Luring Away the Ghost Rider

After messing around outside for nearly two hours, Old Wang and Skye finally walked back to Robbie's house.

As for what they had done during those two hours?

Eating was a must. Going to the movies was out of the question—

Old Wang had given his bank card to Eli and Lucy, and the past few days' expenses had nearly drained Skye's savings. Movies cost money, and they were much more expensive than a meal.

A feast was definitely far more expensive than a movie, but Old Wang couldn't afford one. Usually, he cooked a couple of simple dishes to eat with steamed buns, only occasionally going to the Chinese restaurant downstairs to satisfy his cravings. Those two tubs of Master Kong noodles and that bottle of Lao Gan Ma were practically luxury goods.

The only thing Old Wang regretted was that they still hadn't gotten a room.

Not having money was naturally the main reason.

The other reason was that they had somewhere to stay now.

Old Wang had healed Gabe's leg, and both Robbie and Gabe were extremely grateful. After learning about Old Wang and Skye's straitened circumstances, they strongly urged Old Wang to stay at their home, and Old Wang was too embarrassed to refuse.

There was a guest room.

Although there was only one, Eli's room was vacant.

Of course, Robbie hadn't deliberately pointed that out, because he wasn't sure whether Old Wang and Skye needed two rooms.

Maybe they wanted to keep each other warm in this scorching summer and comfort their lonely, empty hearts?

That wasn't important.

The reason they were staying another day before leaving was that Old Wang's other purpose for coming here had yet to be achieved.

His first purpose had been the Heart of Azeroth, which he had already retrieved.

His second purpose was the Darkhold.

It actually wouldn't be hard to find. As a Grandmaster Monk who had meditated in Zen Staff Forest for an entire year and long communed spiritually with Shen-zin Su, waking Joseph from the spiritual level and then physically prying open Joseph's mouth to force out the Darkhold's location had never been particularly difficult.

Did he really need to go through all this trouble?

Even offend both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra?

Could it be for Eli, Lucy, and the others?

Yes, they were all capable people, but capable people were the one thing this world lacked least.

What it lacked were geniuses.

The Ghost Rider was a genius, naturally excellent material.

In the end, Old Wang was here for the Ghost Rider.

A guy this badass couldn't be wasted. Hellfire-roasted purple sweet potatoes should taste pretty good—crispy outside, tender inside, fragrant, with that familiar demon flavor. Just smelling it felt especially comforting.

Even setting Purple Sweet Potato Head aside, Old Wang was quite interested in the Ghost Rider himself.

Because back in Azeroth, he had seen more than one demon parasitizing a host body, and he had also seen someone somewhat similar to the Spirit of Vengeance: the God of Vengeance belonging to the Night Elf Watchers and their warden, Maiev Shadowsong.

Back then, he and Maiev had engaged in deep exchanges that went beyond the usual sense on quiet nights. However, those exchanges had nothing to do with the God of Vengeance; all their time had been spent wrestling under the sheets.

After all, although Old Wang had been a robust Pandaren at the time, Maiev was also a robust Night Elf who had lived for over ten thousand years. They were evenly matched, each meeting a worthy opponent. Who wouldn't want to pin the other down? All they could do was fight to their hearts' content.

Now that he had encountered a Spirit of Vengeance somewhat similar to the God of Vengeance, Old Wang naturally couldn't let it slip away.

He had helped Robbie get revenge and healed Gabe's leg. Old Wang and the brothers were in their honeymoon phase, like dry wood meeting a raging fire. Naturally, he had to strike while the iron was hot, turn the raw rice into cooked rice, and lure them onto his own war chariot.

As for how to lure him away?

It was actually quite simple.

When his middle school Chinese teacher taught argumentative essays, they had said that the best way to persuade someone was to present facts and reason things out.

Old Wang was someone who reasoned with people.

Though in most cases, he used his fists instead of his mouth.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra aren't idiots. Since the Ghost Rider has entered their sights, they'll definitely keep investigating, and they'll definitely trace you two."

