Marvel: Killing Makes You Stronger

Chapter 22: Mutant Encounter

At the crack of dawn, Natasha was dressed in a colorful floral dress, her usual burgundy ponytail now transformed into slightly curled wavy hair, complementing her graceful figure and charmingly beautiful face.

Her exquisite makeup added a mature allure, making her irresistibly attractive to men.

Bi Xiao, on the other hand, wore a relatively loose white sweater with a red jacket, paired with jeans and a baseball cap, his model-like stature making him look like a handsome and sunny boy.

When the two met on the street, Natasha, feigning nonchalance, was holding a small bag while openly linking arms with Bi Xiao, displaying an intimate demeanor.

Bi Xiao glanced at the woman and felt no aversion in his heart.

After all, she was indeed very beautiful.

Moreover, he was currently at the prime of his physical youth, which plainly speaking, was his most impulsive age. If it weren't for his sufficient rationality, and the subtle charms this woman had previously shown, he would have likely been ensnared by her already.

All he could say was that the soft feeling was wonderful.

He quite liked it.

Near Queens, there are many Chinatowns, but the most famous one is in Flushing, which not only houses Chinese immigrants but also others from countries like Korea, Spain, Africa, and India, making this Chinatown truly East Asian in flavor.

However, Chinese descendants still make up the majority.

In the park, one can see groups of older ladies dancing and elderly men playing chess; in the malls, young girls with a bubble tea in hand, excitedly discussing the latest movies;

On the streets, both Caucasians and African-Americans can be seen calling out sales in imperfect but fluent Chinese.

Here, one can find unique Chinese dishes and goods, such as Lanzhou noodles, big plate chicken, pig's feet rice, and other special products.

There are also street stalls selling Chinese goods, such as lucky decorations and more.

Natasha, full of enthusiasm, pulled Bi Xiao along, seemingly very interested in Chinese culture. Bi Xiao, indifferent, knew that this woman was a top-notch spy, well-versed in major countries' cultures and languages from a young age.

However, it's likely that her interest was genuine, considering her frequent missions for SHIELD.

After all, working for such a ruthless boss meant scarce rest times.

Moreover, she was initially a target of SHIELD's pursuit, and in order to prove her sincerity, she had to take on frantic assignments.

A rare moment of leisure, relaxing her tense nerves, would undoubtedly bring her joy.

Bi Xiao, uninterested in managing her, also leisurely strolled through Chinatown, noting that the area's streets, architecture, and culture highly coincided with the East, along with a few Korean-owned shops among others, making the cultural blend quite interesting.

It inevitably made him reminisce about the era and city of his memories.

Natasha, clinging to Bi Xiao's arm, seemed mostly focused on the street snacks or decorations, but part of her attention was still on the young man beside her.

When she noticed Bi Xiao's emotional fluctuations, she wasn't surprised.

According to Bi Xiao's data, he had been brought to New York by his parents at a very young age and had lived there for many years, and childhood memories always touch people's hearts.

This is a normal human emotion.

"Wow~~~ Look at that, isn't it incredible? Is that magic?" Suddenly, Natasha exclaimed excitedly, pulling Bi Xiao towards a crowd ahead.

Pushing through the crowd, they saw a young Asian man performing dazzling "magic."

With a mask adorned with mysterious patterns, he skillfully changed to another mask of a different color with a wave of his hand, the transformation between the masks happening instantaneously, displaying his incredible skill.

Even Natasha, with her top-notch observation skills and intelligence, couldn't spot any flaws or traces in his act.

Later, Natasha saw the young man conjure a flame in his hand, which danced and transformed, even turning into a mini fire tiger that roared and ran lifelike in his palm.

This spectacle drew exclamations of amazement from the crowd, the enthusiastic atmosphere affirming the young man's incredible skills.

Natasha, like a little girl discovering a new world, excitedly clapped and cheered.

Bi Xiao, however, watched the Asian young man thoughtfully.

"The earlier tricks were traditional magic, very normal, but that flame transformation, a mutant, perhaps?"

A mutant using such means to make a living in Chinatown, using magic as a cover, was indeed a clever approach, but unfortunately, it still posed a risk to himself.

Bi Xiao's gaze casually swept around.

Several people, both men and women, appeared to be casual tourists, but their demeanor, eye contact, and the subtle conversations through communicators revealed their identities.

Bi Xiao noticed this, and Natasha, as a top-level agent, naturally wasn't oblivious.

She remained composed, though her eyes flickered slightly, her thoughts racing. Initially, she hadn't suspected that the Asian young man performing "Magic" was under scrutiny.

Instead, she thought Bi Xiao's identity as the infamous butcher might have been exposed.

She knew how formidable this sunny boy was; within SHIELD, his combat skills were nearly unmatched, even surpassing trusted agents like Hawkeye.

If those people were to expose Bi Xiao's identity and trigger a battle in a busy area, the casualties could be unimaginable.

Crucially, if they couldn't capture Bi Xiao, the destruction he could cause would be astounding.

This would also cause her mission to utterly fail, and personally and professionally, she did not wish for this young man to be exposed among the major organizations, an undoubtedly dark prospect.

However, Natasha soon realized that the people keeping watch seemed not to be focused on Bi Xiao, but rather on the Asian young man still performing "Magic.”