American comics: I gradually replicate everything

Van Ken said.

"The essence of striking and releasing acupoints in acupoint striking techniques is nothing more than intercepting and guiding qi."

Once you grasp this point, the techniques and other aspects become unimportant, just like in Tai Chi.

"But--

Well, maybe that's what a true genius is.

"A photographic memory, the ability to draw inferences from one instance—these cannot be measured by mere logic."

Halfway through his sentence, Master Raccoon remembered Van Can's incredible performance over the past few days, choked up, and shook his head helplessly.

The other members of the Furious Five were all astonished to hear their stern master say such a thing.

They had never heard their master speak to anyone in such a tone, including the exceptionally talented Da Long back then!

Tigress struggled to her feet, clutching her still aching chest, her face pale, and her voice filled with sadness and shame as she spoke to Van Can.

"We...we thought we could stop Da Long and defeat him while he was still recovering from his release from prison...but we didn't expect that even the five of us combined were no match for him."

He said... he said the five of us didn't even deserve to die by his hand.

She looked up at Van Ken, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Now, the Valley of Peace and the Jade Emperor Palace... can only rely on you, Van Ken—Dragon Warrior."

Tigress called out "Dragon Warrior" to Van Cane, though she said it with some difficulty, it still represented a kind of recognition.

A heavy acknowledgment that had to be made in the face of crushing defeat and reality.

Master Raccoon clenched his fist.

"He's coming soon."

Tigress and her gang were defeated and escaped back. Judging by the time, Tai Lung should... arrive very soon.

"Then let him do it."

Van Can smiled slightly, not caring.

Master Raccoon remained silent for a moment, his expression unchanged, before turning his gaze to Van Can.

"Vancan, come with me."

His voice wasn't loud, but his tone was serious and carried an undeniable solemnity.

Van Ken raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and followed Master Raccoon into the Jade Emperor Palace.

Po and the Furious Five also came in.

At the deepest part of the main hall, there was a painting hanging on the wall, depicting a figure with his back to everyone. It was Master Turtle, and three sticks of incense were burning in the incense burner.

Before Master Turtle's memorial tablet.

Master Raccoon took out the Dragon Manual that Van Can had given him before.

The scroll was gold-colored, made of silk, and gleamed with a warm sheen in the candlelight.

He held it in both hands, turned around, and faced Van Can.

"Now the Great Dragon is coming, and the Valley of Peace is in imminent danger."

Whether we can defeat Baron Nashor depends entirely on you.

"This is the Divine Dragon Manual, which is said to contain infinite secrets of kung fu."

Van Can looked at the secret manual that Master Raccoon had solemnly handed over, a slightly strange look in his eyes.

Master Raccoon continued.

"I once followed Master Oogway and heard him say that although there are infinite secrets of kung fu, if a person has the comprehension, he can understand them all in an instant and undergo a complete transformation."

You are exceptionally talented; perhaps it's not too late for you to catch up.

I'm giving it to you now.

Van Can reached out and took the reel, slowly unrolling it.

He already knew what was inside.

Blank.

There was nothing there.

His face was reflected on the smooth, mirror-like surface of the silk woven with gold thread.

There was nothing else.

The moment the scroll unfurled, Master Raccoon turned his back, put his hands behind his back, and tilted his head to the side.

There are rules; he can't look.

But the Furious Five stood far away, and out of sheer curiosity, they craned their necks to peek over from behind Van Can.

Someone glimpsed a corner of the manual and saw only a blank page.

I couldn't help but take a step forward, only to find more blank space.

It was completely blank from beginning to end.

"How could this happen?"

The golden monkey was the first to shout.

"Blank?"

Linghe was also stunned. "Why is the manual blank?"

"Is it upside down?" Mantis circled around to the front of Vancane to look at the back, then circled back, looking bewildered. "The back is blank too."

Ah Bao even leaned in close, his big head almost shoving into the scroll, his nose nearly touching the silk surface. He looked left and right, up and down, and finally rubbed his eyes hard.

"There really is nothing there!"

"What's blank?"

Master Raccoon frowned when he heard the commotion behind him, but did not turn around.

Did you guys not see it clearly?

Why is the manual blank?

"Master, the manual is truly blank!"

Tigress looked astonished.

Is this the legendary martial arts manual that contains endless secrets?!

"The manual is indeed blank."

Van Can took the scroll and turned it over so that it faced Master Raccoon.

Master Raccoon, still with his back turned, hesitated slightly before saying, "No, there are rules, I can't look..."

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist his curiosity and quickly glanced at it.

His eyes widened at just one glance.

He snatched the scroll and examined it from all angles, running his fingers over the silk surface. He then held the scroll up to the candlelight, looking at it against the light, at the side, and squinting.

There was nothing there.

"What's going on?"

"Could it be the legendary wordless book?"

Suddenly, Abao slapped his forehead, his eyes lighting up. "I've read those kinds of stories before the words would appear, you had to roast them with fire or pour water on them!"

The Furious Five exchanged glances, then simultaneously looked at Master Raccoon.

Master Raccoon paused for a moment, hesitated for a second, and then nodded.

The golden monkey and the crane immediately ran to bring over a brazier and a water basin.

With Van Cann's permission, which he didn't seem to care about, Abao was the first to get his hands on the reel, placing it on the brazier to heat it.

The flames baked the silk, and the gold threads shimmered in the firelight, but nothing appeared on it.

The golden monkey snatched the scroll, plunged it directly into the basin of water, took it out and shook it. Water droplets slid off the silk surface, but there was still nothing there.

Linghe took the scroll to the window and held it up to the sunlight. Quick Mantis even tried to scratch the silk surface, almost breaking the gold thread, but was slapped away by Master Raccoon.

After fiddling around for ages, the reel is still blank.

"This seems to be a blank manual," Tigress said in a deep voice. "There are no secrets in it."

Undeterred, Abao picked up the scroll again, examined it from all angles, and then smelled it—it had a scent of silk and paste.

Finally, he even stuck out his tongue and licked it.

"Pah!" He frowned and stuck out his tongue. "It smells like cloth."

Po the panda winked and gave Van Ken a subtle look, signaling him to keep an eye on Master Raccoon.

Why are you looking at me like that?

A big fat panda?

Do you suspect I switched the Dragon Manual?

Master Raccoon noticed that the gaze was strange.

"I didn't say that."

Abao didn't speak, but his eyes darted around, one foot rubbing against the ground, his hands behind his back, and his mouth moved but he didn't say anything.

But that expression, that posture, the meaning couldn't be clearer.

Tigress's gaze also shifted over, and all five pairs of eyes of the Furious Five looked over, staring at Master Raccoon with suspicion and hesitation in their eyes.

Master Raccoon took a step back, feeling so suffocated he felt like he was going to vomit blood.

"Why...why are you all staring at me like that?"

Do you doubt your master?

Do you really think that even at this point, I wouldn't hand over the Dragon Manual, which contains infinite kung fu secrets, to Van Can, and that I'd switched the scroll?