Be Yourself

Hearing the students still talking about Kara, Li Ang felt an indescribable anger.

He even found himself thinking, in an extreme moment, that they all deserved to die.

The thought startled him.

Perhaps that was what they meant by having a deadly weapon and developing a murderous impulse.

Li Ang had never had such extreme thoughts before.

But Kara had clearly saved them, and they had repaid her with ingratitude... It infuriated Li Ang.

Even Kara was confused. She lowered her voice and said, "Godfather, I'll never disobey you again."

"I did something wrong. I shouldn't have revealed my powers."

Clearly, she thought she shouldn't have saved them.

Even if only one person had floated to the surface while everyone else drowned, no one could have blamed a little girl. They would have just thought she was lucky.

Hearing this, Li Ang immediately calmed down.

Though he, too, had wanted to go on a killing spree, that wasn't the right thing to think.

Or rather, it wasn't the right thing for Kara to think.

No one wanted their children to become murderous fiends. Even if he wanted her to be selfish, at least on the surface, he would still openly encourage her to be a "good person."

So he immediately said to Kara, "No, Kara. You did nothing wrong."

He held Kara's face in both hands and made her look him in the eye.

"They're the ones who were wrong, not you."

"But they all think I'm a monster."

Kara sounded terribly aggrieved.

She could hear those unabashed conversations even without using Super Hearing.

It weighed heavily on Kara's heart.

At that moment, the light seemed to vanish from her eyes.

She was no longer the vivacious girl she had been.

Li Ang felt a sudden ache in his heart. He said solemnly, "Kara, don't worry about what other people think."

"In my eyes, you've always been the best. So never stop fighting, and never stop being yourself."

A light gradually returned to Kara's eyes.

At that moment, Li Ang seemed to understand why people wanted Superman to be a bright, cheerful young man rather than God of Man.

Countless times, Li Ang had wondered what he wanted Kara to become and how he should shape her character.

So he had told Kara to learn patience, hide her abilities, and try to fit into this world.

But now he realized he had been wrong.

Kara should do whatever she wanted, whether that meant being bright and cheerful or becoming God of Man.

As long as it was what she wanted.

Li Ang shouldn't force his expectations onto Kara. That would keep her from being herself.

"Mr. Li Ang, could you come over here for a moment?"

Just then, Teacher Emma walked over.

Teacher Emma was a woman in her forties who, Li Ang had heard, taught math.

Li Ang patted Kara and said to Teacher Emma, "Could you get them to quiet down?"

Li Ang looked so stern that Teacher Emma was inexplicably frightened. She quickly told the kids to quiet down.

Then the two of them moved to one side.

"Mr. Li Ang, I'm very sorry."

Teacher Emma looked apologetic.

"You should be grateful."

Li Ang spoke gravely. He had already guessed what she was going to say.

"We're all grateful. Without Kara, we would've—"

"But I'm sorry. This was Principal Juliette's decision. We can't teach Kara anymore."

Teacher Emma looked deeply apologetic.

Li Ang wanted to get angry, but he knew there was no point taking it out on a teacher.

It was the principal's decision.

They were ignorant, afraid, and terrified of the unknown. They didn't even dare let Kara continue her education.

"I understand."

Li Ang said coldly, "Your school is awful anyway. It wasn't much use to Kara."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Li Ang."

Teacher Emma said this and walked away.

When he returned to Kara, Li Ang had come to terms with it.

It wouldn't be good for Kara to keep studying here, now that everyone knew she was different.

Kara wouldn't feel comfortable continuing her studies here.

When Li Ang returned, Kara looked up at him. With her ears perked up, she had heard everything.

"It's all right."

Li Ang patted Kara.

Just then, someone else came over.

An old acquaintance.

"How are you, Kara? I heard you did something amazing. You're a wonderful girl."

James Gordon walked right over, crouched in front of Kara, and patted her on the head.

"Really?"

Kara had a good impression of Commissioner Gordon, since he had helped the two of them before.

"Of course. You saved so many people. You're a hero."

Commissioner Gordon encouraged her with a smile.

"Thank you," Kara said.

Commissioner Gordon then smiled and said, "I'm going to borrow your Godfather for a moment. I'll have Officer Judy look after you."

He nodded to a policewoman who had followed him over.

Then Li Ang went with him to one side.

James Gordon looked at Li Ang with a complicated expression.

"I had no idea she could do something like that."

Before, he had only thought Kara was cute, obedient, and sensible.

He hadn't imagined...

"This will cause trouble," Li Ang replied.

James Gordon understood, of course, and said, "I'll do my best to get them not to tell anyone, but I can't say how much good it'll do. Too many people saw."

"Kara might have to transfer to another school."

"I know."

Li Ang nodded.

"I'll see if I can pull some strings and get her into Louis Memorial Middle School. It's the best school in Gotham, but... it'd be best if she didn't stand out again."

James Gordon continued, "By the way, you don't have any ID, do you? I thought as much. You're not like those illegal immigrants."

Gotham was a port city, and people arrived by ship illegally in a steady stream every year.

"That's right."

Li Ang nodded. He had burned all his documents.

He had done it so no one could track him.

At the time, he hadn't known if it would work, but it seemed it had.

At least no one in Gotham had come looking for them.

James Gordon said, "I'll do my best to get you some ID, too. And... protect Kara. Don't let Gotham corrupt her."

Gotham was a city of sin.

Even though James Gordon was the commissioner here, he still couldn't change much.

"But I believe Gotham will get better."

"When I first came to Gotham, things were worse than they are now."

Commissioner Gordon spoke, trying to give Li Ang some hope.

Back then, the entire police department had been full of people from the Falcone family and other gangs. From top to bottom, all of Gotham had colluded with the gangs.

At least now, the officers were much cleaner. They no longer feared the gangs; they dared to fight back.

Li Ang knew this as well as anyone, but they didn't have many options.

They had fled Ohio and come here because it was the only place where they were even somewhat safe.

Gotham's chaos had worked to their advantage.

Besides, they had gotten somewhat used to life in Gotham.

Sure, Gotham was always overcast, the air was badly polluted, they had to watch out for criminals on the streets, and they couldn't go out at night...

But neither Li Ang nor Kara wanted to leave anymore.

They were tired of life on the run.

"Thank you, Commissioner Gordon."

"Jim."

James Gordon immediately held out his hand. "Call me Jim."