The man held the woman in his arms, soaring leisurely through the sky.
The scene was no different from Jack holding Rose at the bow of the Titanic—a moment that would melt the hearts of countless young girls.
Gao Ming was no Liu Xia Hui; he couldn’t remain completely undisturbed while holding a beautiful girl.
This was his first time having such intimate physical contact with a woman in either of his two lifetimes.
Consequently, he was experiencing some… psychological and physiological reactions.
The Horse Talisman’s Power of Recovery had been working continuously to keep him rational and prevent him from making a fool of himself.
But this was not a sustainable solution.
Though he loathed to end such a rare experience, Gao Ming finally asked in a strange tone, “Sophia, where do you live? I’ll take you home.”
Upon hearing this, Sophia’s emotions became a tangled mess.
On one hand, she was delighted that Gao Ming offered to walk her home.
The events of the night had left her deeply shaken, and Gao Ming, her savior, provided her with an immense sense of security.
On the other hand, she felt a lingering reluctance to leave.
It wasn’t just the rare experience of flying, but more so her fascination with Gao Ming himself.
This seemingly ordinary young man from China seemed to hide endless secrets, drawing her in and making her yearn to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding him.
But in the end, everything had settled.
After tonight, they might never cross paths again, but Sophia would cherish this experience forever.
“…Um, thank you. I live at…” Sophia’s voice trailed off as she gave her address.
Even after getting her address, Gao Ming didn’t move.
He continued to hold her, suspended in mid-air.
Seeing him hesitate, Sophia asked, “What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
Gao Ming turned his head away awkwardly.
“Well, Sophia… I don’t live in Hell’s Kitchen, so… *ahem*… I don’t know the way. Could you… show me the way?”
His voice grew quieter and quieter until it was barely a whisper.
It was so embarrassing.
He had confidently promised to walk her home, only to realize he had no idea where he was going.
He’d even had to look up Hell’s Kitchen’s exact location online…
Hearing this, Sophia froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Seeing Gao Ming’s flustered expression, much of her sadness at their impending parting dissipated.
“Hey, it couldn’t be helped. I live in the Queen’s District, not here…” Gao Ming muttered weakly.
Hearing the information Gao Ming had accidentally revealed, Sophia’s eyes lit up as an idea flashed through her mind.
The considerate Sophia didn’t let Gao Ming continue to feel awkward.
She quickly stifled her laughter, her mood having recovered considerably, and said softly, “Alright, I’ll give you the directions. Go along this street…”
Afterward, Gao Ming listened to Sophia’s instructions as he flew in the direction she pointed.
Soon, he arrived in the airspace above Sophia’s residential area.
Noticing several pedestrians strolling nearby, Gao Ming refrained from descending immediately.
Sophia also saw the pedestrians and realized that if he flew down now, others would discover Gao Ming’s secret.
She looked at him with a hint of worry, but also with a faint, inexplicable joy—this meant she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him just yet.
Hmm…
Gao Ming thought for a moment.
How many abilities had he revealed to Sophia tonight?
The Rabbit Talisman’s super speed, the Monkey Talisman’s transformation, and the Rooster Talisman’s levitation.
The Ox Talisman probably hadn’t been exposed—Sophia would at most think he was just a bit stronger than average.
So, he’d revealed the powers of three Talismans?
Well, that wasn’t even half of them.
This was the first time in two lifetimes he’d been this close to a woman, and she was a pretty American girl to boot.
Gao Ming couldn’t resist the urge to show off and leave a lasting impression on her.
Giving Sophia a reassuring glance, he whispered mysteriously, “Now, let us see the moment of miracles!”
*Liu Qian, I’m borrowing your line.
You won’t mind, right?*
The next instant, Sophia cried out in surprise again.
What did she see?
No, she couldn’t see anything at all.
In her field of vision, her and Gao Ming’s figures had suddenly vanished, causing her to scream involuntarily.
“Ah—!!!”
Fortunately, Sophia and Gao Ming were high in the air, so her scream went unnoticed by the pedestrians below.
However, Gao Ming, who was right next to her, bore the brunt of it.
For a moment, the high-pitched shriek deafened him.
But the Power of Recovery automatically activated, and his hearing was instantly restored.
Still, Sophia’s scream had startled him so much that he nearly let go of her.
“Stop! Sophia, calm down! We’re just invisible, don’t panic!” Gao Ming pleaded, feeling a hint of regret.
He had only wanted to surprise her, but instead, he had terrified both of them.
Under Gao Ming’s almost pleading reassurance, Sophia finally stopped screaming, though her heart was still pounding wildly.
This night had already thrown her into a state of cardiac chaos more times than she could count.
*Still,* she thought, *I’ve already witnessed Gao Ming’s incredible powers.
I should have been somewhat prepared.
Besides, I’m already defying all logic by flying through the air—what else is there to be shocked by?*
Sophia tried to steady her erratic heartbeat, gently patting her chest.
The movement caused her breasts to sway, but thankfully, they were invisible.
If Gao Ming could see her now, he would surely lose control again.
After experiencing one unbelievable event after another, Sophia’s psychological resilience gradually strengthened.
