Looking at Chen Mo casually sitting on the sofa, holding a teacup and leisurely sipping tea, Wang Jin only felt his mind was in complete chaos.
This young man about his own age was the legendary school master his great-grandfather spoke of?
His idol all along, the legendary hero from seventy years ago? Humanity's strongest warrior?
Looking at Chen Mo before him, he always had an unreal feeling. This was truly too fantastical. Missing for seventy years, presumed to have long since perished in the sea—he'd actually returned, and seemed to have no changes from seventy years ago, with no signs of aging whatsoever. This clearly exceeded his range of understanding.
"You brat, hurry up and kneel down to pay respects to the patriarch!"
Just after picking up the tea Wang Kun had poured for him and taking a sip, hearing this sentence, Chen Mo nearly spat out the tea in his mouth. Seeing Wang Jin actually walk forward planning to kowtow, Chen Mo couldn't help but set down his teacup with a bitter smile.
"Enough! Ah Kun, what era is this—still doing these things."
"School Master, you're their elder and the martial arts school's patriarch. They should kowtow to you. In a bit I'll call my son and grandson over to kowtow to you too!"
Chen Mo was somewhat speechless at Wang Kun's persistence. These martial artists placed great importance on rules and etiquette. Chen Mo returning after seventy years—gathering the juniors to pay respects to the patriarch was indeed appropriate.
However, Chen Mo after all hadn't truly lived through seventy years and wasn't a traditional martial artist like Wang Kun. In ancient times it would be fine—as a lord and king, accepting subjects' kowtows Chen Mo thought nothing of it. But in modern times, having several sixty or seventy-year-old men kneel and kowtow to him, Chen Mo still felt somewhat awkward.
"No need. I'm just staying at your place peacefully for a few days. I'll have to leave again after a while. Don't notify them."
Chen Mo waved his hand, vetoing Wang Kun's plan.
Seeing Chen Mo had decided, Wang Kun could only nod in agreement.
That night, Chen Mo stayed at the martial arts school. His room had always been preserved, basically maintaining its original state. Every place in the martial arts school still retained its original appearance, with not even the furnishings changed.
Of course, many things had been replaced with new ones. After all, seventy years had passed—many things couldn't resist time's erosion.
But the nostalgic Wang Kun had still replaced them with exact replicas of the originals. Even if they were discontinued and no longer sold, Wang Kun would have them specially made, always keeping the martial arts school in its original state. In his view, this martial arts school was always Chen Mo's. He was just helping look after it. He also firmly believed Chen Mo would return sooner or later.
And now, he'd finally waited!
Over the following days, Chen Mo leisurely drank tea, practiced swordplay, and sparred with Wang Kun at the martial arts school.
Years of conquest and killing in the Underworld world had greatly enhanced Chen Mo's combat skills, especially the swordsmanship improvement Alexander Corvinus had brought him. Compared to when he'd left the Captain America world, Chen Mo's swordsmanship was completely incomparable.
Wang Kun's strength had also become much stronger than before. Chen Mo's improvement was mainly in swordsmanship, while Wang Kun's was mainly in unarmed combat.
In the early years of taking over the Seven Rings Gang, Wang Kun had personally entered battle quite often—he could be considered battle-tested. Plus seventy years of diligent practice, his kung fu had long risen to quite a high realm. Calling him a grandmaster wouldn't be excessive. The two exchanged and sparred with each other, both learning much from the other, with great improvements in combat skills.
Wang Jin on the side also benefited greatly, and was even more shocked by Chen Mo's powerful swordsmanship, feeling like he'd seen a new world—so swords could be used like this.
Chen Mo wasn't in a hurry to meet Tony Stark. He wasn't clear whether interfering with the plot too early would affect Iron Man's birth.
Not just the Iron Man suit, but also Tony's spiritual transformation.
The Iron Man suit's core power source, the miniature arc reactor, was manufactured after he was kidnapped by terrorists. Born at the same time was the Iron Man suit's prototype—Mark I.
At that time, on the way back to the airport after demonstrating the Jericho missile, his convoy was attacked by a terrorist organization. A missile exploded beside him, embedding numerous fragments in his body.
Although Dr. Yinsen performed surgery removing most of the fragments, several pieces near his heart couldn't be removed. They could follow the blood flow into his heart at any time and kill him. He could only rely on an electromagnet placed in his body to attract and hold them, preventing them from entering his heart with the blood.
Initially powering the electromagnet was a car battery.
The terrorists forced Tony to manufacture the Jericho missile he'd demonstrated for them. Tony knew even if he really manufactured the missile for them, these brutal terrorists wouldn't spare him.
In this desperate situation, Tony Stark's potential completely exploded. His mind was exceptionally clear. A brilliant concept rapidly took shape in his mind and was quickly fully designed.
With Dr. Yinsen's help, using tools and materials the terrorists provided, Tony quickly manufactured a miniaturized arc reactor, replacing the heavy car battery and installing it directly on his chest.
Over ten days later, Mark I was finally completed. It was time to act.
But just as the two began assembling Mark I on Tony, having dodged surveillance cameras aroused the suspicion of the terrorists who'd been monitoring them. They immediately sent several armed terrorists to the cave imprisoning the two to check.
Several people shouted outside the cell door but no one came. Seeing this, the terrorists directly opened the cell's door. The bomb Tony had rigged on the door immediately exploded, taking them all out.
But the explosion would quickly bring more enemies, yet Mark I's program hadn't finished uploading. Their situation was very dangerous.
