Chapter 25

It was a new day. Chen was jogging happily while he was staring at his opponents. Today was the start of the pro-bending tournament. What made him appear in a good mood was how his last date with Asami. Things had gotten a little bit erotic, and she'd shown a sexual interest in him.

'Now all I need is to wait for the finals, get rid of Amon, and finish him off.'

"You look so happy." Mira, who was in the middle, said.

Chen slightly nodded. "You noticed?"

"She notices every action you make," Hina said from the opposite side.

"Hush." Mira turned to her and hissed.

"Focus girls. We have one ticket." Chen said. "This won't take long anyway."

The referee gave the signal for the two teams to start.

Chen activated his thermal sense. Everything changed to red, orange and yellow. He could see and sense the heat in everybody around him. It gave him the advantage to keep attention on everything, and it removed his blind spot. Still, the range was limited to what he was focusing on. He doubted that his electrical sense would have a way wider range, and he decided to test it later.

The firebender from the opposite team started charging fire as his teammates started attacking. Chen didn't waste such a chance and sent a very quick fire jab, knocking out the guy before he could even think. Since he'd used his purple flame, compressed, a small explosion happened on the guy's chest, knocking him out of the zone, and leaving his chest plate burned.

The audience and the pro-benders turned their heads, almost shocked. Chen turned, put his hands on the ground, and backflipped, sending two fire streams of purple fire. The waterbender was lucky to parry with her water. The earthbender, however, had just got hit by an earth disk. He wasn't lucky to parry, and he was sent out of the ring.

When he stood up on his feet, he didn't need to turn. He lifted his leg and kicked backwards, sending the fire stream with that kick. The waterbender girl, who had been dodging his teammates' efforts, could never expect Chen to attack her while giving his back. His timing, precision and prediction were very high. The fire hit her on the chest, carrying her all the way out.

The bell rang, and the commentary announced the Earthquakes won.

Chen's teammates didn't jump as they usually would. He limited his thermal sense, and he took a deep breath. The audience started clapping for him as he took his helmet off.

His firebending got a few thousand experience points. Other than that, he got 4000 exp and 4500 accumulated experience. It seemed that getting stronger reduced his gaining.

It was expected, given that he'd become a full Grand Master in bending lightning and fire.

"What was that?" Mira walked to him and patted his shoulder.

"I didn't leave you any, my bad," Chen said, thinking that she may be upset he didn't leave her a chance to shine.

"No, I'm talking about that," Mira replied. "I was meaning, how did you do that? You just kicked randomly backwards. That waterbender walked directly to your attack without realising. You don't have eyes behind your head, do you?"

"It's only luck. Don't overthink it." Hina was the one to answer that. She lifted her hand and waved to the audience, who happened to clap for Chen. "Just get attention while there is any."

Taking a deep breath, Chen exhaled a sigh. Mira did the same, before laughing when she realised that they did the same thing.

"That girl never train, so she wouldn't get it," Mira spoke, taking off her helmet.

"I would get it, trust me," Hina said. "I have weird senses."

An auto bridge linked to the ring, and Chen and his team walked out.

"The only time you sense is when you work out that ass," Chen said, rubbing his forehead.

"Or when I ride a bike," Hina smirked. "Wanna feel it too, Chen?"

"One day maybe."

"Hey!" Mira yelled. "That's not appropriate."

Chen shrugged. "Can't we just tease?"

"No, you can't?" Mira shot him a glare.

Rubbing his chin, he lifted his head and said. "As far as I remember, you had agreed to become my friend with benefits."

Chen almost stopped when he noticed something. He was getting over-talkative with his teammates. Usually, he would be the lonely guy type. Somehow, he felt that he'd overtalked.

"Yet no benefits were exchanged." She lowered her head and exhaled in frustration.

"Huh? I think we were about to exchange them. But the equalists kidnapped me. Let's celebrate when we reach the finals" Chen felt the fire energy inside Mira increase. When he turned his head to her, she blushed. She quickly messed with her hair to hide her cheeks.

"At any rate, we qualified," Mira said and her tone seemed low.

"What's the matter?"

"Our next match is against the holder of the title 3 times in a row. I don't think we can win." Mira said.

"You don't think that Chen can win." Hina grabbed Chen from the waist, and he looked at her with wide-open eyes. That was an inappropriate action, and he pushed her hand before it got on his butt.

"I don't think WE can win," Mira assured.

"And why is that?" Chen asked. He suddenly remembered the answer.

