Welcome to Nepal

"It was really difficult to find you. I never expected you to evade the Department of Defense and end up in Guatemala."

"But, on another note, Guatemala is quite a scenic country. Even though it's a bit poor, the coastline is long, and there are several unique cultural ruins. It's quite a good place for a vacation."

Listening to the woman next to him chatter away, Dr. Bruce Banner rubbed his temples in frustration. How did he end up here? Unless someone had sedated him while he slept, there was no way he would have been unaware—Hulk's beast-like instincts would have forced him to wake up.

He noticed that his clothes had been changed into a set of white pajamas, clearly expensive from the stitching. The interior of the cabin was similarly decorated with a lavish, almost ostentatious taste. The plane was flying, but he had no idea where it was headed.

His gaze drifted back to the woman in the gray suit seated on the sofa. She looked somewhat familiar, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't recall where he had seen her before.

"Who are you, and what's your purpose in bringing me here? Where is this plane headed?"

He looked at the woman warily. Hulk's primal instincts were constantly warning him that, despite her seemingly ordinary appearance, the woman radiated a dangerous aura, forcing him to remain on guard.

"Come on, don't be so formal... I'm not sure if you remember, but if I'm correct, our first meeting was two years ago at the MIT Science Innovation Conference, Dr. Banner."

Seeing Banner's cautious expression, a mischievous smile crept across Miss Stark's face. She gazed at him with interest, the kind of gaze that made Banner, wrapped in his blanket, feel slightly uneasy. He felt as if her eyes were scanning him invasively from head to toe.

Indeed, Hulk was a fascinating phenomenon, possessing immense strength. However, rather than the uncontrollable, temperamental giant, she was more interested in Banner himself, admiring this genius scientist who was no less brilliant than herself.

"You... you're just like the others, aren't you? After the monster inside me, you want to study me, cut me open, dissect me?"

Banner's face went pale at Miss Stark's words. He didn't care about whether he had met this woman before; he just didn't want to end up locked in a cage again, used as a stepping stone for someone else's scientific achievements.

"No, I'm not interested in the monster inside you. Maybe others don't see your true value, but I do. Compared to that uncontrollable beast, what I value more is your talent, Dr. Banner."

"I can offer you a job, a good salary, clear your name from that Department of Defense warrant, and... I might even be able to help you with your problem."

At Banner's words, Miss Stark let out a slight snort, dismissing his concerns. Then she dropped a new bait—her voice was like the seductive whisper of a devil, causing a sliver of doubt to form in Banner's heart.

In truth, Hulk was the root cause of Banner's predicament, an ever-present curse that had troubled him for far too long. Banner had long hoped to separate himself from the monster living inside him.

In the past, while on the run, Banner had tried countless methods, even reaching the point of suicidal desperation to free himself. But the monster refused to die with him, preventing him from escaping their shared existence, even intervening to stop him when he attempted to end it all.

"You... you really think you can get rid of it?"

A drowning man will grasp at any straw, no matter how flimsy, if it might offer hope for survival.

"Of course I can. But only if helping you benefits me—work for me, and I'll give you everything I've promised."

"What choice do I have?"

Bruce Banner let out a bitter laugh.

"If you can really help me, I'll work for you."

He was out of options—no money, no identification, carrying a ticking time bomb inside him. He couldn't reintegrate into society unless he could rid himself of the monster. Only then could he even dream of living a normal life again.

"A wise choice. I'm taking you to meet someone—she's the only one who can solve your problem. While you were sleeping, we crossed the Pacific Ocean and are now heading to a place you'd never expect."

Banner got out of bed, slipping on a pair of slippers placed beside it. He walked to the side of the cabin and looked out the window. What he saw wasn't the ocean but a vast expanse of snow-covered mountains stretching into the horizon.

"You still haven't answered my question—where exactly are we headed?"

"Nepal. Kathmandu."

Upon hearing the name, Banner raised an eyebrow. The mention of this familiar city surprised him. He had already been to Kathmandu a year ago. After trying all the scientific approaches he could think of, Banner had considered more traditional methods.

By "traditional," he had hoped to find a way to maintain inner peace through religious means—practices that might lock the beast inside him for good.

He had tried various methods—Japanese Aikido, Chinese Tai Chi, Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, Indian yoga, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His studies had taken him across Asia and Europe before finally bringing him to South America.

These practices had some effect, allowing him to remain calm for over six months—until the Department of Defense's special forces shattered his temporary peace.

