Chapter 39
"This is incredible!"
"I don't feel any discomfort at all!"
Applause erupted in the laboratory.
Helen let out a long breath and turned to Yang Jian: "The first human trial—complete success."
Yang Jian nodded in satisfaction: "Efficiency exceeded expectations."
Wanda suddenly spoke up: "If we combine chaos magic, we might shorten regeneration time even further."
Helen looked at her in surprise: "Chaos magic?"
"A form of energy manipulation." Scarlet runes appeared at Wanda's fingertips.
"I can try incorporating its properties into the Cradle's energy field."
Helen thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "Theoretically feasible! We could attempt adding a magical variable in the next phase of experiments."
Both women turned to Yang Jian in unison. He raised an eyebrow: "You want to try it right now?"
Helen was already pulling up new parameters on her tablet: "If Miss Wanda is willing to cooperate."
Wanda walked straight to the control console: "Just call me Wanda."
Yang Jian watched their backs as they quickly dove into professional discussion and shook his head with a smile.
Origin's projection appeared silently beside him.
"Sir, brainwave activity of both ladies has increased by 37%. Presumed to be a state of benign competition."
"Nice." Yang Jian folded his arms.
"The collision of science and magic might spark some very interesting results."
After the experiment concluded, Helen Cho organized the data and stretched.
Wanda withdrew the scarlet magic from her fingertips and looked with satisfaction at the latest optimized parameters for the Regeneration Cradle.
"Chaos magic really improves the coordination of cell regeneration." Helen said in admiration.
"If applied clinically, recovery time could be reduced by at least 30%."
Wanda smiled faintly: "This is just an initial attempt. We can refine it further later."
Yang Jian stood to the side, watching the two women cooperate seamlessly: "Hungry? Let's eat at my place."
Helen raised an eyebrow: "Your place?"
"The villa."
Yang Jian raised a hand and drew open a golden portal. The other side connected directly to his villa living room.
Helen looked at the luxurious decor on the other side of the portal and couldn't help exclaiming: "You rich people really know how to live."
Wanda laughed lightly: "You'll get used to it."
The three stepped through the portal and arrived at the villa.
In the spacious open kitchen, ingredients were already neatly laid out on the counter.
"Who's cooking today?" Yang Jian asked.
"Me." Helen and Wanda said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
"Then let's do it together." Yang Jian shrugged and stepped aside.
"I'll handle eating."
Soon, enticing aromas filled the kitchen.
Helen was skilled at Korean cuisine, deftly marinating beef and preparing sauces.
Wanda used chaos magic to precisely control the heat; the steaks were cooked to perfection with flawless doneness.
Yang Jian leaned against the bar counter, watching their busy backs, suddenly feeling the scene was inexplicably harmonious.
Dinner was quickly served.
Helen's Korean grilled beef and kimchi pancakes.
Wanda's pan-seared steak, creamy mushroom soup, and a bottle of aged red wine courtesy of Yang Jian.
The three raised their glasses in a light toast. Under the warm yellow lighting, the atmosphere was relaxed and cozy.
Helen took a sip of wine and asked curiously: "Wanda, how did you and Yang meet?"
Wanda set down her glass and briefly recounted being captured by Hydra for experiments and ultimately rescued by Yang Jian.
Helen listened thoughtfully and nodded: "No wonder you understand human enhancement so well."
Wanda looked at Yang Jian with a smile: "He appeared like a hero back then."
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow: "Just a hero?"
"Extremely handsome—happy now?" Wanda laughed and poked his arm.
Helen watched their interaction, gently swirling her wine glass, saying nothing.
After dinner, the three lounged on the living room sofa, casually watching news replays on TV.
It was footage of Tony fighting Ivan Vanko in Monaco.
"Tony really makes headlines wherever he goes." Helen shook her head with a laugh.
Wanda curled up in the corner of the sofa, lazily saying: "He enjoys the attention."
Yang Jian casually turned off the TV: "Boring. Change to something else?"
Helen checked the time and suddenly asked: "So… am I staying here tonight?"
