American comics: I gradually replicate everything

Chapter 62 Let Me Teach You What Qi Is, Bat (3k2)

Van Can and Bruce left the alleyway and soon arrived at a luxurious yet understated supercar.

"Nice car."

Vancan glanced at the gleaming black sports car.

Bruce said, "This isn't my best one. You should see my other one."

"Alright, I know you're rich now, Bat."

Van Can knew he was referring to the Batmobile, and raised his hands in surrender.

The two seemed to have returned to the time when they went up the mountain to learn martial arts together, serious at the same time with occasional jokes, relaxed and comfortable.

Once inside the car, Batman started it silently, driving away from the hustle and bustle of the docks and heading towards higher ground on the outskirts of Gotham City.

The view of Gotham outside the window is like a flowing painting, where modernity and old age alternate, and prosperity and shadow intertwine.

The car eventually entered a spacious private estate, passing through meticulously manicured gardens and a long driveway, where a solemn, magnificent, and distinctly Gothic old manor came into view at the horizon.

Wayne Manor, in the darkness of night, resembles a sleeping behemoth, with its mottled stone walls and towering towers.

The car stopped in front of the huge, ornately carved gate.

Van Can got out of the car and looked around at the famous mansion in front of him.

Compared to the cramped room he remembered living in when he practiced martial arts on Wudang Mountain, it was incomparable.

He clicked his tongue.

"As expected of those wicked capitalists, they know how to enjoy life."

An elderly man, dressed in a sharp black butler's uniform, with his hair neatly combed and a serene yet kind face, stood at the door, seemingly waiting.

His posture was impeccable, and his eyes were gentle.

"Young Master, you're back."

The old man bowed slightly, speaking with a perfect British accent.

"Yes, Afu."

Bruce nodded and introduced him to Van Can.

"This is Alfred Penniworth, my butler."

After my parents—, he has been taking care of me ever since.

His words were very restrained; the butler's care for his master seemed like a matter of course, but it also carried a different meaning.

Vancan knew that in the long years after his parents' death, Alfred was not only a loyal servant, but also an elder and relative who supported Bat and prevented him from falling completely into the abyss.

Even without Batman's introduction, he already knew that the famous butler Alfred was a household name.

"Ah Fu, this is Van Ken."

Bruce turned to Afu, introducing his friend with unusual seriousness. "My junior brother from when I was learning martial arts at Wudang Mountain, and also—a trustworthy partner."

A hint of surprise flashed in Afu's gray-blue eyes.

He understood the implication in Bruce's words: his young master didn't seem to intend to hide his deeper, darker identity from this young guest.

This is very rare.

Afu immediately adjusted his expression, a smile appeared on his face, he bowed slightly, and spoke in his standard, classically elegant tone.

"Young Master Vanken, welcome to Wayne Manor."

I am Alfred, and it is my pleasure to serve you.

You can call me Afu.

Van Can was not surprised by this.

This is Alfred, from a family of professional butlers in England, where etiquette and a sense of propriety are ingrained in his very being.

Bat will usually address the young guests he brings home as "Young Master" or "Young Miss".

"Being called 'Young Master' is indeed a first for me."

Vancan greeted him with a smile, "Ah Fu, sorry to bother you."

Then he turned to Bruce and asked, "Where can I take a bath, Bat?"

I need to wash off this sewer smell right away.

Upon arriving at such a vast and luxurious estate, Van Can showed no signs of restraint or unease.

Bruce pointed upstairs.

"Let Afu take you to the guest room."

You've just arrived in Gotham and gone through all this; you must be exhausted.

Monkey, regarding the qigong you mentioned, I can start learning from you tomorrow.

Van Ken said.

"No need for that."

Dealing with those crocodiles and that scumbag didn't take me much effort; I can get started in a bit.

Guided by Afu, Vanken arrived at a spacious and comfortable guest room.

Clean bathrobes and toiletries have already been prepared inside.

The hot shower washed away the dust and odor from his body, making him feel much refreshed.

When he came out drying his hair, he found a set of clothes neatly laid out beside the bed.

A brand new, well-fitting, comfortable dark gray tracksuit, with a relaxed fit, perfect for activities.

It seems that while he was taking a bath, Afu had already arranged for someone to quickly prepare things according to his physique.

"Such efficiency and meticulousness are truly befitting of someone from a family of butlers."

After changing his clothes, Van Kent felt much more comfortable.

Soon after, Bruce changed into a black training suit that was easy to move in and came to find him.

Deep within the manor lies a spacious study, one wall of which is lined with enormous bookshelves filled with heavy ancient books, and next to it stands an antique clock.

Bruce walked to the bookshelf and turned the clock.

"Click—Boom—"

With a slight mechanical whirring sound, the entire massive bookshelf, along with the wall behind it, slowly slid to one side, revealing a hidden, wide passageway extending downwards.

The motion-activated lights on both sides of the passageway lit up in turn, illuminating the cold metal steps.

"Let's go."

Bruce greeted him, and Vancan followed behind him, being led on a tour as a guest.

"This is my bat cave."

