CHAPTER 59

C59: Infighting

In the dim-lit Chinese restaurant, a moment of uneasy silence lingered.

Matt Murdock, adjusting the gauze on his arm, turned toward Ah Xing and asked in a low, thoughtful voice, "Ah Xing, in Penglai—where you're from—is there any connection to immortality? Anything like the kind of unnatural life extension the Hand seems to possess?"

Can I pretend I didn't hear that?

Back in the antique shop, Li Ran sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd only invoked "Penglai" earlier to throw Jessica off his scent. Who knew the lie would boomerang back this quickly?

In Marvel canon, Madame Gao's longevity stemmed from her ties to The Hand, whose leaders had prolonged their lives using the substance derived from the remains of a celestial dragon in K'un-Lun. But how the lie he'd crafted had linked that to Penglai Island—one of China's mythical Isles of the Immortals—was something else entirely.

Everyone in the restaurant had now turned their eyes toward him. With no escape, Li Ran reluctantly had his clone speak up.

The price of worldbuilding was coming due—with interest.

"Penglai?" Jessica echoed, brows furrowed.

"Yeah," Luke Cage explained, arms folded. "He's from a place called Penglai—some legendary island in Chinese mythology. Supposed to be east of Bohai Sea. Said to be a paradise where the Immortals live, kinda like Themyscira or Nanda Parbat in DC terms."

[Fame from Jessica Jones +30]

Li Ran, seeing the system notification, found a sliver of relief. But the pressure remained.

"I can't say why the Hand has figured out how to cheat death," said the clone smoothly, "but in Penglai, cultivation can lead to something akin to immortality."

"Wait—are you saying you can train to become immortal?" Jessica asked, eyes narrowing.

[Legend from Daredevil +95]

[Fame from Jessica Jones +60]

[Fame from Luke Cage +75]

"It's not as simple as doing pushups under a waterfall," Li Ran replied. His clone straightened up, warming to the lie—no, narrative. "This is what we call Xiān Dào, the Path of Immortality. Think less Captain America serum, more Doctor Strange—except it involves a lot more blood, sweat, and time."

"'Immortal' as in eternal life?" Luke asked.

Jessica and Matt exchanged glances. Even Matt, seasoned from years of fighting The Hand in Hell's Kitchen, was stunned.

"Xianfa or Immortal Law is a supreme arcane system developed in Penglai. It allows practitioners to reshape their internal life force, or Qi, and connect with the fundamental energies of the cosmos. In DC terms, think of it like tapping into The Speed Force or the Life Equation. In Marvel, it's closer to the mystic arts of Kamar-Taj, or what Iron Fist channels from Shou-Lao the Undying."

The three American heroes looked overwhelmed.

"Immortality takes more than hard work. You need talent, a brush with fate, and the guts to go through with it. Even in Penglai, only a select few like the Island Lord have ever reached that level. The rest of us?" He shrugged. "We train in traditional martial arts—internal styles, Neigong, Qigong, physical forms—just to keep up."

"You're saying all that power you showed... that's just basic fitness training?" Jessica blinked.

[Fame from Jessica Jones +20]

"Let's just say I passed gym class," Li Ran replied through his clone, smiling.

Jessica exhaled and muttered, "If that's 'fitness,' then the Avengers gym must be somewhere on the moon."

Matt let the details settle. The lies—partial as they were lined up well with what he'd learned from Stick and the Chaste. After a moment, he turned to Jessica and offered calmly, "Regardless of how we got here, you clearly stood against the Hand. I'd like to formally invite you to join us. We need people who can fight, and you're clearly one of them."

"Thanks, but I didn't exactly sign up for any team-ups," Jessica replied flatly. "I work alone."

But before she could finish, a deep voice cut across the room:

"I disagree."

The interruption came from Luke Cage. Jessica turned toward him, unimpressed.

"In case you forgot," she said, narrowing her eyes, "I didn't ask to be on your team."

Luke stood up. His size, a wall of muscle under a black hoodie, cast a broad shadow over Jessica. "That fight earlier? That wasn't just brawling in an alley. It was war. And from what I saw, you rely too much on brute strength. That might fly against street thugs but not with people like the Hand. They've killed Avengers. They've infiltrated SHIELD. You're not ready."

Jessica's jaw tightened. "You think I can't handle myself just because I don't wear a cape?"

"No," Luke said calmly. "I think you've got power. But power without skill is just noise."

"I don't need your validation." Jessica's voice rose with her temper. "You want a test? Let's go."

"Gladly," Luke answered.

BANG—

The next moment, a thunderous crash echoed as Jessica's fist collided with Luke's torso. He flew across the room, slamming into another table, shattering wood and dishware. Gasps came from the kitchen. Chairs scraped.

Jessica rolled her aching wrist, eyes sharp.

"Then don't say I didn't warn you."

Across the room, Luke groaned but stood, brushing off splinters with a smirk. "Still standing."

"Good," Jessica replied coldly, "Then maybe you'll stop talking down to me."

They locked eyes. Something unspoken passed between them.

Matt sighed. "Welcome to the team, Jessica."

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