Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Midtown High School and fell across the desks. Peter spun his pen in boredom while the history teacher on the podium droned on about the Industrial Revolution.
"Lin, do you think anyone will really notice something unusual about last night's rain?" Peter asked in a lowered voice.
Without looking up, Lin Hai continued drawing the structural diagram of some plant in his notebook. "Unless someone specifically tests the rainwater's composition, who would think a rainstorm that leaves people feeling refreshed was modified from a biochemical weapon?"
"But people are already talking about it online. Someone said the rain even cured arthritis they'd had for years." Peter secretly pulled out his phone. On the screen, a trending Twitter topic read: #NewYorkMiracleRain#.
"Then someone definitely replied that it was 'a psychological effect.' Humans are best at finding what they think is the most reasonable explanation for things they can't understand." Lin Hai chuckled.
Sure enough, Peter scrolled down and found the top comment:
"It must be an illusion caused by allergy season ending! #Pseudoscience"
Seeing Peter get absorbed in the news, Lin Hai nudged him with his elbow. "Focus on class, unless you want the history teacher to catch you playing on your phone and call your parents."
Peter quickly put away his phone, but a smile curled at his lips. This kind of peaceful school life was exactly what they fought so desperately to protect.
When the dismissal bell rang, Lin Hai grabbed his backpack and hurried off. The others each had their own things to do, so after exchanging a few greetings, they went their separate ways at the school gate.
When Lin Hai returned to the clinic and pushed open the door, Master Chen Bing was taking the pulse of an elderly woman who ran a breakfast shop in nearby Chinatown.
"Qi stagnation and blood stasis. Lin Hai, prepare a dose of Bupleurum Liver-Soothing Powder," his master said without looking up.
"Yes." Lin Hai skillfully pulled open the medicine cabinet, his fingers flying between dozens of small drawers. Three months ago, he would have needed to check the labels. Now, he could find every herb with his eyes closed.
The old woman studied him curiously. "Young man, your hands are so practiced. How many years have you studied medicine?"
"I've studied under my master for less than half a year. I just have a good memory." Lin Hai handed over the wrapped medicine.
He did not mention that his "good memory" included instantly recalling the properties of thousands of plants. That was an added benefit brought by Life Force.
"Now I can beat Lizard Doctor one-on-one!"
In the clinic's backyard that evening, Peter, who had returned home before heading back out to train at the clinic, dodged the vine Lin Hai flung at him with a backflip and made the declaration proudly.
"Oh?" Lin Hai raised an eyebrow and suddenly changed tactics. The previously soft vine instantly hardened and stabbed toward Peter's arm like a spear!
"Whoa!" Peter dodged in a panic, but his shoulder was still grazed.
"Professor Connors can now control his transformations freely," Lin Hai said as he retracted the vine, "and he retained both his experience as a military doctor and the mindset of a scientific researcher." He pointed to his temple.
"You think we suppressed him last time through brute force? That was the result of four people and a complete tactical plan."
Peter rubbed his arm and muttered, "Can't you let me fantasize for a little while...?"
"Fantasy will get you killed." Lin Hai placed a hand on Peter's shoulder to heal the wound he had just inflicted. That was also why he dared to be ruthless during training. At the same time, he began teaching Peter the combat wisdom he had learned from Master Chen Bing.
"We in Huaxia have a saying: sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in battle. Combat, even war itself, is cruel. People will bleed and even die. If you approach everyday training with a playful attitude, then you won't be fully focused when you fight either. That's what my master taught me, and I think it applies to you too."
Peter immediately wilted. As a teenage boy, it was only natural that he was lively and restless, but he also understood that Lin Hai was absolutely right.
After resting for a while, Peter threw himself back into training. This time, however, he was much more serious.
At the Osborn Group laboratory, Gwen stared intently into an electron microscope.
"Serum residue removal is at 97.3%," she recorded the data. "But the genetic memory effect still remains."
On the monitoring screen, Professor Connors was performing a grip-strength test in the recovery room. His regenerated right arm easily crushed the pressure gauge.
"Gwen, if I wanted to continue researching controllable mutation technology..." Connors suddenly looked up at the camera.
"Then you'll first have to pass Mr. Norman's twenty rounds of psychological evaluation," Gwen's voice came through the speakers.
"Also, Einstein never intended for his theories to be used to make weapons, but someone still developed the atomic bomb. If the technology you develop falls into the hands of the United States military, the outcome speaks for itself."
Connors smiled bitterly. "Is this moral blackmail for scientists?"
