After visiting Batman, Bai Qi also sought out Zhao Tian from Kunlun and Gu Yi from Kamar-Taj.
Gu Yi was naturally agreeable, as she was Bai Qi's godmother, and teaching Bai Qiu was only right. As for Master Zhao Tian of Kunlun, Bai Qi used a little persuasion, and the other party reluctantly agreed. Whether he was willing or not was secondary in Bai Qi's eyes, as long as he taught diligently.
As for the Questioner and Spider-Man, their situations were more complex. The Questioner was agile-minded and a capable detective. However, Spider-Man was still a child, immature in his thinking. Bai Qi didn't believe he could be Bai Qiu's teacher, but rather a companion from whom Bai Qiu could learn valuable qualities.
With these arrangements made, a week had passed since Bai Qiu was sent to Themyscira. Shortly after Bai Qi returned to his palace, a maid announced that Kraven sought an audience.
"Let him in," Bai Qi commanded.
With Bai Qi's permission, Kraven entered, escorting a bound and gagged Demon Little Dragon.
Demon Little Dragon's purpose as a whetstone had been served. Although not entirely satisfactory, his role was over. Bai Qi had no intention of letting him grow unchecked, lest he cause further unforeseen trouble in the future.
Therefore, immediately after sending Bai Qiu away, Bai Qi ordered Kraven to apprehend Demon Little Dragon.
Unlike Bai Qiu, Kraven was an old subordinate of Bai Qi and a seasoned hunter. Demon Little Dragon's petty tricks were no match for Kraven's expertise. Moreover, the team Kraven led was no ordinary group; it comprised seven Valkyries.
With Kraven and the Valkyrie squad working in tandem, Demon Little Dragon was rendered helpless and, as expected, subdued and brought before Bai Qi.
"Father, we meet again," Demon Little Dragon said, looking up at Bai Qi from his position. He showed no fear, his gaze laced with a hint of mockery.
Seeing Demon Little Dragon's disrespect, Kraven stepped forward, intending to discipline him.
However, before Kraven could act, Bai Qi raised his hand to stop him. "Enough. You may withdraw."
Hearing this, Demon Little Dragon grew bolder. He followed up with a sneer, "Did you hear that? You're just a dog under my father's command. Get lost."
Kraven, though angered, glanced at Bai Qi seated above and ultimately suppressed his ire. He bowed and retreated.
After Kraven's departure, the chains binding Demon Little Dragon automatically loosened. Yet, even with his restraints removed, Demon Little Dragon made no move. He remained stiff, his gaze fixed on Bai Qi.
Demon Little Dragon studied Bai Qi, and Bai Qi, in turn, examined the current state of Demon Little Dragon.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, your power is quite a mixed bag," Bai Qi finally broke the silence. "Ximu, Xiaofeng, and a bit of Zhou Lan's demonic energy. You've gathered a lot of it, but it's too chaotic. You can't achieve balance, which in turn restricts the use of your own strength."
His hard-earned demonic qi was now dismissed by Bai Qi as worthless. Despite Demon Little Dragon's usual composure, his face was filled with rage. He retorted, "Father, take a closer look. I didn't absorb the demonic qi of just four demons, but five. Look carefully."
Seeing Bai Qi remain silent, Demon Little Dragon couldn't help but smile. He declared his answer loudly, "It's yours, Father! I also absorbed your demonic qi!"
This declaration was not merely a ploy to enrage Bai Qi. Before Bai Qiu's team pursued Demon Little Dragon, the latter, leveraging his affinity for Bai Qi's demonic qi, had located the buried Dragon Fangs beneath a bridge. After reciting the corresponding incantation, Demon Little Dragon successfully retrieved the Dragon Fangs from the magical array and absorbed all their demonic qi into his body.
Bai Qi's silence didn't last long. He looked at the triumphant Demon Little Dragon and then burst into laughter.
This reaction only intensified Demon Little Dragon's anger.
"What are you laughing at? What's so funny!" he demanded.
Bai Qi calmly replied, "Do you really think you obtained those Dragon Fangs through your own abilities? I had already taken the real ones. What you absorbed were merely fakes I created."
Did Bai Qi really think he would leave such crucial Dragon Fangs unguarded under a bridge, protected only by a simple magic array?
Impossible. The genuine Dragon Fangs had long been taken by Bai Qi. What Demon Little Dragon absorbed were late-stage imitations, infused with a trace of Bai Qi's demonic qi. These imitation Dragon Fangs might have slightly increased Demon Little Dragon's power, but their primary function was tracking. Through the Dragon Fangs absorbed by Demon Little Dragon, Bai Qi could pinpoint his location with precision. After all, relying solely on the symbiotic tissue within him wasn't entirely reassuring; a two-pronged approach ensured foolproof monitoring.
Who would have thought Bai Qi had overestimated Demon Little Dragon? Before acquiring power, Demon Little Dragon understood caution and the need to keep a low profile. But as he absorbed more demonic qi, his arrogance grew rapidly, resulting in his easy capture by Kraven and the Valkyrie squad, and his delivery before Bai Qi.
"So, are you going to kill me now, Father?"
"No, no, no, that would be a waste. Although you're not very promising and have significant genetic issues, I believe in making the most of everything. You still have a place here with me."
Demon Little Dragon thought Bai Qi, in his paternal role, intended to recruit him. He started to rise to express his gratitude when a mental shockwave struck him. His vision darkened, and he knew nothing more.
When he awoke, he was submerged in a tank, tubes of varying sizes inserted all over his body. Demon Little Dragon tried to struggle, but no matter how hard he tried, his body felt unresponsive, incapable of moving anything but his eyes.
Through the glass, Demon Little Dragon saw humans in hazmat suits moving about, operating unfamiliar equipment. As he pondered his situation, the laboratory door opened, and Bai Qi entered with Octavius.
Upon seeing them, the laboratory personnel ceased their work and bowed. Only after Bai Qi's permission did they resume.
Bai Qi glanced at Demon Little Dragon, submerged in the tank, and asked, "When will it be ready?"
"Soon, Your Majesty. Thirty-seven minutes are all that remain until the personality wipe surgery."