Wade wasn't sure how long he was out for, or where he was when he woke up, but he knew he wasn't dead, thankfully. He was slightly disoriented when he regained consciousness, still feeling the effects of his fight. However, he wasn't in as much pain as he was before he passed out. His head wasn't great though. It still hurt and he felt dizzy. He slowly opened his eyes to see that he was back home, lying on the couch in his living room. He looked down to see that he was shirtless and that his ribs were covered in bandages. He then looked over at his living room table. He saw a coffee mug with steam rising out of it and with it, the smell of hot tea. He also saw a couple of ibuprofens sitting next to the mug. He didn't see anything else on the table, it looked like it was cleaned recently; and not by Wade. He examined the rest of the living room, not seeing anybody else there. He then tried sitting up, not feeling the effects of that stab wound, surprisingly, but did still feel the hit to the head he took.

"Easy Wade" he suddenly heard a deep but soft voice say.

He froze once he heard the voice, and then saw someone step out of his hallway. Wade could only assume that this was the same older man from that alleyway. He was no longer wearing his cloak, so Wade could finally see him more clearly. He was an Asian gentleman, either Chinese or Japanese, Wade couldn't tell which. He also wore a nice tuxedo, dark brown jacket over a white buttoned up shirt, a black tie and dress pants. He seemed like a centuries-old hermit. Wade had no idea how somebody like this guy was able to fend off, or whatever you would call that, four attackers like that. He definitely didn't seem dangerous. Wade actually got more of that mysterious vibe from him, but with something calm and gentle to him. Like someone who could enlighten a room as soon as he entered. It was really breathtaking for Wade, being in the presence of somebody like him, and he couldn't quite figure out what it was.

"How do you feel?" he asked as he walked to the other side of the table.

"I'm uh... wait, how do you know my name?" he asked suspiciously.

"I know a great many things about you, Wade Barnes" he answered, stepping closer to the side of the table. His answer only increasing Wade's shock and wonder. "How is your head?" he asked.

"My-uh... it's fine, I have a headache though" Wade answered.

"Here" the old man pushed the mug closer to Wade. "It will help" he grabbed one of the sofa chairs and pulled it closer.

Wade glanced at the mug and the two tablets sitting next to them.

"Thankyou" he went ahead and said before taking out the pills and gulping them down with the tea. That was some damn good tea too. Wade would need to ask how he made this.

"You were out for four hours" he began to inform. "Your knife wound is healed, but you may have concussion. You will need rest, but no sleep for at least a few hours. Don't read or stare at any screens or concentrate on anything in particular. Especially, if small"

Wade took in his words and nodded along, but was still fixated on the matters at hand. He set the mug down, after he drank about half of it, and decided to get back to the business at hand. He had a lot of unanswered questions and needed them to be answered.

"Ok man, you need to start talking" Wade noted. "What was that last night? Was I just seeing things? Or..."

The gentleman giggled under his breath.

"No, it was no hallucination"

"Well, then.... who are you?" was all he could manage to ask, and what he was wondering the most.

The stranger took in a deep breath and let it out, sitting upright as he got ready to tell Wade his bizarre offer.

"I am called The Grandmaster" he finally introduced himself, the name not surprising Wade somehow. "I know who you are because I search the world for people like you: people who want to do great things for the world, create peace, ensure justice, and protect the innocent; but you don't know how. It's why I went into that alley with those men, to test you"

"Wait, you intentionally got robbed?" Wade asked in disbelief.

"Yes, cos I needed to know if you were truly willing to stand against great odds for the sake of good. I must say, I am impressed" he nodded honorably at Wade. "You went into that alleyway, outmanned and unarmed, and risked your life for a stranger. You truly are a one of a kind person, Wade"

"Well, I'm deeply flattered" Wade nodded. "But that doesn't really explain everything, like why exactly are you here? What is it that you want from me?"

The Grandmaster shifted a little closer to Wade.

"What if I told you that I could show you a way to become everything you have set out to be? That I can teach you to do everything that I can do, if not more?" The Grandmaster finally revealed his proposition, and it truly captured Wade.

"How so?" he asked.

"You would have to take the greatest leap of faith you have ever taken in your life" he continued to explain. "There are secrets I cannot share, questions I cannot answer, unless you take that leap. That means, coming to an unknown part of the world and dedicating a whole year of your life into learning what I can teach you"

Wade was now stunned at what he was offering. That was a lot to ask for. It was a huge deal too.

"And I'm assuming it has to be solely based on what little information you've given me?"

"I'm afraid so" he nodded.

Wade blew out a sigh at the final notion. He almost couldn't believe this was really happening.

"That's asking a lot man"

"I know, and I would not blame you if you decided no" Grandmaster assured. "But Wade, I came here because I truly believe you might be the one I have been searching for for many years. I think you are meant to accomplish great things, more then you have imagined, and I want nothing more then to help you achieve that purpose"

His incredible words continued to reach Wade, but this was still a major offer with not much to go on. He didn't think this was a trick, definitely nowhere near that. It was the matter of what this was, what was going to happen, what would it do for Wade? Not to mention, an entire year? Just set off and spend a year at some unknown location without seeing friends or family? Especially, when Wade is trying to help his family out? The Grandmaster wasn't kidding when he said this would be greatest leap of faith he has ever taken. Wade wasn't even sure if he could take it.

However, on the other hand, this just might be the key to becoming everything Wade has set out to be. He could finally clean up the streets, make people feel safe, bring light into their lives, as well as his own; it just might be the opportunity he's been searching for all this time. But that's the thing, 'might be' was a gamble, and a mighty big one at that. It may have been too big at that. It would all have to come down to what Wade thought was best, what he was willing to do and risk.

"I know this is big decision for you" Grandmaster noted. "So, I will give you until Sunday to decide. If you do accept, then go to the airport and take the 4:15 to Almaty, Kazakhstan. I'll have prepaid one-way ticket in your name. Once you land, just wait there"

"Wait for what?" Wade was curious.

"You will see" he smirked. "But if you decide otherwise, I understand. You can just go about living your life and you won't see me again. It is all up to you" he continued before standing up. "Enjoy the tea, Mister Barnes. It was a pleasure meeting you" he slightly bowed before leaving Wade to himself in his house, and to his thoughts.

Wade could hear as his footsteps got quieter and quieter until he heard the door open and shut.

"It was a pleasure meeting you too" Wade said after a second, it was the only thing he could say.

He had 3 days until Sunday. It should be plenty of time, but it was going to be a hell of a time thinking about it. Wade knew one thing was for sure: this was a night, and a decision, that was going to change his life forever.

A/N: I know this chapter was short, but it's a great setup for things to come. Plus, the next one will be fairly long. Stay tuned.