Old Wang sat on the sofa, adjusted himself into the most comfortable position, and said, "S.H.I.E.L.D., under Egghead's leadership, is fairly moderate and probably won't do anything to you. But Hydra won't sit down with you over coffee and have a nice chat. Whitehall is a deranged freak who regained his youth. He took Joseph away and has surely pried open his mouth by now, learning everything. Soon, he'll come knocking with guns. So you aren't safe."

Skye sat beside Old Wang.

Robbie sat across from them.

As for Gabe?

Old Wang had sent a stream of True Qi into him and helped him fall asleep. Unless Old Wang allowed it, he would sleep for at least a full day and night.

Actually, that was a good thing.

Gabe had barely slept at all last night and was exhausted.

Although his physical condition was exceptionally good now, physical satisfaction couldn't ease mental exhaustion. A good sleep would be better.

Gabe had never known Robbie's true situation. Robbie didn't dare tell him, nor did he want to.

Now, hearing Old Wang's words, Robbie realized that his younger brother was facing a threat even more terrifying than a broken leg: the threat of death.

He himself wasn't afraid. The Ghost Rider possessed an immortal body.

But Gabe didn't...

What should he do?

Move?

Where could they move to?

According to Old Wang, Hydra had even infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. There was nowhere they could hide, and he couldn't stay by Gabe's side every second of every day.

At that thought, Robbie panicked.

If the Spirit of Vengeance weren't such a bad thing and beyond his control, he would have wanted to give it to his younger brother. That was the only way to guarantee Gabe's safety.

Right, Mr. Wang!

Since Mr. Wang had brought this up, he must have a solution.

Robbie shuddered and looked at Old Wang, his eyes practically blazing with fire as he said eagerly, "Wang..."

"Don't look at me with such a burning gaze. Your Hellfire might melt me."

Old Wang waved a hand and said, "Actually, the best solution is to make Gabe strong himself. He drank my Essence Wine, so his physical abilities in every aspect will improve considerably, but that isn't enough. If he can drink one or two drops every day and learn martial arts from me, then in at most a month, dealing with a few agents won't be a problem. Maybe even handguns won't be able to kill him. That would count as having some ability to protect himself."

Skye and Robbie were both stunned.

That strong?

Skye's first thought was: Wang, I want some too! I want to drink your Essence Wine too—one small sip a day, and live to ninety-nine!

Robbie was different. His first thought was: You only take a tiny sip a day, and you only gave my brother two drops before. It must be incredibly expensive. If he needs one or two drops a day, who could afford that?

After thinking about it, Robbie still asked, "How much does your Essence Wine cost?"

"One drop, one million." Old Wang shrugged.

"How much?" Robbie clearly didn't believe his ears.

"You heard right." Old Wang smiled. It was the truth.

What a rip-off... Robbie actually felt relieved.

He absolutely couldn't afford it...

One drop a day meant thirty million a month. He couldn't afford it even if he sold himself, so there was no point thinking about it.

What was he supposed to do?

"Getting the Darkhold this time, you were a huge help. Giving you some Essence Wine is no big deal."

Old Wang continued, "The problem is that Essence Wine gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon. Ordinary people can't absorb it directly at all—they'll go 'bang' and explode from being overfilled. I have to keep helping him regulate it. Also, having strong physical abilities alone is useless; he has to know how to use them. He needs to learn real martial arts, and I'll be returning to New York soon."

When Robbie heard the first half of Old Wang's words, it was like a man in despair seeing hope. He was both grateful and ashamed.

Grateful for Old Wang's generosity, casually giving away Essence Wine worth thirty million;

Ashamed because, in truth, he hadn't helped much this time. He had merely been along for the ride the whole way...

But when he heard the second half, Robbie became conflicted.

He couldn't ask the man to stay here for a whole month, could he?

Wait...

Hadn't he just been thinking about moving?

Right, move!

Robbie made up his mind and said solemnly, "Mr. Wang, I understand what you mean. I'll go with you!"

Old Wang had been about to bring out the second speech he had carefully prepared to persuade Robbie to come with him.

Yet before he could say anything, Robbie volunteered.

That was a little too proactive...

Still, very good.

Old Wang wore a gratified expression, as though looking at a golden chive with legs that had run over to him of its own accord.

Robbie, you've grown up. You're a mature chive now. You need to learn how to cut yourself!

Thanks to Ziyuan882 for the 100 reward!