Chapter 37
Parallel UniverseNew York
Yang Jian's figure appeared atop a high-rise. Night wind brushed his clothes.
Below on the street, a white figure swung gracefully on web-lines, seemingly chasing something.
He gave a slight smile. With a flash, he appeared in mid-air beside Gwen.
"Need any help, Ghost-Spider?"
Gwen whipped her head around. Her eyes widened beneath the mask: "Yang?! You actually came!"
Her surprise hadn't faded when an explosion suddenly erupted ahead.
BOOM!
A mechanical rhino burst through a wall, its crimson electronic eyes locking onto the two of them.
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow: "Looks like I arrived just in time."
Gwen flipped and landed on a nearby fire escape, tone light: "Welcome back to the Animal Kingdom universe. Today we've got Rhino, Vulture, and I hear Electro's on his way."
Golden light flickered in Yang Jian's eyes; Eternal Flame danced in his palm: "Then let's make it quick."
Gwen laughed and shot out a web-line: "One each!"
"Of course."
Two figures charged toward the enemies simultaneously.
Vulture's metal wings sliced through the night sky, diving down with razor-sharp wing blades aimed at them.
Gwen executed a backflip to dodge; her web-line stuck to a lamppost and she swung into the air: "This guy's mine!"
Yang Jian nodded, turning his gaze to the other side. The mechanical Rhino was thundering forward, each step shaking the ground.
"ROAR!" The mechanical Rhino bellowed, its steel body smashing vehicles in its path as it barreled straight toward Yang Jian.
Yang Jian stood motionless.
Just as the Rhino was about to collide—
Bang!
Yang Jian caught the charge with one hand. The ground beneath his feet cracked instantly, but his body didn't budge an inch.
"That's it?" He raised an eyebrow. His other hand clenched into a fist and smashed into the Rhino's head armor.
BOOM!
The mechanical Rhino's head caved in; sparks flew everywhere.
The massive body crashed to the ground. System alarms shrieked: "Warning! Critical structural damage! Warning!"
Yang Jian stepped on its energy core, crushing it. The mechanical Rhino powered down completely.
"Hey! Big guy!"
Gwen's voice came from above. Yang Jian looked up to see her dragging Vulture by the wings.
She spun him like a hammer throw in mid-air, then slammed him down.
Vulture crashed into a pile of trash cans; his metal wings twisted and deformed, completely wrecked.
"Done!" Gwen landed lightly and clapped her hands.
However, the next second, streetlights on both sides exploded. Electricity converged like mad snakes. Electro's figure emerged in blinding blue light.
"You've picked the wrong fight!"
Electro roared. High-voltage current erupted from his body, instantly overloading the street's power grid.
Darkness enveloped the area; only his dazzling electric glow remained.
Gwen frowned: "This guy's stronger than before?"
Yang Jian tilted his head: "Probably absorbed energy from the city grid."
Electro laughed maniacally, arms spread wide. Two bolts of lightning arced toward them.
Yang Jian instantly appeared in front of Gwen and waved one hand.
The bio-field expanded. Lightning was forcibly deflected, shattering the facade of a nearby building.
"Stay behind me." Yang Jian said quietly.
Gwen obediently nodded and stood behind him to watch.
Yang Jian raised one hand and condensed energy. He wanted to test a new ability. A sphere of energy formed instantly in his palm. He pushed it forward lightly.
BOOM!
The energy sphere collided with the current. Electro was vaporized by the force—leaving not a single trace.
"Whoa!" Gwen watched excitedly.
"That move is insane!"
Yang Jian shrugged: "Just playing around."
The fight ended cleanly and decisively.
The street returned to silence, with only scattered sparks and distant sirens humming.
Gwen removed her mask and let out a long breath: "Alright, now no one's interrupting us."
Yang Jian glanced at the three defeated villains: "Police are on their way. Change locations?"
Gwen blinked: "Exactly what I was thinking."
...
Gwen landed lightly on a rooftop edge and removed her mask. Golden hair flew in the night wind.
