Chapter 186: Xi Nian, Beneath Only One God
"Meow!"
A small orange cat padded in through the open balcony door. Behind it, its short tail was still tangled with a glass jar. Inside the jar was a colorful starfish.
One pair of deep green feline eyes and a single bright blue eye both fixed on Xi Nian, who had just returned home.
"Alright, alright, I know you're both here too."
Xi Nian's face flushed red. He tried desperately to pull back up the pants of his stealth suit, though pinned down in a sandwich between one tall beauty and one small cute girl, his current posture was far, far from the image of a victorious king's return.
At last, Diana spoke in her calm voice. "Wanda, I'll stop punishing him. Go prepare a set of sleepwear for him."
"Yes, Miss Diana."
Wanda's porcelain face blushed faintly, as red as her hair. She quickly climbed off Xi Nian and ran with tiny steps into his bedroom.
Diana lowered her gaze to the boy lying across her legs. With her crystal-white fingers, she flicked lightly at his forehead. "You really have grown. You reek of sweat and blood, and also…"
Sensing Wanda was about to return from the room, she cut her words short and whispered, "After you've washed, come to my room."
"Yes, Auntie."
Xi Nian nodded obediently.
…
In the bathroom, he scrubbed himself from head to toe, finally peeling off his ruined stealth suit like discarded rags. After making sure his body was spotless, carrying only the scent of soap and shampoo, he put on a clean long-sleeved cotton pajama set.
It was Sunday night, and with school the next day, Wanda had already gone back to bed.
Xi Nian didn't even return to his own room. After leaving the bathroom, he went straight to his aunt's bedroom.
Opening the door—
He saw her waiting. In the soft glow of the modern lamps, the black-haired woman, breathtakingly beautiful and divine in her presence, sat on the bed.
She was no longer in her Wonder Woman armor. Instead, she wore a white gauzy, thin and translucent home dress, casual yet stylish. It looked almost like an oversized man's shirt. The fabric clung around her chest, tracing high, enticing curves, while below, her long and exquisite legs stretched out from beneath the hem. Too long to fit comfortably, they overlapped at an angle, flawless as if sculpted from ivory.
For once, she was not reading or working through documents. Diana sat as though she had been waiting for him all this time, her noble eyes fixed firmly on the boy stepping through the door. Her divine face was as calm as ever, brows carrying a heroic sharpness, not harsh but regal—like a crown placed on an altar in a Greek temple, commanding reverence and devotion.
"Auntie, I was really wrong…"
Xi Nian walked forward like a guilty child, tail tucked, as if begging forgiveness.
If the Spider-Man of that parallel universe had seen him now, he would have been stunned. Was this really the same ruthless boy who had butchered supervillains like slaughtering dogs?
Yes.
No matter how strong, arrogant, or invincible Xi Nian was outside, in this home, facing this woman, he shed every layer of armor and revealed his softest heart.
Before Diana, he would always be a child who never grew up. And he was more than willing to remain so.
If it was for his aunt, Xi Nian thought, he wouldn't mind being beneath only one god for his entire life.
As long as his aunt remained above.
…
"Come here."
Diana glanced at him and patted her thigh.
Xi Nian blinked helplessly, but obediently climbed onto the bed. He was about to lay across her legs when suddenly Diana's arm wrapped around him—
Too late to resist.
Xi Nian froze.
It had been so long since he was last held by his aunt. The faint violet fragrance surrounding her was like being carried into Olympus itself. Instantly, fatigue pulled at his body, urging him to sleep.
But he knew now was not the time to drift off. Closing his eyes for a moment, he steadied himself and looked up with bright eyes, exhaling. "Auntie, so much happened this weekend…"
He had no intention, nor any reason, to hide anything from her.
Xi Nian openly told her everything: what had happened at Superman Kal's home, Gwen's coming-of-age ceremony, and all the events that unfolded afterward.
Diana never interrupted, only held him quietly while listening, her divine eyes occasionally flickering with thoughtful wisdom and a small trace of something else.
When he finished, Xi Nian braced himself for scolding or a lecture. But instead, Diana pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "It's just as I suspected. Depending on the medium and the level of contact, your ability manifests differently."
"Uh… Auntie, you're not mad?"
Xi Nian blinked. Without a scolding, he almost felt disappointed.
"What made me angry," Diana said softly, pressing her smooth finger gently against his forehead, "was that you suddenly crossed into another dimension. Even if I wanted to save you, I couldn't."
"As for Kara and Gwen… they are both very good girls, with extraordinary powers of their own. If it's them, I can still feel at ease. But from now on, you'll need to take responsibility. Otherwise, I'll…"
She hesitated, unable to finish the threat.
"Of course."
Xi Nian answered firmly, suddenly clasping her finger in his hand as though holding a piece of warm, living jade.
Diana turned her gaze aside, trying to pull her hand away. But the boy held tightly, and so she let him keep holding on.
She spoke again. "There's something else you haven't noticed."
"What is it?" Xi Nian asked, curious, recognizing the start of his aunt's rare post-battle review.
Every time he returned from a superhuman ordeal, after telling her, she would analyze things from his perspective, using her divine insight to highlight what he had missed.
"Why is it," Diana said, her eyes glimmering, "that what you gained from Kara was the Kryptonian body, and from Gwen, the Spider-Sense—rather than other extraordinary powers they also possess?"
Xi Nian froze.
He truly hadn't thought of that before. He had simply assumed the permanent abilities granted by the Master of Affection were random.
Diana continued, "If you can uncover the deciding factor behind which permanent ability you receive, then you could precisely choose the extraordinary power you want."
Xi Nian's eyes widened in shock.
He couldn't deny it—his aunt's idea was far too bold!
[Please give powerstones if you're enjoying the story.
500 stones = 1 extra chapter
patreon.com/GuessMyName33 10$ for 80 chapters ahead]