Gu Xing channeled chi into his legs, propelling himself forward with explosive force, and in an instant, he appeared before a black man—one of the Hand's leaders.
"Sowande!" a white woman exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.
Gu Xing's fist, wreathed in a flickering aura of chi, struck toward Sowande. The man twisted instinctively, narrowly evading the blow, but recovered with lightning speed, thrusting his palm into Gu Xing's chest, aiming precisely for a pressure point.
Gu Xing directed chi to the impact site, and a surge of orange energy flared outward, blocking the strike.
Madame Gao's eyes narrowed, her expression grave. "He has chi… be careful."
The others exchanged solemn glances before lunging forward to attack.
Gu Xing met them head-on. Murakami, the Japanese man, moved with deadly precision, and the rest followed in a synchronized assault.
He parried, dodged, and countered, each movement honed and deliberate. The onslaught pressed heavily upon him, and for a moment, he felt the weight of their strength.
These were no ordinary fighters—they were all at least in the Chi Nurturing Stage, with Madame Gao nearing the early stages of Chi Channeling.
Yet Gu Xing's heart remained calm. Experience might favor his opponents, but his body was enhanced, his senses razor-sharp, and his mastery of mid-level chi allowed him to contend with five at once. Step by step, blow by blow, he held his ground—and even began to seize the upper hand.
Seeing the display, the five leaders' expressions darkened. Bakuto, the white man wielding a sword, struck with blinding speed; the blade gleamed dangerously. Gu Xing stepped back just in time to avoid the strike. The other leaders instinctively retreated a few paces, taking a moment to catch their breath.
"We can't defeat him… retreat," Alexandra, the white woman, ordered, her voice tight with unease.
Ninjas surged forward toward Gu Xing, but he remained calm, steadying his breath and centering his focus.
Chi erupted around his body in a blazing aura, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared before Alexandra.
"Who let you escape?" Alexandra's eyes widened in shock—before Gu Xing's fist drove into her stomach, sending her hurtling toward the other four leaders.
They caught her just in time and continued their retreat, desperation in every step.
Gu Xing, wreathed in a halo of orange chi, was far from finished. For the first time, he unleashed his full power. Ninjas swarmed him, but each was swept aside effortlessly.
A single casual punch sent dozens crashing through the air. This was the might of a Mid-Level Chi Channeler: chi flowing through every sinew, fully controlled, every strike carrying deadly precision and unstoppable force.
Those watching were stunned. Danny's jaw dropped. "Is this… his true power?"
Jessica, sending another ninja flying with a flick of her hand, stared in disbelief. "Monster."
Even Bullseye, who had been attacking Daredevil, froze. His eyes widened, and he retreated swiftly, unwilling to test the man's fury.
Daredevil did not follow and sensed the intense pressure radiating from Gu Xing.
From a distance, Fire Scar had already vanished into the shadows, fleeing before Gu Xing could reach him.
Confronted by suicidal ninjas, Gu Xing hesitated for only a moment—just long enough for the five leaders to slip away. They swarmed him, a living pile of bodies, but with a sudden surge of chi, he exploded outward, sending them flying in all directions. His gaze swept the battlefield: Bullseye was already retreating, and Fire Scar was a distant figure, fleeing with desperate speed.
A smile crept across Gu Xing's face. He dashed forward, unstoppable.
Fire Scar's heart pounded in his chest. This was not his first encounter with Gu Xing, but the memory of the man's power still struck terror into him. He ran as if the world itself sought to crush him, wishing, absurdly, that he had a third leg. And then—suddenly—a figure materialized before him.
Bathed in flowing orange chi, radiant as the rising sun.
"Boss… long time no see," Fire Scar stammered, his voice weak.
"Yo, torch boy," Gu Xing said, eyes gleaming. "Take this as my greeting."
In an instant, a strike landed, sending Fire Scar crashing to the ground.
Gu Xing exhaled, a low sigh escaping him. "In the end… we let them escape."
The remaining ninjas melted away like waves retreating from the shore.
They glanced down at the unconscious Fire Scar. Danny frowned. "What do we do with him?"
"Leave him here," Gu Xing replied. "Misty will know what to do."
Gu Xing knows that he might just escape again, but he just can't be bothered with this goofy guy.
'But this will be the last time.' Gu Xing thought as he looked at Fire Scar.
They secured Fire Scar to a nearby pole, binding him tightly but without cruelty.
Gu Xing's gaze lingered on him for a moment. The thought of ending his life flickered in his mind—but he shook it away. 'Not yet. I'm still not ready.'
He surveyed the battered group before him. Silence hung heavy in the air as they absorbed the full measure of his power
Finally, Gu Xing spoke, voice calm but commanding: "Let's go."
They nodded mechanically, still reeling, and followed him further into the underground depths. There, in the dim glow, they beheld a fossil—massive, ancient, awe-inspiring.
"Dragon," Danny breathed, voice barely a whisper.
The others stared in awe. "Is that really a dragon?" Colleen muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Gu Xing stepped forward and picked up a bone. His hands glowed with orange chi, and with a deliberate squeeze, he crushed the bone into powder.
"It's tough… but it should be an infant dragon," he mused. The bone was not massive, its structure was only slightly durable, supporting his theory.
His gaze swept the dimly lit chamber and landed on a book tucked into a shadowed corner. He approached and brushed away the layer of dust on its cover.
"Thousand Herb and Knowledge," Gu Xing murmured, curiosity piqued. The title sounded like something plucked straight from a Chinese novel. He tucked it under his arm, planning to read it once he returned home.
Suddenly, the wail of police sirens echoed through the underground corridors. Gu Xing's eyes narrowed. "It's time to go."
Jessica hesitated. "But… the kids?"
"They're not here," Matt said firmly. "I didn't sense them…"
Gu Xing nodded. "Most likely they've already been taken."
A solemn silence hung over the group as they absorbed his words. Then, without another word, they moved as one, leaving the hidden chamber behind.
---
An hour after the group had left, shadows stirred in the underground. Ninjas slipped silently through the tunnels, cleaning the area and carefully hauling away the dragon bones.
"This is not over," Madame Gao's voice cut through the quiet, calm yet laced with warning. She too had arrived, her presence commanding the operation.
The police had not searched this section, and Misty Knight had been stationed elsewhere after arresting Fire Scar, which allowed them to move both equipment and the dragon's remains with ghostly efficiency.
Madame Gao surveyed the cleared chamber, her sharp eyes scanning every corner. She approached the table—and froze. The book was gone.
"It's gone," she sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into her composed demeanor. She had devoted countless resources to locating rare texts of such knowledge, finally securing one like this.
"Let's go," she said, waving her hand. The ninjas melted back into the shadows, moving as if nothing had ever occurred, leaving the underground in an eerie, silent stillness.