"Homelander?" Jiaying sneered. "You're too naive, Skye."
"I've heard of this man from Gordon. I don't know him, but I know humans!"
"I have lived through long years, and I have seen their ugliest side. A man with absolute power—do you think he would be a saint?" Jiaying pressed closer.
"Once this so-called Homelander discovers someone possesses power that could threaten him, he won't hesitate to kill them!"
"Shut up!" Skye roared angrily. "He's different!"
She couldn't stand others slandering Homelander like this. In her heart, Homelander was a line that could not be crossed.
"When doomsday arrived, he used his own body to block all destruction. He saved my life, and he saved this World!"
In her emotional state, a shockwave erupted from within Skye's body.
The wooden cabin walls shook violently, and the teacup on the table shattered. Jiaying was pushed back several steps by this force, slamming into the wooden wall.
Skye looked at her hands in terror and hastily reined in her power.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
Jiaying looked at Skye with a complex expression. There was anger, and also a hint of wariness.
"You've been brainwashed by them, Skye." Jiaying stood up straight and straightened her clothes.
"You aren't allowed to go anywhere. You must stay here; it's for your own good."
"You can't trap me!" Skye protested.
Mother and daughter confronted each other, neither backing down.
"Jiaying, we have trouble."
A blue spatial ripple flashed between the two.
The eyeless Gordon appeared out of thin air in the room.
Jiaying composed herself, regaining her leader's dignity. "What is it?"
"A plane has broken through the outer magnetic field interference and is approaching the village," Gordon reported. "It's moving fast and will arrive overhead in a few minutes."
Jiaying frowned. "Can you confirm its identity?"
"It's a S.H.I.E.L.D. quinjet," Gordon replied.
Hearing this news, Jiaying's eyes flickered a few times, and the anger in them immediately receded.
She turned to look at Skye, her tone becoming unusually gentle. "Since your friends have found you, I'll go meet them. Perhaps we can try to coexist peacefully."
Skye was somewhat surprised by her mother's sudden change in attitude.
One second she was treating them like enemies, the next she was willing to negotiate.
However, this change was exactly what she wanted to see. She immediately nodded and followed Jiaying out of the cabin.
On the open ground at the village entrance, a quinjet slowly descended.
The hatch lowered.
Phil Coulson was the first to walk down the ramp. He was wearing his standard suit as usual, but the sleeve of his left arm was noticeably pinned up.
Melinda May followed on Coulson's left, her gaze alertly scanning the surrounding Inhuman villagers.
Fitz and Simmons followed at the back, carrying equipment bags.
Skye stepped forward quickly.
"Coulson!" Skye shouted.
Seeing Skye safe and sound, Coulson's tense nerves relaxed.
"Good to see you're still alive, Skye." Coulson smiled and gave her a hug.
The others also happily stepped forward to hug Skye.
Jiaying approached with several Inhuman villagers. She wore a smile and carried herself elegantly, just like a warm Master.
"Hello, I am Jiaying." She proactively extended her hand. "Thank you for taking care of Skye during this time."
Coulson didn't rush to reach out; instead, he looked at Skye beside him.
Skye took the opportunity to introduce them. "Coulson, Jiaying... is my biological mother."
A flash of surprise crossed Coulson's eyes, and he quickly reached out to shake her hand.
"Phil Coulson. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Coulson, this was originally a place that didn't welcome outsiders. But since you are Skye's friends and have looked after her in the past, it's only right that I show my gratitude."
Jiaying stepped aside and made an inviting gesture. "If you don't mind, please stay for a simple meal. I hope this gives us a chance to coexist peacefully."
Coulson hesitated, looking at the villagers around them who seemed unfriendly, then turned to Skye for her opinion.
Seeing Coulson looking at her, Skye nodded to him.
"Then we shall impose on you," Coulson agreed.
Afterward, Coulson's team went to Skye's cabin to rest.
As soon as the door closed, Melinda immediately went to the window, pulling back a small gap to observe outside.
"The people here are hostile toward us," May whispered.
Meanwhile, Fitz immediately set down his backpack and took out a small device to scan every corner of the room. After confirming there were no listening devices, he gave Coulson an all-clear gesture.
At this moment, Skye noticed the abnormality in Coulson's arm, her heart filled with guilt.
"Your hand..."
"I'm sorry, if it weren't for me..."
"It's not your fault, Skye," Coulson interrupted her. "Tell us about your situation here. What exactly is this place?"
Skye organized her thoughts and briefly introduced them to the terrigen crystals, the origins of the Inhumans, and the situation regarding her biological parents.
After listening, a brief silence fell over the room.
"So, you've found your family." Coulson looked at Skye. "Do you plan to stay here?"
Skye shook her head.
"No, I want to go with you! This place..."
"Knock, knock, knock."
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
When the door opened, a villager stood outside and said:
"Mr. Coulson, Jiaying would like to invite you to her study for a private talk."
"It's regarding Skye and the matter of contact with the outside World."
"Of course," Coulson readily agreed.
Coulson stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. "This is the Master's invitation. May, you all stay here with Skye."
Subsequently, Coulson followed the villager to Jiaying's study.
Inside the study, Jiaying was brewing tea, the kettle bubbling.
"Please sit, Mr. Coulson." Jiaying poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward him.
Coulson didn't touch the teacup. "Jiaying, we didn't come here with any ill intent; we just want to take Skye back."
"Mr. Coulson, you're a smart man." Jiaying asked in a somewhat cold tone. "Do you believe S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Inhumans can coexist peacefully?"
"The World is changing, Jiaying. S.H.I.E.L.D. is now under the jurisdiction of Vought. As long as you are willing to register and accept management, you can interact with the outside World normally, and no one will persecute you," Coulson explained with a gentle smile.
"Accept management?" Jiaying sneered.
"Meaning being strapped to an operating table and studied like monsters? I've experienced it once, and I will never let my people go through it again."
She opened a drawer and took out a faint blue crystal.
Coulson immediately grew alert. "Ma'am, you'd better put that thing down."
"This is a crystal we cultivated ourselves," Jiaying said proudly, looking at the object in her hand. "It contains Terrigen components, but with many impurities. For those with Inhuman genes, it is the key to awakening."
She lifted her eyelids and stared at Coulson.
"But for ordinary people without Inhuman genes... it is a deadly poison."
"What are you trying to do, ma'am? I suggest you don't do anything foolish," Coulson's voice turned stern.
Ignoring him, Jiaying raised the crystal into the air. "You will never learn to respect us; you only bring destruction!"
Having said that, Jiaying let go.
The crystal fell onto the hard tabletop.
"Snap!"
The crystal shattered, and a thick mist rapidly spread in all directions.