A week later, at 2:30 in the afternoon, outside Lee's Chinese restaurant…
"Lorna!"
As Rex untied his soiled apron and approached the door, he called out, "I'm heading out for a walk. Keep an eye on the store!"
Lorna scoffed, "Boss, are you planning to tease those SHIELD agents again?"
"What do you know? I'm just honing my anti-tracking skills!" Rex shot her a disdainful look.
"I find that hard to believe, considering your 'evil' nature!"
"You... Just watch the store!"
Rex wasn't finished speaking when he stepped outside and activated his Ki Sense. He scanned for any suspicious Ki in the vicinity. While everyone possesses Ki, trained agents stand out significantly in the vast sea of Ki flowing through New York.
Before long, he identified two dubious targets together. "New recruits? They really don't give up, do they?"
A moment later…
"Well, it's definitely them!" He stealthily slipped into an alley as he sensed the two approaching. He watched as they rushed up a fire escape to the roof of a nearby building. A strange sense of satisfaction washed over him as he observed their flight.
"Well, Lorna wasn't entirely wrong. I was practicing at first, but now... it feels a bit sinister…"
Rex scratched his head, pondering, "Maybe I should just leave them be tomorrow… possibly?"
Eight hours later, SHIELD Headquarters…
Phil Coulson sat at a desk, reporting to the one-eyed man seated behind it. "Sir, Rex Lee has spotted the new agents again today. No matter how many times we change personnel, he can always identify them accurately. I believe… this is the Kame School's Ki Sense at work."
Coulson continued, "Not only does he possess extraordinary detection abilities, but he can also use 'Ki Masking' to fool our various detection instruments. Once he's out of our line of sight, we lose track of him. Unless we can attach a tracker to him, we'll never pinpoint his location."
The one-eyed man frowned slightly. "So, for the entire week, we haven't developed any effective tactics against Kame School's martial arts?"
"Not at all," Coulson replied, his expression turning sour. "We must acknowledge that Rex's fearless demeanor isn't mere arrogance. The teachings of Kame School are remarkably comprehensive, even from a modern tactical standpoint. His skills are incredibly efficient. I believe if we faced a group like him, our conventional methods would likely fail—unless they acted foolishly. Plus, given his young age, he's probably the weakest of Kame School's disciples…"
The one-eyed man fell silent for a moment, stroking his chin. "How is our special team progressing with their Ki practice?"
"Our experts, using all available resources from 'Kunlun' in the bureau, agree that unless beginners grasp the concept of Ki through a teacher, they won't be able to sense it or practice effectively."
"So, a teacher is essential?"
"Yes. All we have regarding Rex's teacher, the Kame Sennin, is that he was likely in New York about a decade ago. Tracing him will be quite challenging."
Upon hearing this, the one-eyed man rapped his fingers on the table. "Rex mentioned it took him ten years to reach his current level. Is there any confirmation of that?"
"We lack conclusive evidence. However, based on our information about Kunlun and The Hand, we have no reason to doubt his claims."
Coulson's eyes gleamed. "Sir, are you considering acquiring Kame School's heritage?"
"Absolutely! If we succeed, we'll unlock a way to grant ordinary agents superhuman capabilities that can be developed over time. It may take a while, but it would definitely be worth it!" He paused, striking the table with determination. "While this individual poses a significant threat, we must be bold! We need to keep observing Rex Lee, catch him off guard, and plant microphones around him. But we mustn't attract his attention. Caution is crucial!"
"Yes, sir!"
Coulson nodded with firm agreement. He recalled Kunlun's history of secrecy and knew they needed to remain undetected. If Kame School had around a hundred fighters like Rex, an attack on SHIELD would be catastrophic…
After a slight tremor of apprehension, Coulson collected himself and continued, "There's one more thing. Danny Rand, who was abducted by The Hand, caused quite a stir last night. It seems he's figured out who they really are…"
"That was inevitable. He is Kunlun's Iron Fist. Since childhood, he's been taught to pursue The Hand relentlessly. However, our intel suggests that he might be the least capable of the Iron Fists, so it appears The Hand is attempting to manipulate him."
"Should we intervene?"
Coulson looked concerned. "Kunlun's associated organization, Chaste, has been agitated lately, inquiring about the Iron Fist. They clearly know he's in New York. If this continues, a major conflict is brewing!"
"Do not interfere. Monitor both sides closely. When they confront each other, we'll strike decisively!"