In the living room of the Long Island Villa, a golden portal slowly unfolded, and Xiao Han stepped out.
Wanda was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a book in her hand, crimson energy flickering at her fingertips, gently flowing as the pages turned.
Hearing the movement, she raised her head, her red hair shimmering in the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Mr. Xiao, You're back?" She closed the book, her voice much clearer than when they first met.
"Just call me Xiao."
Xiao Han nodded, took off his coat, and hung it on the coat rack by the door: "The hearing wasn't interesting, just a formality."
Wanda's gaze fell on him, hesitating to speak.
Finally, she asked softly, "Xiao, do You know Tony Stark?"
"Mm."
Xiao Han walked to the kitchen, poured a glass of Water, "I just became a shareholder of Stark Industries a while ago, so we're partners."
Wanda's fingers unconsciously tightened on the book pages, her knuckles slightly White.
Xiao Han glanced at her, didn't urge her, just leaned against the island counter, waiting quietly.
After a few seconds of silence, Wanda finally spoke, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Does he... know me? Turing said You know my past, You know what I mean."
"Yes." Xiao Han put down the Water glass, "He's seen your file."
Wanda suddenly looked up, a flash of crimson in her eyes: "Then did he say anything? About Sokovia? About those missiles?"
Xiao Han looked directly into her eyes: "He said that batch of weapons was smuggled to HYDRA by Obadiah Stane, and he didn't know about it."
"Didn't know?" Wanda sneered, the Chaos Magic in her palm burst out uncontrollably, scorching a black mark on the book.
"Stark Industries' weapons, with his name on them, killed my parents, and now he says he didn't know?"
Xiao Han didn't refute, just raised his hand and lightly tapped, a golden energy barrier confined the out-of-control magic around the sofa, preventing it from affecting the living room.
"I'm just telling You the truth."
His voice was calm, "As for whether You believe it, that's up to You."
Wanda's chest rose and fell rapidly, the red light in her eyes gradually fading.
She lowered her head, looking at the scorched pages, and suddenly felt a wave of fatigue.
"If... if it really was HYDRA..." Her voice trembled slightly.
"Then who should my hatred be directed at?"
Xiao Han walked up to her, half-squatted down, and looked her in the eye: "Hatred doesn't need a target, Wanda. It will only consume You."
He stretched out his hand, and the phantom image of the Mind Stone appeared in his palm: "I can teach You to control Chaos Magic, make You powerful enough to destroy all of HYDRA, or even rewrite reality. By then, You can do whatever You want."
"But before that, You need to understand one thing..."
His golden pupils looked directly at her: "Power is not the answer, but a tool. Whether You use it for revenge or to protect depends on You."
Wanda stared at him blankly, the anger in her eyes gradually replaced by confusion.
"I... don't know."
She said softly, "These years, the only thing that kept me alive was the thought of revenge. Without that, what else can I do?"
Xiao Han put away the Mind Stone and stood up: "You can become a hero, like You saw in the news today."
He pointed to the TV, which was replaying the hearing footage. The crowd held up signs saying "Support Superman", and cheers came through the speakers.
Wanda was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Did You save me because You saw my potential, or simply because... You heard my cry for help?"
Xiao Han's mouth curved slightly: "Both."
He turned and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window. The sunlight outlined his tall figure: "Training starts tomorrow. You rest today."
Wanda looked at his retreating figure and suddenly called out to him: "Wait!"
Xiao Han turned back.
"If... if I want to personally seek revenge on HYDRA," a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.
"Will You help me?"
Xiao Han smiled: "I will teach You how to control power. As for how You use it, that's your choice."
After speaking, he pushed open the glass door and walked towards the beach, his black figure gradually fading into the distance under the sunlight.
Wanda lowered her head and looked at her hands. The crimson energy gently wrapped around her fingertips, no longer as violent as before.
She gently held the necklace on her chest. The Mind Stone emitted a steady pulsation, as if responding to her determination.
"HYDRA..." She whispered the name, the red light in her eyes no longer chaotic, but condensed into a sharp edge.
Outside the window, waves crashed against the beach, ebbing and flowing, like the turbulent emotions in her heart, finally settling into calmness.
Wanda suddenly stood up from the sofa and quickly chased after Xiao Han outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Wait!"
She stepped onto the beach barefoot, fine sand spilling between her toes, "I can start training today."
