Chapter 23

Hill took the bottle containing the Corpse Poison antidote and examined it for a moment. She knew that although Guan Heng spoke without thinking, he was an expert when it came to eliminating zombies.

"Thank you," Hill said. "I'm sure the director will feel better after you've shaken him down, haha." The ice-cold beauty suddenly covered her mouth and laughed softly. For some reason, when she was around Guan Heng, she could be angry one moment and happy the next.

At that moment, Guan Heng picked up the Three-Piece Equipment Mold from the lab table and examined it closely. These molds had been made by the scientists according to the blueprints he'd drawn himself. One was a sword sheath worn on his back, a first-class seat for the Chengying Sword; another was a Special Knuckle Duster worn on his left hand, gleaming with a dazzling, icy light, as if it could shatter any evil force.

The last piece was a belt resembling one worn by a boxing champion, with a disk in the middle. The disk was several centimeters thick, with a pull-out storage compartment on the inside to hold Guan Heng's Corpse Storage Bag. That would make it foolproof. In an emergency, the belt could also be taken apart and fastened across his chest with crossed straps, forming a sturdy Heart Protector that could withstand ordinary bullets, blades, and superpowered attacks.

The belt had taken Guan Heng the most thought to design. Now that he saw the mold, he was quite satisfied. "I didn't know I was such a genius designer. Haha!"

Besides the molds, which had already been made according to the agreed weight, there were some Metal Scraps on the lab table. Guan Heng pointed to them and asked, "Those are the leftover materials from the Adamantium Equipment you're making for me, right?"

One of the lab scientists nodded. Guan Heng smiled. "So what are you planning to make for me with the remaining alloy?"

Hill frowned. "That alloy is more than enough for your three pieces of equipment. We were planning to take the rest back to the storeroom."

Guan Heng shook his head. "That won't do. The alloy was set aside for me in a specific amount, and every last bit has to be used on me. You guys—" As he spoke, he picked up a pen and swiftly sketched a Small Flying Knife on a sheet of paper, then handed it to the scientist.

With a smile, Guan Heng said, "I estimate the leftover material should be enough to make six of these. If there isn't enough, you can use Inferior Alloy for the handles."

Hill was about to lose her temper. "Guan Heng, are you sure you're not the illegitimate son of Old Man Gao from the Chinese Restaurant? You've got exactly the same way of shaking people down."

Guan Heng shook his head. "How could that be? He looks sleazy and disgusting, while I'm a fresh-faced young man!" Then he clapped his hands. "These knives will solve the problem of me having no ranged attacks. They're just what I need. Since the molds are finished, I'll just wait for the genuine Adamantium Equipment to be ready."

Hill shook her head helplessly. "Then you'll have to wait a few days."

"By the way, where's my S.O.—my supervisor, Aunt Kou? I still haven't heard from her." Guan Heng grinned. "Don't tell me Uncle Phil died in the line of duty."

"Don't jinx him!" Hill rolled her eyes. "He's been busy talking with Iron Man about forming the Avengers. Besides, you've handled several cases on your own already, so you don't need his guidance or supervision for now. Just wait until he's done with all this."

Seeing Hill's stern expression, Guan Heng suddenly smiled. "Hill, do you think I'm greedy?"

Hill shrugged. She didn't say anything, but the answer was obvious. Guan Heng clasped his hands behind his back and walked up to her. In a low voice, he said, "But I don't think what I'm asking for is unreasonable."

Guan Heng spread his hands and spoke at length. "I was a free agent, outside of black and white, and then I suddenly joined S.H.I.E.L.D. Now I've got a Positioning Tag stuck on me, and from here on out I have to fight all kinds of dangerous enemies. Super Villains can do whatever they want and disregard human life, but I have to fight them with nothing but my own flesh and blood while also protecting civilians. You know how dangerous that is. On top of that, I have to deal with zombies. From now on, my life will be hanging by a thread."

After clearing his throat, Guan Heng continued, "I'm not asking for much. I just want to live a little longer while protecting other people. That way I can keep fighting for S.H.I.E.L.D. and justice. So a few pieces of equipment really aren't much to ask."

Seeing that Hill's expression had softened, Guan Heng continued, "Hill, whether I'm advising you as a friend or showing concern for you as a subordinate, I want to tell you this: don't let indifference consume you, body and soul. The end of indifference is darkness."

Hill was about to say something when an agent suddenly knocked and came in. "Director Hill, there's a guy in a strange green outfit causing a huge disturbance at the Carnival Venue. He's been throwing bombs everywhere."

