Chapter 05: Harleen's Transformation, Crisis Averted
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"Harleen, stay here." After clarifying his goal, Jiang Li turned, placed his hands on Harleen's shoulders, and said:
"I'm going to deal with the culprit behind this incident."
When Harleen heard Jiang Li was leaving, she immediately shook her head frantically, "No, no, you can't leave me! I'm scared!"
Seeing Harleen so dependent, Jiang Li couldn't help but sigh internally.
Setting aside how dangerous Scarecrow himself was, Scarecrow would definitely find some unlucky guys to act as bodyguards because of Batman.
If Harleen followed, it would be difficult for Jiang Li during the fight. He would have to both fight the enemy and protect Harleen. It was better to have her hide.
Jiang Li grabbed a wooden mallet from nearby, tested its quality—it was enough for Harleen to protect herself—and then handed the mallet to her.
"Harleen, if someone comes near and tries to hurt you, take this hammer and smash them. Remember, don't hesitate, and don't hold back."
What Jiang Li didn't know was that this action of his would completely change Harleen's future.
"I... Okay, then you have to come back quickly." Seeing Jiang Li's insistence, Harleen couldn't help but grip the wooden mallet in her hand tightly and said to him.
"Mhm, I promise I will definitely come back."
As soon as he finished speaking, Harleen actively hugged Jiang Li, stunning even him. After hugging for about five seconds, Harleen actively separated.
Then, she ran into the store and hid under the counter, quietly waiting for Jiang Li's return.
"Sigh, what a good girl." The more Harleen acted like this, the less Jiang Li wanted her to become Harley.
These things could only be worried about later. Jiang Li turned and ran toward the mall's interior.
"The Gotham Mall is a large, three-story shopping center. I have to find the most suitable place for releasing the gas."
He remembered the Gotham Mall had ventilators on the roof. That was probably the best place for Scarecrow to release the gas.
While Jiang Li was heading to the roof, something was happening back where Harleen was hiding.
Harleen hid under the counter. Jiang Li had been gone for nearly ten minutes.
The more she heard the screams and sounds of fighting from outside, the faster Harleen's heart beat. She couldn't help but grip the wooden mallet tighter, praying in her heart for Jiang Li's safety and his swift return.
*Da, da.* Suddenly, Harleen heard footsteps. Tense and missing Jiang Li, she subconsciously thought he had returned.
"Li!"
As Harleen excitedly stood up and turned to look at the source of the footsteps, she didn't see the Jiang Li she was longing for.
It was a man covered in blood. His eyes were bright red, veins bulged on his face, and his blood vessels showed a distinct dark brown color.
He was clearly also a victim of the fear gas.
The man heard Harleen's shout. He turned to look at her, but he didn't see a blonde beauty; he saw a monster with sharp fangs in its mouth.
"There's one here! Ahh!!" When the man saw Harleen, it was as if he had seen a great enemy. He immediately grabbed the fire axe in his hand and charged at her.
"Ah!" Harleen quickly dodged. Fortunately, the man had already consumed most of his stamina in the previous slaughter; otherwise, Harleen would have found it difficult to dodge the axe.
"Huff... huff..." The man panted heavily, turning to look at Harleen again, preparing to launch his next attack.
"Don't..." Harleen glanced at the wooden mallet in her hand, then at the man in front of her with blood-red eyes, who wanted to take her life.
"Don't back down, Harleen. Li wanted you to do this..."
After an internal struggle, she decided not to shrink back, remembering Jiang Li's words to her.
"Ahhh!!" Harleen shouted, then raised the wooden mallet high and smashed it accurately and forcefully onto the man's head.
"Thud!!"
The heavy blow instantly cracked the man's head open. Blood flowed freely, some even splattering onto Harleen's hand.
The man immediately fell into his own blood, deader than dead.
Knowing she had killed someone, Harleen, as if frightened, threw the blood-stained mallet to the ground. She trembled all over, staring at the blood on her hands.
"I did it... Li."
The corners of Harleen's mouth began to curve slightly upward.
She did it. She had followed Jiang Li's advice. For some reason, a tiny trace... of excitement... began to grow in her heart. An excitement born from killing someone.
On the other side.
Jiang Li reached the roof of the Gotham Mall. Sure enough, he saw Scarecrow, who looked like he was wearing a burlap sack on his head, releasing fear gas.
"Hmm? Not the Bat? Who are you?" Scarecrow saw Jiang Li's figure and questioned him.
But Jiang Li didn't stand there to answer. He started running, charging quickly toward Scarecrow.
Scarecrow was naturally prepared. Several tall, sturdy men immediately ran out from the side, their eyes bloodshot. Upon seeing Jiang Li, they charged like madmen.
They were naturally no match for Jiang Li. He gave each one a punch, and they fell directly to the ground.
But when Jiang Li turned his head, Scarecrow's figure had disappeared. The empty roof had no one else besides him and the passersby on the ground.
Only Scarecrow's fear toxin and vaporization device were left on the ground. Jiang Li stepped forward and stomped the toxin and device to pieces. After confirming, Jiang Li had no choice but to turn and leave.
After all, Harleen was waiting for him.
In fact, what Jiang Li didn't know was that not far away, there was a tall crane. At the very top of the crane, a black figure was looking down.
"Ah... Let me go! Bat!" Scarecrow was hanging upside down from the crane, suspended by Batman, shouting curses at him.
Batman was indifferent to this. He had just intervened to take Scarecrow away. Although he was surprised why Jiang Li was here, the main point was that he knew if Scarecrow fell into Jiang Li's hands, he would be dead if not maimed.
Having grown up with him, he knew very well that Jiang Li was ruthless. At the same time, he didn't want Jiang Li's hands to be stained with blood. Going to jail for scum like Scarecrow wasn't worth it.
Although his hands were already stained with blood, he had helped him create an alibi.
The police were here. To prevent the worst from happening, he "rescued" Scarecrow, and then he would personally deliver him to prison.
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