Once she had fully recovered from the shock, she began to exclaim with excitement, “That’s so magical!” and “That’s so impressive!” Though her praise lacked the polish of a literary critic, Gao Ming relished it, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Despite his smugness, Gao Ming didn’t forget his primary task.
He maintained his invisibility as he slowly descended, only disabling it once his feet touched the ground and he was sure no one was watching.
Seeing herself reappear, Sophia curiously touched her own body, as if to confirm she wasn’t dreaming.
Gao Ming glanced at her residence—a very ordinary apartment building, common in Hell’s Kitchen, likely shared with her family.
After a casual survey of the surroundings, he finally spoke: “Alright, you’re safely home. I should say goodbye now.”
A flicker of sadness crossed Sophia’s heart, but she didn’t let it show on her face.
Instead, she smiled and said, “Thank you, Gao Ming. Goodbye.”
Gao Ming nodded, readjusted his mask, pulled up his hood, and started to leave.
After a few steps, he paused and turned back, his tone playful.
“Sophia, I hope we meet again someday. And when we do, I hope your Mandarin will be a bit more standard…”
Before Sophia could respond, Gao Ming vanished with a *whoosh* in front of her stunned expression.
Once again, she couldn’t see his movements—only the gust of wind he left in his wake.
The wind forced her to squint, yet it felt surprisingly refreshing and gentle against her cheeks.
Sophia stood there for a long time, staring at the end of the street, though it was unclear what she was looking for.
Then, she smiled, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
“That mean jerk, actually making fun of my poor Chinese… Next time we meet, I’ll definitely make him see me in a whole new light.”
*But will there even be a next time?* Sophia felt a pang of melancholy and silently made a decision in her heart.
Pushing aside her sadness, she straightened her clothes and fixed her appearance.
She didn’t want her family to know she’d nearly been harmed tonight—they would only worry.
“I’m back,” she called out. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
***
The night shrouded the earth, yet many parts of Hell’s Kitchen remained brilliantly lit, as if the light were meant to conceal the darkness beneath.
Wilson Fisk stood in his bedroom, calmly gazing at the night view outside the window.
At this moment, he looked like an ordinary bald, heavyset man.
His neat suit made him appear even more spirited.
Yet, who could have imagined that such an unremarkable, somewhat approachable-looking man was actually the underworld boss of this city?
He had collaborated with the Yakuza and the Russian Mafia to divide Hell’s Kitchen’s criminal underworld among themselves.
In the future, he would even unify the entire American underworld and become the Emperor of the Dark World!
Of course, the current Wilson was not yet that ruthless and merciless underworld emperor.
He had not yet earned the title “Kingpin.” He was merely hiding behind the scenes, quietly developing his influence.
But every villain in Hell’s Kitchen knew who truly ruled this city, and no one dared to expose Wilson’s existence.
In the original TV series, when Matt forced a gang member to reveal that Wilson was the leader of all the gangs, the man, terrified of the consequences of his betrayal, suffered a mental breakdown and chose to commit suicide by jumping off a building.
Even the most vicious criminals, who were otherwise ruthless, would cower like mice at the mere mention of Wilson’s name.
How could a man who struck such terror into every gang member—making them prefer death over revealing his identity—be as harmless as he appeared on the surface?
Wilson stared blankly out the window, his hand unconsciously tracing the badge pinned to his chest.
It was his father’s only legacy.
And his father… was a man he had killed with his own hands.
Wilson’s mind drifted back to his childhood.
After losing the election for City Councilor, his father’s temper had become volatile and violent.
His father was a brutal man.
Once, when Wilson was beaten for trying to stop someone from tearing down his father’s campaign sign, his father dragged the assailant before him.
He beat the man until he coughed up blood and collapsed, then forced Wilson to kick him relentlessly.
“When someone bullies you, you retaliate with everything you have,” he had roared.
Under his father’s command, the young Wilson beat the man nearly to death.
Over time, his father’s cruelty escalated.
He began savagely beating Wilson’s mother to vent his rage.
Unable to bear her suffering any longer, the cowardly Wilson finally snapped.
He seized a hammer and swung it wildly at his father, blow after blow, until the man was dead.
Afterward, his mother disposed of the body, covered up everything, and sent Wilson to be raised by relatives on a farm.
To this day, the scene of killing his father remained vivid in his mind.
Every time he looked in the mirror, Wilson saw his younger self—a bewildered face, his clothes drenched in his father’s blood.
Wilson’s current success was inseparable from that bloody education.
His father had planted a seed in him, and killing him had transformed Wilson from a coward into a ruthless man.
Snapping back to reality, Wilson silently withdrew his gaze and turned to rest.
He had to discuss matters with several other partners the next morning.
Just as he turned, a loud crash echoed from behind—
BAM!!!!!
Wilson spun around to see a figure clad in black with a mask, still frozen in a punching stance.
The window was empty, its shattered glass scattered across the floor.
What truly alarmed Wilson, however, was that the man was floating in mid-air without any external aid.
Gao Ming had no idea that Wilson’s psychological trauma was expanding.
Beneath the mask, a smirk curved his lips.
“Hey, good evening, fat boy.”
(End of Chapter)