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Chapter 142: Do You Want to Spar with Uncle?
San Francisco, Section 13, rooftop helipad.
The night wind howled, and the turbulence generated by the propellers made it nearly impossible to keep one's eyes open.
A pitch-black, sci-fi-looking jet fighter had finished its warm-up sequence. Its engine exhaust ports spat tongues of phantom-blue fire, distorting the surrounding air with intense heat.
"This is the latest supersonic stealth fighter, originally prepared for the Pentagon!"
Captain Black patted the cold fuselage, shouting at the top of his lungs to be heard over the roar of the engines.
"It will only take thirty minutes to get you all over Hong Kong!!"
Gion held down her long black hair, which was being whipped around by the wind, and swept her gaze over this steel beast.
This level of technology... it did somewhat resemble some of that old man Vegapunk's inventions.
.....
Inside the cabin.
The space was more spacious than expected. Captain Black sat in the pilot's seat, skillfully flipping switches on the densely packed instrument panel.
With a strong sensation of being pushed back into their seats, the fighter jet ascended vertically, then accelerated violently, drawing a straight white line through the atmosphere as it pierced toward the East.
"Cough, cough..."
While gripping the control stick, Captain Black couldn't resist hitting the 'High' setting on the ventilation fan.
Even so, that smell stubbornly drilled into everyone's nostrils.
Uncle sat cross-legged on a temporarily spread-out carpet, a variety of jars and bottles arranged before him.
Dried geckos, dried pufferfish, unknown herbs, and a large pile of freshly peeled garlic.
Muttering words under his breath, Uncle grabbed a handful of garlic with his withered fingers and ruthlessly smashed it into a stone mortar.
Smack! Smack!
Juice splattered everywhere.
Gion subconsciously pulled her legs back.
"Old gentleman."
Gion finally couldn't help but speak, her slender fingers tapping lightly against her scabbard.
"Are you sure these things... can deal with that monster called Shendu?"
She had fought Shendu.
That steel-like scales, that terrifying vitality that healed instantly—even Armament Haki could only inflict temporary damage.
Could these bizarre knick-knacks really be useful?
Uncle didn't stop his hands, nor did he even lift his head.
"Young people just can't keep their cool."
Uncle smeared the crushed garlic paste onto a dried gecko, his tone slow and deliberate.
"Even the sharpest blade cannot cut water. Shendu is a demon; only magic can defeat magic."
Gion fell silent for a moment.
"I can cut water."
Uncle finally stopped his work.
He pushed up the round spectacles on the bridge of his nose, his squinty eyes staring at Gion through the lenses.
"You also want to spar with Uncle?"
Gion raised an eyebrow.
"I don't wish to bully the elderly, but if you insist..."
Before she could finish her sentence.
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed inside the cabin.
Gion froze.
She covered her forehead, her pupils constricting violently.
How is that possible?
Just a moment ago, her Observation Haki had clearly been covering the surroundings.
In this cramped cabin, even the slightest movement shouldn't have escaped her perception.
Yet, this old man's fingers seemed to have appeared out of thin air right in front of her forehead.
By the time she reacted, those two withered fingers had already knocked solidly against her brow.
"Never question Uncle!"
Uncle retracted his fingers, pointing solemnly at Gion's nose.
"One more thing! Put away your killing intent; you will scare my pufferfish!"
"Is this... Chi Magic?"
Gion muttered to herself, the look in her eyes as she regarded Uncle finally changing.
"That's right! Uncle is the greatest Chi Wizard!"
A crisp voice suddenly came from the storage locker behind the cockpit.
Jackie Chan, who was just about to drink a cup of water, shook his hand upon hearing the voice, spilling water all over his pants.
"Oh my god..."
Jackie covered his face in agony and slowly turned around.
The locker door was pushed open, and Jade was curled up inside, hugging her knees and making a funny face at everyone.
"Hi, Uncle Jackie. Hi, Captain Baldy. Hi, Pretty Big Sister."
Captain Black nearly snapped the control stick in half, causing the jet to jolt violently.
"Jade?!"
Jackie screamed in a breakdown, rushing over in a few steps to haul Jade out of the locker.
"Why are you here?! This is a fighter jet going to Hong Kong, not a school bus to Disney!"
"I know."
Jade dusted off her clothes as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"That's why I brought a parachute, though I don't think I'll need it."
"That is not the point!"
Jackie grabbed his hair, spinning in circles with anxiety.
"Black! We have to turn around! We must send her back! We are going to face Shendu, a demon, literal Hell!"
Captain Black stared at the instrument panel, sweating profusely.
"Jackie, we're already over the Pacific, and we only have enough fuel for a one-way trip to Hong Kong. Turning back is impossible."
"Then find a place to land!"
"I'm not going!"
Jade suddenly shouted, flinging Jackie's hand away.
"Mom and Dad are in Hong Kong."
Jade bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly.
"That big lizard is going to Hong Kong. He'll destroy everything. I can't just leave Mom and Dad there and do nothing."
Jackie froze.
If Shendu really recalled his dragon army, Hong Kong would be the first place to fall.
Jackie sighed, crouched down, and gently hugged Jade.
"Okay... okay."
He patted Jade on the back.
"But you must promise me, once we get there, you absolutely cannot leave my sight. Not even for a second."
"Yes, sir! Uncle Jackie!"
Jade's face changed instantly; the tears vanished, and she gave a cheeky salute with a grin.
Gion leaned against the cabin wall, watching this scene with a cool detachment.
Although this group seemed unreliable, the look in this little girl's eyes... wasn't bad.
That kind of courage to face a monster for the sake of family—she had seen it in many excellent Marine soldiers.
"Hey, Big Sister."
Having settled Jackie, Jade immediately scooted over to Gion.
Her eyes beamed as she stared at Konpira at Gion's waist, then glanced at Gion's long, powerful legs.
"Can you teach me Kung Fu?"
Jade excitedly threw a few punches and kicks. The movements were childish, but there was a cleverness to them.
"You want to learn?"
Gion looked down at this little girl who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, casually adjusting the collar of her coat.
"Uh-huh!"
Jade nodded vigorously, the orange hair clips on her head bobbing along.
"Then listen well."
Gion pushed gently with her left thumb. Konpira made a crisp click, revealing an inch of snow-bright blade.
The cold glint looked particularly piercing in the dim cabin light, and a sharp aura that made one's skin prickle instantly filled the air.
"What I am best at... is swordsmanship for killing."
Gion's voice was very flat. It didn't sound like she was speaking to an elementary school student, but rather addressing recruits at boot camp.
Jade stared at the exposed blade. Far from being scared, she couldn't help but reach out, wanting to touch the cold steel.
"Whoa..."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Jackie let out a strange yelp, pouncing like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, blocking Jade from the sword.
He waved his hands wildly, looking at Gion with horror.
"Ms. Gion! What are you doing? She's just a child! An elementary school student!"
Jackie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, speaking as fast as a machine gun.
"What she should be learning is how to do her math homework, or how to clean her room, not taking such a dangerous thing to... to chop people up!"
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