A week in Ta Lo passed like a dream—timeless days in a pocket dimension where the outside world's urgency felt distant and unreal. But all journeys eventually ended, and Wenwu's family found themselves boarding the aircraft that would return them to New York.
Wenwu settled into his seat, his wife beside him, and allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. The trip had been remarkably fruitful. Ying Li had reclaimed the Dragon Heart power she'd sealed away years ago, her connection to the Great Protector restored. Shang-Chi had awakened his own Dragon Heart, beginning his journey to master abilities that took most warriors decades to develop.
Only Xialing's failure to awaken the bloodline created any disappointment, and even that was manageable. Not every descendant inherited the gift, regardless of lineage.
The marriage arrangements had produced mixed results as well. Xialing had declared that any potential husband would need to defeat her in combat first—a requirement that eliminated every male candidate in her age group from Ta Lo. Shang-Chi, conversely, had connected with a young woman from the village, someone whose quiet competence and martial skill matched his own temperament. They'd agreed to continue getting to know each other, with Shang-Chi planning regular visits back to Ta Lo.
The aircraft's engines hummed as they climbed to cruising altitude. Wenwu pulled Ying Li closer, savoring the simple comfort of her presence. "This trip back to Ta Lo brought us many gains."
Ying Li's expression grew thoughtful, a slight frown creasing her brow. "The Great Protector wants me to pass a message to the Fraternity's dragon. It hopes Shenron can visit Ta Lo for a meeting."
Wenwu sighed, recognizing the diplomatic complexity. "That depends on fate. The organization's dragon isn't easy to encounter. I'll see if there's an opportunity during the next Dragon Ball tournament cycle."
Ying Li glanced toward their children, who were both absorbed in tablets, scrolling through information with focused attention. She lowered her voice. "Wenwu, what are you planning to do with Shang-Chi and Xialing now?"
The question touched on decisions Wenwu had been contemplating throughout their stay in Ta Lo. The Ten Rings organization required leadership, but both children had demonstrated capabilities beyond simple criminal enterprise management. They deserved opportunities matching their potential.
Before Wenwu could formulate a response, Shang-Chi looked up from his tablet. "Father, I want to join The Paragons recruitment campaign."
He paused, then added carefully, "Let Xialing manage the Ten Rings."
Xialing's head snapped up, irritation flashing across her features. "Why don't I join The Paragons instead?"
Shang-Chi turned his tablet toward his sister, displaying the Red Ribbon website's current rankings. "Do you think you can surpass the enhanced individuals currently leading in votes?"
The question landed with uncomfortable accuracy. Xialing's jaw tightened as she scrolled through the profiles—Daredevil with his grassroots support, Iron Fist with his million-dollar incentives, Black Panther's demographic solidarity, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents' coordinated campaigns.
She'd brought back remarkable equipment from Ta Lo—a silver-blue dragon-scale battle suit and a javelin forged from guardian scales that could pierce conventional armor like tissue paper. These artifacts enhanced her combat effectiveness significantly. But without the Dragon Heart's power, without the ability to channel the guardian dragon's energy directly...
"It's my fault for not awakening the Dragon Heart," Xialing muttered, looking away.
Ying Li and Wenwu exchanged glances, reading their daughter's disappointment clearly. The Dragon Heart's manifestation—or lack thereof—had created a tangible gap between the siblings' capabilities. Shang-Chi could now channel mystical dragon energy, manifest weapons from pure power, move with supernatural speed. Xialing remained dependent on equipment and technique, formidable but ultimately human.
Wenwu redirected the conversation. "What exactly is this seven-person team you're discussing?"
Shang-Chi pulled up additional information on his tablet, organizing his thoughts. "Eddie has created a superhero team. Currently there are seven positions—four filled by internal Fraternity members: Selene, Michael, Alexei, and Wesley. The remaining three spots are being filled through global recruitment."
He swiped through promotional materials showing the team's public operations. "This superhero team will handle vigilante justice while also building individual IP brands. Media appearances, merchandise, public relations—professional heroism with corporate backing."
Wenwu listened to the full explanation before nodding slowly. "Shang-Chi, I support this decision."
He leaned forward, his expression growing more animated as strategic possibilities crystallized. "The Red Ribbon Corporation and its superhero team are obviously part of Smith's larger organizational plan. Eddie Brock was originally a Fraternity member, and we all know the four internal team members come directly from the Brotherhood."