"What?" Hill was startled. All the capable agents were out in the field at the moment, and she simply didn't have anyone to spare. She turned to Guan Heng. "Sigh, Guan Heng, go over there and get the situation under control."

"Sure!" Guan Heng readily agreed. "And please get my equipment made as soon as possible. I'm off."

Once outside the S.H.I.E.L.D. Gate, Guan Heng found his motorcycle and said, "Start the Intelligent Navigation System. Find the Carnival Venue."

The small screen above the motorcycle immediately displayed a map of New York City, with a flashing red dot marking the fastest route to the venue.

Guan Heng whistled. "Let's go!" The motorcycle sped off toward the Carnival Venue.

Before long, Guan Heng arrived on his motorcycle. He casually drew the Chengying Sword from its sheath at his side and rested it on his shoulder. Just then, he saw a blue-and-red figure swinging through the air on silk, battling a green toad riding a skateboard.

"That's Spider-Man and the Green Goblin." Guan Heng looked up. "Well, their proper opponents are already fighting. I'll watch for a while."

"Hey, Green Monster! You've trashed the whole Carnival Venue!" Spider-Man shouted. "You almost hurt my friend, too. I'm going to teach you a lesson!"

Just moments earlier, Mary Jane had nearly been killed by one of the Green Goblin's bombs. Peter had hurriedly transformed into Spider-Man and saved her just in time. With the girl he loved in danger, the young hero had flown into a rage and attacked the Green Goblin.

"Foolish Little Crawler! You think you can stop me?" The Green Goblin cackled. "Let you and all those people down there enjoy my Pumpkin Bomb extravaganza!" He tossed bomb after bomb into the crowd. "Oh no!" Spider-Man had only two hands. He kept firing silk, sticking the unexploded bombs to the walls, but he couldn't cover everything. One bomb shot straight toward the dense crowd.

With the Pumpkin Bomb about to explode among the crowd, a figure suddenly shot out from the side at incredible speed.

It was Guan Heng. He swung the Chengying Sword with both hands. With a loud smack, the bomb he'd sent flying high into the air exploded with a roar.

Watching the fireworks burst overhead, Guan Heng shouted, "Haha! We're now broadcasting the Grand League finals live from Yankee Stadium! Top of the ninth, the Strong Dragon Team of Huaxia is up to bat. Cleanup Hitter Guan Heng blasts a beautiful Walk-off Home Run that clears the whole field! Let's hear it, fans!"

In an instant, the people who'd escaped the bomb burst into cheers. "Amazing! We're saved!"

Seeing this, Spider-Man, who was battling the Green Goblin, breathed a sigh of relief. "Guan Heng's here! Time to switch from Defensive Parry to Active Offense!" He fired two bursts of silk at the Green Goblin. "Hey, Caterpie! Try this!"

"Brat, what can you do to me?" the Green Goblin laughed arrogantly. He stepped on his Flying Skateboard and swiftly dodged the silk. But then Spider-Man launched an Aerial Kick at his chest, and the Green Goblin couldn't dodge in time. He tumbled off the skateboard with a thud.

Spider-Man had put too much force into his kick, too, and went flying. He and Guan Heng collided headfirst. Bam!

Guan Heng muttered, "Peter, you clumsy idiot! Were you trying to smash my head in? I'm all covered up, and you still recognized me?" Spider-Man exclaimed in surprise.

"Obviously. Who wouldn't recognize Peter Parker from that familiar smell of sweat after three days without a bath?" Guan Heng bluffed. "Enough talk. Let's take down the Green Goblin together."

"Your head's as hard as a rock! You made my nose bleed." Spider-Man lifted his mask, wiped his nose with a tissue, then tossed it to the ground. Guan Heng picked it up. "You slob. I'll throw it in the trash for you later." Despite what he said, he stuffed the bloodstained tissue into his own pocket.

What followed was practically the Green Goblin being beaten up by the two of them single-handedly.

"I'll punch him in the face with my left fist!" "Then I'll kick him in the butt with my right foot!" "Now's my chance! I'll poke him in the eyes!" "My Sweeping Leg is even better. It'll knock him flat on his face!"

Exhausted from defending himself against Guan Heng and Spider-Man's punches and kicks, the Green Goblin howled in anger. "You two are such dirty fighters! You say one thing and do another! Liars!"

"What's wrong with your brain?" Guan Heng and Spider-Man both raised their middle fingers and shouted, "Who says you have to tell the truth to Super Villains?"

