The Empire State Building’s observatory should, by rights, have been closed at this hour, with no visitors permitted. Yet two figures sat on the ledge outside it, legs dangling freely in the air, swinging idly as they gazed leisurely at the underground auction venue burning in the distance, along with the chaotic crowds scattered around.
“How does this compare to your rampage in Miami?” Lin Wan asked.
Last time, when Lu Zheng had been handling Grant’s affairs in Miami, he got caught up in the spectacle and ended up staging a fugitive agent’s chaotic spree through the city, finally pinning the blame on the Lighthouse Country’s intelligence agencies.
Lin Wan had not been there and always regretted missing it. Seeing the pandemonium below now, she could not resist asking.
“Nowhere near!” Lu Zheng shrugged. “Back then, police from every direction chased me across more than a dozen streets. In the end, helicopters and armoured vehicles showed up, firing rocket launchers at me in a busy downtown area. Imagine the scale of that. This is just small-time mischief by comparison.”
Lin Wan laughed. “Call you fat, and you start gasping for air?”
“Of course?” Lu Zheng grinned proudly, then shook his head.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Wan asked.
A mocking curl touched Lu Zheng’s lips. “Pity the Lighthouse Country has no real Spider-Man or Iron Man. Otherwise, with us sitting so brazenly atop the Empire State Building watching the show, they would surely have spotted us by now.”
“Wouldn’t that be bad?”
“Good, very good!” Lu Zheng nodded with a smile. “It just feels a bit dull. I was hoping to test who is stronger, me or Spider-Man.”
Lin Wan shot him a sideways glance. “You are not thinking of putting on a public show, are you?”
“No way!” Lu Zheng waved it off. “I have no such vulgar taste, and I do not want to boost the confidence of the Lighthouse Country’s citizens.”
Lin Wan shrugged. “What about leading a rebellion?”
“Hiss.”
Lu Zheng drew in a sharp breath, realising Lin Wan was the truly ruthless one.
An attack on the heart!
Pose as Spider-Man and rally the Lighthouse Country’s people against the capitalists?
Given Spider-Man’s influence among its citizens, the impact might surpass even that golden-haired fellow…
And disguising himself as Spider-Man…
Better not think about it!
Because the more he did, the more tempting it seemed!
The only real barrier was…
“Too much hassle!” Lu Zheng sighed. “Where would I find the time? Just considering the obstacles makes it exhausting!”
“I was only joking. You actually took it seriously?” Lin Wan said in surprise. “What on earth are you thinking?”
Lu Zheng, “…”
Spotting the teasing glint in Lin Wan’s eyes and the wicked curve of her smile, Lu Zheng bared his teeth, then reached out, pulled her close, and stepped back onto the observatory platform inside the Empire State Building.
“Right here!”
“Watching the view below!”
…
Sirens blared all night. The CIA scrambled all night. Countless powerful figures raged in fury, while countless ordinary folk grumbled in resentment.
Yet none of it could prevent the artifact thieves from striking again. They not only stole a batch of cultural relics worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but also catapulted themselves back onto the news headlines.
Fortunately, no one died. The only real losers, aside from the capitalists left reeling without insurance, were that CIA commander.
He had connections, thankfully, so he merely resigned in disgrace, his life spared.
Meanwhile, the internet erupted in celebration once more.
“Can anyone tell me what happened? I hadn’t heard of any auction lately. And don’t the artifact vigilantes avoid official or publicly acknowledged items?”
“Mate, ever heard of underground auctions?”
“Tsk tsk, those rich folks are in for it this time.”
“Modern Robin Hood. Nicely done!”
“And no innocents died because of it. They’re like Batman.”
“Return to original owners. Hope there are items from our Pharaoh country this time, since we lost the most…”
“Am I the only one who thinks they’re criminals? They should gather evidence of the stolen goods, sue in court, and use the law to force handover. That’s what a civilised world does.”
“You’re so naive!”
“I think they went too far this time. Setting the venue alight? What if someone had died?”
“But no one did, right? Shows their skill!”
“Still, they caused a terrible impact. I think they should come forward and apologise.”
It must be said, the foreign web has plenty of bleeding hearts too. Online opinions split into two camps, fiercely opposed. Most criticism came from developed nations, while the cheers naturally came from the victim countries.
Unfortunately… whatever the artifact thieves did, what has it to do with me, Lu Zheng?
So, in the dead of night the next day, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan crossed the Pacific back to Haicheng. They even had time for a bowl of shacha noodles and some xiaolongbao at the breakfast stall by the estate entrance.
“Off to work!” After eating, Lin Wan called out to Lu Zheng, then drove away.
Lu Zheng waved her off, watched her go, then turned and traversed back to the ancient era.
…
Back in ancient times, Liu Qingyan had already left for Renxin Hall, but the three Tu sisters had not gone with her.
Tu Yujiao had headed out to amuse herself again. Tu Yuya had gone to play at Taohua Ping, while Tu Yuqing had come to the Lu residence, burying herself in the study of the side courtyard where Lu Zheng kept all his collected books and illustrated volumes.
“Prince Lu is back?”
The Tu sisters knew Lu Zheng often secluded himself alone for cultivation, so they harboured no suspicions. Extraordinary people did extraordinary things, after all. With his lofty realm, a few personal quirks were normal, as with many other geniuses.
Such habits were not even shared with bedfellows, let alone probed by outsiders.
“Back. Carry on reading!”
Tu Yuqing lay reclined on the rocking chair by the study door, book in hand, a pot of tea beside her. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves of the ancient tree behind, lending her an air of languid, scholarly grace.
Tu Yuqing made no ceremony of it, nor rose. She merely waved distantly at Lu Zheng, then returned her eyes to the page.
Lu Zheng nodded. A studious girl, at least. But as he turned away, his glance caught the title.
《Journey of the Jade Fox in Snow》
A tale of romance between a jade fox and a scholar.
Lu Zheng, “…”
Shaking his head, he skipped Renxin Hall. Instead, he gathered fresh fruit and tea leaves, bought some pastries, then strolled leisurely up Shaotong Mountain.
Halfway there, he spotted Yuan Jing emerging from the woods, face pale.
“Senior Brother?” Lu Zheng’s expression shifted. “You are injured?”
“Cough cough!” Yuan Jing gave a dry cough, drew a deep breath, and waved it off casually. “Nothing serious. Minor wound. No trouble.”
“Who was the opponent?” Lu Zheng asked.
At this, Yuan Jing dismissed it with a flick. “A ghostly spirit. Quite formidable, but I transcended it!”
“Heh heh heh…”
A chilling laugh suddenly echoed. Black clouds billowed, enveloping both Yuan Jing and Lu Zheng. “Transcend me? No, no, no. I merely wish to see your face when you reach your sect gate, only to find you can never return.”
Yuan Jing’s face changed. Lu Zheng glanced around, sneering. “Empty boasts. Clearly, you and my senior brother fought to mutual exhaustion, and casting this technique requires lengthy recovery.”
“Hm?” The ghost sounded baffled.
Yuan Jing relaxed, waving faintly. “Junior Brother, over to you.”