Xiao Han stopped and turned to look at her: "Reason?"
Wanda took a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the necklace: "I... don't want to be haunted by nightmares anymore. Every time I close my eyes, those experimental scenes..."
Her voice trembled slightly, "I want to learn to control it, not be controlled by it."
Xiao Han watched her for a moment, then nodded: "Come with me."
The light in the underground training room automatically adjusted to a soft amber color.
Xiao Han sat cross-legged on the central meditation mat, motioning for Wanda to sit opposite him.
"Kamar-Taj's Qi Cultivation Technique."
His hands rested lightly on his knees, palms facing up, "First, learn to breathe."
Wanda imitated his posture but found that even simple cross-legged sitting made her muscles tense.
Xiao Han reached out and lightly tapped her shoulder, a warm current instantly dissolved the stiffness.
"Inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, exhale for eight seconds."
Xiao Han's voice had a strange rhythm, "Feel the flow of energy in your meridians."
Wanda closed her eyes and followed the guidance.
At first, she could only hear her rapid heartbeat, but gradually, a strange buzzing sound rang in her ears.
Crimson energy circulated spontaneously around her, but it was no longer violent, instead flowing like a gentle stream.
"This is..." She opened her eyes in surprise.
"Your magic is responding to You." Golden runes lit up at Xiao Han's fingertips, tracing complex trajectories in the air.
"Chaos Magic is different from ordinary spells. It originates from a very powerful energy, essentially a reality-warping force."
Wanda tried to touch the runes, and the crimson energy immediately resonated with them, weaving magnificent light patterns in the air.
"So my ability isn't a mutant gene?"
"Yes, and no." Xiao Han waved his hand, dispersing the runes.
"Your mutant gene is like a door that allowed Chaos Magic to choose You. But what's truly powerful is your innate mental strength."
Xiao Han taught her how to construct protective shields with her mind, how to condense Chaos energy into physical weapons, and even how to briefly glimpse the future using magic.
Teaching begins.
Wanda screamed in fright seven times in a row at the sudden incoming light blasts.
After failing the eighth time, she angrily smashed the energy ball onto the ground, but heard a light chuckle in the bursting red light.
"What are You laughing at?"
"I've seen many mages," Xiao Han couldn't help but laugh.
"You're the first one to smash the floor with Chaos Magic."
As dusk fell, Wanda finally succeeded in constructing a complete shield that lasted for five seconds.
She turned around excitedly, only to find Xiao Han drawing complex golden trajectories in the void. The light bands formed by the runes were like a living galaxy.
Although she could already make the crimson energy change forms at will, Xiao Han seemed even more powerful, and she had a long way to catch up.
"I've never felt so relaxed." Wanda looked at the energy butterflies dancing in her palm, her mouth curving upwards unconsciously.
Xiao Han stood up: "Rest now. Overexertion will be counterproductive."
Wanda stood up with him and suddenly said: "I can cook. I can't keep getting free food and lodging."
Seeing Xiao Han raise an eyebrow, she quickly added, "When I was at home, I often helped my mother."
"OK." Xiao Han nodded.
In the kitchen.
Wanda was fumbling with the steak in the frying pan.
Oil splattered, and she subconsciously used Chaos Magic to form a barrier, resulting in the entire stove being stained pink.
"Uh..."
She looked awkwardly at the burnt steak, "Maybe I'm out of practice..."
Xiao Han chuckled and took the spatula: "Heat control is key."
With a flick of his wrist, the steak was perfectly flipped, "Chaos Magic isn't suitable for frying steak, but it can be used to sense the state of ingredients."
Wanda leaned in to observe, her nose almost touching his arm: "How do You even know how to cook?"
"Actually, I'm Chinese." Xiao Han sprinkled a handful of spices, and the aroma instantly burst forth.
"In China, if You don't know how to cook, it's quite regrettable."
Dinner was unexpectedly delicious.
When Wanda took the first bite of the tender steak, her eyes lit up: "This is a million times better than HYDRA's synthetic protein!"
Xiao Han swirled his red wine glass: "Tomorrow, I'll teach You more complex protective spells."
Wanda suddenly put down her knife and fork, her voice soft yet firm: "Thank You... not just for the training. But for giving me the right to choose."
Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, casting the Shadows of the two on the wall.
In the distance, the gentle sound of waves echoed, as if responding to this belated thanks.