T'Challa was not yet the king of Wakanda. He also didn't have the calm and collected demeanor that he would gain in the future.
His current temper was undoubtedly closer to a hot-blooded youth. He wasn't exactly reckless, all things considered, but the superhuman physique that he gained after consuming the heart-shaped herb also gave him great confidence!
T'Challa had taken over his aging father's duty as Black Panther for a while, to take back stolen Vibranium in outside world to Wakanda, preventing it from falling to the wrong hands!
However, today, his father had taken an unprecedented actions of freely giving Wakanda's precious Vibranium resources to strangers from outside world!
Moreover, these strangers had never visited Wakanda before. T'Challa felt really suspicious. He didn't know what possessed his father to agree with these people so easily!
The old king had broken the ancient tradition of Wakanda, dating back to almost ten thousand years. If the elders discovered about this, they might even question his legitimacy!
Not only did the old king sell ten thousand grams of Vibranium mineral to Tony at a low price, he even gave three sets of Vibranium armor to this unknown Li Yue.
T'Challa had heard Tony Stark the Iron Man. After all, it was only several months ago that Tony admitted his superhero persona to the press. The news spread all over the world, including to his ears!
However, he had never heard of Li Yue's name, and he had no idea what's the deal with this so-called Sorcerer Supreme was!
More importantly, T'Challa wished to know whether Li Yue had the ability to protect his Vibranium armor from being taken away and falling to the wrong hands.
If that were to happen, he would personally investigate and retake them!
Thus, T'Challa saw it fit to test Li Yue's strength. If Li Yue was strong enough, then there would be no harm in giving him the armor.
But if Li Yue was simply a greedy person that was fishing for fame, without any real strength, then it would be better to nip the problem in the bud and retract the gifted armor! It was better than letting them fall to others!
...
Of course, no one else knew what T'Challa was thinking at this time, including Li Yue. But even if Li Yue knew about T'Challa's thoughts, he would just laugh it off!
What a joke! Who on Earth have the power to steal this Li Yue's belongings? Even if Odin and Thanos joined hands, Li Yue would never falter!
Though, it wasn't like those two would have the slightest interest in just the little bit of Vibranium in those armor. Thanos might someday fight Li Yue for unrelated reason, namely the infinity stones! But Li Yue wasn't afraid of Thanos!
Moreover, Li Yue has an invincible superpower that allows him to travel through the universe at will. Nobody could catch him even if they want to!
Therefore, T'Challa's worries were very much unnecessary.
...
Naturally, they could not fight right there and then on the street, so they took one of the flying transport out of the city. T'Challa led them to a relatively remote place.
The terrain of this remote location was very flat and empty, with no one else. The environment looked especially good for sparring!
The group got off of the flying transport. Tony and the others wisely kept their distance!
"Uh, T'Challa, are you not going to put on the Black Panther battle suit?"
The two stood a few dozen meters apart, so Li Yue had to shout his question at T'Challa. T'Challa himself was still in his regular outfit, instead of the signature Vibranium battle suit of the Black Panther!
"Is he looking down on me?"
Li Yue felt a little dissatisfied! Though, it was more because he couldn't possibly attack T'Challa without the Black Panther suit. He was afraid that a single punch would've sent T'Challa flying hundreds of meters while vomiting blood!
If T'Challa had worn the battle suit, he should be able to barely withstand one or two punches from Li Yue!
"How do you know that I am a Black Panther? This matter was not supposed to be known by outsiders!"
T'Challa was surprised by the question. The royal family and the inner circle should all knew that he had unofficially taken the mantle of Black Panther, nobody in the outside world should know about it! How could Li Yue discover that information?
"Eh, isn't it common knowledge that the king of Wakanda is the Black Panther? What's so strange about it? Also, remember, I'm not a normal person. Figuring out your identity is trivial!"
Li Yue replied indifferently.
"Well, that aside, this is just a friendly spar between us. I don't think we would need the battle suit. Besides, you are wearing an ordinary clothes yourself! Wouldn't it be too unfair if I wore battle suit when you do not? Let us both be unarmed!"
T'Challa put aside the matter of his identity and continued to refuse to wear Black Panther battle clothes! After all, Li Yue was only dressed in casual clothes. If he wore his battle suit while fighting Li Yue, people would laugh at him for bullying outsiders!
"Hey, T'Challa, my guy? I suggest that you listen to Li Yue. Wear the battle suit, or you will definitely regret it!"
Tony couldn't help but feel pity for T'Challa in his heart. This young man probably hadn't realized the threat to his life. He must have thought "I didn't need to use full strength against Li Yue." He was asking to have his ass kicked! Li Yue was strong enough to send Hulk flying in a single barehanded punch!
"I agree with Mr. Stark! It would be even better if you forget about fighting Li Yue!"
Banner couldn't help but have a traumatic flashback to when Li Yue repeatedly beaten Hulk down yesterday. He had to warn T'Challa!
"Could this Li Yue really be that powerful? But it can't be. His body isn't even tall or muscular. He was a bit on the thin side. How strong could someone like him be?"
T'Challa stared at Li Yue's body for a while, but unfortunately, he still couldn't see how his thin and weak body could possess such great strength.
"Please, drop this discussion. I will not change my mind. I don't need my battle suit, and I will fight you barehanded. I will not take any unfair handicap!"
Alas, despite everyone's warning that T'Challa should put on his battle armor, T'Challa still insisted on his decision!
...
"Haha, this is going to be fun!"
Tony didn't care anymore! He simply trusted that Li Yue would act with proper discretion!
"Come! Let us begin!"
T'Challa shouted, indicating that the battle had officially begun!
Without waiting for Li Yue to reply, he took a step forward. His step became a leap, his extreme speed seemed to leave behind afterimages in the air. Like a cheetah preying on its prey, he rushed towards Li Yue!
However, Li Yue didn't react and simply stood where he was. Not even his facial expression had changed. It was almost like he hadn't noticed anything had happened yet!
T'Challa clenched his fist. He was less than ten meters away from Li Yue, ready to deal a full-strength blow!
Suddenly, the device on his arm lit up, and a hologram of a familiar figure projected from it!
"T'Challa, the lunch banquet is ready. Bring all the guests back to the palace as soon as possible!"
The hologram said to T'Challa!
T'Challa immediately stopped when he saw the hologram. His movement was graceful and instantaneous, as if he wasn't affected by inertia!
"Yes, father, I will take all the guests back immediately!"