"You can think of it that way~" Gwen smiled. "Also, the electromyographic signals in your right arm are 18% stronger than those in your left. I recommend symmetrical training."
At the top floor of Fisk Tower that weekend, Kingpin was admiring a new oil painting by his wife, Vanessa.
"Doctor Lin." The underground emperor personally poured Lin Hai a cup of tea. "I heard New York had an interesting rainstorm a few days ago?"
Lin Hai calmly put away his acupuncture kit. "Just unusual weather. Your wife's symptoms have improved considerably, and she will basically no longer have any noticeable episodes."
Kingpin stroked his cane. "I still have to thank you. By the way, I've recently received some information about special research being conducted by the Osborn Group."
"Mr. Norman is indeed developing new environmentally friendly materials." Lin Hai's answer was flawless, and what he said was indeed true.
The two looked at each other for a moment, then laughed at the same time.
Osborn Tower, Harry's private laboratory.
Bang!
The moment Lin Hai reached the door, he heard a small explosion from inside. Harry crawled out of the smoke, filthy and disheveled, while the wreckage of the Green Goblin Glider sparked behind him.
"The thruster power is still unstable..." he muttered as he reached for the fire extinguisher, only to hear applause.
"Nice look. I never thought an explosive hairstyle would suit you so well."
Harry spun around and saw Lin Hai leaning against the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.
"Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to go to Fisk Tower today for Mr. Kingpin's wife's scheduled checkup?"
Lin Hai handed him a coffee. "Peter noticed that something seemed to have distracted you. Even though it's the weekend, you've been rushing around these past two days, and you haven't been replying to messages in time. Gwen and I even wondered whether you were dating someone, so I came straight here after leaving Mr. Kingpin's place."
Harry awkwardly accepted the coffee. "I wanted to wait until I succeeded before telling you."
Lin Hai kicked a piece of the glider's wreckage. "Why not just use your father's Green Goblin Armor?"
He had no objections to Harry wanting to research armor. New York would inevitably become more dangerous in the future, and there was nothing wrong with Harry seeking power beyond that of an ordinary person. Lin Hai supported him.
"That design relies too heavily on enhancement drugs. My strength and physical toughness aren't enough to support his armor." Harry sounded helpless.
"I think no one can make something truly good by working behind closed doors alone. We need to tell Gwen and Peter. With everyone pooling their ideas and efforts, your armor can definitely be upgraded and improved even further," Lin Hai said after thinking for a moment.
Harry nodded, a flicker of agreement shining in his eyes. "You're right. I really do need help. Peter is great with his hands, and Gwen has an excellent scientific mind. With all of you joining in, my armor should become much more complete."
Lin Hai smiled and patted Harry on the shoulder. "That's the answer I wanted to hear. One person can go fast, but a group can go far."
So the next day, Monday afternoon, the four gathered once more in Harry's private laboratory.
"First, we need to solve this color scheme problem." Peter held up a design drawing of the Green Goblin Armor, his expression twisted as though he had eaten an extra-strong mint leaf Lin Hai had forced on him.
"Dark green with purple? Golden pumpkin patterns? And this vicious demon mask? Harry, are you trying to be a superhero or a Halloween mascot? Even my unfinished Spider-Suit isn't this bad." He shook the blueprint, his expression as exaggerated as his tone.
Harry spread his hands helplessly. "That was my father's taste when he was in a special mental state. It has nothing to do with me. You can't blame me."
Gwen looked up from the microscope. "Studies in color psychology show that green easily triggers unease, while purple carries associations of 'mystery' in Western culture."
She pulled up data on the computer and offered her suggestion to the others. "A blue-and-silver color scheme would be better. Blue represents trust and hope, while silver symbolizes a sense of technology."
Harry thoughtfully tapped at the keyboard, and a new version of the armor was immediately rendered on the screen: a streamlined blue-and-silver body, with the mask changed into half-coverage tactical goggles.
"Whoa~" Peter whistled. "Now it can't be a Halloween mascot anymore."
"The biggest problem now is the material." Lin Hai tapped the chest plate of the Green Goblin Armor. The current aerospace aluminum alloy was already made using cutting-edge technology, but compared to the material Tony Stark would use in his future Iron Man armor, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Gwen pulled up a set of comparison data. "Traditional metals are either too heavy and affect mobility, or too brittle to stop bullets."
Harry frowned. "What if I use the enhancement drugs my father left behind?"
"No!" the other three said in unison.
Lin Hai directly pulled up a surveillance video. In it, Norman in his Green Goblin state was laughing maniacally. "Look at these side effects! Are you sure you want to gamble that you won't end up like this?"
Before you continue