Back in the Rustbucket, Ben sat sulking, lips pursed as if weighed down by frustration.
"Ben, still thinking about Kevin?" Lucian asked with a smile.
"Yeah! That jerk impersonated me, went around wrecking things, and ruined my Alien Hero reputation!" Ben clenched his fists, seething with anger, itching to drag Kevin out again for another three hundred rounds of payback.
Grandpa Max pulled a bowl of raw marinated mantis shrimp from the fridge and began eating enthusiastically. "Mmm... this is fantastic. Truly a rare delicacy!" he muttered between bites.
"Grandpa!" Ben's mood worsened instantly. He was still stewing over Kevin, and here Grandpa was, cheerfully enjoying his "nutritious meal."
"Well," Grandpa Max said after swallowing another bite, "what I mean is... that kid Kevin really needs to see a psychiatrist." He followed the statement with another mouthful of shrimp.
"Huh?" Lucian's eyes narrowed as he walked over, studying the bowl in Grandpa's hands.
The large porcelain bowl was filled with spicy sauces and seasonings, mixed with marinated mantis shrimp, cold noodles, and cucumber slices. Grandpa Max's mouth gleamed with oil as he ate, completely immersed in his feast.
This dish... why does it look so familiar?
"Grandpa, did you learn this recipe from a book?" Lucian asked casually, testing the waters.
Grandpa Max slurped down some enoki mushrooms and replied, "Hmm... of course not. You can't learn a treasure like this from a book. I learned it from a monk in a province in China."
He paused, then continued, "It's called 'Raw Pickled.' That monk said he learned it from someone else before passing it on to me. I heard it originated in the Chaoshan region of southern China."
"I see." Lucian nodded slowly. No wonder it looked familiar—it had roots in China.
"Grandpa, is that the same monk who taught you the San Ju Yen Pien cold remedy?" Gwen asked curiously.
At the mention of that remedy, Ben shuddered. The last time he'd caught a cold, Grandpa had made him drink it—and it was absolutely disgusting. That was also the time Heatblast turned into Iceblast and ended up battling the Bug Monster.
"Hehe, that's him," Grandpa Max said with a chuckle. "The guy's amazing—taught me all kinds of things. Not just cooking and medicine—he even knew martial arts. Come to think of it, it's quite an unforgettable story."
"Tell us!" Gwen's eyes lit up as she leaned closer, eager for the tale.
Lucian was curious too. He wanted to know what kind of man could impress Grandpa Max—the legendary Plumber—so much.
The moment she heard there was a story, Ben forgot all her worries. She grabbed a small stool and plopped down in front of Grandpa, eyes shining. "Grandpa, tell us! I bet this story's gonna be awesome!"
"Alright, alright," Grandpa Max said kindly, smiling with warmth and affection.
Lucian's lips curved slightly. That was Grandpa Max for you—gentle, patient, and endlessly caring toward his family. But when it came to ruthless alien criminals, it was a different story. He'd grab his high-tech weapons and dive headfirst into battle, leaving even the first-generation Vilgax dumbfounded.
No alien would ever imagine that the legendary Plumber—whose very name struck fear across the galaxy—could show such tenderness and heart.
Yet it was precisely that mix of compassion and strength that earned Grandpa Max the respect of countless Plumbers. A man made only of steel and cold resolve could never truly inspire others…
"Alright, kids, Grandpa Max is starting the story." Grandpa Max cleared his throat twice, tilting his head back as a distant, nostalgic look filled his eyes.
The three of them sat upright, side by side, listening intently.
"It was a winter more than thirty years ago..."
That day, Grandpa Max received a mission from Plumber Headquarters to travel to Shennongjia in China and investigate reports of wild men sightings.
Originally, the investigation was supposed to be handled by the local Plumbers in China. However, the moment they entered Shennongjia, all contact with headquarters was lost. Suspecting alien interference, the Plumber leadership immediately ordered the young and promising Max to go as backup—to investigate the so-called Shennongjia wild men and rescue the missing team.
Back then, Grandpa Max was still young, full of energy and confidence. Without hesitation, he accepted the mission, not sparing a thought for the dangers ahead.
"Whoa, wild men! This is gonna be awesome!" Ben exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Don't interrupt, doofus. Grandpa, keep going," Gwen scolded, giving him a light smack.
Grandpa Max chuckled softly and continued.
It was a freezing morning.
Winter in Shennongjia blanketed the mountains in snow. The biting wind howled through the forest like a devil's whisper, echoing endlessly in one's ears.
A young Max and his partner Phil arrived by helicopter, flying thousands of kilometers from the West. Their entrance was nothing short of dramatic—they parachuted down from high altitude, fully armed in blue combat suits, landing right in the middle of the forest.
Waiting for them was Chen Xuzhi, a monk from Guangdong Province who served as a forest ranger in Shennongjia.
He was a frail-looking man, slightly stooped, barely over five feet tall, and so thin he looked as if a strong wind could blow him over. His white hair and deeply wrinkled face gave him the appearance of a frail elder. He walked hunched, each step slow and shaky, punctuated by a soft cough every now and then.
Following behind, Max couldn't help worrying the old man might collapse into a ravine at any moment. He quickly stepped forward to help him up—but to his surprise, Chen Xuzhi brushed him off effortlessly with a light wave of the hand.
Max was taken aback. He hadn't used much force, but for an old man to push him aside so easily was no simple feat.
He held back his questions for the time being. They had a mission to complete, and the terrain was dangerous. Between wild beasts and the potential threat of the "wild men," every step required caution.
Chen Xuzhi first led Max and Phil to his campsite. After brewing them each a cup of tea, he began reporting everything he knew about the wild men.
As skilled Plumbers, foreign language training was a required skill. Though Max and Phil's Chinese was a little clumsy, it was enough to communicate without issue.
It turned out that Chen Xuzhi had been the first to spot the wild men. But instead of acting recklessly, he immediately reported it to headquarters and requested the Plumbers' assistance.
"Old man, I have a question," Phil said suddenly, his gaze landing on a hunting rifle leaning in the corner.
"Go ahead," Chen Xuzhi replied calmly. His face was unreadable as he refilled their cups of tea.
Phil stepped forward, picked up the rifle, and examined it closely.
"A weapon of this caliber would be more than enough to deal with ordinary animals. You could easily bring down a lion with it. And according to the report, you had this rifle when you first encountered the wild man."
Phil's tone was cold, his eyes narrowing as he studied the monk carefully.
"That's right. But what of it?" Chen Xuzhi said lightly.
"Then why didn't you shoot?"
...
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