Chapter Summaries

Lin Hai recovered from his efforts at Kamar-Taj, reunited with Gwen, Peter, and Harry, and returned with them to Los Angeles for the start of school. Two weeks into classes, Kingpin told Lin Hai that The Hand’s remaining three Fingers were interested in New York and proposed luring them into a secluded underground prison chamber.

• Gwen stayed by Lin Hai’s bedside as he woke, and Lin Hai reassured her that he was feeling better.
• Peter, Harry, and Master Hamil joined Lin Hai, and the four friends returned from Kamar-Taj to New York through a Portal.
• After spending time in New York, the group returned to Los Angeles, relaxed at home, and resumed classes at the California Institute of Technology.
• Two weeks after classes began, Kingpin told Lin Hai that Madame Gao had become cooperative and that Murakami, Bakuto, and Sowande were interested in New York’s Dragon Bone.
• Kingpin proposed that he and Madame Gao lure the three Fingers into a hidden stone prison chamber while Lin Hai and the others waited in ambush, and Lin Hai approved the plan.

Lin Hai approved Kingpin’s plan to confront Murakami, Bakuto, and Sowande, adding special seeds to help control the battlefield. When the three arrived in New York with elite ninjas, Lin Hai gathered his allies and brought them to the Dragon Bone Sealing Grounds to begin the operation.

• Lin Hai reviewed Kingpin’s operation plan and suggested scattering his specially prepared vine seeds across the underground battlefield.
• Kingpin accepted the suggestion and took the seeds, while Lin Hai later briefed Gwen, Peter, Harry, Matt, and Elektra on the plan.
• Four days later, Kingpin told Lin Hai that Murakami, Bakuto, and Sowande would arrive in New York with elite ninjas within an hour.
• Lin Hai and his friends quickly prepared for battle, then joined Matt and Elektra at Matt’s law office.
• Lin Hai opened a Portal to the Dragon Bone Sealing Grounds, bringing the group to the operation’s location.

Lin Hai and his allies hid beside the Stone Prison and waited for Kingpin and the Hand’s four remaining Fingers to arrive. When the group gathered near the prison, Lin Hai unleashed Deep Forest Emergence, trapping them inside a vast wall of vines.

• Lin Hai led Gwen, Peter, Harry, Matt, and Elektra to a concealed position beside the Stone Prison and reminded them to wait for his signal.
• Kingpin, Madame Gao, Murakami, Bakuto, Sowande, and roughly thirty red-clad ninja guards emerged from the elevator and approached the Stone Prison.
• Murakami, Bakuto, Sowande, and Madame Gao signaled their guards to remain alert as Kingpin led the group toward the prison doors.
• Lin Hai formed the Daoist Tai Chi Seal and connected with the weakened Heartbind Vine seeds scattered around the underground space.
• Thick vines covered the elevator and rose into a circular forest wall, trapping the Hand’s group inside.

Lin Hai trapped the Hand in a vine-walled arena and led his allies into battle against Murakami, Sowande, and Bakuto. The fight began with Lin Hai dueling Murakami and Kingpin clashing with Sowande, while Gwen protected Kingpin from witchcraft.

• Kingpin sprinted to join Lin Hai as Deep Forest Emergence sealed the Hand inside an arena of vines.
• Lin Hai emerged with Gwen, Peter, Harry, Matt, Elektra, and Kingpin, and Murakami ordered the Hand to form up and clear the plants.
• Lin Hai charged Murakami, and their weapons clashed as Lin Hai's Life Force countered the Demon Blade's sinister energy.
• Kingpin charged Sowande and traded a powerful punch with him, staggering under the impact.
• Gwen shielded Kingpin from Sowande's witchcraft, and Kingpin turned back toward Sowande unharmed.

Lin Hai and his allies fought The Hand inside the forest of vines, with Gwen’s magic supporting them as they battled Murakami, Sowande, Bakuto, and the red-clad ninjas. The fighting turned in their favor as Kingpin, Peter, Matt, Harry, and Elektra held their opponents off and began clearing out The Hand’s forces.