The bat made a double entendre.

As you descend the stairs, a breathtaking view suddenly opens up before you.

A huge, empty, and technologically advanced underground space came into view.

Indeed, this is the Batcave, Batman's secret base.

Van Ken casually glanced around.

Unlike the Bat Cave that would later be filled with various trophies and souvenirs, resembling more of a private museum and armory, the Bat Cave in front of us appeared somewhat empty.

At the center is a huge computer console with an exaggerated design, numerous screens, and flashing various data and images, which looks extremely high-tech.

Parked next to it was the sleek, aggressive Batmobile, along with several Batmobiles and some auxiliary vehicles.

There were tool and weapon racks hanging on the wall, with various models of batarangs, rope guns and other equipment on them.

In addition, the space is large, but it is not filled with too many items, making it appear clean, austere, and full of functionalism.

"Your style is exactly like that of the owner of this Batcave." Vancan looked around and finally settled on the central computer.

On the main screen, Batman's unfinished investigation is still displayed, with a high-resolution photo and a complex file interface shown in a freeze-frame.

The photo shows a woman, tall and strong, with sharp, fierce eyes, exuding an aura of wildness and untamed nature.

She was wearing a red and black one-shoulder martial arts uniform, and on her bare left shoulder, a blood-red, ferocious beast claw tattoo was particularly eye-catching, as if it was about to tear through the skin and leap out.

Her information scrolled across the screen, with her name listed as "Red Claw" and next to it a dense list of her disguised nationalities, aliases, and known affiliated organizations.

Below is even more shocking content for ordinary people: a long list of international arrest warrants from different countries and Interpol.

The criminal records are so long they require scrolling through several pages.

Armed robbery, terrorist attacks, mass kidnapping, arms smuggling, plotting a coup—each of these is followed by staggering casualty figures and sums of money involved.

"Who is this guy? Is he from Gotham? Judging from your expression, is he the crime boss you've been keeping an eye on lately?"

Van Can raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue.

"The sentences she's been sentenced to for all these things will probably add up to several thousand years. Even being executed a hundred times wouldn't be enough."

Bruce looked at the screen with a serious expression and began to explain.

"Red Claw".

The leader of an international terrorist group, ruthless and with a tight organization.

Her gang operated in multiple conflict zones around the world, primarily engaged in creating chaos, plundering resources, and selling arms, occasionally taking on special commissions.

"Recent intelligence intercepted from several underground sources indicates that she and her core team seem to be moving toward Gotham and may be planning a large-scale operation against Gotham."

The motives are unclear, the goals are unclear, and the specific plans are still shrouded in mystery.

He pulled up several intercepted communications records, which showed suspicious personnel movements and encrypted information streams pointing to the area around Gotham.

"Given her past track record, if she were to successfully launch an attack in Gotham, the damage and casualties would be incalculable."

"I'm still investigating, but I don't have any leads yet. This person has been giving me a headache for a long time."

"That is certainly something to pay attention to."

Was it a large-scale terrorist attack targeting Gotham?

Van Ken glanced once more at the aggressive face and the glaring red claw mark on the screen.

"But for now, let's focus on our own business."

Bruce closed Red Claw's file interface, and the screen returned to the default data stream display.

"This way, monkey."

The entire bat cave is roughly divided into three levels, connected by metal staircases and lifting platforms.

The two arrived at one of the floors, which had been transformed into a very spacious training ground.

The floor was covered with shock-absorbing material, and the surrounding walls appeared to be made of some kind of special sound-absorbing and impact-resistant material.

The training equipment is limited, but it is all very professional, including targets, sandbags, wooden dummies, reaction trainers, and so on. There is even a simple chemical analysis table and a medical corner in one corner.

"Let's do it here."

Bruce walked to the center of the court, looked at Van Can, and his eyes were filled with inquiry and deep curiosity.

Speaking of which, how did he create kung fu and qigong that were even more powerful than those taught by Master Huang Fei?

It's hard to believe that the youngest junior disciple among them, the monkey, could have done this.

But then the horrifying scene in the sewers flashed through his mind: a giant crocodile torn apart by brute force, a corpse with twisted bones, and deep impact craters on the walls—destruction that could not have been caused by normal human strength.

It seems that this junior brother has undergone some kind of change that he cannot understand, and has gained incredible power.

As Van Can walked across the center of the training field, his hands behind his back and his gaze casually swept over the cold equipment around him, Takaya Kenryo gave a casual explanation, displaying the demeanor of a kung fu master.

"gas----"

He spoke, his voice echoing in the empty training ground.

"Before I teach you specific qigong, bat."

I need to make you understand what Qi is first, to make you aware of Qi, since you hadn't come into contact with Qi before you left Wudang Mountain.

Qi is the source of life and strength. Everyone has Qi in their body, whether they are strong or weak. It may have different names, such as energy or vitality, but it is actually the same thing.

Qi flows within our bodies, to a place even more fundamental than bones and muscles; it is omnipresent and ceaseless.

As he spoke, he walked to a specially made alloy training target and stood there.

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