Wild Crossbones

Li Congxin's excessive-weight training had not escaped Nalan Long's notice. Though he had lectured him about how excess was as bad as deficiency, deep down, he still admired the way the cowardly kid pushed himself so hard. He even used the excuse of checking Li Congxin's progress to teach him quite a few tricks for exerting force.

A true master could pass on the essence in a single sentence, while a false one needed ten thousand books.

The old man's offhand guidance struck Li Congxin's ears like an enlightening revelation. He felt that his understanding of Shaolin Twelve Road Tan Leg had advanced another level.

After staying at the Nalan Family's home for dinner, Li Congxin's relationship with them had unconsciously grown closer. He was now clearly different from the other students who paid to learn martial arts.

After dinner, Li Congxin took the initiative to help wash the dishes. Only then did he start up BGM again and run with the wind toward home.

Standing by the window and watching Li Congxin's back gradually disappear at the end of the street, Nalan Long wore a satisfied smile and praised him, "That boy Li Congxin is the most outstanding student I've seen in all these years. Not only is he extraordinarily talented, but he's also willing to work hard. He's far better than you!"

The final sentence was directed at Nalan Qing, who was standing beside him.

After being reprimanded by his father, Nalan Qing could only respond with an awkward laugh. "Didn't he say it himself? It's because you taught him so well, Old Man."

"Don't try to sweet-talk me!" The old man clearly wasn't buying it. "I put far more effort into teaching you than I did guiding him. But if I let him fight you right now, I guarantee you'd be the one to lose!"

Nalan Qing felt terribly depressed. Other people's children were the worst!

"Oh no!" A sudden cry interrupted the father and son's usual family lecture. When they turned around, they saw Nalan Bai holding a portable music player and saying nervously, "Li Congxin forgot to take his music player when he left."

Nalan Qing glanced strangely at the earphones plugged into the girl's ears. Only then did she explain, "I was curious, too, so I borrowed his music player to listen to it. But that guy actually forgot to ask for it back when he left."

Nalan Long could not help laughing when he heard this. "It's only a music player. If you aren't coming back this weekend, just leave it at the gym. When classes start this weekend, have A Qing return it to him."

"How could I?" Nalan Bai said. "He loves his music player!"

"No, I'll catch up with him and return it myself."

"Let me go." Nalan Qing finally spoke up. "That kid runs like a rabbit. How could you possibly catch him? I'll be faster if I drive."

Nalan Bai: "I'm going too!"

"All right. Together."

Li Congxin had not given the matter of the music player a second thought. He certainly did not love the thing as much as Nalan Bai claimed. The only reason he carried one was to conceal his cheat ability. That was all.

Carrying four hundred kilograms of weight and moving at a light-footed pace, Li Congxin once again passed through the alley where he had first been stopped and robbed. Once again, he ran into the same group of people, who blocked his path in the exact same formation as before.

Seeing this, Li Congxin revealed an amused smile and spoke before they could. "Did you bring money today?"

Received +6 Impression Points from Dick Walker!

Received +7 Impression Points from Tom!

Received +... Impression Points from Jerry...

...

Received +23 Impression Points from Brock Rumlow!

After a string of familiar names, a different one suddenly appeared—and it had directly surpassed the limit of ordinary people. The moment this system notification appeared, Li Congxin immediately became wary.

The smile on his face gradually faded as he rapidly searched his mind for the name Rumlow. Impression Points exceeding the limit of ordinary people meant that the other party was definitely an original character from Marvel. Moreover, for him to appear at this point, there was a very high chance he was connected to the sudden boldness of these petty thugs, who had seemingly grown fat overnight.

If that was the case, then the other party should be a supervillain—or perhaps some superhero.

"Interesting. I didn't expect you to be so alert. I wonder whether your strength is as solid as your vigilance."

While Li Congxin secretly heightened his guard and wondered who the other party really was, he saw a burly man slowly emerge from behind the row of petty thugs ahead. He wore a skull mask, and on his chest was something resembling the X-Men logo, except that its color was as pale as bone.

Seeing the man's appearance, Li Congxin, who had been pondering his identity, finally connected the name Brock Rumlow with a notorious villain from the Marvel world.

Crossbones!

Crossbones, whose real name was Brock Rumlow, was one of Hydra's top enforcers. His strength had reached the human limit, making him a man who could go fifty-fifty with Captain America!

Li Congxin had not expected his usually low-key self to attract Hydra's attention so quickly. But in the face of the suddenly appearing Crossbones, he was completely unafraid!

As he calmly removed his coat and weights, Li Congxin said casually, "Looks like you're the new leader of this gang of thugs. What, having just taken office, you want to use an innocent, law-abiding citizen like me to establish your authority in front of your men?"

"You guessed correctly. That's exactly what I intend to do." Crossbones seemed to have absolute confidence in his strength. He made no move to stop Li Congxin from removing his weights, simply waiting quietly until Li Congxin had taken them all off before speaking again. "Are you ready, Oriental?"

Li Congxin raised an eyebrow. "What, do you look down on Asians?"

"No, no!" Crossbones waved his hand, and the petty thugs hurriedly opened a path. As he walked toward Li Congxin, he said, "I have a twin brother whose strength is in no way below mine. But not long ago, he was brought down in Africa by a Chinese special forces soldier. With such a bloody lesson right before my eyes, how could I possibly underestimate Chinese people?"

Crossbones had a younger brother too? How come I had never heard about this?

While Li Congxin was slightly distracted, Crossbones struck first, driving a fist straight at his face.

Clean and decisive!

Li Congxin had not expected the other man to put on the air of a master upon meeting him, only to launch a sneak attack without hesitation. He did not care at all about maintaining a master's dignity.

Caught off guard, Li Congxin could only raise his arm to block. The punch sent him staggering three steps backward, while Crossbones's mocking voice reached his ears again. "Didn't you eat, kid?"

Although Li Congxin was a little annoyed at being caught off guard, he did not complain.

After all, this was not a wuxia world.

The other man's fighting style might lack the bearing of a true powerhouse, but this was Marvel!

Rubbing his slightly aching arm, Li Congxin answered the other man's question with complete indifference. "I just ate. This afternoon, I caught a nine-headed venomous snake, coated it in breadcrumbs, and fried it until both sides were golden brown. The kids next door were drooling with envy!"

Received +777 Impression Points from Brock Rumlow!

"Kid, you're courting death!" Apparently provoked by something, Crossbones roared and charged at Li Congxin.

Li Congxin also activated the A Man Should Better Himself BGM and fearlessly met him head-on.

He had just mocked Hydra, but had received Impression Points from Crossbones alone. In other words, there were no other Hydra members nearby.

He had encountered a wild Crossbones!

At that moment, a bold idea arose in Li Congxin's heart.

If he killed Crossbones in this alley, what sort of butterfly effect would it create?