• Sowande tried to charge Gwen, but Kingpin blocked his path and wore him down with tactical blows.
• Peter distracted Bakuto with chatter and webbing while Matt used his Super-Senses to pressure him at close range.
• Gwen refreshed shields and sent magical support to protect Harry, Elektra, and the others from attacks and curses.
• Harry and Elektra fought through the red-clad ninjas, whose coordinated formations and ranged weapons failed to overcome Gwen’s support.
• Lin Hai continued clashing with Murakami as the battle shifted in favor of Lin Hai and his allies.

Kingpin killed Sowande, Matt and Peter subdued Bakuto, and Lin Hai killed Murakami, ending the battle against The Hand’s leaders outside the Stone Prison. Madame Gao remained captive, watching as the battle ended and her hopes of escaping faded.

• Kingpin exploited Sowande’s exhaustion, broke his ribs, and killed him with a backward throw.
• Matt and Peter worked together to disarm Bakuto, knock him unconscious, and bind him in webbing.
• Lin Hai shattered Murakami’s Demon Blade and killed him with a thrust from the Plum Blossom Spear.
• Madame Gao watched Kingpin, Matt, Peter, and Lin Hai defeat The Hand’s leaders, and the battle outside the Stone Prison ended.

After the battle, Lin Hai and Kingpin decided to spare Madame Gao and execute the captured Bakuto. Lin Hai killed Bakuto after waking him so he could hear his last words.

• Lin Hai cleared the bloody arena by dissolving most of the vines, and Peter and Harry's banter eased the tension.
• Lin Hai and Kingpin silently agreed to keep Madame Gao alive for now and turned their attention to the unconscious Bakuto.
• Madame Gao denounced Bakuto and praised her own ability to read the situation when Lin Hai suggested killing him.
• Lin Hai woke Bakuto, who cursed Madame Gao and begged Lin Hai and Kingpin to spare his life in exchange for his wealth and connections.
• Lin Hai mocked Bakuto's final outburst and drove his Plum Blossom Spear through Bakuto's heart.

After Lin Hai killed Bakuto, Madame Gao chose to prioritize survival and followed the group to the Stone Prison. Lin Hai opened it to reveal the Dragon Bone, while his companions went inside to look and Madame Gao stayed cautiously at the entrance.

• Madame Gao reflected on the deaths of the other Fingers and decided that staying alive mattered more than revenge or rebuilding The Hand.
• Kingpin contacted his men to clean up, then asked Lin Hai how the group would leave; Peter and Harry persuaded Lin Hai to visit the Stone Prison first.
• Lin Hai led the group to the Stone Prison, and Madame Gao followed because she wanted to see the Dragon Bone.
• Lin Hai opened the sealed door and warned Peter and Harry not to damage or take any of the Dragon Bone.
• Kingpin, Harry, Peter, Gwen, and Elektra entered to look around, while Matt and Madame Gao stayed at the entrance.

After exploring the Dragon Bone, Kingpin took Madame Gao into custody while Lin Hai and his companions returned to their home in Los Angeles. There, Peter and Lin Hai helped Harry clean and remove his battered Nova Armor, and the friends ended the chapter joking together.

• Kingpin's subordinates began clearing the underground space, and one of his confidants escorted Madame Gao away after she gave up on escaping.
• Lin Hai opened a Portal to Matt's law office and sent Matt and Elektra through before opening another Portal to the underground laboratory in Los Angeles.
• Gwen went upstairs to shower while Lin Hai and Peter rinsed the blood and grime from Harry's Nova Armor.
• Lin Hai and Peter spent more than ten minutes helping Harry remove the armor, then Harry teased Peter about giving his suit the same thorough cleaning.
• Harry, Lin Hai, and Peter inspected and stored the armor components before heading upstairs.

After a year without major supernatural incidents, Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry settled into college life while making personal and practical progress. As their senior year began, new challenges and possibilities approached before their graduation from the California Institute of Technology.

• Lin Hai and Gwen visited each other's families during school breaks, and The Ancient One reforged Gwen's staff with Dragon Bone fragments.
• Madame Gao used the Dragon Bone medicine Kingpin gave her to control her organ failure, then helped the Fisk Group absorb The Hand's remaining businesses and assets.
• Peter invited Mary Jane to meet Uncle Ben and Aunt May, whose attention to her eased their nagging and delighted Peter.
• Harry analyzed the Nova Armor's battle data and refined its thrusters, joints, fire-control systems, and prediction models.
• Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry reached their senior year at the California Institute of Technology, with graduation and new challenges ahead.

