"We've played enough. We've been practicing for a long time, and it's about time we went home for dinner," Peter said. "Same as always—come eat at my place. Aunt Mei knows you have a big appetite, so she's been preparing lots of food since early this morning."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Guan Heng replied. "Aunt Mei's cooking really is delicious."
Before long, the two of them had returned to Peter's house.
"Good evening, Uncle Ben and Aunt Mei! Heh, I'm here to mooch another meal," Guan Heng greeted them. He was already seated at the dining table. "Sorry to impose."
"Don't say that, son. It's not easy being away from home to study. Make yourself at home here," Uncle Ben said with a chuckle, reading the evening paper.
Peter's family had long since gotten used to Guan Heng's identity: a student who had come from out of town to study in New York City.
"Here, Guan Heng, let me fill your plate," Aunt Mei said, handing him the dishes she had made herself. "You really eat with gusto, and that's why you've grown so strong. Just look at my Peter—he's so thin, and his eyesight is poor, too. Among boys his age, he's a bit of a weakling."
At that, Aunt Mei suddenly looked at Peter in puzzlement. "Why aren't you wearing your glasses? Be careful you don't miss the road ahead and fall again."
Peter's severe nearsightedness had been cured as soon as he gained his superpowers. He hurriedly lowered his head and put on the plain-lens glasses he had prepared in advance. "It's nothing. My glasses just got dirty, so I was cleaning them." Then he turned to Guan Heng and stuck out his tongue, whispering, "That was close. I almost gave myself away."
Guan Heng sat down to dinner with Peter and his family. Aunt Mei kept adding food to his plate. "Eat more, dear. With your parents so far away, think of this as your home and come by often. You should come over for dinner regularly."
"Thank you, Aunt Mei," Guan Heng said with a smile. "I'll definitely think of this as my home."
After dinner, Guan Heng said goodbye to Peter's warm and welcoming family. He was pushing his motorcycle toward home when his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.
"Hello, Director Hill." Guan Heng had just enjoyed a filling meal and was in a good mood. What does she want? Please don't let it be work-related. I just want to go home and sleep.
"I have some news for you," Hill said over the phone. "Hulk and Iron Man just had a falling-out. Hulk has left the Avengers. From now on, if you see Hulk causing destruction anywhere, you must capture him."
"Director Hill, don't you think you're giving me too much credit?" Guan Heng said with a frown, sitting on his motorcycle by the roadside. "How am I supposed to beat that big guy, Hulk? Let me make this clear: if I run into him, taking him down alone will be very difficult. Don't blame me if he gets away."
"Your abilities are already quite impressive, and with the Adamantium Equipment we just issued you, your combat strength has increased dramatically," Hill said, unmoved by Guan Heng's excuses. "Listen carefully: if you encounter an enemy, you must give it everything you've got. If you dare slack off, we'll cut all your pay and benefits."
"Yes, yes, understood." Guan Heng had no choice but to switch to a serious tone. "I'll do as you say." Click—the other party hung up.
"Ah, if you take someone's money, you have to follow their orders," Guan Heng muttered to himself. "That's only right." He patted the Chengying Sword hanging from his motorcycle. "If only you could be drawn and sharpened. Then my combat strength would really soar. The Hulk, huh? I'd like to see what he can do. Lately, I don't know why, but I've felt more and more eager to challenge a powerful opponent." Two days later, to his surprise, Hill's words came true so soon.
After falling out with Iron Man, Bruce Banner had continued traveling around the world, searching for a way to control his anger. He had recently appeared in New York City. Somehow, something had agitated him and sent his heart racing, and he suddenly transformed into the Hulk.
At that moment, the Hulk was wreaking havoc on a highway outside New York City. The police had urgently evacuated the locals. The person closest to the scene happened to be Guan Heng, who was occasionally sent out of town on errands. Hill made a decision without hesitation.
"Hello, Guan Heng. I order you to head to the vicinity of Highway XX in the suburbs of New York City immediately," Hill said, calling Guan Heng's cell phone. "Subdue the Hulk at once."
"Easy for you to say, ma'am!" Guan Heng grumbled after hanging up. He was riding his motorcycle at full speed. "The bosses just open their mouths, and the underlings run themselves ragged."
With a thunderous crash, Guan Heng, his body wreathed in scorching energy, collided fiercely with the green Hulk.
A terrifying giant of a man was actually fighting evenly with a much shorter man—in fact, the little guy even seemed to have the upper hand. Anyone who saw it would have struggled to believe their eyes.
Guan Heng planted his feet and shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, rushing right up to the Hulk. His left fist, fitted with a brass knuckle, slammed into the Hulk's cheek.
"Grrr!" The Hulk staggered backward several steps, shaking his head. He was hurt, but not injured.
What incredible toughness! Guan Heng was secretly shocked. That punch carried sixty percent of my Iron Fist Power, and my brass knuckles are made of Adamantium. This Hulk really is something.
"Good! Now this is a real fight! It's hard to find an evenly matched opponent. My usual practice sessions with Jiang Dabao and Spider-Man never have the same life-or-death pressure. I can't fully bring out my abilities."
Guan Heng's blood boiled. "Again!" he shouted. Energy surged from his whole body, wrapping him in an invisible aura and greatly boosting his offense and defense. His agility and speed rose to their peak, and the power of the Super Soldier coursed through him. This time, Guan Heng unleashed his full strength.
The Hulk across from him hadn't completely lost his senses. He looked at the familiar little man before him and roared in response. Their fierce battle began again.
Without a second thought, Guan Heng threw a full-force punch at the Hulk. The Hulk refused to back down and raised his fist to meet it.
With a thunderous boom, the Hulk stumbled back seven or eight steps. Guan Heng only took two before regaining his footing. Clearly, Guan Heng had won the first clash by a small margin.
Gaining the upper hand with that punch, Guan Heng laughed heartily. "It's been a while, Banner! Do you remember Guan Heng, the little Taoist who came back with you and Tony in the time shuttle?"
The Hulk's attack had been thwarted. His eyes were bloodshot, and the fight had completely extinguished the last sliver of reason he had left. He had actually been sent stumbling several meters by a little guy! Enraged, the Hulk roared at the sky and charged at Guan Heng, swinging a fist straight at his face.
Guan Heng swiftly dodged the enormous fist, then slammed a fierce front kick into the Hulk's ribs. Right after that, he unleashed punch after punch, each one pounding hard into the Hulk's body. The feel of every punch landing solidly—that was what a man's blood-pumping brawl was all about! Guan Heng was thrilled, savoring every moment of the fight.
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