"After I joined the Fraternity, I wanted you both to become involved as well, but there wasn't a good opportunity," Wenwu continued. "This superhero team represents exactly that opportunity—a way to join the organization's efforts indirectly, building connections and proving your value."
Shang-Chi's posture straightened with determination. "Father, I'll need your support for this. I need to record a promotional video demonstrating my abilities and explaining my superhero philosophy. I'll need to post it on the recruitment website."
He pulled up the voting statistics, showing how far behind he was starting. "Most importantly, I need media publicity and vote canvassing support. We learned about this campaign much later than other contestants—I'm starting from a significant disadvantage."
"The Ten Rings will fully assist you," Wenwu declared immediately. "This is exactly the kind of initiative the organization should support."
He turned to Xialing, his expression softening slightly. "This is also a good opportunity for you, daughter. Bring your Golden Daggers Club and coordinate with the Ten Rings infrastructure to help Shang-Chi's campaign. Use this process to learn more about how the organization operates on a global scale."
Xialing absorbed the assignment, recognizing the logic even as disappointment lingered. Her father had spent a thousand years building the Ten Rings into a worldwide network. He wasn't favoring Shang-Chi out of preference—he was positioning both children according to their current capabilities.
Still, given the choice between managing a criminal empire and becoming a powerful enhanced individual, Xialing knew which she preferred. But without the Dragon Heart awakening, some paths simply weren't available yet.
She forced herself to nod. "I understand, Father. I'll coordinate the campaign support."
Several hours of flight time passed before the aircraft descended toward New York. The Fraternity headquarters rose from the landscape like a modernist fortress, Korin Tower's impossible height dominating the skyline.
After disembarking and settling back into their guest quarters, Wenwu requested a meeting with Smith Doyle to report on their Ta Lo visit. The summons came quickly—the leader had time available.
Smith's office maintained its characteristic minimalism. The desk was clear except for a single tablet, and the walls displayed no decoration beyond a few weapons mounted in elegant simplicity. Smith himself looked relaxed, freshly showered after what was probably another punishing training session.
"Welcome back," Smith said, gesturing for Wenwu to sit. "How was Ta Lo?"
"Very productive," Wenwu replied, settling into the offered chair. "My wife Ying Li reclaimed the Dragon Heart power she'd sealed. The Great Protector reactivated her bloodline without hesitation."
"And it has a message for you," Wenwu added. "The Great Protector wants me to pass along an invitation. It hopes Shenron can visit Ta Lo for a meeting—one guardian dragon to another."
Smith nodded thoughtfully. "If I have the chance to see Shenron again during the next Dragon Ball cycle, I can relay that invitation. Whether Shenron chooses to visit is beyond my control, but I'll make the request known."
"There's another matter," Wenwu continued. "My son Xu Shang-Chi wants to register for The Paragons recruitment campaign."
Smith's expression remained neutral, but his eyes sharpened slightly. "Wenwu, is Shang-Chi's strength sufficient to win a position? This team has genuine power requirements. I don't want you coming to me during some future Dragon Ball tournament asking for a resurrection wish because your son died in the field."
The blunt assessment carried no malice, just practical concern. Smith had built the Fraternity on competence, not nepotism. Even Wenwu's son would need to prove himself worthy.
Wenwu had expected this question. "Leader, during our trip to Ta Lo, my son awakened the Dragon Heart. He can now channel the Great Protector's power, manifest dragon-scale weapons, and access abilities that take most warriors decades to develop."
He paused, then added with paternal pride, "With the Dragon Heart active, Shang-Chi's safety is significantly more assured. He's not just another enhanced human—he's a conduit for mystical dragon energy."
Smith showed no surprise at the news. His expression remained thoughtfully neutral, processing information he seemed to have somehow anticipated. "Is Shang-Chi's strength now comparable to yours?"
The question made Wenwu's mouth twitch slightly.
"Shang-Chi's improvement isn't that exaggerated," Wenwu clarified carefully. "He can borrow power from Ta Lo's guardian dragon and channel his own Dragon Heart energy. But he's still learning to control these abilities. I estimate his current power at roughly seventy percent of my own level—formidable, but not overwhelming."
Smith's eyes held an unusual quality as he absorbed this information—something knowing, almost prescient. As if he understood Ta Lo's power systems better than someone from the outside world should.
Looking at that expression, Wenwu felt an unsettling realization crystallize. The leader seemed to be very familiar with Ta Lo and the power of the dragon.
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