everyday just for the enjoyment of a racist crowd. Do I look like a fighter to you?” Warren said, referring to his ordinary physique.

“Unfortunately, we can't directly put Xialing in jail because her identity is quite special.” I explained why Xialing was being treated like this.

“I apologize that you had to go through all this but I had to do it unfortunately. I regret my actions towards you but I will still stand by them.” Xialing said, clarifying her stance towards Warren.

“See how entitled this bitch is even now, Captain.” Warren complained to Captain America, thinking that he would take his side.

“Why did you do it, Xialing? Your mother Ying Li would definitely not have approved of it.” I asked, seeing that the conversation was going nowhere.

“Because I needed to get back at my bastard father. For that, I needed power and money. So, I was ready to take any risk if it meant that I could get closer to him.” Xialing started ranting furiously as soon as she heard my words.

“You okay now.” I asked kindly after a few minutes once she finished her rant.

“Yeah! Sorry for the rant. You probably know already that my father is actually more than 500 years old.” Xialing said.

“Indeed, I know.” I nodded.

“Then, you should know that his mentality is also 500 years behind. He is truly a model of patriarchal behaviour. He never give me a chance to learn martial arts while my brother was taught well. In Ten Rings, I was always treated like I was just a doll.

After mother's death, I always felt weak and helpless. I wanted to become strong like my mother who protected us till her death. But father never give me a chance.

As such, when I ran away from the Ten Rings, I wanted to prove to him that I was not just a doll. Over the years, this feeling intensified and evolved into a desire to surpass him. I was ready to do anything if it meant that I had a chance to surpass him.”

Xialing explain her life story with a sorrowful expression and clarified what lead her to take such risks. She clearly didn't have any parental guidance in the recent years.

Fortunately, she would now have her aunt by her side even though I had no idea what would happen to her in the future.

“You honestly did great in your life considering what cards life had dealt you even though you went on the wrong path. However, you still have to pay for your crimes.” Captain said, complementing Xialing.

“But how did you know about my mother, Albion?” Xialing questioned.

“I will tell you once we have reached our destination.” I answered as it was not right to tell her everything with Warren, an outsider, among us.

“By the way, Warren. What are you thoughts about your future? As a mutant, it would be difficult for you to adjust to your ordinary life again.” Captain asked Warren about his thoughts for the future.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“You can join us mutants if you want.” Mr. Logan offered.

“Hell no! I am not entering the world of mutants ever again.” Warren said, flatly refusing Mr. Logan's offer.

“But with your wings, it would be near impossible for you to ever have an ordinary life.” Kitty said, surprised by Warren’s decision.

“I know it would be difficult. But I have seen what kind of masters lurk in this world. Even though I had been in captivity, I know the Battle of New York. I had seen how you mutants could easily control the supernatural phenomena. Laser beams, lightning, ice beams, telekinesis and even teleportation, I have seen how strong all of you are.

Compared to all of you, what do I have? Just these wings with an ordinary physique. Even this bitch here can easily defeat me. I don't think that they would be enough for me to survive.

As such, I believe that it would be better for me to return to my family and continue to learn about my business from my father like I was doing before. At most, I would receive a lot of criticism and perhaps a few assassination attempts.”

“What Warren says indeed makes sense. It would indeed be difficult for him in our world.” Mr. Logan said, realising that Warren's words were right.

“Well, the public perception of mutants is not that bad these days. With a little help from the government, Warren can perhaps live an ordinary life.” I said optimistically.

“I really like all of you guys. As a mutant, you all are like ideals to me. But at the same time, I hope that I do not have to meet all of you ever again since it only means disaster for me.” Warren said, revealing his innermost feelings to us.

***********************************

“Bye Warren! Hope you have a good life from now on!” We bid Warren goodbye who left in a car sent by the SHIELD to meet his family.

“I believe that we should also depart now.” Jean said.

Since Xialing was related to Ta Lo and I was the only link to them, she would be coming with us.

After leaving the airport, we entered a secluded alley so that we could create a portal. Since Xialing would have learnt about the existence of magic when she met her aunt, there was no harm in revealing it to her in advance.

“Me, me! I will create the portal this time. Honestly, it was too slow this time to travel without using a portal.” Kitty said, already spoiled by the convenience portals provided.

“What do you mean by a portal?” Xialing said, confused by Kitty's words.

“Let me show you!” Kitty said excitedly as she created a portal to the X-Mansion with her sling ring.

“Is this really magic? Mother had told me stories about the Sorcerers of Kamar Taj who could use magic but I had never really believed those stories.” Xialing said as she looked at the portal, quite fascinated by it.

“Now, follow us.” I said as all of us entered the portal.

“Albion, have you contacted Kamar Taj?” Captain asked.

“I already had while we were in the flight. They should be arriving anytime now.” I answered as I pressed the alarm.

“Yo guys!” To everyone's surprise, Mr. Stark opened the door to the mansion.

“What are you doing here, Mr Stark?” I asked, curious about his presence here.

“Well, I have an old enmity with the Ten Rings since they had been the ones who kidnapped me. Besides, I found that you stole a trinket from the real Mandarin. So of course I had to come to see what can this trinket do.” Mr. Stark explained, revealing a desire to research the ring I had stolen.

Swirl!

As we were talking, a portal suddenly opened behind us and out came Master Wong and Master Ying Nan.

As soon as she stepped outside, Master Ying Nan immediately rushed to hug Xialing.

“Oh, Xialing! I never thought I would be able to see you in my life. If only Shang Chi was here, then it would have been perfect.” Master Ying Nan said with tears in her eyes.

“Umm…. You are?” Xialing asked, a little overwhelmed by Master’s affection.

“I am your aunt, Ying Nan. I wanted to meet you from a long time but unfortunately I was bound by the rules of Ta Lo.” Master Ying Nan said, introducing herself.

“Peter, I had never thought that I would be able to see my sister's children. Yet you fulfilled this wish of mine. I am eternally grateful.” Master Ying Nan said to me, her voice full of gratefulness towards me.

“There is no need to thank me, Master. It is the least I can do for you.” I replied humbly.

“From what Mother had told me, the rules of Ta Lo are quite rigid. How did you become her apprentice, Albion?” Xialing asked curiously.

“Ta Lo’s rules may be rigid for the outsiders but Kamar Taj has been a close friend of Ta Lo since it was established. As such, it was not hard for me to become Master’s apprentice.” I answered.

“Peter, we should leave down to talk with each other. We should focus on the mysterious artefact you have brought.” Master Wong suggested. After all, he had come especially to check on the ring.

“You are right, Master Wong. It's time for us to find the secrets of this unique artefact.” I said as I took out the ring I had effortlessly stolen from Xu Wenwu.