"They bribe the referees and fight illegally," Mira replied, quite angry. "We can't cheat, but they can."

They left the ring, getting inside the gates. They then made their way to the changing room.

However, there were some people on their way. Three. Two boys and one girl.

One of the boys was tall, around 188 cm, had a lean body, short black hair, and yellow eyes. He was skinny.

Next to him, there was a short boy, around 170 cm. He was buffed and had green eyes and black hair.

As for the girl, it was Korra. He knew her.

"Hey," she said. "Nice match there."

"Thanks." Replied Chen.

"How have you been doing."

"Fine, you?" Chen said.

Mira and Hina stopped, before looking at each other.

"Is this?"

"Yes, the Avatar. I've seen her matches."

"Chen, you know her?" Mira said, seeing how casually they talking.

"Right." Chen nodded, and he pointed at his teammates, before looking at Korra. "These are my teammates, Hina and Mira. Mira and Hina, this Korra, the Avatar, the bender of the four elements."

"She can bend the four elements! Really!" Hina put her hands on her face and opened her eyes widely. "Wow. If not for you, I would never know that."

Everyone chuckled, and Chen put his hand on Hina's head, messing up with her hair. She'd spent a lot of time taking care of hair. Messing it would be perfect revenge. She pulled back.

"Right." Korra faked a cough. She pointed behind her. "These are my teammates. The taller one is Mako, and this is Bolin."

Bolin stepped forward and bowed slightly. "I know we never met. But I'm thankful that you saved my life."

"Saved your life?" Chen pointed at himself, questioning.

He had never done that. He would never do that. He wasn't a good person in the first place. Most of the people he'd interacted with were from the underworld, and he would never consider saving anyone.

"It's about the revaluation." Korra stepped in and looked at Chen's face.

"I remember now." Chen nodded. He happened to remember the revaluation in the police station. He'd mentioned for Korra to save her teammate. But he hadn't been sure. He just had thrown a random detail, and he gave it to the Avatar.

He'd hoped that she would take something from his lead so that she can chase Amon and bother him.

Also, he hadn't been sure it would happen since he didn't know how his action would affect the timeline.

Looking at Bolin, Chen said. "No need to thank me. I didn't save you or anything. Korra did."

Bolin rubbed the back of his head. "But you were the one to reveal that, man. You should have seen the Triple Threat Triad. They've lost all of their bendings. I can't imagine being Bolin without bending earth."

Korra's smile widened a bit. "Still, I wouldn't have known that if it weren't for you."

Chen noticed that Mako was staring at him for too long. He turned to the firebender and said.

"You're looking too long."

"You're familiar. I've seen you before." Mako said.

Chen stared at his face.

Chen. No, Joseph, found that he could recognise Mako's face in his memories.

Before taking over this body, Chen was a gambler with debts. He'd been an orphan, someone who had grown in the streets. People like him had to do some dirty jobs in their beginning to eat.

Mako happened to be a part of Chen's job.

"We have done some job together," Chen said.

"Right. So you have changed your ways too."

"What are you two guys talking about?" Korra asked, tilting her eyebrow.

"We've done some delivery in the past," Mako said

"Yes." Chen still had a stiff expression. "A delivery job."

Bolin was about to say something. But he put his hands on his own mouth.

"By the way. Sai talks too much about you." Mako said. "He always yells at the staff, saying that three of us don't produce half your energy of yours. I must say, your firebending became exceptional since the last time I've seen you.

Chen smiled and felt nostalgic. Sai was the guy who taught him lightningbending. Chen had worked for him long enough to collect money.

"I've retired," Chen said.

"So I did when I paid for the tournament fees," Mako replied.

"Yeah." Chen exhaled a sigh. "If there is nothing left to say, I'll be taking a shower. Now, if you excuse me."

"Wait, there is something I should tell you," Korra said.

Chen stopped. Both he and Korra had been involved somehow against Amon.

Korra did it because she is the Avatar and she believed it was her job to help people

On the other hand, Chen was doing it for revenge. It's easy to say that people should forgive and let things go. Chen had been hurt very much, this world has no therapists. When it came to solving underground conflicts, destroying the other side was always the best way.

Everyone looked at Chen and Korra, waiting for them to say something.

"Let's talk in the corner, alone," Korra said.

Chen said. "Let's talk somewhere else. I'm gonna take a bath and change my clothes for meanwhile."

"Fine with me." Korra nodded.