Barton glanced at Qin Li, who seemed deep in thought, and asked, "What's on your mind? Are you curious about what Director Fury said about vampires? They're just slightly tougher beasts. Blow their heads off, and they're done."
"Sounds like you're not aware of what happened before?" Qin Li asked curiously, recalling his past skirmishes. Didn't Barton hear about the vampire massacre a while ago?
"I wasn't in New York. I was out on a mission," Barton replied, noticing the odd tone in Qin Li's question.
"Well, most of the vampires in New York were eradicated recently. Let's just say I had a little peaceful (read: nuclear) negotiation with them. They're banned from showing up in New York. If I see one, I'll take them down without hesitation," Qin Li said with a shrug, his tone casual.
"Impressive," Barton responded half-heartedly, clearly skeptical.
Qin Li could hear the dismissiveness in Barton's voice and knew the agent didn't believe him. But he didn't care to explain further; actions always spoke louder than words. The conversation trailed off as Barton focused on driving while Qin Li leaned back in the passenger seat, closing his eyes and mentally preparing for the upcoming battle.
When the car finally came to a halt beside a cluster of shipping containers at the dock, Barton received a transmission through his micro-communicator. "They're on the move. The two buses that entered the academy earlier today are transporting people. Madam Gao is in the Rolls-Royce at the rear. Estimated arrival: 30 minutes," Barton reported.
Qin Li opened his eyes, a golden gleam flashing briefly in his gaze. "I'll wait on that crane over there," he said, pointing to the towering structure in the distance. "What about you? Staying here?"
"I'll head to another vantage point to prepare. Take this portable communicator so we can stay in touch in case anything unexpected happens," Barton replied, handing him the device.
"Got it. See you on the other side." Qin Li grabbed the communicator, stepped out of the car, and silently made his way to the crane. His wide, dark cloak blended seamlessly into the shadows, allowing him to move undetected past the hidden Hand operatives and lurking vampires. Once he reached the top of the crane, he perched there, calmly observing the dock below as he waited.
Time passed, and Qin Li eventually spotted the convoy. The two buses and the Rolls-Royce entered the dock, stopping near a central loading area. Barton's voice came through the communicator, "Action is about to begin. Stay sharp!"
Without responding, Qin Li stood slowly. His black cloak billowed wildly in the strong winds at such a height. Bathed in moonlight, he reached out, summoning a golden cross that radiated a soft glow. Tossing it into the air, Qin Li leapt onto it, descending like a divine figure. The soft glow intensified as the cross accelerated downward, transforming into a brilliant golden streak that looked like a shooting star. Even from his distant vantage point, Barton could hear Qin Li's laughter carried on the wind.
Below, Madam Gao's bodyguards noticed the sudden brightness in the night sky. One of them shouted, "Run!" But by the time Madam Gao and her companion dove for cover, the radiant cross smashed into the ground, obliterating several guards on impact and sending out a powerful shockwave. The sheer force of the blast sent Madam Gao and her companion crashing into a nearby shipping container, leaving deep dents in its side. The surviving guards, though lucky enough to avoid being crushed, were flung violently through the air by the shockwave.
As the dust and smoke cleared, Qin Li emerged from the crater, shrugging off his cloak to reveal a sleek black suit beneath. He walked calmly toward the disoriented Madam Gao, stretching as he went. His broad shoulders strained against the fabric of his suit, and with a casual chest expansion, he popped the buttons clean off his jacket. His commanding presence was an effortless blend of elegance and brute strength, an almost otherworldly charisma that demanded attention.
Madam Gao climbed out of the dented container, her expression unnervingly calm despite the situation. "So, you're the so-called Father Li—the one who maimed Murakami and killed Bakuto in one go. Meeting you in person is certainly... enlightening."
"And you must be Madam Gao of the Hand, right?" Qin Li replied, a faint smirk playing at his lips.
"Correct. As a fellow Chinese, why do you continue to meddle in my affairs?" she demanded.
"Let's not play games. You left your homeland long ago, didn't you? Stop deceiving yourself," Qin Li said, chuckling at her audacity.
"Such insolence! Do you think you can take on an entire organization by yourself? You overestimate your abilities," Madam Gao sneered. As she spoke, one of her ninja operatives silently crept up behind Qin Li, aiming to plunge a blade into his back. But just as the assassin struck, an arrow pierced his head, exiting through his mouth and sending the body tumbling to Qin Li's feet.
"Don't mention it. Keep putting on your show—it's quite dazzling," Barton quipped through the communicator.
Qin Li smirked and looked down at the fallen ninja. "This is your trump card? A sneak attack by a grunt? Is this the best you can do?" he mocked.
"You arrogant whelp! Do you think I'm afraid of you? I've lived for over 400 years—prepare to die!" Madam Gao roared, rushing at him with a speed belying her age. Her first strike—a powerful palm aimed at his chest—was easily deflected. Undeterred, she spun and brought her elbow down in an attempt to crush his skull, only for Qin Li to block her effortlessly with one hand.
"Is this all you've got? You might as well just give up. Living for 400 years, and this is the best you can do? What a waste of time, old hag," Qin Li taunted as he skillfully parried her attacks. The ease with which he handled her only seemed to enrage her further, her movements growing more frantic and aggressive.
"You insolent brat! Do you truly believe you have me cornered?" Madam Gao growled, increasing the speed of her strikes.
"Corner you? Hell no! And don't get any funny ideas—who'd even want to touch a 400-year-old corpse like you? You're lucky those creeps like Murakami found you appealing!" Qin Li shot back, visibly disgusted by the notion. Seizing an opening in her erratic movements, he swung the glowing cross, smashing Madam Gao back into the shipping container she had just climbed out of.
"If that's all you've got, then it's time for you to die, old lady," Qin Li said, his expression darkening as he tightened his grip on the cross, ready to end the fight.