Chapter 27: The Beginning of the New York Night Dungeon
New York City, Central Park.
A thin layer of transparent ice floated on the surface of the central lake, glittering faintly under the sunlight.
On a bench by the lake, a white man and a Chinese teenager sat side by side.
Steve Rogers, Captain America, glanced at Xi Nian with a teasing look. "Thanks for not shouting earlier. Otherwise, we'd probably have been surrounded by gawkers again."
"That's not something I want to see either. I'm not someone who enjoys too much attention," Xi Nian shrugged, then asked curiously, "So, Captain, you're not dead after all?"
"Just got dug out of the Arctic ice not long ago." Steve spread his hands.
Maybe because neither of them saw the other as particularly extraordinary, their conversation flowed naturally.
"You said you don't like attracting attention," Steve said thoughtfully. "Back in my time, everyone was desperate for the spotlight. Has the younger generation really changed that much?"
"Times have changed, Captain."
Xi Nian almost wanted to laugh at that line, but instead he replied, "Honestly, people nowadays chase attention even harder than in your era."
"I just don't want attention because I prefer a quiet and peaceful life."
Hearing this, Steve's young and handsome face froze for a moment.
"Captain, there's something I want to ask," Xi Nian said with curiosity. "If you had another chance, would you rather be an ordinary person, or a superhero?"
"This…"
Steve paused, as though caught off guard.
After a moment, he spoke softly. "I think… after being a hero, I'd want to live as an ordinary man. Unfortunately, it's too late for that now."
Though he looked like a man in his twenties, the helplessness and loneliness in his expression resembled that of a centenarian.
And in truth, that wasn't far from the truth.
Xi Nian vaguely understood.
Being a superhero was for the world.
Being an ordinary man was always for someone.
And when the world remained, but that someone was gone… everything else lost its meaning.
"Why would you ask something like that?" Steve looked at Xi Nian with curiosity.
"No reason. Just a thought," Xi Nian shook his head.
But deep down, he knew—this was a question he himself would one day face.
The choice his aunt had spoken of also came from this.
Extraordinary, or ordinary.
One single thought could change everything.
…
"Xi Nian!" "Senior!"
Two voices called out from behind. Xi Nian turned and saw Gwen and Kara walking over.
How did they find him here?
"Kid," Steve suddenly patted Xi Nian's shoulder, his tone carrying deep meaning. "From someone who's been through it, I'll give you this advice: cherish the present. And also… take care of your health."
"Captain, you've got it all wrong."
Xi Nian's mouth twitched. Why was Captain America always so unserious?
"Captain, see you another time." He waved, stood up with his backpack, and walked toward Gwen and Kara.
Steve gave him an OK gesture.
"Xi Nian, who were you talking to just now?" Gwen asked curiously, glancing at the empty bench.
Xi Nian also turned back. By then, Steve had already disappeared.
"Just someone I met along the way. We chatted a bit," Xi Nian said casually.
"Really?" Gwen blinked, half-believing, but didn't press further.
Kara, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking about something.
…
The group continued strolling and playing until night had fallen.
When darkness arrived, New York—the city that never sleeps—grew even more vibrant.
For young men and women at the age of first love, nighttime was the perfect moment for miracles.
Especially while traveling, with the perfect excuse of spending the night away from home.
The perfect time, the perfect place.
Queens, inside a local hotel.
"What? Only one room left?" Xi Nian frowned after asking at the front desk. After a moment's thought, he decisively slapped his card on the counter. "We'll take it."
"Xi Nian, that's not really appropriate…" Gwen's face flushed red. For her, this was far too bold and stimulating.
"Senior…" Kara fidgeted with her hands, looking shy and hesitant.
"What are you two thinking?" Xi Nian scratched his head. "You both can stay here tonight. I'll find another hotel nearby."
The two girls froze in surprise, staring blankly.
The hotel receptionist's mouth fell open.
Come on, kid, be human!
…
After arranging Gwen and Kara's stay, Xi Nian let out a sigh of relief. With his backpack—where Xiao Huang's little orange head sometimes peeked out—he walked along the street looking for another hotel.
Neon lights shone against the night sky.
Cars flowed endlessly on the busy streets.
Xi Nian blended into the crowd, walking forward.
Meanwhile, in a dark alley nearby—damp, reeking, and without lights—a strange puddle of liquid on the ground stirred on its own.
Thick, black, tar-like slime squirmed quietly into a corner, as though lurking and spying on the passersby outside.
"Is there no suitable host yet?"
"I can't hold on much longer…"
The raspy whispers came from the strange lifeform. It had no limbs, no brain—just a mass of black liquid. Even its voice had no source.
At that moment, Xi Nian passed by the alley.
The black slime suddenly surged, climbing the wall, then darted toward Xi Nian like a predator.
Thud!
Xi Nian stumbled, feeling like someone had lightly pushed his back. He turned, frowning in confusion.
But there was no one there.
"An illusion?" Xi Nian muttered.
Inside his backpack, Xiao Huang's cat eyes snapped wide open, staring intently at a certain part of Xi Nian's body.
Soon after.
Xi Nian found another hotel near where Gwen and Kara were staying. The entrance had a rotating glass door.
He stepped forward and pushed into the revolving door. But the moment he entered the enclosed space inside, his body suddenly shuddered violently.
A strange sensation spread through him from the inside out.
"What's happening?!" Xi Nian widened his eyes in shock.
He looked down at his hands—and to his horror, his entire body, clothes included, was melting like snow in the summer heat!
Thick black liquid dripped onto the ground, stretching in strands back to his dissolving form.
Splat!
In an instant, Xi Nian had completely melted into a pool of black slime, his backpack falling beside it on the floor.
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