Chapter 31 · Old Xu's Last Bet

The floor kept cracking under Chen Feng's feet. That hum from below wasn't stopping. It climbed up through his shins and made his new iron fingers twitch.

Steel Claw stepped back. First time Chen had seen him do that.

"You feel it." Steel Claw's voice came out tight. "That's mine."

Chen didn't answer. The black nails in his head were louder now. Not words. Just hunger. He took another step and more concrete split open. A piece of the floor fell away. Down in the dark something glowed dull red.

Meteor iron.

He knew it the way he'd known the rusted lump three years ago was different. The way his body knew before his brain caught up.

"Chen Feng, stop." Old Xu's voice cut through the noise.

Chen turned. Old Xu was standing at the edge of the crowd. His face looked older than it had this morning. He had both hands up like he was calming a dog.

"Don't do it," Old Xu said.

Steel Claw laughed. It sounded like metal scraping. "Tell him the rest, old man."

Old Xu didn't move. Chen watched his mentor's jaw work.