Valmont felt that Shendu had truly changed.
It was as if he were a completely different person, or a completely different demon. It wasn't just the voice; it was his entire aura. Usually, upon resurrection, Shendu would be fuming, desperately hunting for his lost powers and rushing into a reckless battle with Jackie Chan.
"Go on," Shendu said, giving him a light, encouraging shove toward the bank.
"Wait," Valmont said suddenly. "There's something else I need to do first."
He ran back onto the bus, with Shendu following leisurely behind him. Valmont floored the accelerator, and the city bus roared down the street.
A moment later, he pulled over at a curb and laid on the horn.
Finn looked up. He was dressed in a uniform, clutching a broom as he swept the street. This was his life now: a lowly street sweeper.
"Boss? What are you doing here?" Finn asked, bewildered.
Valmont didn't explain. He simply shouted, "Dark Hand, assemble!"
Finn froze. He knew Valmont had become a bus driver, but he thought his old boss had fully embraced the life of a washout, driving by day and drowning his sorrows by night.
Valmont didn't rush him; he simply began a silent countdown.
"One... two... three!"
"I'm in! Boss, which bank are we hitting?!" Finn ditched the broom and took a flying leap through the bus doors.
Meanwhile, Shendu sat in the very back row with his legs crossed, watching the scene in silence. Valmont did possess a certain degree of charismatic leadership. Despite countless failures, it seemed a single sentence from him was enough to make the others follow him into the fire for one more big score.
It made sense why Valmont's first instinct wasn't to loot for himself, but to gather his old, destitute crew.
Next, Valmont tracked down Chow and Ratso, who were busy washing dishes in a restaurant. With barely a word spoken, the two dropped their rags and hopped on the bus. Then came Hak Foo; although they had only collaborated once before, Valmont brought him back into the fold with the same effortless efficiency.
The once-broken Dark Hand was officially reunited on a city bus.
"Boss!" The four men stared at Valmont, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Valmont spun the wheel, swerving toward the bank. "Shendu is back," Valmont said grimly. "And he remembered us."
"Where?!" Ratso jumped up, looking terrified.
Valmont pointed toward the back. Shendu was leaning back in the rear seat, offering the group a dark, knowing smile.
"Shendu...! You're alive? And you look... human?" Chow blurted out.
Flickers of hesitation crossed their faces; they remembered their last failure all too well. They had come away with nothing.
Shendu surveyed them. "I have returned to rule this world once more."
"So, where to? Do we summon your old palace first?" Finn asked tentatively. He was already starting to have second thoughts.
Shendu let out a cold snort. "Foolish! The times have changed. Ruling the world isn't about palaces; it's about power, money, and influence."
"You're right, heh heh," Chow flattered, scratching his head. Why did Shendu seem... smarter? Shouldn't he be acting like a stubborn old fossil, screaming about summoning his palace in Asia to vent his rage?
"What about Jackie Chan?" Hak Foo asked. That man had thwarted their plans so many times he had become a permanent shadow over their psyche.
"Jackie Chan? My old acquaintance? I shall deal with him personally," Shendu murmured.
…
A short while later, the piercing wail of sirens echoed through the streets. Police cars sped past, racing right by the front of Uncle's Rare Finds.
"It has begun! The world is falling into chaos!" Uncle looked toward Tohru and Jackie, who were frantically packing antique vases. "We must hurry! Shendu will surely come for us. We must leave before he remembers we are here!"
"Where are we going?" Tohru asked, confused.
"Somewhere far away from Section 13! This is the Age of Demon Chi!"
"Uncle, surely even you are a match for Shendu?" Jackie asked, pulling a wandering Jade back toward the group. "He just came back. We can use magic to seal him away again!"
"Maybe we can find a super-strong spell, like Jackie says!" Jade added, raising a finger in agreement.
Whack!
Uncle snapped his fingers against Jackie's head. "If the Immortal Deities could not do it, what makes you think Uncle can?"
His voice grew heavy, laced with a trace of genuine fear. "This resurrected Shendu has defeated the Noble Chi. I fear he has no weaknesses. Uncle's chi spells are no match for him. Even if Lo Pei came back to life, it would be useless."
"Maybe there's a sealing spell..."
"There is no such spell," Uncle muttered. "Shendu himself is a powerful master of dark magic. If he has a weakness, he will have hidden it well. Uncle cannot best him..."
"Then why hasn't he destroyed humanity?" Tohru scratched his head.
"Tohru, the Demon Sorcerers are not mere monsters. They bear no specific malice toward humanity, but they have no kindness, either. In the ancient era, all humans were merely their playthings and slaves."
"So, less like demons and more like eight monarchs?" Tohru surmised.
"Like higher-dimensional beings looking down on lower ones?" Jade added astutely.
"Exactly. We must hide as far away as possible before Shendu re-establishes his rule. Uncle will try to use chi magic to cloak us from his tracking."
"It is the only way!" Uncle emphasized.
Nothing could stop a peak Demon Sorcerer except the Immortal Deities. But if even the Immortals had fallen, nothing could change the outcome, unless the world could give birth to a new, powerful force of justice. The Noble Chi was vacant, and something would eventually fill the void, but for now, the balance was gone.
Uncle was unaware that Lü Dongbin had already been sealed.
"We must at least survive until the Noble Chi reacts, but who knows how long that will take..." Uncle muttered to himself.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
It was rhythmic, slow, and calm. The visitor didn't seem to be in a hurry; the knocking sounded once and then stopped.
"Jackie! Go see who is at the door!"
"I know, Uncle! I'm a little busy here!" Jackie wobbled, clutching a massive stack of books.
"I'll get it, Jackie!" Jade skipped to the door and pulled it open.
It was a stranger. A man with an unfamiliar face, wearing a sharp suit and looking utterly composed.
"Hi! Uncle's Rare Finds is closed for the day," Jade said quickly.
"I am looking for someone."
"Looking for someone? Jackie? Uncle? Or Tohru?"
The man shook his head. "I am here for my servants."
"Servants? Sir, there are no servants here," Jade said, looking puzzled.
"No. I see them already."
He stepped directly into the shop. A powerful surge of demon chi erupted, forcing its way inside.
In the next second, Uncle jerked his head up, his heart skipping a beat. His eyes locked onto the newcomer's gaze. The book in his hand hit the floor with a thud as his face turned pale with terror.
"Aiya! He is here!"
————
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