As senior year began, Lin Hai prepared for Tony Stark’s impending kidnapping by commissioning surveillance cameras and strengthening his ties with Kingpin and Vanessa. He revealed to Gwen that his plans concerned time, then invited her to travel with him to Afghanistan.

• Lin Hai asked Peter and Harry to build at least twenty miniature cameras with long battery life, clear low-light footage, and extensive storage or real-time uploading, and they agreed.
• Lin Hai visited Kingpin and Vanessa more often, prompting Kingpin to ask why; Lin Hai cryptically refused to explain.
• Gwen questioned Lin Hai about his recent behavior, and he used the Eye of Agamotto’s connection to time to hint at the nature of his plans.
• Lin Hai invited Gwen to Afghanistan, and she agreed to go with him.

Lin Hai took Gwen to Afghanistan to search for the valley where the Ten Rings Gang would imprison Tony Stark, but kept its purpose secret until they arrived. They explored the surrounding mountains and encountered wildlife, then returned to Los Angeles without finding the valley.

• Lin Hai brought Gwen to a barren Gobi region in Afghanistan and promised to explain his plans within about six months.
• Lin Hai told Gwen he was scouting for a valley secretly occupied by an armed group, and said he would use Life Force to search through the sparse vegetation.
• Lin Hai and Gwen encountered Afghan wildlife, including Afghan Foxes, Kashmir Musk Deer, and a Golden Eagle.
• Lin Hai and Gwen failed to find the valley before dinner, so Lin Hai opened a Portal and took them back to Los Angeles.

Lin Hai planned to add Life Energy-infused Sandalwood bracelets to Starsea Studio’s product line, with basic models for sale and stronger ones for friends and family. He also intended to give Pepper a bracelet so he could locate and protect Tony, and he began acquiring seeds for two kinds of cultivation.

• Lin Hai decided to make Sandalwood bracelets with health benefits and test affordable basic models through Starsea Studio’s existing sales channels.
• At dinner, Lin Hai told Gwen, Peter, and Harry about the bracelets, and the three pressed him to explain their effects.
• Lin Hai planned to tell Pepper about the bracelets so she might give one to Tony, allowing Lin Hai to locate him and provide protection if needed.
• With Harry’s help, Lin Hai obtained high-quality Sandalwood seeds.
• Lin Hai planned to cultivate a small batch with concentrated Life Force for friends-and-family bracelets, then grow a larger batch for commercial bracelets that could calm the mind and improve sleep.

Lin Hai grew a sandalwood seed into a long, bead-shaped rod for the bracelet he planned to make for Gwen, then used his Life Force to transform it into small, smooth beads. The beads were ready, but the bracelet itself had not yet been assembled.

• Lin Hai asked Gwen what kind of sandalwood bracelet she liked, and she chose a strand of 108 small beads that could wrap around her wrist several times.
• Lin Hai altered a sandalwood seed with his Life Force and grew it into a slender rod with rounded sections resembling beads.
• Lin Hai decided to shape the rod directly into individual beads instead of having it cut and polished later.
• Lin Hai transformed the rod into around a hundred fragrant, smooth sandalwood beads with holes through their centers.
• Peter, Gwen, and Harry examined the beads as Lin Hai declared the materials ready.

Lin Hai made sandalwood beads for special bracelets and asked Peter to create a durable, elastic cord for them. Peter finished and tested the cord, and Lin Hai planned to assemble bracelets for their families after breakfast.

• Lin Hai asked Peter to make a strong, elastic cord for a few dozen friends-and-family bracelets rather than for mass production.
• Lin Hai made sandalwood beads in four sizes and chose recipients for small multi-loop and larger single-loop bracelets.
• Peter rushed to the lab early the next morning and returned with a translucent cord that stretched and survived repeated knife strikes.
• Lin Hai, Gwen, and Harry applauded Peter as he showed off the cord, then Lin Hai set it aside for bracelet-making.
• Lin Hai and the others ate breakfast while discussing bracelet designs and their families' reactions.

Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry finished making sandalwood bracelets and began delivering them to their loved ones. Lin Hai gave bracelets to Chen Bing, Matt, Elektra, and Foggy, then opened a portal to visit Kingpin.

• Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry completed their bracelets and sorted the gifts they planned to deliver.
• Lin Hai gave Chen Bing a bracelet, explained its health and longevity benefits, and watched him put it on.
• Lin Hai visited Matt's law office and gave bracelets to Matt, Elektra, and Foggy.
• Elektra chose the delicate multi-strand bracelet and asked whether it could preserve youth or improve her complexion; Lin Hai said it might improve her skin and slow aging over time.
• Lin Hai opened a portal to Kingpin's office to deliver the next bracelets.

Lin Hai visited Kingpin and Vanessa to give them custom bead bracelets that improved health and longevity, then asked Vanessa to tell Pepper Potts about their effects. He explained that he wanted to sell a bracelet to Tony Stark through Pepper, not promote them among New York’s elite.

• Lin Hai opened a Portal into Fisk Tower and apologized to Kingpin and Vanessa for arriving without warning, offering bracelets as gifts.
• Kingpin examined his custom bracelet and praised Lin Hai’s progress, recalling how their relationship began and the past danger to Vanessa and Richard.
• Vanessa asked whether the bracelet’s beauty benefits were genuine, and Lin Hai assured her it could improve complexion through better health.
• Lin Hai asked Vanessa to reveal the bracelet’s effects only to Pepper Potts at high-society gatherings.
• Lin Hai clarified that he did not intend to promote the bracelets broadly and wanted to sell one to Tony Stark through Pepper.

Lin Hai arranged for Vanessa to introduce his health-improving bracelet to Pepper, hoping it would reach Tony Stark before his kidnapping. After securing Vanessa’s help, he returned to the clinic, tended the plants, and later departed for Los Angeles with Gwen, Peter, and Harry.

• Lin Hai explained to Kingpin and Vanessa that Pepper might become interested in the bracelet through Vanessa and give one to Tony Stark, helping him survive the coming missile explosion and kidnapping.
• Vanessa agreed to contact Pepper about attending an art and charity salon, where she could tell her about the bracelet and direct her to Lin Hai’s clinic.
• Lin Hai thanked Kingpin and Vanessa, then left through a magical Portal and returned to the clinic.
• Lin Hai greeted Chen Bing and tended the plants at his Herbal Plant Shop while waiting for Gwen, Peter, and Harry to return.
• Harry returned with gifts from Norman, followed by cheerful Gwen and energized Peter.
• Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry said goodbye to Chen Bing and headed back to Los Angeles.

Lin Hai arranged for Pepper to visit the Herbal Plant Shop after Vanessa’s introduction, then brought Gwen, Peter, and Harry to New York for medicinal hot pot with Chen Bing. As they finished their meal, Pepper arrived at the clinic.

• Vanessa told Lin Hai that Pepper was interested in buying a bracelet and planned to visit the Herbal Plant Shop the next day.
• Lin Hai invited Gwen, Peter, and Harry to New York for medicinal hot pot, and all three eagerly agreed.
• Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry crossed through the Portal and bought ingredients in Chinatown before returning to Chen Bing’s clinic.
• Chen Bing prepared the medicinal hot pot broth, and the group enjoyed a meal together in the backyard.
• After the meal, the doorbell rang, and Lin Hai suspected Pepper had arrived and went to check.

Lin Hai gave Pepper Potts two special sandalwood bracelets and agreed that she would pay after experiencing their effects. After Pepper bought several potted plants, Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry finished cleaning up and left through a Portal after saying goodbye to Chen Bing.

• Lin Hai gave Pepper two special bracelets and explained their claimed benefits, while Pepper considered the effects and accepted them.
• Lin Hai proposed that Pepper pay an amount she considered appropriate after wearing the bracelets for several days or a week, and Pepper agreed.
• Pepper asked Lin Hai to help her choose several potted plants for her office and home, then left with Happy Hogan.
• Lin Hai joined Gwen, Peter, and Harry in cleaning up the meal and kitchen.
• Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry said goodbye to Chen Bing and departed through a Portal.