Seeing the critical situation, to buy Tony time, Dr. Yinsen picked up a terrorist's rifle and rushed out of the cell, planning to use his life to buy Tony time.
Although he'd never fought before and all his bullets hit the cave ceiling, with recklessly fierce shooting sparing no ammunition and a fearless charge-ahead spirit, Dr. Yinsen still drove the several terrorists who'd rushed into the cave back out.
But when he roared and drove the few cowardly terrorists to charge to the cave entrance, he discovered over a dozen terrorists were arrayed there waiting, with over a dozen black gun muzzles all pointed at him.
Yinsen somewhat dejectedly lowered the rifle in his hands. He'd bought Tony enough time, right? His family were all dead—he should go join them.
Just then, a burst of intense gunfire suddenly came from outside the cave.
The intense combat and creation process in dire straits eventually gave birth to the epoch-making product. In different times, different places, different relaxed environments, the Iron Man suit might never be born. Tony Stark would forever remain just an arrogant playboy.
A film world's most powerful and unique technology obviously couldn't be easily manufactured. They were either profound black technology accumulated over long years, or accidentally created under incredible coincidence and various special circumstances through fate's convergence.
Just like Captain America's original Adamantium alloy shield, Underworld's perfect blood, and Iron Man's Iron Man suit—their creation processes simply couldn't be replicated.
So Chen Mo wouldn't easily alter the plot. What he had to do was observe the changes and wait for the Iron Man armor's birth, and a Tony Stark who had undergone transformation, truly grown up, and could bravely shoulder his responsibilities.
Chen Mo didn't have to wait too long. Soon he received intelligence from Hydra that Tony Stark would board his private plane to Afghanistan three days later to demonstrate his latest Jericho missile to US troops stationed in Afghanistan.
Tony Stark at this time still just treated weapons as toys. With his amazing talent with weapons, he continuously developed and manufactured more advanced, more powerful weapons.
He didn't even know to whom his company, Stark Industries' manufactured weapons were sold, who was using them, or what disasters they'd brought to many people in this world.
But soon, he would know.
Chen Mo didn't rush to depart. It wasn't time yet. Moreover, he was waiting for something.
Three days later, at the Chinese Martial Arts School.
After finishing lunch, Chen Mo was sitting on the sofa drinking tea and chatting idly with Wang Kun. The meals he'd eaten these days were all personally prepared by Wang Kun's wife.
Although controlling the massive Seven Rings Gang—one could say wealthy enough to rival nations—Wang Kun's life had always been very simple. In the martial arts school besides Wang Jin who'd moved in after graduation, there were only Wang Kun and his wife.
Originally at first, there had been some students practicing martial arts in the school. Later only Wang Kun remained, and he was busy with gang affairs all day. After several students completed their training, Wang Kun arranged for them to help manage the gang. Afterward, he never accepted students again.
There were no maids or servants arranged in the martial arts school. Their daily life was managed by the two of them. Chen Mo's room had also always been cleaned by them. When Wang Kun practiced martial arts, his wife would read on the side. When resting, the two would sit together watching TV and chatting. Their days were simple, plain yet fulfilling.
Wang Kun's wife had also been injected with improved serum. Although she hadn't practiced martial arts, her physical abilities were much stronger than ordinary martial artists. She looked even younger than Wang Kun—around her forties. Some household chores were naturally no problem.
Over seventy years, never mind other things—her cooking skills far exceeded any imperial chefs or Michelin head chefs. Her knife work could make everyone ashamed. The dishes she made earned great praise from Chen Mo, who'd eaten several years of medieval "cuisine."
Chen Mo couldn't help but have her make more to store in his space, saving him from having to eat that monotonous bread, roasted meat and sausage if he entered a world similar to Underworld again.
Chen Mo and Wang Kun were chatting idly when Wang Kun's wife came out carrying a plate of pastries.
Knowing Chen Mo liked her cooking, she was very happy. She herself was a traditional woman who didn't want to interfere in gang affairs. In this long time, besides reading, her greatest hobby was researching cooking—Chinese cuisine, Western food, Japanese food, desserts—she was skilled at all.
Being able to earn Chen Mo's praise was the greatest recognition for her. They didn't hide much from Chen Mo. They'd long known Chen Mo possessed storage ability. Since Chen Mo liked it, after cooking each day, she'd specially make some things for Chen Mo to take.
Today was no exception. After lunch, she made some Chinese-style pastries and brought them to the tea table.
"School Master, try my freshly made crystal osmanthus cakes."
Chen Mo looked at the plate and his eyes couldn't help but light up. Fist-sized, crystal-clear osmanthus cakes were neatly arranged on the plate, surface dotted with rice grain-sized bits of dried osmanthus flowers. A clear, long-lasting osmanthus fragrance wafted out, making one involuntarily feel refreshed.
Chen Mo picked up one and gently took a bite. The soft, glutinous texture, refreshing without being cloying sweet, rich fragrance spreading through his mouth—mellow and sweet, lingering long between his teeth.
Tossing the remaining half crystal osmanthus cake into his mouth, Chen Mo waved his hand and directly stored the entire plate of osmanthus cakes on the tea table into his space, leaving Wang Kun's hand that had just reached over only able to hang foolishly in the air.
"If you want to eat, have your wife make more for you. I have to go."
Wang Kun somewhat helplessly withdrew his hand. Competing with Chen Mo in hand speed, he couldn't win at all. But hearing the latter part, he looked up at Chen Mo somewhat puzzled.
Just then, the martial arts school's door was knocked from outside.