A string of unexplained murders broke out on the streets of Japan. The police were clueless, and the public was terrified.
Zhao Gao wandered the streets almost every day. He wanted to study the descendants of Xu Fu to see what kind of people they were before wiping out the entire country. After a while of observation, he confirmed they were just as hypocritical and disgusting as Xu Fu had been—worthless and deserving of death. But after learning about the existence of superheroes, he realized he'd need to strike with overwhelming force or risk having his plans ruined.
Since waking up, Zhao Gao had only two goals: revenge and restoring his male body. His chance to regain his body had been ruined by others, so now all his focus was on revenge.
From the memories of the Twin-Spear General Dong Peng, he learned a lot, including that Liangshan Outlaw had a branch in Japan. To gain the power he needed, he had to find one thing: the Jiulong Bagua Qixing Pagoda, which could control the demon Taowu. Back in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Taowu wreaked havoc, forcing over 1,000 cultivators to join forces and use the ultimate celestial treasure, the Jiulong Bagua Qixing Pagoda, to finally suppress it—after countless deaths. But as dynasties changed, people came to see the pagoda only as a priceless antique. It passed through many hands until it was stolen by the Japanese, then vanished.
Zhao Gao had found references to the pagoda in many ancient texts and finally tracked it to Japan. It felt like heaven was helping him—he wouldn't even have to leave Japan. Once he found the pagoda, he could unleash Taowu to destroy the nation of Xu Fu's descendants.
At the same time, Liangshan Outlaw's Japan branch received two identical orders, each from someone claiming to be in charge.
One was from Zhao Gao.
The other was from Lin Long.
"Didn't Leopard Head disappear?" muttered the Japan branch members—they weren't idiots. "And the other one, we've never even seen before. I'd better check with HQ."
By pure coincidence, Zhao Gao and Lin Long arrived at the Japan branch at exactly the same time.
Lin Long eyed Zhao Gao suspiciously. "Which division are you from? I've never seen you before." She couldn't believe a few months in detention had let so many strangers infiltrate Liangshan Outlaw.
"Oh, I've seen you before, little girl," Zhao Gao said in his silky voice. He remembered her as the young martial arts prodigy. "Your talent is extraordinary—once in a hundred years. But your techniques are crude. You're Lin Long, right? Would you like to become my disciple?"
His soft, eerie tone made Lin Long feel sick. And his face—she couldn't shake the sense that she'd seen it somewhere before. "Have we met?" she asked, uneasy.
Zhao Gao chuckled, radiating an unsettling charm. "Of course we have. Back then, you took one look at me and ran like a scared little mouse."
Had she? Yes—Lin Long remembered last year's terrifying incident with the Terracotta Warriors. That monstrous figure looked just like this person. Wait, his face, his creepy, androgynous look… cold sweat beaded on Lin Long's forehead. She stammered, "Y-you… you're Zhao Gao?"
"That's right—it's me."
Lin Long instinctively shifted her weight, ready to bolt. Zhao Gao was the first person to ever make fearless Lin Long feel real terror, leaving a lasting scar on her mind. But Zhao Gao watched her with an amused grin, making her too scared to move. She felt that if she so much as twitched, he'd attack immediately. What should she do?
The more she thought about it, the more panicked she got. Her lips turned white with fear.
"You're terrified?" Zhao Gao's eyes gleamed with pleasure. He loved this feeling of being feared. "Then tell me—why are you looking for the Jiulong Bagua Qixing Pagoda?"
Lin Long wanted to explain she was only helping someone else. It wasn't like she wanted it for herself; she was just keeping a promise.
"Yes, I understand. I'll cooperate with them. Don't worry, Mr. Chu." The Japan branch member hung up the phone, his face shifting with worry. The superior he'd called wasn't the Juyitang leaders—it was Chu Yuxuan. That's right: the Japan branch had already been turned. When Lin Long suddenly showed up after being captured, and a strange man appeared too, he had no choice but to ask Chu Yuxuan for instructions.
Chu Yuxuan hadn't expected Lin Long to appear in Japan out of nowhere. He had planned to adopt her, but Lin Long was wild and hard to control. She was only twelve, yet already smiled while killing people. Chu Yuxuan really didn't want to see her go down a dark path. He believed if she could just get a normal education, she'd grow into an ordinary girl.
Then there was the Jiulong Bagua Qixing Pagoda they were all after—what exactly was it? Chu Yuxuan was smart enough to suspect the two weren't working together. Lin Long's sudden escape had come with no word from Liangshan Outlaw, so it probably wasn't their doing. But the other person might really be from Liangshan Outlaw—and dangerous. First, he needed to uncover the pagoda's secrets and figure out why everyone suddenly wanted it.
After consulting some well-known scholars in China, he found there were barely any records about the Jiulong Bagua Qixing Pagoda. Only a few elderly experts knew anything. According to legend, the pagoda was a holy artifact used to seal an ancient monster—an incredibly terrifying creature. There was also a story that the pagoda had the power to reverse time itself, which explained how it could lock the beast in another dimension.
In the past, Chu Yuxuan might have scoffed at such tales. But after witnessing the Kunlun Mountain secret realm, he no longer dared to dismiss these kinds of reports. The problem was, China didn't have any agency specialized in handling something like this. That's when he thought of Kaitou Kid.
First, Kid always had a way of finding hidden things. Second, he was powerful—exactly the right person for this job.
Meanwhile, Liu A'dou was bored out of his mind. The movie he'd been waiting for was delayed, he had no plans for the new year, and he'd spent days holed up at home, amusing himself by waiting for the latest Daily Planet news.
Lois's special reports were the hottest stories around. Countless people wanted to hear the Justice League's tales, and they were even more exciting than anyone expected. Every hero was like a whole novel, and the Justice League was the complete series—reading it was pure joy.
Lois's reports had a massive impact. Overnight, the Justice League became a household name. Lois tirelessly traveled to a small Peruvian town ravaged by Zhao Gao, interviewing local survivors and writing in detail about how the Justice League had saved them. She also covered Superman's dramatic announcement of the Justice League at the emergency United Nations meeting, and their past cooperation during the Elite incident. If it hadn't been for the Kryptonian attack, the Justice League might have stayed unsung heroes forever.
All these stories convinced the public the Justice League was a truly reliable group—far greater than the Avengers, who had only saved New York once.
Liu A'dou collected every issue of the paper. These were his footprints in this world—worth keeping as memories.
Just then, Chu Yuxuan came looking for him. Liu A'dou yawned lazily. "You've got something for me, don't you?"
"Yes, and it's big," Chu Yuxuan said.
"Let me guess—something Liangshan Outlaw stirred up again?"
"Kind of, but not exactly. Leopard Head escaped and turned up in Japan, and another mysterious person is there too. All we know is they're both after an ancient pagoda, but we don't know their real goal," Chu Yuxuan explained. "The pagoda's powers are dangerous—we can't let it fall into Liangshan Outlaw's hands."
"Alright, enough talking. I'll go," Liu A'dou said. He'd been itching for something to do anyway. Japan used to be his stage. It was time to remind everyone there just how amazing Kaitou Kid could be.