"What else?" Yang Jian said as if it were obvious.
Helen blinked, her gaze shifting between Yang Jian and Wanda. She suddenly smiled: "Then what should we do now?"
Yang Jian's lips curved into a mischievous grin. He raised a hand and drew open a new portal.
On the other side was a hot spring pool under a starry sky, steam rising in the moonlight.
"Relax a bit." He stood and extended a hand to both women.
"All three together?"
Wanda smiled without speaking.
Helen gave a light cough, ears faintly red, but didn't refuse: "Science requires a spirit of experimentation."
Yang Jian's smile became meaningful: "Then let's go."
The three stepped through the portal and vanished into rippling golden light.
Under the night sky, the hot spring's waters gently rippled, reflecting the starry heavens.
Moonlight Like Water
Moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the bedroom carpet.
Yang Jian quietly got up and glanced at the two women sleeping soundly on the bed.
Their breathing was even; hair scattered across the pillows. They were clearly exhausted and deep in sleep.
He smiled silently, gently tucked the blanket around them, then quietly left the room.
The villa balcony remained peaceful; the night breeze was cool. He lay back on the familiar lounge chair and slowly closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank into the depths of his mind-sea.
Golden runes lit up in the darkness. Dreamwalking Technique activated once again.
His soul detached from his body and rose into that familiar dimension space filled with bubbles.
Countless parallel-universe light orbs floated in the void, each shimmering with different possibilities.
This time, he didn't hesitate. He directly locked onto a bubble glowing with faint blue light.
That universe's New York showed the silhouette of Stark Tower.
"This is the one."
His soul plunged swiftly inside.
When he opened his eyes, he stood atop a high-rise.
Night wind blew past. Below was the dazzling Manhattan nightscape, and in the distance, the STARK logo on Stark Tower glowed in the darkness.
"Which universe is this one?" he murmured to himself.
He took a look and instantly memorized the coordinates of this universe.
His consciousness returned to his original body. Yang Jian's eyes snapped open on the lounge chair; golden light flowed in his pupils.
"Origin." he called softly.
"I'm here, sir."
"Tell Wanda and Helen I'll be gone for a while."
"Understood, sir. Estimated duration of absence?"
"Uncertain. Just tell them not to worry."
He stood up. With a wave of his hand, a golden portal opened—its other side revealing the unfamiliar New York night sky.
Without hesitation, he stepped through.
His figure dissolved into the light.
Some UniverseNew York
Yang Jian stood on the street, feeling the atmosphere of this unfamiliar universe.
The high-rises and heavy traffic were no different from his original world, but the air carried a suppressed restlessness.
Passersby hurried along, eyes vigilant, as if ready to flee at any moment.
At that moment—
"Get out of the way! Move!"
A vicious-looking robber shoved through the crowd, sprinting toward Yang Jian with a woman's purse clutched in his hand.
Behind him, a red-and-blue figure swung nimbly between buildings on web-lines, in hot pursuit.
"Hey! Stop!" Spider-Man's voice was young and determined.
The robber charged right up to Yang Jian and glared viciously: "Looking to die, kid? Get out of my way!"
Yang Jian merely gave him a calm glance.
Buzz!
Red light flashed in his eyes. The robber froze instantly, then collapsed stiffly to the ground, unconscious.
Spider-Man flipped down and landed in front of Yang Jian, eyes wide beneath the mask: "Uh, sir, what did you do to him?"
Yang Jian shrugged: "No idea. Maybe low blood sugar."
Spider-Man was about to ask more when suddenly—
"ROAR!!!"
A thunderous roar that shook the entire city erupted from Manhattan!
The terrifying sound wave made the ground tremble slightly; distant skyscraper windows shattered in response!
Spider-Man whipped his head around, voice instantly tense: "Damn it! It's the Hulk!"
He immediately shot a web-line and hurriedly shouted to Yang Jian: "Sir, go home quick! Lock your doors and windows! This isn't a joke!"
Before the words finished, he was already swinging toward the source of the sound.
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