[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-8":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Mental Mentor in Marvel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2322576,4544,"Chapter 8: The Return of the Nightwatchman—Empty-Handed","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>On his way back to the apartment, Shi Ler could clearly sense someone following him; the enhanced vision from his spider-sense allowed him to see someone watching him from across the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building opposite was entirely glass, and one small window reflected light differently from the rest, which Shi Ler sharply noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chose to open his clinic in Hell’s Kitchen for a reason; after days of observation, he had already mapped out the residents’ routines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most residents here were white-collar workers and elite professionals—mostly single, with highly regular work hours and fixed social circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living among such people made it far too easy for agents to spot weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hell’s Kitchen was different: though it was Manhattan’s, New York’s, and even America’s largest slum and gang hub, its high population density, heavy foot traffic, large number of strangers, and tangled network of small and large gangs made it the perfect place for someone like Shi Ler, who simply wanted to blend in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life in the luxury apartment was comfortable, but not necessarily freer than Hell’s Kitchen. Shi Ler believed that if he stayed in that apartment a few more days, at least four or five neighbors would become S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and all kinds of unidentifiable people would find ways to approach him, extracting information—about him, or about Stark. That was S.H.I.E.L.D.’s way; they didn’t care whether you wanted privacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hell’s Kitchen differed slightly from Gotham. Though countless gangs operated there, it was less dangerous than Gotham.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was mostly filled with the poor, gamblers, and addicts—no Scarecrow, no Joker, no major villains worth naming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast majority of its people were ordinary; though guns and drugs were rampant, victims were mostly ordinary citizens, not superpowered individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ler planned to make it his first base in the Marvel universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stark’s efficiency was high; soon, he managed to pressure some congressmen into allocating a hospital slot in Hell’s Kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some congressmen used the opportunity to loudly proclaim their kindness, claiming New York would never abandon any citizen—but they never expected the hospital to actually open. After all, this was Hell’s Kitchen—the place where even devils got cooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Open a hospital there? Don’t make jokes. Unless you built it like a concentration camp—with tanks and cannons piled at the entrance, and every doctor and nurse armed with machine guns, there might be a chance. Otherwise, every single drug inside would be looted overnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how much the congressmen doubted it, or how numb the people of Hell’s Kitchen were, a small psychological clinic was established there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Manhattan’s most famous and largest slum, the “eight blocks” was merely a nickname.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, its reach extended far beyond eight blocks—dozens of winding streets crisscrossed, with roughly a hundred gangs tangled together like teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some said Kingpin was the boss of Hell’s Kitchen, but that wasn’t true; Kingpin’s operations stretched far beyond Hell’s Kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His criminal network spanned the entire eastern United States and the East Coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His business covered all of America. Hell’s Kitchen might have been involved in some of his drug and smuggling operations, but he neither lived there nor constantly monitored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daredevil, born in Hell’s Kitchen, was his mortal enemy—but they rarely fought within Hell’s Kitchen. Spider-Man, who had clashed with Kingpin several times, was still just a clueless high schooler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kingpin’s ambitions went far beyond controlling Hell’s Kitchen; he didn’t care about the chaos there. Every day brought gang wars, robberies, kidnappings, brawls, and disappearances—minor disturbances meant nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Kingpin, far away in San Francisco, heard that several of his men in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen had gone insane, he simply assumed they’d taken too many drugs and paid it no mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in Hell’s Kitchen, a terrifying rumor began to spread: they heard that in a small psychological clinic at the end of Mary Street, Ninth Tail Alley, lived a terrifying mad doctor—every gang member who came to collect protection money or extort him soon fled in terror, then went mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incident caused a stir; nearly all of Mary Street had heard whispers, and rumors spread rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One told ten, ten told a hundred—everyone knew not to go to Ninth Tail Alley; there was a terrible curse that made you see your deepest fears and drive you insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, when Shi Ler began venturing out, people learned he was the owner of the clinic in Ninth Tail Alley—and realized it wasn’t a ghost, but a strange psychologist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Shi Ler’s explanation, those gang bosses had done too many wicked things; he had simply given them some friendly psychological counseling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why they went insane? Perhaps it was karma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Hell’s Kitchen wouldn’t believe him—anyone living there knew that only the wicked got lucky; that was their consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one born in Hell’s Kitchen felt guilt; crime was normal here, criminals were the majority. Guilt? You expected someone who’d been selling guns and drugs, fighting, threatening, and gambling since their teens to have a conscience? How could such a person feel guilt—let alone go insane from it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone who heard the story believed Shi Ler was a black magician who could curse people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ler, however, made no effort to explain. The fear toxin he brought from DC worked well—even the original version was effective against ordinary people without powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he discovered he could carry objects with him while traveling between the two worlds, he’d entertained the idea of becoming a smuggler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Marvel and DC had different power systems, there were many things that could be traded between them—and even more that could be exchanged to fight each other’s enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, if Shi Ler used fear toxin in Gotham, and Jonathan Crane saw the patients’ symptoms, he’d immediately recognize it as his own toxin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in Marvel, how could Jonathan know anything about Marvel? Shi Ler could use it without paying any royalties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this terrifying rumor spread, no gang member dared trouble Shi Ler again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the consequence of mingling with these criminals was that a superhero came knocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On a slightly chilly night in Manhattan, Shi Ler had just brewed a cup of hot coffee, locked and sealed his clinic door, and prepared to end his day of slacking off and get a good night’s sleep before continuing to bother Stark tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he placed the coffee cup on the table, he heard a sharp sound at the door. Turning around, in the dim light, he saw a tall man in a red bodysuit standing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ler turned, picked up the coffee cup, and said: “You’re a bit late, Mister Daredevil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know me, doctor?” Daredevil said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I know you, Daredevil. You’re famous in Hell’s Kitchen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’ve only been here a short while,” Daredevil said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I know your other identity better—Matt Murdock.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daredevil was stunned—he had no idea how Shi Ler knew his true identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Daredevil could ask, Shi Ler continued: “You graduated with honors from Columbia University, and your career path was smooth—you became not only a capable lawyer but also opened your own law firm. Matt, tell me: why become Daredevil? Isn’t the pride of justice enough as a lawyer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lawyer… justice…” Daredevil snorted. “Maybe you think that way. Most people do—believe lawyers should speak for the oppressed. But in reality…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reality? You think lawyers shouldn’t do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course they should—I mean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think you can’t achieve justice as a lawyer? So you chose another path—but can putting on a ridiculous bodysuit and a mask accomplish what your lawyer’s robe couldn’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daredevil growled: “My choices are none of your business!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, your tone just now sounded exactly like a rebellious teenager.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daredevil realized that since entering, he’d been trapped in Shi Ler’s verbal web—the conversation had been controlled from the start. He’d revealed his identity and touched his deepest sensitivities. He took a deep breath, calmed down, and said: “I admit—you’re a good psychologist, and you’re skilled at manipulating conversations. But I still need to ask: who are you? What’s your purpose in Hell’s Kitchen? Why did those people go mad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You asked too many questions. Tonight, I’ll answer only one. Clearly, I’ve worked all day—I’m exhausted. You can’t disturb my rest. After all, I’m not a gang member, and I haven’t broken any laws.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you drove those gang members mad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have no proof.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Police need proof.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think you’re above the police?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop playing games,” Daredevil said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’d listened carefully, you’d know where I’m from—and how I knew your identity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daredevil’s head throbbed. He hated dealing with cunning opponents—it forced him to stay hyper-focused. But his earlier emotional disturbance had erased his memory of their initial exchange; now, his mind was blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he couldn’t answer, he’d look foolish—so he stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems you’ve forgotten our conversation just a minute ago. I didn’t know becoming a superhero meant losing your memory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daredevil silently swore to remember every word Shi Ler said from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two years ago, I taught at Columbia University. I saw the list of outstanding graduates—your name was on it, Matt. When you filled out your post-graduation plans, you wrote you’d open a law firm in Kansas. Though I’m a psychology professor, I knew your former teacher—he mentioned to me that you’d achieved your dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t change the subject. I want to know: how did you know Daredevil was Matt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You probably don’t remember, but when you first took up this path, you wore the black-and-yellow outfit your father wore during his matches. After arriving in Hell’s Kitchen, I went to an underground boxing match—and oddly, the owner never changed the fighters’ uniform designs to save costs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I realized Daredevil must be from here, and connected to the underground fight scene. After investigation, I found all the gang members you killed were linked to your father’s death. Once I uncovered your father’s identity, yours was easy to find.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you investigate me? Are you guilty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing serious. When you rent a place, you should know who your landlord is, what they do, and ideally, get on good terms with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not your landlord,” Daredevil snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Then I must’ve mistaken you. I should’ve gone to Kingpin. But I seem to have made an enemy of him—I vaguely recall one of those gang members who visited me mentioning his boss was Kingpin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kingpin? You have news about him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Somewhat. Consider it rent payment: I heard one of his men say their boss is growing impatient with a kid called Daredevil—he plans to hire someone to kill you, this fly. So you’d better watch yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Daredevil hurried back to his base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after returning did he realize—he had achieved none of his goals tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t figured out who Shi Ler was, hadn’t warned him to behave, hadn’t confirmed any link between him and the gangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still didn’t know how Shi Ler had driven those people mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matt slapped his forehead. Suddenly, he realized Shi Ler’s analogy was right—he’d rented a house to an unknown tenant who’d paid rent in advance, leaving him powerless to force him out, forced to watch him stroll freely through Hell’s Kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>",1878,"2026-06-20T16:39:12.484Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ddd3931f78795acf69f03e776629be877b973e86313e0d3f3b0de079c4c0ccb3","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-9","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-7",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-cover.jpg"]