Over the next few days, Shang-Chi continued sparring with Ying Nan. More often than not, however, she was guiding him—teaching him how to sense and draw upon the surrounding qi, and how to use it.
The most basic application of qi was to neutralize an opponent's attack. This was also the crucial step that had allowed Ying Li to catch the Ten Rings and turn their power back.
A towering structure must be built from the ground up. Only by first grasping the basics of qi could one hope to reach higher realms.
Under Ying Nan's guidance, faint breezes began to swirl around them. Bamboo leaves at their feet stirred, eventually forming a circular field that seemed to isolate everything within it from the outside world.
With a sudden push, Ying Nan sent Shang-Chi flying. The turbulent qi blasted him backward more than five meters before he crashed to the ground in a heap.
"Did you understand?" she asked, crouching beside him.
Shang-Chi said nothing, lowering his head in thought.
"Now isn't the time to keep running. That will only trap you in your pain."
With that, Ying Nan stood and left, paying him no further attention.
Shang-Chi remained where he was, head lowered, his expression hidden, his thoughts unreadable.
---
At a base of operations, Wenwu sat behind a massive desk covered in ancient texts and bamboo scrolls, carefully reviewing them.
Suddenly, he felt something and looked toward the sofa nearby.
There—he saw Ying Li.
She sat holding a young Shang-Chi in her arms, gently lulling him to sleep.
Wenwu froze.
Ying Li looked just as she always had—untouched by time, as youthful as the day they first met.
She lifted her gaze to him.
"We'll be reunited soon."
Her voice was soft. The child in her arms lay still, as if already asleep.
Wenwu stared blankly at her.
"Boss—!"
A voice suddenly snapped him out of it. He turned toward the doorway, where one of his men stood.
"The team is ready."
Wenwu's eyes sharpened instantly.
"The path to Ta Lo will open at dawn tomorrow."
The subordinate nodded. "I'll prepare the vehicles."
After he left, Wenwu turned back to the sofa—
But Ying Li was gone.
---
That night, Shang-Chi sat alone by the river.
Memories surfaced—his mother's death. Enemies had come seeking revenge. At the time, Wenwu had already put aside the Ten Rings and withdrawn from the world.
But the enemies hadn't cared.
Shang-Chi had watched his mother die before his eyes.
After that, Wenwu put the Ten Rings back on—and everything changed. The once gentle father became harsh and consumed by rage. He led Shang-Chi in slaughtering their enemies… and Shang-Chi himself had taken part.
Xia Ling walked over and sat beside him.
"Thinking about Mom?" she asked softly.
Shang-Chi nodded, gazing up at the night sky.
Xia Ling said nothing more. She simply leaned her head on his shoulder, just like when they were children, sitting on the rooftop watching the stars.
---
All around Ta Lo, the animals grew restless.
Flocks of birds circled the sky, refusing to land. Beasts retreated into the mountains—or moved toward the village.
Everyone in the village was already on high alert. They donned dragon-scale armor and took up their weapons. Even the two guardian Suanni were outfitted with armor forged from dragon scales.
"The animals can sense a foreign presence," Guang Bo said, standing at the bamboo forest's edge. "And it makes them uneasy."
Above, phoenixes circled with the birds. Deep within the bamboo forest, roars echoed faintly.
Creatures like the nine-tailed fox and Chaos—lacking combat ability—hid themselves. Only qilin, suanni, and other large beasts stood watch, staring toward the entrance—the cave.
Shang-Chi and the others soon arrived as well, though Ying Nan had already taken position.
"He's here."
She glanced at them before turning back to the forest, as if she could see through it to the cave beyond.
Every man, woman, and child in the village stood armed and ready.
---
In the distance, a convoy of off-road vehicles sped toward the village. They burst through the bamboo forest and came to a halt outside.
All the villagers had gathered at the forest's edge—waiting.
One by one, black-clad soldiers disembarked, wielding weapons that glowed with blue light.
At last, Wenwu stepped out and moved to the front.
He hadn't expected his son and daughter to already be here—standing with his enemies.
"You would side with those who imprisoned your mother?" Wenwu said, his face filled with pain.
"Ying Li isn't there," Ying Nan replied from beside Xia Ling. "That creature is deceiving you. It wants to destroy us all."
"That's what they told you?" Wenwu ignored her entirely, looking straight at Shang-Chi.
"I know your mother's voice. I could never forget it."
"She was my sister," Ying Nan said firmly. "I miss her as much as you do. But she is dead. There is nothing of her behind that gate."
Wenwu refused to listen.
"Fine. If he won't listen, what's the point of talking?"
Tony stepped forward, clad in his red-and-gold armor, which gleamed against the crimson dragon-scale weapons.
"So you're the guy behind the Ten Rings? The so-called 'Mandarin'?"
He lifted his faceplate, eyes blazing.
"Watch your mouth, boy," Wenwu snapped. "When I was conquering the world, your ancestors didn't even exist."
"Just an antique that belongs in a museum," Tony shot back. "You should stay where you belong."
Wenwu swept his gaze across the group.
"The Avengers… I didn't expect you to be involved. What is it? Interested in this place?"
His eyes lingered on Carl—the one known as the strongest Avenger.
A flicker of caution appeared in Wenwu's gaze. Having lived for over a thousand years, he knew far more than most. Despite Nick Fury's efforts to erase records, Wenwu had still seen the footage—those monstrous transformations Carl could take were no trivial threat.
At that moment, Steve stepped forward. His imposing frame radiated authority.
"Wenwu," he said firmly, "you've been involved in multiple acts of terrorism. You're coming with us—to face justice."
As the face of the Avengers, Steve naturally took the lead.
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