She turned excitedly toward Yang Jian: "I thought this magic pager thing wouldn't work!"
She tapped the faint golden light at her brow.
Yang Jian smiled lightly: "I told you—if you call, I'll come."
Gwen's eyes brightened. She suddenly stepped forward, stood on tiptoes, and gave him a quick peck on the lips: "Reward for keeping your promise."
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow: "That's it?"
Gwen stepped back slyly and crooked her finger: "Want more rewards? Then you have to buy me coffee first."
Corner Retro Coffee Shop
Gwen cradled a cup of hot cocoa, legs tucked under her on the chair.
Like a girl sharing secrets, she talked nonstop about the past few days.
"Then there was this guy—oh, Kingpin. He's locked up in a psych ward now getting treatment, but he actually had his lawyer send me a message saying he'll definitely come back."
She rolled her eyes: "I almost spat my coffee out."
Yang Jian leaned back, fingertips lightly tapping his cup: "He went to prison?"
"Got caught with evidence. During the fight he accidentally touched some experimental equipment." Gwen shrugged.
"The doctors say his brain's corroded by experimental drugs. Now he's like a seven-year-old kid. Anyway, I don't have to punch him in the face for a while."
She excitedly talked about school, her band's new song, and even complained that Captain Stacy had been trying to check on her nighttime activities lately.
Yang Jian just listened, occasionally responding, but his gaze never left her animated face.
As someone with experience, the key was simply to show you were willing to listen—no matter what was said.
Gwen talked and talked, then suddenly stopped. She propped her chin on her hand and looked at him: "You don't seem surprised at all? Are these kinds of things common in your universe?"
"Pretty much." Yang Jian took a sip of coffee.
"But in my universe, Gwen is just an ordinary girl."
"Wow." Gwen blinked.
"Then she's really lucky."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't have to fight lunatics every day." Gwen giggled and swirled her cup, then lowered her voice.
"But seriously… how long can you stay?"
Yang Jian looked out at the dark night sky: "As long as I want."
Gwen's toe gently nudged his leg under the table: "So what's next? Fighting crime? Visiting my secret base? Or…"
She suddenly lowered her voice: "My dad left on a business trip this morning."
Yang Jian looked at her with a half-smile: "So that's why you called me at 3 a.m.?"
"I didn't!" Gwen sat back, feigning innocence.
"I was tracking Vulture's smuggling route. Who knew they were having a team-building night."
Half an Hour Later
They left the coffee shop and strolled through New York's streets.
Gwen had both hands in her hoodie pockets. Her boots splashed through puddles, sending tiny droplets flying.
Yang Jian walked beside her, his coat hem fluttering slightly in the night wind.
"What do you think my life will be like in the future?" Gwen suddenly asked, voice soft.
"What do you think?" Yang Jian countered.
Gwen kicked another pebble and sighed: "Sometimes I wonder—if I weren't Spider-Girl, what would I even do?"
"There is no 'if.'" Yang Jian explained after listening.
"Every choice leads to different outcomes. All you can do is keep moving forward."
Gwen tilted her head and looked at him, suddenly laughing: "Whoa, is this Superman's philosophy hour?"
Yang Jian shrugged: "Just the truth."
Streetlights stretched and shortened their shadows.
As they passed an intersection, Gwen suddenly bumped his shoulder: "Remember what I said earlier? My dad's away on business today."
Yang Jian paused and smiled down at her: "So?"
"So." Gwen drew out the word, hooking a finger into his shirt collar.
"Some people don't have to rush back to their own universe, right?"
He didn't waste words. He raised a hand and drew in the air. Golden sparks spun and tore open space, forming a portal.
On the other side was a luxurious hotel suite.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire Manhattan nightscape was visible. Rose petals were scattered on the large bed; a bottle of champagne sat chilling in an ice bucket.
Gwen's eyes widened: "Wait—where is this?!"
"Manhattan hotel." Yang Jian wrapped an arm around her waist.
"My AI handles the bill and surveillance."
Gwen burst out laughing: "Your AI doubles as a wingman?"
"It's quite versatile."
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