Chapter 20 · Steel Claw Wants a Look

The boiler room door kicked open before Old Xu could say another word about the mark.

Three men. Black jackets, the kind that didn't wrinkle no matter how much blood got on them. The one in front had a shaved head and a scar that split his lip into two pieces when he smiled.

"Heard there's a kid here who eats metal." His voice scraped like a blade on concrete. "Steel Claw wants to meet him."

Chen yanked his shirt back on. The black mark on his chest felt hot under the fabric. Old Xu stepped in front of him, hands up, trying to look harmless.

"Don't know what you're talking about. This is just a gym. Kids train here."

The scarred man laughed. It wasn't a good sound. "Yeah? Then why's this one got copper in his teeth?"

He moved fast. Grabbed Chen's jaw and forced his mouth open. Chen tasted cigarettes and something metallic on the man's fingers. The guy stared at his teeth for three seconds, then let go and wiped his hand on his pants.

"Shit. It's true." He looked back at the other two. "Go get the girl."

Chen's blood went cold.