Tony's reputation for a sharp tongue was well-deserved.

But seeing that Tony had more to say, Luo Mang quickly interjected.

"This time, Miss Pepper entrusted me to rescue you. This isn't the place to talk; let's get out of here first."

"Of course, I miss my cheeseburger so much, I want to get back to my bathtub right now!"

With that, Tony clomped along in the bulky Mark I, following behind Luo Mang, with Yinsen bringing up the rear.

After a few turns.

The first thing that hit their noses was the thick scent of blood.

It was as if the air itself had been replaced with blood.

Thud, thud, thud—

A member of the Ten Rings came rushing toward Luo Mang in a panic.

He collided directly with Luo Mang.

The gun in his hand clattered against Luo Mang's armor, making a crisp sound.

"Uh..."

The Ten Rings member's pupils contracted sharply upon seeing Luo Mang!

The words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

"Let me handle him."

After months of effort, Tony was eager to see the power of his armor.

"Mr. Stark, since Miss Pepper entrusted me with your rescue, I can't let you get hurt."

Luo Mang looked down at the Ten Rings member and smiled.

Without turning his head, he spoke, and then his sharp, gleaming claws clamped onto the man's head, lifting him straight up.

Squelch—

With just a slight squeeze of his hand.

The Ten Rings member didn't even have time to scream before his head was crushed.

Blood splattered onto Luo Mang's armor but slid right off, dripping to the ground.

Search tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w for the original.

At the same time, Tony and Yinsen behind him felt a wave of nausea.

They had survived under the Ten Rings' control for so long, so their mental fortitude was quite strong.

But facing such a bloody scene, they couldn't help but feel queasy.

"Damn it, Luo Mang. I'm never adding ketchup to my food again!"

Tony's face paled slightly, the impact of the scene unsettling him.

Luo Mang didn't rush to respond to Tony but clasped his hands behind his back, taking a few steps forward.

Then Luo Mang's voice drifted back, "If it's just this, I think you can walk out with your eyes closed, Mr. Stark."

Luo Mang's words piqued Tony and Yinsen's curiosity.

They hurried forward, only to be met with a sight that would take a lifetime to heal from.

"Ugh!!"

This time, Yinsen couldn't hold back, leaning against the rock wall and retching.

Tony wasn't much better off.

His face turned even paler, his mouth working as if something was about to spew forth.

Luo Mang lightly kicked aside the pieces of flesh at his feet, turning back to look at Tony with a half-smile.

"Mr. Stark, if I were you, I wouldn't hold it in."

"Ugh!"

"Shit, Luo Mang, I should've listened to you!"

For the first time, Tony acknowledged Luo Mang, albeit with some intensity in his words.

"Hey, you guys made it out."

The three of them turned toward the voice almost simultaneously.

Though it was Tony's first time seeing Peter, Peter left an indelible impression on him.

Without his mask, Peter had a youthful innocence about him.

The few drops of red on his cheeks were particularly noticeable.

His body was covered in bits of flesh and blood, but on his black coat, they looked like decorations.

And yet, this young man was smiling kindly at Tony.

"Come on! Can't you guys use some less bloody methods?"

Tony, having somewhat recovered, spoke with a tone of helplessness.

The Ten Rings had imprisoned him for three months, during which Tony had suffered greatly, so he had no sympathy for them.

Not to mention, Tony was an arms dealer, with countless indirect deaths on his hands.

"Sorry, Mr. Stark. As I promised Miss Pepper, I won't let a hair on your head be harmed, but as for the rest... I can't guarantee."

Luo Mang bent slightly, raising his hand in a gentlemanly gesture toward Tony.

"Oh yeah, great, you found me. Now I can go back to Pepper for my reward."

Hearing Tony's sarcasm, Luo Mang merely smiled slightly, not arguing back.

"If there's nothing else, it's time to take you home."

The four of them reached the cave's entrance, and suddenly, Tony, who had been silent, turned sharply.

His arms dropped to a 45-degree angle, and orange-red flames burst uncontrollably from the tubes beneath his hands.

Boom—!

All the weapons around, marked with 'Stark Industries,' were destroyed.

The explosion covered an area of several hundred meters.

In an instant, Yinsen was carried a hundred meters away by Luo Mang's single hand, with Peter closely following.

With his hands behind his back, Luo Mang's tail swayed gently.

Watching the silver figure soar into the sky, Luo Mang couldn't help but speak with admiration.

"As expected of Tony Stark. Even the armor made in this broken cave is so powerful!"

Luo Mang admired not only Tony's intelligence but also his spirit of survival against all odds.

Just like Uncle Ben's death was inevitable.

Tony had to go through this to become 'I am Iron Man.'

However... Luo Mang glanced at Yinsen.

The 'loss' required for a hero's growth was something Tony still lacked.

Originally, Luo Mang hadn't planned to save Yinsen, just as he had watched Uncle Ben die, he intended to watch Yinsen die.

But upon arriving here, Luo Mang changed his mind.

"Those cursed with knowledge, you're always losing something, aren't you?"

Luo Mang's expression was calm, his smile knowing.

Watching the metal fragments fall before him with a 'whoosh,' and Tony emerging from the sand like a groundhog.

"Alright, I think Pepper must be dying to see you, let's go."

With that, Luo Mang took a deep look at the scattered metal fragments, then turned to leave with Peter, leaving Tony lying in the sand, waving helplessly.

"Hey!... Hello?! Pepper asked you to bring me back unharmed, remember?"

...

"Hey."

"Miss Pepper, I think you'll be very happy to see someone right now."

Luo Mang glanced at Tony, who was sitting beside him, devouring a cheeseburger, and spoke warmly.

"Oh my God! Tony?! Let me talk to him, Luo!"

Pepper's voice was filled with unmistakable joy and excitement.

As time ticked by, she hadn't received a call from Luo Mang.

She had thought Luo Mang hadn't even set out yet.

Recently, Luo Mang's signal had been in a no-man's land, and the hope Pepper had felt had dimmed considerably.

But she never expected Luo Mang to bring Tony back so quietly.

"Are you crying over your missing boss?"

Tony's first words made Pepper burst into laughter.

Now she was completely sure that the person on the other end of the line was indeed Tony Stark!