Frank

"Woohoo, I can finally get out and look around." After spending days holed up in Old Man's antique shop, Jiang Xiang had finally been given permission to go out.

With his bodyguards leading the way, Jiang Xiang wandered through the streets.

Jiang Xiang tried the much-talked-about Turkish kebab shop. It really was nothing special.

His maternal grandfather had arranged the bodyguards for him. He did not know why, but it probably had something to do with one of his grandfather's enemies.

As they reached a park...

Bang-bang-

What the fuck!

A burst of gunfire rang out.

Shootings every damn day. A gunfight in broad daylight, in a park this crowded?

Jiang Xiang was astonished. Who had that much nerve?

Did they have absolutely no respect for the New York police?

S.H.I.E.L.D. had been operating here recently, too. Any sizable gang should have received a warning.

The bodyguards tensed, forming a circle to shield Jiang Xiang behind them.

"Ah!"

"There's a gunfight!"

"What the fuck!"

The panicked park visitors shouted a few times, then ducked low and hurried away.

The bodyguards quickly escorted Jiang Xiang into a nearby building.

A little while later...

Whir-

Jiang Xiang looked up as a helicopter flew over.

The helicopter bore the words "Manhattan News."

"A gunfight has broken out in the park below us. Witnesses say it appears to be a clash between gangs. As you can hear from here, the exchange of fire remains intense. Further updates..." The dedicated reporter had arrived at the park in barely a dozen minutes and begun reporting.

Jiang Xiang remained quite calm. As it happened, they were in a restaurant. Though it was only the afternoon, there was no harm in having a little something to eat.

He could leave once the gunfight ended. Besides, even if he got caught in the crossfire, it would not be much of a problem. He carried a protective talisman Old Man had made especially for him.

What could a few measly bullets do to me?

At the center of the park.

"Frank, go without us. If you can, get our children out." A woman with blood streaming from her thigh weakly held two children in her arms as she spoke to a burly white man.

"No, I'll get all of you out!"

No sooner had Frank finished speaking...

Bang-bang-

Gunfire erupted around them again.

A deep male voice rang out. "Have you got that gang under control?"

"Yes. Kill them and pin this shooting on them. Tell the public a gang deal turned into a shootout."

"Yes, sir!"

The man leading the team put on gear with distinctly military features.

He slowly headed toward Frank and his family.

At the park's northern exit, two fully armed men wearing masks stood guard, bored out of their minds.

"Jimmy, what do you think the employer's thinking? Why stage a gunfight in a park that isn't even out of the way?"

The man called Jimmy spat on the ground.

"Who knows what those 'big shots' think, sitting in their luxury cars with beautiful women in their arms? Just follow the instructions."

Coincidences were everywhere.

Not far from the park, the Wraith's aura gradually dissipated inside a detached house with its own small courtyard.

Old Man strolled out with Coulson following behind him.

"Oh dear, it's getting late. I should head back."

Coulson offered a sincere invitation. "Mr. Cheng, there's a teahouse on the street ahead. I hear they've just brought in some excellent black tea."

Old Man's small eyes brightened slightly. More good tea. This agency really was wealthy.

Bang-bang-

A jarring sound rang out.

"A gunfight?" Old Man was surprised, then turned a stern gaze on Coulson.

Coulson was equally surprised to see a gunfight breaking out in the park.

Normally, Coulson would not have interfered.

For one thing, S.H.I.E.L.D. did not have full law-enforcement authority. For another, with a gunfight taking place somewhere so unusual, who knew whether some powerful figure was settling business?

Today was different. In front of an elder as righteous as Old Man, he could not show indifference to human life. After all, they claimed to be an organization that protected humanity and Blue Star.

"Seven, Nine, take your teams and investigate."

The two received their orders and slipped over.

"Mr. Cheng, let's wait over there for now."

Before long...

Team Nine came over, hauling Frank and his family along. Frank and his wife were clearly more seriously injured and had been given rudimentary bandages.

Six came to Coulson's side and, at his signal, spoke openly. "The shooting appears to be a gang clash. There aren't many casualties. Most are armed gang members. This family suffered the worst of it."

It was strange. The park should have been crowded at this hour, yet few bystanders had been caught in the crossfire.

Coulson stepped forward to examine the wounded.

"Frank Castle!"

Frank jolted awake. He was about to attack when he saw the armed people around him and the half-bald man in front of him. Turning his head, he saw his wife and children lying on the ground.

"Who are you?" Frank eyed Coulson warily, struggling to his feet and moving toward his wife and children. Apparently, his injuries were not quite that severe.

"My name is Coulson. I work for Director Nick Fury."

"You're one of Nick's people?" Frank's wariness eased a little. "Did you save me? Get my wife and kids to a hospital, now!"

Six gave Coulson a discreet shake of his head, indicating that there was essentially no hope for them.

Coulson was about to speak, but instead turned and walked over to Old Man.

"Mr. Cheng, what do you think?" he asked quietly.

Old Man walked over to Frank's wife, Maria, bent down, and checked her pulse.

Thump-tap-

He gave her two pats.

"I can just barely keep her alive."

He repeated the same actions on Frank's son and daughter, giving the same assessment.

As a seasoned soldier, Frank had vaguely understood what Coulson's earlier exchange meant. His wife and children were probably beyond saving.

But Old Man's words gave him a few threads of hope.

"Sir, please save my wife and children." The powerfully built Frank sounded vulnerable and pleading as he begged Old Man for help.

"..."

A deal was struck.

Frank would work for Old Man for ten years, and Old Man would save his wife and children.

The number of years doesn't matter, Old Man thought. You think you can leave after joining my antique shop?

Old Man valued Frank because he had sensed a faint aptitude in him that would allow him to learn Qi Magic.

He had very few external karmic ties.

His aptitude might be poor, but he would do just fine as a handyman or helper.