Dragon Qi!
That was Hong Fei's personal term for it.
If it were a few hundred years earlier, he would have taught those Anglo-Saxons a lesson, just based on this land filled with Dragon Qi.
Unfortunately, he'd arrived too late.
The red light in his eyes faded, and the black-and-white World was once again filled with vivid, brilliant colors.
This was something Hong Fei had loved doing lately, much like someone who suddenly struck it rich and couldn't help but constantly check their account balance.
The appearance of the Dragon Qi was a symbol, and the appearance of the phantom dragon further represented that Hong Fei's speculation wasn't just imagination.
Then the only explanation was that a Dragon Bone was indeed buried beneath his house.
Many dragons had appeared in the Marvel Universe, but the most well-known was the Immortal Dragon of K'un-Lun, the divine dragon Shou-Lao the Undying.
Of course, Hong Fei didn't quite approve of the title "divine dragon." After all, Shou-Lao the Undying looked nothing like the divine dragons he was familiar with. Even a winged Yinglong didn't look like that; its appearance was more like the dragons in the eyes of Westerners.
Shou-Lao the Undying was the guardian deity of K'un-Lun and the manifestation of "Dragon Power." Usually, they didn't see Shou-Lao the Undying unleashing its might. More often, they only witnessed it being defeated, paying the price of Death, and bestowing the Dragon Power upon a certain warrior, after which it turned into an egg and was reincarnated.
After Shou-Lao the Undying died, it left behind a Dragon Bone, and this skeleton naturally became a treasure of K'un-Lun.
Throughout the long years, K'un-Lun used the Dragon Bone to create a weakened version of the elixir of immortality. Later, traitors emerged within the faction led by K'un-Lun. These people escaped from K'un-Lun and, relying on the Dragon Bone they had brought out, continued to live for hundreds of years.
That's right, he was talking about those turncoats in The Hand.
Hong Fei didn't know how much Dragon Bone was needed to make a so-called elixir of immortality, but the Dragon Bone those traitors brought out initially couldn't have been too much, yet they hadn't used it up even after hundreds of years. A simple deduction was enough to know just how maddening a complete Dragon Bone would be.
Therefore, when Hall first came to the door wanting to acquire this land, Hong Fei had already prepared to kill him.
However, he soon discovered that the other party was indeed only after this plot of land.
Although Hall wasn't a real lawyer, he had a father who was a senior lawyer, and the company his father worked for was Fisk Industries.
This was a well-known spice company, and its boss, besides being a successful spice merchant, was also a great philanthropist keen on supporting education—Wilson Fisk.
If he hadn't watched movies and television, Hong Fei would have almost believed it.
The underground forces of New York had many components, with the most prominent members including The Hand, the Russian Mafia, criminal syndicates from Mexico, and the subordinates of "Kingpin," led by Wilson Fisk.
The existence and function of the Dragon Bone was the undisputed top secret of The Hand.
The relationship between The Hand and Kingpin wasn't one of subordination, but of cooperation.
If The Hand had discovered the Dragon Bone, they would never, under any circumstances, reveal the news to anyone, especially Kingpin, whose power and influence were currently at their zenith.
Assuming Kingpin already knew and understood the function of the Dragon Bone, he definitely wouldn't send a rookie to discuss its acquisition. Not even Hall's lawyer father would be sent. Kingpin would most likely arrive in person, so that if Hong Fei refused, he could immediately twist off Hong Fei's head.
Thus, Hall had been able to leave alive two days ago. Today, he brought a group of thugs to threaten him.
Kingpin, having long since become a big shot, probably hadn't bothered with bringing a group of lowlifes to do such low-class things in a long time.
At this point, the whole context of the matter became instantly clear.
Fisk Industries did indeed have its eye on Hong Fei's land, but since the plot wasn't too big or too small, the company simply let Hall's father handle it. The father, having taken the task, perhaps wanted to train his son, or perhaps Hall volunteered for it; in any case, Hall ultimately got the task.
Furthermore, Hong Fei guessed that Hall might also have intended to embezzle the acquisition funds. Otherwise, where would he have the authority to directly add 5% for Hong Fei? It could only be that he'd already made up his mind to pocket a significant amount, and only now, with Hong Fei not budging, was he forced to loosen his grip.
Living in New York, Hong Fei naturally had to pay attention to Kingpin.
News of Kingpin negotiating spice business with partners abroad was posted on the Fisk Industries official website. During the time Kingpin was away, Hong Fei didn't see any of Kingpin's people showing their faces in the streets or alleys at all.
It seemed likely that Kingpin was about to do a big job, which was why everyone from top to bottom had suddenly become low-key.
It was reasonable for Hall not to act rashly; otherwise, if he caused trouble, there would be no need for the Police to deal with him.
After analyzing the above information, Hong Fei temporarily stopped listing this matter as a priority.
The next day.
Hong Fei got up early, drove his beat-up car, and arrived at a construction site in the south of New York.
In the construction site, a burly man was swinging a sledgehammer, striking rubble. He repeated the mechanical movements with steady breathing, his eyes looking slightly vacant.
"Castiglione, someone is looking for you!"
A call came from behind. He snapped back to his senses, set down the hammer, and turned. The foreman pointed toward the construction site entrance.
The man frowned, instantly on guard.
He had no friends now, and no one should have known the name he was using.
As he walked slowly toward the entrance, he considered countless possibilities. He even wondered if he would be surrounded by police as soon as he appeared.
However, his peaceful life was hard-won, and without definitive proof, he didn't want to act rashly.
Even if he went to prison, it wouldn't mean much to him; he could break out of prison once, and he could break out a second time.
However, when he reached the entrance and saw the person waving at him, the vigilance in his heart turned to pure astonishment.
Hong Fei was a little excited.
From his appearance, the other man perfectly matched the face in his memory.
Coupled with the way he walked and the unusual look inadvertently revealed in his eyes, all of this indirectly indicated that this couldn't possibly be an ordinary worker.
Frank Castle, The Punisher.
After the other man approached, Hong Fei looked at his furrowed brows and smiled. "It's good to see you. I've been looking for you for a long time."
Naturally, there was no smile on Frank's face. His already resolute face appeared even more serious at that moment. "Who are you?"
"Hello, I am Hong Fei."
Facing Hong Fei's extended hand, Frank remained unmoved. "I don't know how you found me, nor do I know how much you actually know about me, but..." He looked at Hong Fei again and said solemnly, "Young man, from this moment on, I hope you forget me and never mention this second to anyone, otherwise, you will definitely regret it for the rest of your life."
After speaking, Frank turned around, clearly intending to go back to swinging his sledgehammer.
Hong Fei had long anticipated this. He said loudly, "Castiglione, do you want to slay a dragon?"
Frank didn't stop.
Hong Fei said, "What you are clearing away are just the ants surrounding the evil dragon, but the ants replenish quickly. One day, they will still gnaw your house down."
Crack!
Frank stopped and turned his head sharply. His previously calm face was instantly filled with anger. Hong Fei seemed to see the raging flames of revenge erupting in his heart.
Frank turned and walked up quickly, almost pressing against Hong Fei's body, staring intensely. "How much do you know?"
Hong Fei put away his smile. "I know a lot, and I think we can make a deal."
Frank's eye twitched. He looked around and said, "Why don't we find a quiet place to talk properly?"
"No problem, but I always feel like you want to hit me."
"Are you afraid?"
"A little."