What Banner couldn't have imagined was that while he was desperately fleeing from the military, Miss Stark had already made the decision to intervene in his life. She had discussed the situation with the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj, for quite some time before finally reaching an agreement.

Miss Stark wanted to see if the mystical arts of Kamar-Taj could help Banner communicate with Hulk, solve the problem between them once and for all, and perhaps even transform Banner from a brilliant scientist into a sorcerer.

Although the Ancient One had often debated the consequences of altering the future—whether it might create new timelines or parallel universes—she was intrigued by Banner and Hulk's unique existence.

She didn't mind taking on a new student, nor did she mind giving Doctor Strange a senior to learn from in the future. She simply wanted to observe how far Robert Bruce Banner could go when faced with the hidden side of the world and the path of the mystical arts.

Nepal is a small, mountainous country steeped in religion. Its land is limited, with little arable land, which has made it one of the world's poorest economies. Despite this, its people, deeply influenced by their religious beliefs, remain content with their lives. Although their conditions may seem harsh to outsiders, the Nepalese are often satisfied with their lot, not seeking to change it.

Nepal has many airports, most catering to foreign tourists who come to climb Mount Everest. However, the only airport capable of accommodating large aircraft is Tribhuvan International Airport, located in the capital, Kathmandu.

Though called an "international airport," the infrastructure leaves much to be desired. There is only one usable runway, and the airport building itself is a run-down red-brick structure. There's no electronic processing, only simple, manual visa checks.

Fortunately, Nepal often welcomes wealthy foreign tourists, some of whom fly in on private jets for mountaineering expeditions. To cater to these travelers, the Nepalese government offers certain conveniences, like parking spaces for private planes and services such as private car rentals, tour guides, and translators—all available for a fee.

For Miss Stark, money was no issue. After landing her private jet at the airport, she and Banner changed into the tourist outfits they had prepared in advance, disguising themselves as travelers. They hailed a taxi from the airport.

The taxi driver, a very enthusiastic local, eagerly tried to engage them in conversation, thrilled to have foreign tourists in his car. His constant chatter, however, began to annoy Miss Stark, so she casually pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, handed it to him, and promised another hundred as a tip if he could stay quiet for the rest of the ride.

The driver, seeing such generosity, instantly shut his mouth. After all, who would turn down easy money from a wealthy foreigner?

Meanwhile, Banner sat next to Miss Stark, silently observing as she handled the situation with her wealth, slightly taken aback but saying nothing. He wasn't in a position to criticize anyone.

"Honestly, Banner—this country is a bit sad," Miss Stark remarked as they sat in the backseat, looking out at the people walking along the road.

Banner, still holding a large dark-blue canvas backpack in his lap, turned his head to look at her, somewhat surprised by her statement.

"Look at the surroundings. I've never been to such a chaotic place. It's probably only their religion that gives these people a sense of peace. Otherwise, this place would be even more unbearable."

Her gaze lingered on a billboard by the roadside, which advertised "organ sales" in both English and Nepali, followed by a phone number.

Similar bilingual advertisements filled the streets, confirming that Nepal was indeed home to one of the world's largest organ trafficking black markets. The traders were brazen enough to display their ads openly, and many unsuspecting victims, including foreign tourists, had likely been tricked into having their organs harvested, disappearing without a trace.

"I've been here before, and yes, it's chaotic," Banner said, sighing as he looked out the window at the passing scenery. "But what I'm more concerned about is where exactly you're taking me."

The taxi continued to drive through the streets of Kathmandu, where only a few paved roads existed. There were no traffic lights or crosswalks, and pedestrians crowded the streets, forcing the few passing cars to inch along at a slow pace.

The stark difference between the locals and foreign tourists was easy to spot. Street vendors constantly hounded the foreigners, selling trinkets, while begging children and shady individuals loitered nearby, waiting for an opportunity.

Luckily, Miss Stark and Banner had opted for a taxi, sparing them some of the hassle. However, everything they saw confirmed the disorder of the country.

Though the government had made some efforts, most of it was surface-level work. The majority of people remained impoverished, with an enormous gap between the rich and poor. The passive, unambitious nature of the Nepalese only deepened the systemic inequality, a situation that made Miss Stark sigh.

The taxi finally pulled into Durbar Square, the center of Kathmandu. The place seemed ancient, filled with shops selling souvenirs and only a few proper stores. To the north of the square stood three royal palaces, their red-brown facades and temples closely clustered together.

The square was crowded with people—locals selling souvenirs, foreign tourists exploring the area, and eager local guides rushing over to offer their services to Miss Stark and Banner as they stepped out of the taxi.

