Chapter Forty-Four: Boasting

“Typically, when someone is wounded by a sharp weapon, the muscles or internal organs display one or more neat cuts—it’s almost an iron rule.”
“But hers is different!”
Hearing this, Coulson’s eyes widened slowly. He hurriedly asked, “How is it different?”
He looked so eagerly attentive, like a reader confronted with a novel notorious for short chapters and abrupt cliffhangers.
Zhong Shenxiu didn’t keep Coulson in suspense for long. He drew a breath and explained, “The wounds inside her body are disordered in a way that simply couldn’t be caused by an ordinary blade.”
“They’re as chaotic as erratic sparks of electricity… In fact, I have a feeling that the agent wasn’t injured by a mere electrified spear, but rather a spear made entirely of concentrated, powerful electrical current!”
“I doubt this is some advanced technology or anything easily explained. Electric currents are inherently lively, and under high voltage, they dart about like mad dogs. To condense them into the shape of a spear requires extraordinary power.”
Zhong Shenxiu’s expression remained unchanged as he shamelessly praised himself… Ah, I hadn’t realized I was so remarkable!
After hearing all this, Coulson understood what Zhong Shenxiu was implying. He asked, “So you mean… this was the work of a superhuman?”
Zhong Shenxiu nodded in agreement.
The fish was already swimming along the path he’d laid out, so he needn’t guide further.
His purpose in bringing this to Coulson’s attention was also his second goal—to shift S.H.I.E.L.D.’s focus away from Ingram Street.
Just by mentioning it, Coulson would inevitably start looking into superhumans with electrical abilities; that was certain.
And if Zhong Shenxiu used the Thunder Spear elsewhere, it would draw attention away just as he intended.
All he’d done was tag his new identity, and that tag would help S.H.I.E.L.D. investigate him under this guise… Which, for Zhong Shenxiu, was advantageous.
As for the contingency he’d left with Agent May—
That would depend on her reaction upon waking. Whether she believed his performance or not, Zhong Shenxiu felt he’d acted convincingly, but sometimes a woman’s intuition… That could be a terrifying thing.
He wondered if May had told Coulson anything yet… Likely not. With such severe wounds, she’d probably lost consciousness before Coulson found her…
Zhong Shenxiu watched Agent May thoughtfully.
Suddenly!
He noticed her finger twitch—subtle enough that Coulson didn’t even see it.
She’s waking up… Truly worthy of the title ‘agent,’ Zhong Shenxiu mused, then spoke, “She’s waking up…”

No sooner had he spoken than Agent May opened her dark eyes.
Zhong Shenxiu glanced over, catching Coulson’s look of awe as if he were facing a miracle worker, silently praising, Brother, you really are astounding, to predict even this.
With a faint smile curling at precisely 16.666 degrees, Zhong Shenxiu said nothing more.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
“May, are you feeling better?” Coulson stepped forward, concern in his voice.
May… Hearing that name, Zhong Shenxiu couldn’t help but drift for a moment, recalling the voluptuous Italian beauty next door… He glanced at Agent May before him… Yes, the two were worlds apart.
Agent May was extremely weak, answering with a barely audible hum as she lifted her right hand. Seeing her hand, so thin it resembled a skeleton, her brow twitched—but only slightly.
Such composure was befitting an agent; were it any ordinary woman, a sonic attack would be inevitable at this point.
“It was Mr. Zhong who treated you,” Coulson gestured at Zhong Shenxiu, introducing him to May.
As May turned her head, Zhong Shenxiu smiled and added, “Your injuries were quite serious. I’d estimate you’ll need a few more days before you’re fully recovered.”
I’ll need a few more days to milk this for all it’s worth… Zhong Shenxiu thought to himself.
At that, a trace of shock finally appeared in May’s usually impassive dark eyes.
She was well aware of how grave her injuries were.
She’d waited for Coulson as long as she could, knowing that once she lost consciousness, there was a ninety-nine percent chance she’d never wake again.
Yet, according to this handsome young man, she needed only a few days to heal completely. He even possessed the technique for limb regeneration—surely a medical genius…
Coulson hadn’t disclosed any specifics about Zhong Shenxiu, so May didn’t immediately associate him with superhuman abilities.
Mr. Zhong… So this is ‘Shenxiu Zhong,’ the one I was sent to protect?
Only now did May understand the Director’s intentions—this was indeed a talent S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn’t afford to lose.
Still… Sent to protect him, and now I’m the one being rescued.
With that thought, May sighed, but then her eyes suddenly widened as she urgently asked Coulson, “How long was I unconscious?”
“About ten minutes,” Coulson answered honestly.
“Ten minutes… That’s not too late…”

“Wait, May, don’t get up. Your injuries are still severe.” Coulson rushed to stop May as she tried to rise from the stretcher.
May leaned close to Coulson’s ear and whispered, “There’s no time. It’s some kind of ritual. The mastermind behind it is the Crimson Baron. I overheard, ‘Next… Moscow!’”
Her voice was so faint it could barely be described as a mosquito’s buzz.
No ordinary person could have heard her exchange with Coulson.
But Zhong Shenxiu was no ordinary person! His mental faculties had improved greatly, and his physical abilities were vastly enhanced by the Chaotic Body.
To him, May’s whisper sounded as loud as normal speech.
Looks like my contingency plan took the bait—
Zhong Shenxiu was pleased; his secondary objective was accomplished. Still, he feigned curiosity, saying,
“What are you two whispering about? Let me in on it.”
Though this seemed a bit out of character—too nosy—it cleverly implied he hadn’t actually overheard their conversation.
“Sorry, Mr. Zhong, this is S.H.I.E.L.D. business,” Coulson replied seriously, ever the good-natured one.
“All right, all right.”
Zhong Shenxiu waved his hand, pretending to be indifferent yet inwardly curious.
Such behavior was less likely to arouse suspicion.
Sure enough, Coulson’s demeanor remained normal; to him, Zhong Shenxiu’s reaction was perfectly routine—he’d met dozens of people like this on any given mission, so nothing seemed amiss.
“How would you feel about letting May complete her treatment here?” Coulson asked politely.
Before Zhong Shenxiu could answer, May was the first to object, whispering again in Coulson’s ear, “You don’t know how terrifying that person is…”
The gist being that she had experience and insisted on going herself.
Zhong Shenxiu, not to be outdone, said, “It’s fine, but… you’ll need to pay!”