In early summer, the scorching sun blazed down upon the city of Lushan in southern China, infusing the air with a hint of oppressive heat. Along the tree-lined boulevard near Fenglin College on the outskirts of the city, a gentle breeze stirred the treetops, causing the leaves to sway rhythmically and bringing a refreshing coolness to the surroundings.

Walking slowly along this shaded avenue was a young man. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with short black hair and eyes that, though not large, exuded intelligence. A faint smile played on his lips as he strolled. His fair skin was complemented by a floral-patterned shirt, giving him a genteel appearance.

This seemingly mild-mannered young man was named Mu Chenxing, a student at the prestigious Fenglin College in Lushan. Despite his scholarly appearance, Mu Chenxing was actually a skilled martial artist, a rarity in a society increasingly focused on material pursuits and leisure activities.

Mu Chenxing had always been fascinated by Chinese martial arts since childhood. He had visited renowned masters to learn traditional martial arts such as Baguazhang and Miao Dao. Despite his slender and seemingly frail physique, Mu Chenxing was a formidable fighter, capable of taking on multiple opponents at once with ease.

On one occasion, five thugs mistook Mu Chenxing for an easy target due to his unassuming appearance and attempted to rob him in a dark alley. However, they ended up hospitalized with serious injuries, while Mu Chenxing walked away unscathed, his dinner plans uninterrupted.

Today, Mu Chenxing was in high spirits. Earlier, he had sparred with the captain of the Taekwondo club at school. Mu Chenxing had long been irked by the captain's arrogance, thinking himself superior because of his knowledge of a few flashy Taekwondo moves.

However, today's altercation had quickly exposed the captain's true abilities. By the time Mu Chenxing left, the captain was still sprawled on the ground, nursing his wounds.

Though not one to actively seek confrontation, Mu Chenxing's disdain for the Taekwondo club and its members was well-known. He harbored little respect for the Korean martial art and its practitioners, viewing it as little more than flashy theatrics.

Due to the proximity of Mu Chenxing's home to the school, he often preferred to walk back after finishing his activities for the day. He enjoyed the leisurely stroll, finding solace in the quietude of the surroundings.

While many of his classmates were aware of Mu Chenxing's residence near the school, few knew that he lived in a three-story villa. His parents, archaeologists who were often away on expeditions, had purchased the spacious villa to foster their son's independence.

Surrounded by lush greenery and adorned with climbing ivy, the villa exuded an air of tranquility. However, the aesthetics were marred somewhat by the presence of peculiar antennas dotting the roof, disrupting the villa's otherwise harmonious facade and giving it a somewhat incongruous appearance.

Mu Chenxing's villa hadn't always boasted such a peculiar and avant-garde appearance. However, ever since two guests moved in, the villa's exterior had gradually transformed into its current state.

Mu Chenxing had long reached a point of ignoring the eccentric and avant-garde style of the villa's exterior. As long as it wasn't too frightening, he didn't mind.

As Mu Chenxing approached the villa's gate, he saw a rapid infrared scan sweep over his body, followed by an electronic synthesized voice from inside the gate: "Identity confirmed. You may enter."

The gate automatically opened, a rare sight for an ordinary household in China. Such infrared scanning systems were usually found only in large research facilities, not in residential homes.

Entering the spacious living room, Mu Chenxing was greeted by a blast of cool air from the central air conditioning, instantly refreshing him after his time outdoors.

Observing the expansive hall with its several high-spec computers humming away, Mu Chenxing immediately shouted towards the upper floor without hesitation.

"Old Zhou, Old Xia, come out, I need to talk to you!"

Mu Chenxing knew that his two guests were likely conducting research in one of the rooms of the villa. Rather than searching each room individually, calling out was the quickest and most efficient method.

"Keep it down! Do you want to wake up the dead? We're not deaf, you know!" Mu Chenxing's method proved effective as a middle-aged man with a tired face and thin frame, sporting gold-rimmed glasses, appeared on the second floor of the villa.

As the man gestured for Mu Chenxing to lower his voice and began descending the stairs, Mu Chenxing noticed the strong body odor emanating from him, exacerbated by the fresh air of the lobby.

Mu Chenxing couldn't help but wrinkle his nose in annoyance as Dr. Xia approached.

"Apologies, my skin is naturally pale. But it seems like you haven't showered in a while, Old Xia! Remember to maintain personal hygiene, especially in summer," Mu Chenxing remarked, shaking his head in resignation.

Ignoring Mu Chenxing's complaint, Dr. Xia casually took a seat nearby and asked, "What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time, Mu? Old Zhou and I have precious little time, and I hope it's not another request to download those so-called educational videos. Young man, take care of yourself. Look at how pale you are!"

Mu Chenxing rolled his eyes and explained, "I found this metal cube accidentally. Can you help me figure out how to charge it? It was emitting strange symbols yesterday, but now it's not working. I suspect it's out of power, but I couldn't find a charging port."

"Hmm, what's this?" Dr. Xia's curiosity was piqued as he examined the metal cube handed to him by Mu Chenxing.

As Dr. Xia examined the cube, Mu Chenxing noticed the peculiar expression on his face. However, he was absorbed in watching a movie on his computer and didn't pay much attention.

"Mu, where did you get this? We've never seen this kind of metal before, and it has a powerful electrical capacity. Do you have more? We'd like to study it," Dr. Xia asked, handing the cube back to Mu Chenxing.

"I stumbled upon it accidentally. I'll give you some later. By the way, can you and Old Zhou replicate Batman's suit from the movies? I need it to withstand blades, bullets, and fire," Mu Chenxing replied casually, still engrossed in his movie.

Dr. Xia chuckled, "We don't have the equipment for that, but if you're interested in a basic version without those features, we could manage it. By the way, when will your research center in the suburbs be ready? Old Zhou and I are eager to start working there!"

"I've checked out the location. It's spacious but located in the mountains, and the price negotiation is ongoing. It'll take some time. Also, about the Batman suit, if it doesn't have those features, I don't need it. Why would I wear it otherwise? Just for cosplay?" Mu Chenxing replied, pointing at the screen where Batman lay injured on a rooftop.

As Mu Chenxing's finger touched the screen, a sudden surge of electricity emanated from the metal cube in his hand. The space in front of him rippled like a pond, and in a flash of light, Mu Chenxing disappeared without a trace, leaving Dr. Xia dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, in the movie, Batman lay unconscious on the rooftop as rain poured down on him, his body wracked by the effects of a powerful hallucinogen. In his last moments of consciousness, he managed to contact his loyal butler, Alfred.

"Alfred, I'm poisoned... poisoned!" Batman's voice trembled with urgency before he lost consciousness completely, his vision blurring as he caught a glimpse of a figure standing before him.

Before Batman could contemplate his situation, he succumbed to unconsciousness