Miss Stark had Banner handle sending the guides away. She couldn't muster any interest in this impoverished country, especially with the locals lacking any drive to improve their situation. She simply stood there, staring blankly at the distant palaces.

Banner, carrying the backpack, stood beside her anxiously. After all, they were here to deal with his Hulk problem. But seeing Miss Stark's leisurely demeanor, he felt helpless. He had no choice but to trail after her like a loyal lackey.

Then again, he had agreed to work for her, so perhaps he should at least try to be useful—maybe play the role of a good assistant during this trip?

Several minutes passed as Banner mused to himself. Suddenly, a figure dressed in a black robe, with a hood obscuring their face, approached Miss Stark. The figure stopped before her, removed the hood, revealing a dark-skinned man beneath.

No, not just dark-skinned—he was Black, his robes reflecting a strong religious influence. The man gave a slight bow before Miss Stark.

"I didn't expect you to come all the way to Nepal in person."

"I had no choice. The person with me here has a warrant out for his arrest. I couldn't risk taking him back to New York."

Miss Stark waved her hand, clearly exasperated, her gaze fixed on the man's dark face.

"Please, follow me."

The man in black led Banner and Miss Stark through the throngs of people, crossing the square and weaving through the narrow streets and alleys. They eventually arrived at a quieter part of the market, where only a few passersby, mostly local poor folk, wandered about.

It wasn't hard to spot the locals here—they wore ragged clothes, as dilapidated as the crumbling streets themselves. Their faces showed no expression, as if truly indifferent to everything around them. Even when they spoke, their faces remained devoid of emotion.

The path was lined with buildings steeped in religious symbolism, stone lamps carved from solid rock standing at their doorways.

Banner hesitated for a moment. He couldn't quite understand how such a remote place could house a clinic or some legendary master capable of helping him rid himself of the raging beast inside.

Moreover, what kind of power could be so great that it compelled someone like Miss Stark to travel here specifically, despite never having been here before?

Though he had doubts, Banner kept his thoughts to himself, his face showing no sign of his inner confusion.

But Miss Stark, who was walking beside him, noticed the hesitation in his expression. A knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips—a smile that carried the unmistakable feeling of someone eagerly waiting for the punchline to a joke.

Her behavior made Banner furrow his brow, but he quickly composed himself as the man in black stopped walking, leading them to a set of doors.

"We're here."

The doors were made of two large, dark wooden panels. From the grain, it seemed like they had been cut from a single block of oak. The wood appeared worn with age, almost greasy, as if the idea of pushing them open was uninviting.

Beside the doors was a blue-painted sign, with white Nepali lettering that read, "Kamar-Taj Clinic." Unlike many of the other signs they had seen, there was no accompanying English translation, suggesting that this place wasn't intended for foreign visitors.

"This place... okay, I don't even know what to say anymore," Banner murmured, staring blankly at the sign before shifting his gaze to the dark-skinned man. He was hoping to catch a hint of humor or sarcasm in the man's expression, but the man simply stared back, unfazed.

"When I first came here, I was just as confused as you. But soon enough, I was ashamed of my ignorance and arrogance."

"Before you step inside, let me give you a piece of advice—forget everything you think you know, because everything you're about to see is real."

The man, Mordo, a sorcerer under the Ancient One's command, had been sent to meet Miss Stark. Standing at the entrance of Kamar-Taj, he offered a sincere warning to Banner.

"Forget everything you know. Did you hear that?"

Miss Stark smiled, patting Banner on the shoulder as she repeated Mordo's words.

Ignoring their interaction, Mordo turned away and placed his hands on the two wooden panels. After pausing for a few seconds, he pushed the heavy doors open with a resounding creak.

Beyond the doors was a dimly lit passageway, faintly illuminated by a few oil lamps, their flickering flames casting a soft glow on the narrow corridor.

"Please, come in."

Mordo stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter first. After they passed through, he would follow and close the doors. Miss Stark nodded in understanding, grabbed Banner's sleeve, and—without any regard for his thoughts—pulled him inside.

At first, Banner didn't think much of it and simply followed. But as he stepped over the threshold, everything changed—the corridor transformed into a beautiful hallway, with wooden floors and walls exuding a sense of tradition.

The original walls vanished, replaced by windows that let in light. Through them, Banner could see all of Kathmandu stretched out below, offering a breathtaking view of the city.

Stunned, Banner forgot to admire the scenery. He had just walked through a simple city street, and now, in the blink of an eye, the surroundings had completely changed.

What had just happened? What was going on?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven