Overwhelmed

"Kamar-Taj may not practice discrimination, but missing an arm will inevitably make everything more difficult. Unless you prove capable of extraordinary feats, it's unlikely the disciples of Kamar-Taj will fully accept you," Wong remarked, his words calm yet piercing.

Wong, who usually kept a low profile, had suddenly shown surprising insight. Even Ned was taken aback by this sharp analysis of Kamar-Taj's inner workings.

Before Ned could respond, a sudden "whoosh" echoed through the room as a portal materialized. From within, the Ancient One stepped gracefully into view, her silhouette exuding an aura of quiet power.

"Ancient One."

"Ancient One."

Both Ned and Wong stood and greeted her with respect.

The Ancient One nodded slightly before her gaze fell on Mordo, who was meditating cross-legged on a wooden bed. She then conjured a transparent container filled with a glowing green liquid out of thin air and handed it to Ned.

"Drink this once a day for seven days. Once finished, come find me, and I will help you regenerate your lost arm," she said.

Ned's eyes widened in shock.

"What?!" Wang exclaimed, staring at the container. "Is this the legendary Taiyi Mystical Elixir?!"

The Ancient One nodded, seemingly pleased by Wong's reaction. "Indeed."

Wong, ever the scholar, was stunned. "It's said that the Taiyi Mystical Elixir, when paired with the Pristine Sacred Lotus Root, can regenerate a physical body even if only the soul remains. Using it to restore Ned's arm will be no challenge.

"But… these two treasures are said to belong to the Qingwei Sect, an ancient Taoist lineage known for guarding them with extreme secrecy. Most even doubt their existence, dismissing them as mere myths. How on Earth did you acquire these legendary relics?"

The Ancient One smiled knowingly. "Ned's arm was severed by an elder of a local faction in a parallel universe. I visited them to hold them accountable for this grave offense. Deeply regretful, they offered me their sect's prized artifact as compensation.

"However, upon inspection, I realized the so-called 'treasure' was merely half of an ancient jade imbued with mystical energy. It reminded me of another half I encountered in my younger days during an exploration of the Qingwei Sect's secret realm. So, I made a detour to the Qingwei Sect and used the jade to trade for this complete set of restorative treasures."

"The Qingwei Secret Realm?" Wong asked, his face pale with shock. "That place is said to hold the remains of the Qingwei Sect's ancestors and countless artifacts passed down from ancient times. It's their most heavily guarded site, filled with dangerous formations. You… actually ventured inside?"

The Ancient One simply smiled and walked out of Ned's room, her steps light and serene, leaving Wong rooted to the spot in awe. Meanwhile, Ned, who had never bothered with anything beyond advanced magical texts, caught only bits and pieces of their conversation. He grasped the elixir's extraordinary value and, more importantly, that it could restore his arm. Everything else went over his head. He couldn't quite understand why Wong was so astonished. Wasn't it normal for the Ancient One to perform miracles?

Opening the container, Ned drank one-seventh of the liquid in one gulp, then carefully stored the rest. He turned to Wong and said, "It's been a long time. I want to visit my home. Let the Ancient One know, in case she looks for me."

Wong nodded, and Ned changed into fresh clothes before leaving Kamar-Taj. He stepped through a portal to the New York Sanctum, hailed a cab, and headed home.

The journey home was bittersweet. The familiar yet distant sights tugged at Ned's heart.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

After a firm knock on the door, it creaked open, revealing an elderly woman who looked far more frail and aged than she had a year ago. She blinked up at Ned, her expression cautious.

"Sir, who are you looking for?" she asked politely.

"Grandma… it's me, Ned," Ned said softly, his voice trembling.

The old woman froze, staring at him for a moment. Then, tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out with both hands, only to grasp at air where his missing arm should have been. Her trembling fingers brushed against the empty sleeve of his shirt.

"My child!" she cried, pulling him into a fierce embrace. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. "What happened to you? How did you—why…?"

Ned didn't cry. He couldn't. While he now shared Ned's memories, this elderly woman wasn't truly his grandmother. The bond they shared was shallow, born from the brief time they had spent together. Even so, guilt and sorrow gnawed at his heart as he held the weeping woman.

"I'm back, Grandma. Let's go inside," Ned said gently once her sobs subsided.

She nodded and let him guide her into the house. As they entered, she began speaking, her voice filled with both pride and grief. "They told me you died in Manhattan during the alien invasion. Everyone said you were gone. But I didn't believe it. My grandson is smart and resourceful. I knew you'd come back.

"I've kept your room spotless, cleaned it every few days. Your toys, your treasures—they're even shinier than when you left!" she added with a faint smile.

Ned, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar warmth of family, simply nodded at everything she said. He wasn't used to such moments and could only respond with a soft "Mm-hmm" every now and then.

Soon, the emotional toll exhausted his grandmother, and she fell asleep. Ned carefully carried her to her bed using a touch of magic and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.

Back on the streets, Ned let out a heavy sigh. He reached for his phone, only to remember that he had left his Vibranium phone with Huang Xiwen.

Thinking of Huang Xiwen made his chest tighten further. His emotions churned like a storm.

"Bang!"

Frustrated, he kicked a nearby trash can, sending it clattering. Without a second thought, he hailed a cab and gave the driver one destination: Stark Industries.

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T/N:

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