Just now sitting in the car along the way, Chen Mo could clearly see that New York now compared to seventy years ago had changed so drastically it could be described as earth-shattering.
But walking on this familiar street, Chen Mo discovered this area's environment hadn't changed much from when he left.
The red brick buildings on both sides of the street were still the same as before, but now carried even more of that weathered, dignified historical atmosphere under time's baptism. The somewhat narrow street was cleaner and tidier than before.
Black vintage lamp posts—old and mottled yet still standing straight beside the street. The dim yellow lamplight plated this street full of period atmosphere with a golden layer representing the years, making the entire street appear tranquil and peaceful.
It was already evening, with lights just coming on. The windows of houses on both sides had all lit up.
In front of a standalone three-story building, Chen Mo stopped, standing at the street side looking at the familiar martial arts school before him. A trace of nostalgia couldn't help but appear on his face.
Bright light transmitted from the martial arts school's windows. A burst of intense fighting sounds faintly came from inside the door.
Chen Mo couldn't help but smile slightly, stepped forward to the door, raised his hand and gently knocked.
...
Back then, Chen Mo had handed the Seven Rings Gang to Wang Kun. Now seventy years had passed. Wang Kun, over a hundred years old, no longer concerned himself with gang affairs, completely handing the Seven Rings Gang to his son and grandson to manage while he retired at the martial arts school, incidentally watching his great-grandson practice martial arts.
Wang Kun's great-grandson Wang Jin had grown up hearing Chen Mo's stories. His greatest ideal wasn't to take over the Seven Rings Gang and become New York's or even all of America's underground emperor, but rather to become like Chen Mo—a powerful superhero who eliminated evil forces and maintained world peace.
Wang Kun's family had maintained a single lineage all these years. His son and grandson devoted most of their energy to managing and developing the Seven Rings Gang. After seventy years of development, this organization that originally just controlled Brooklyn's underground forces had now developed into a behemoth controlling most of America's underground forces.
However, they hadn't violated the family precepts Chen Mo originally established. Besides gray industries like smuggling, casinos, and nightclubs, behaviors like drugs, robbery, human trafficking, and forced prostitution had always been strictly prohibited. Once discovered, severe punishment was certain. It was precisely because of the Seven Rings Gang's existence that law and order throughout America was far more stable than in reality.
Although many criminal activities they no longer touched, under Chen Mo's guidance they had achieved tremendous development in many legitimate industries.
In construction, transportation, food, medicine, clothing, livestock, hotels, real estate and many other industries, the Seven Rings Gang firmly occupied a position. Many well-known large enterprises and groups were actually Seven Rings Gang industries. In terms of total assets, it was a huge astronomical figure incomparable to any single company.
Yet as the future successor to this massive force, Wang Jin had no interest whatsoever in gang affairs. After graduating from college, he didn't follow his father's requirements to enter the gang to help manage affairs. Instead, he moved directly into the martial arts school and practiced martial arts with the retired Wang Kun every day.
With improved super soldier serum provided by Albert, their lifespans were very long. Wang Kun, over a hundred years old, looked only around fifty with an extremely robust body. He wasn't in a hurry to have Wang Jin take over the Seven Rings Gang. Plus with Wang Kun's nodding approval, they let him stay at the martial arts school practicing martial arts.
Since childhood, Wang Jin's favorite place wasn't the luxurious, vast family manor on Green Street, but this simple, plain martial arts school, because here were all kinds of magical stories.
As a child, he listened to what Wang Kun told as stories. After growing up and inexplicably being injected with super soldier serum, his physical abilities skyrocketing to three times the original in a short time—only then did he know those magical things he'd always treated as stories were actually all true!
One man with two guns, instantly taking down over a dozen mafia members who came knocking; infiltrating the docks alone, rescuing his great-grandmother and grandfather under siege by dozens of gunmen and eliminating all enemies; seven people raiding two major mafia headquarters at night, destroying two families in one night.
Bare-handed leaving seven fist prints on heavy tower shields, intimidating all underground forces and establishing the Seven Rings Gang; on the European battlefield, splitting tanks with a sword, tearing apart armored vehicles by hand, relying on just a longsword to single-handedly eliminate the powerful Hydra army, destroy bases, overthrowing the massive Hydra organization with his own strength and rewriting the war situation.
Listening to Wang Kun's recounting again, the shock in Wang Jin's heart was indescribable. Toward this legendary patriarch who founded this martial arts school and single-handedly established the Seven Rings Gang, he no longer had that simple worship of a powerful protagonist in stories, but genuine heartfelt reverence and yearning.
How he wished he could see this legendary hero with his own eyes. Unfortunately, he'd been missing for seventy years. It was said in the final battle destroying Hydra, to avoid human cities being bombed, he piloted Hydra's super aircraft and crashed into the sea. Wang Jin had always deeply regretted this.
This evening, Wang Kun and Wang Jin were sparring in the martial arts school again.
Although Wang Kun was over a hundred years old, he looked only in his early fifties. His physical abilities were no worse than young Wang Jin's—even somewhat stronger. Plus with so many years of diligent practice, his kung fu far exceeded Wang Jin's. If he hadn't deliberately held back, Wang Jin couldn't last more than a few moves under him.
However, Wang Jin's combat talent was considerable. He'd also laid very solid foundations as a child. Since returning to the martial arts school after college graduation, under Wang Kun's instruction his strength had truly improved considerably. Although he couldn't last many moves against Wang Kun, outside he could already be considered a skilled fighter.
The two were fighting intensely when a knocking sound suddenly rang out, interrupting their battle.
Having been enhanced by super soldier serum, both had very acute senses. Despite being in intense combat, they still clearly heard the knocking from the door.
Hearing the sound, both stopped fighting. The martial arts school rarely had visitors. When Wang Kun's family came over, they'd notify in advance. The two couldn't think who might be knocking now.
Wang Jin looked up at Wang Kun.
"Go open the door."
Wang Kun instructed.
In his thinking, it was probably a passerby who didn't understand the situation. The guards hidden around the martial arts school were only used to defend against threatening large groups of enemies. Ordinary people not carrying weapons wouldn't be stopped. Before, people had come wanting to learn martial arts. So Wang Kun didn't think much of it—just tell them this was a private martial arts school that didn't accept students.
Hearing Wang Kun's instruction, Wang Jin helplessly turned to open the door. Just now he'd felt his condition was very good and had wanted to see if he could hold out a bit longer under Wang Kun. Who knew it would be interrupted.
However, he wouldn't blame the person outside because of this. After all, they weren't brutal gangsters. Toward ordinary people, they were still very gentle. He was just somewhat curious who was knocking.
Walking to the door, Wang Jin slowly opened it. The person standing outside appeared before his eyes.
This was a tall young man who looked about his age. His angular face had a somewhat cold expression. His deep, sharp eyes seemed able to penetrate directly into one's heart.
He wore a well-fitted black suit—handsome and dignified yet noble and elegant. His entire presence was quite extraordinary. Wang Jin instinctively felt he was definitely not an ordinary person.
Although the person before him looked somewhat cold and sharp, the perceptive Wang Jin didn't sense any hostility from him. On the contrary, from the gaze Chen Mo directed at him, he could feel something very similar to when Wang Kun looked at him—like an elder looking at his junior.
This feeling was very strange. Standing before him was clearly a young man just like himself.
Though puzzled, he still politely asked.
"Who are you looking for?"
Chen Mo looked at this handsome young man before him. From his face that somewhat resembled Wang Kun's, Chen Mo easily guessed his identity—Wang Kun's great-grandson. When Wang Kun had first come to the martial arts school, he'd been about this age. And now his great-grandson had grown to adulthood.
Sighing slightly in his heart, Chen Mo slowly said.
"I'm looking for Wang Kun."
"Wang Kun?"
Hearing this, Wang Jin was somewhat confused. As the family patriarch, almost no one dared directly call Wang Kun's name. So for a moment Wang Jin didn't even react that Chen Mo was talking about his great-grandfather.
However, someone did react.
After Wang Kun had Wang Jin open the door, he turned back and walked toward a nearby sofa, planning to drink some tea and rest before continuing to drill his great-grandson.
As for the person outside, just an ordinary person who'd come to the wrong place. Let Wang Jin handle it himself.
But he'd just picked up his teacup when a familiar voice directly calling his name rang out from the doorway, making his hand involuntarily shake and tea spill from the cup.
Being able to call his name couldn't shock him too much. Although it had been many years since anyone mentioned it, even among those who knew of his existence, many weren't clear on his name. But there were still people who knew.
But this familiar voice made it completely impossible for him to remain calm.
With a clang he set down the teacup. Wang Kun suddenly stood up, face full of excitement as he strode quickly toward the door.
Still some distance away, Wang Kun could see through the open door that incredibly familiar figure outside—compared to seventy years ago, almost no change at all, just his presence seemed to have become even more powerful.
All these years Wang Kun had controlled the Seven Rings Gang, wielding great power. His state of mind had long become extremely steady. But at this moment, he was so excited his face flushed red, lips trembling as he called out softly.
"School Master!"
"You've finally returned!"