Dark Clouds Gather

Guan Heng helped the fallen man to his feet and was about to speak when he suddenly turned toward the mouth of the alley. There were only streams of passing pedestrians, with no suspicious signs or anyone lingering. Was that just my imagination? Guan Heng could not help finding it strange.

At the street corner, a couple in T-shirts and jeans pressed their index fingers to their earpieces as they spoke. "Confirmed: Guan Heng's ability is an enhanced offense-and-defense type, and his reactions are very sharp. We were nearly discovered. This concludes the scheduled report from Agents G and F."

The tall boy Guan Heng had helped up shook his bruised and swollen head. "I-I'm fine. Thank you for saving me. Otherwise, the lunch money Aunt Mei gave me would've been stolen."

Hearing that, Guan Heng's brows suddenly twitched. He introduced himself abruptly. "Hello, I'm Guan Heng. What's your name?"

The tall boy replied, "I'm Peter Parker, a high school student."

Ha! So he really is the future Little Spider-Man. He probably hasn't been bitten yet. Guan Heng's mind raced as the look in his eyes gradually turned strange.

A chill ran down Parker's spine. Oh my God, my lifesaver isn't... gay, is he?

Licking his lips, Guan Heng thought to himself, I have to build a good relationship with this future Superhero. The more friends, the more roads ahead. With that in mind, he smiled. "So you're Peter Parker. I've heard so much about you—your name is practically legendary." It was not flattery. In Guan Heng's original world, movies and comics about this Little Grassroots Hero had been wildly popular and known to everyone.

Peter looked utterly baffled. "Legendary? Am I famous? How come I didn't know?"

Guan Heng covered his mouth reflexively. Damn, I nearly let it slip. This kid hasn't become the web-slinging, wall-crawling Little Spider yet. I can't spoil it for him.

Seeing several books scattered on the ground, Guan Heng hurriedly changed the subject. "You dropped your things." He picked up a book and glanced at it. "Hmm, an introduction to the Arthropod Science Exhibition. It's happening in the next few days?"

Peter said, "Yeah. Our school is organizing a group visit for the students, so I'm looking up some information beforehand."

Guan Heng could almost certainly say that this exhibition was the turning point that would turn Little Peter into Spider-Man. Naturally, he would not miss the chance to witness it firsthand. Feigning great interest, he said, "That sounds really interesting. I'd like to take a look too. Where can I buy a ticket?"

Peter quickly pulled a ticket from between the pages and handed it to Guan Heng. "Here, you can have this one. I have several more."

"Then thank you very much." Guan Heng snatched up the ticket in one motion, afraid Peter might change his mind. "We're good friends from now on. Oh, right—I work at Gao's Chinese Restaurant, east of the intersection. Come by whenever you have time. I'll treat you to Yangzhou Fried Rice."

"Thanks, Guan Heng. I need to get to school now. See you at the entrance on the day of the exhibition." Peter waved as he spoke, then hurried off toward the school.

Guan Heng watched his retreating figure. Buddy, you might be the first hero friend who has no ulterior motives toward me. I'll cherish this friendship. Besides, I'm rooting for you.

At the S.H.I.E.L.D. office, Nick Fury looked over Guan Heng's file. "This kid's identity is anything but simple. He appeared in this world out of nowhere, and everything before that is a blank. He came from Huaxia—could he be one of those lunatics from the Killing Path Society? But earlier records show that he left the country directly from an airport near Kunlun Mountain in the Himalayan Region. The Killing Path Society has never had much influence there. Still, there is that legendary Kunlun City, which opens once every ten years. Is he the heir to the K'un-Lun Iron Fist?"

Rubbing his aching head, Fury picked up the phone. "Hill? Keep watching that kid named Guan Heng for another two days. Once I've confirmed a few things, pick a time to meet with him. Such an unstable young Superpowered Being—we have to determine which direction he's heading. Mm, that's all." He slammed down the phone and muttered to himself, "Guan Heng, what color is your soul—black, white, or gray?"

Just as Nick Fury was focusing on Guan Heng's affairs, he had no idea that the shadow of his old enemy, Hydra, had already fallen over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own backyard. A long-planned attack dealt S.H.I.E.L.D. a vicious blow head-on.

After gaining superpowers, many people initially found themselves lost at a crossroads. If someone despised, hurt, frightened, or rejected them, they would gradually head toward darkness. Conversely, if righteous people extended warm hands to them, they would become like burning suns, illuminating everyone with all their hearts. Whether a Superpowered Being ultimately turned good or evil was inseparably tied to the people around them.

That evening, Guan Heng was late delivering takeout again because he had stood up for justice. Old Man Gao's thunderous roar battered his eardrums, but he was already used to it. After work, Guan Heng returned to his temporary little nest: a makeshift structure built from several enormous sheets of Three-ply Board, located near the alley beside the restaurant's back kitchen.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! As usual, Guan Heng practiced his cultivation, striking a sandbag filled with iron sand and using the Wooden Dummy to temper the hardness of his bridging hands, fists, elbows, knees, and legs. Guan Heng had always believed that even the strongest superpowers and mystical arts could fail at times. In this dangerous world, it never hurt to have more skills, and it was always better to keep his body well-trained.

"Pride faces ten thousand crashing waves; hot blood shines like the crimson sun. Courage is forged of iron, bones of fine steel; my heart spans a thousand leagues, my gaze reaches ten thousand miles." Guan Heng softly sang as he went through his nightly jog. In New York City at night, the lights had just begun to glow, dazzling and colorful, especially radiant and enchanting.

"Where there are bright plazas, there are dark corners. That's an eternal truth," Guan Heng murmured. Not far behind him, several men in black followed at an unhurried pace.

They've followed me for several kilometers. Who knows who they are? Whatever. As long as they don't provoke me, there's no need for me to stir things up first. And seriously, these guys are trying way too hard to look cool. Wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night—aren't they afraid of falling into a ditch? Guan Heng secretly found it amusing and ignored them.

Just as he reached the entrance of the forest park where he usually trained, he suddenly heard terrified cries.

Guan Heng went over to take a look. A short man clutching a dagger was standing on his Toes as he robbed a tall, muscular man.

"Be good and hand over your valuables and cash! And bend down, too. Can't you see how hard it is for me to stand on my Toes like this?" the short robber snarled viciously.

Guan Heng took a closer look and laughed inwardly. So it's someone I know. The tall, muscular man being robbed was named York. Since he worked at a bacon processing plant, people called him Bacon York, mocking him for being pig-like. The bastard was a real piece of work. He often went to Gao's Chinese Restaurant to eat without paying, then cursed at people. Sometimes he even groped Sister Jin, one of the waitresses, with his filthy hands. Guan Heng had wanted to beat him senseless more than once, but Old Man Gao feared it would affect business and stubbornly stopped him from doing anything.

So this punk has finally gotten what he deserves. Serves him right. Guan Heng curled his lip, simply turned away, and planned to jog past. I'm not getting involved in his business.

The men in black following Guan Heng whispered among themselves. "He reacts so coldly when he sees evil and injustice. What a loser. He's downright heartless."

The short robber said disdainfully, "Hmph, you weak, useless yellow-skinned brat."

Before his words had even faded, Guan Heng pounced with extreme speed. Slap! His palm had already struck the robber across the face.