"Damn it! Fine, I've got backup too, even if he doesn't follow my orders," the Green Goblin muttered through gritted teeth. "Two against one—I'm getting the short end of the stick!" He suddenly whistled, and the Flying Skateboard shot beneath his feet, carrying him toward a nearby spot.

There stood a Large Iron Cage covered tightly with a tarp. The Green Goblin's flying board whizzed past, and he yanked the tarp away, revealing what was inside. Guan Heng narrowed his eyes and immediately recognized it.

"Haha! Let me show you a Super Villain's biological weapon, bought from Hydra at a discount!" The Green Goblin creaked open the cage door. Inside lay a sleeping Corpse Lord. Since it had been uncontrollable, it had already been injected with a powerful Sleeping Potion.

"Wake up, you lazybones! Time to get to work!" As he spoke, the Green Goblin tossed a bomb into the cage and fled far away. It exploded with a roar, waking the Corpse Lord. It swayed its enormous body, let out a savage growl, and ducked out of the cage.

In theory, it was two against two now. But that wouldn't last.

Guan Heng sprang at the Green Goblin. "Hey, Caterpie, don't run! Tell me, where did you get the zombies?"

The Green Goblin cackled. "I bought it, of course! Being a Super Villain is an expensive business these days. Hydra gave me a discount. A mere million dollars, and I didn't even blink."

Guan Heng's expression turned cold. "You bastard! You're not getting away!" He swung the Chengying Sword and slashed at the Green Goblin's waist.

"Yikes!" The Green Goblin flipped through the air on his Flying Skateboard, barely dodging Guan Heng's attack. "How is this guy even more dangerous than Spider Crawler?"

"Hmph!" Guan Heng planted the sword in the ground. "He's even better with the Hand-to-Hand Combat Skill. I don't have time to waste on you!" He suddenly bent forward, pushed off with his toes, and accelerated toward the Green Goblin. Reaching out, he grabbed for the man's wrist. "You're not getting away!"

The Green Goblin wasn't about to surrender. He threw a punch at Guan Heng's face. "Take that!" Guan Heng caught his wrist and instantly seized his little finger, twisting it sharply. "Snap!"

A faint crack sounded, and the Green Goblin screamed, "My finger!"

His little finger had been snapped off by Guan Heng and was now clenched in Guan Heng's hand.

The Green Goblin didn't dare linger. He leapt onto his Flying Skateboard. "Bastard! I'll get revenge for my finger!" Then he shouted, "You can keep the zombies company! I'm out of here!" With that, he fled in disgrace.

Guan Heng wrapped up the Green Goblin's finger and stuffed it into his pocket, sneering. "With this, it won't be hard to find where you and Hydra made your deal. Hmph."

Spider-Man suddenly shouted, "Watch out, Guan Heng! It looks like he's sent out his minions!"

Guan Heng turned to look. The Corpse Lord had summoned four Corpse Soldiers, but apparently that was the limit. Guan Heng narrowed his eyes. The Corpse Lord's Corpse Storage Bag at its waist looked newer than his own, and he immediately decided to take it.

Guan Heng called to Spider-Man, "You keep the minions busy. I'll finish off the boss, then come help you."

Spider-Man answered and shot silk from both wrists, binding several Corpse Soldiers that had started running to surround Guan Heng.

Guan Heng pulled the Chengying Sword out of the ground and brought it down hard on the Corpse Lord's shoulder. Smack! The Corpse Lord staggered backward, howling in pain.

"Shut up, idiot!" Guan Heng sneered. "You can scream as loud as you want; it won't bring any other corpses to save you."

Furious, the Corpse Lord reached down and grabbed a steel pipe that had been used to put up a tent. It swung the pipe at Guan Heng's face. Guan Heng reached out with one hand and caught it with a smack, then bent it out of shape. He kicked the zombie in the chest. "Get out of here!"

The Corpse Lord fell backward and landed face down. Guan Heng stepped on its back and looked around at the Carnival Venue's decorations, which had been wrecked by the Corpse Lord's steel-pipe rampage. He gave a cold snort. "You've damaged public property and you're hideous. You're guilty of the most heinous crimes! I sentence you to death!"

The Corpse Lord was still thrashing about. Guan Heng used his sword to knock out its zombie teeth and tear off its fingernails, then yanked away its Corpse Storage Bag. The teeth and nails were useful for making an antidote, but he couldn't let anyone at S.H.I.E.L.D. know that—not yet, at least. Otherwise, Fury might turn against him.

Over there, Spider-Man had finally bound three zombies with silk. One had slipped through and was lurching toward Guan Heng. He smiled faintly, punched the Corpse Soldier in the face, and knocked it to the ground.