Meanwhile, in the Heart of Heaven, Crane Mother looks out her temple window at the varied landscape. The doors to her chamber are opened by two of her daughters and the Green Mist of Death walks in, bowing to one knee.
"John Aman," Crane Mother greets him, "How long has it been? Fifty years at least."
"I came here to apologize, Crane Mother," Green Mist says proudly, "I was charged to bring Orson Randall to justice and I've failed."
Crane Mother walks over to her pedestal where the bloody dagger still lays, "It's of no importance. I will have a new champion soon."
Green Mists stands to his feet, "But -"
"I no longer hold you to the task of killing Orson Randall," she waves a hand at him, "You are free to go."
Green Mist looks at her curiously, then disappears.
Hours later, an SUV drives down a country road in the middle of an arid landscape. Inside, Danny has the wheel while Orson navigates with a map. Colleen and Misty sleep on each others' shoulder in the backseat. "If I remember correctly, this road will wrap around a valley at which point, we need to go off-road and hope no cops see us," Orson tells him.
"I saw this place in my vision but what's it like in person?," Danny asks.
"I mostly remember escaping it," he tells him with a smile, "I pissed a lot of people off when I refused to take part in the tournament. I decided to forget leaving gracefully out the front gates and opted to leave through the sewers. I found a passageway leading to the outside and just took off."
"So why did you leave?"
"It wasn't my fight. My life had been weird enough. I just needed to try to get things back to normal."
"Guess it never really happened, huh?"
"Nope."
"I think I know the feeling."
"You'll get used to it. You eventually get to a point where you know there will always be people trying to kill you for one reason or another and you just accept it."
"That doesn't give me too much hope for the future."
"Sorry, kid. I'm just a cynical old man. I didn't mean to sound so bleak," he looks at the backseat, "Seems like you have a great gal back there."
He smiles, "Yeah, Misty's great. She keeps me grounded."
"Good. You'll need that."
They drive on through the night and into the desert. Early the next morning, the SUV comes to a stop as the sun comes up. Danny stares through the windshield as the rest of his companions sleep. "Guys," he begins nervously, "... I think we're here." Colleen and Misty begin to wake up and go wide-eyed when they see what's ahead of them. Orson wakes up last and seems less impressed. The Heart of Heaven is revealed in front of them as the morning light shines on it. It's both ominous and beautiful; soon, they are out of the car and approaching the gates.
"So when we go through those gates," Misty begins, "We'll really be entering another world?"
"More or less," Orson answers her, "It's more of a nexus among seven different worlds and our own."
"Yeah, totally didn't get any of that."
"So here we go," Danny stands in front of the gate, "I guess we just... knock?"
"I did," Orson explains, "Felt like an ass doing it, though."
There is a loud CLANG heard from inside and the gate begins to creak. They all stand back as the gates move, pushing the sand back as they go and open just enough to allow a single figure to emerge: a large man clad in black armor from head to toe, including a metal demon mask. He looks at the group and places a single gauntlet on the sword at his side but says nothing.
"Uh, I'm Daniel Rand of K'un Lun. I've been instructed to come here for the Tournament of the Immortal Weapons."
The guard says nothing but instead, steps aside, allowing Danny room to enter. He looks at the others, shrugs, then proceeds. He passes the guard and they follow, but as Orson and the others try to go in, the guard shoves a single palm in their faces. They stop and stare as he shakes his head; Danny turns back to see what the problem is. "I was afraid of this," Orson tells them, "No outsiders." Danny steps back and takes Misty's hand, "I'll be alright. This thing will only last a few days, then I'll be out. In the meantime, go back with Orson." She nods silently. "I love you," he tells her and kisses her. The guard motions toward the gate and Danny steps away, "I'll see you all soon."
"Good luck," Colleen tells him.
"Thanks."
He steps through, turns, and looks at Misty who watches as they close the doors. Danny hangs his head, then continues to a second set of gates, which begin to open. From the inside, two monks open the front gates farther and Danny steps through with the guard following. There, he sees familiar K'un Lun architecture along with dark spires, a lush jungle, and other assorted oddities that conflict with one another. And in the sky: seven moons. Outside the front gates, Colleen and Misty travel back to their SUV along with Orson.
"So how are we gonna find a way inside?," Misty asks.
"What? We're not allowed in," Colleen tells her.
"We came all the way here to leave Danny behind? I don't think so."
"Do you have any idea what they would do to us if they caught us sneaking in?"
"Do you?"
Colleen stops for a moment and then turns to Orson, "What would happen if we're caught?"
"Death, maybe. It depends on how the Council is feeling."
"So,... Maybe not death," Misty tells them.
"Why would you do this, Misty?"
"I told you I don't understand what Danny is going through but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let him go through it alone. Hell, I don't even know how much time we have together. For all we know he'll die in there. I'll die in there with him if need be."
"I do know of a passageway we can use to sneak in," Orson explains.
"You're not helping," Colleen yells at him.
"I've lived long enough to know what sort of stupid things people will do if they're in love. I know she'll try to get in there no matter what we say," he explains, "I might as well help her out so she doesn't get herself killed."
"I can't believe this...," Colleen hesitates for a moment, "I'm in."
"That's what I thought," Misty says with a grin.
Danny is led to a temple by a monk. "Daniel Rand-K'ai," he hears a familiar voice and turns to see Lei Kung. He bows in reverence as the monk leaves his side.
"You never told me about this," he says angrily.
"I was prepared to tell you at the proper time."
"I guess this is the proper time, then," Danny removes the bag from his shoulder, "Orson Randall gave this to me," he shows him the Book of the Iron Fist, "When were you planning to tell em what's in here."
"We expected to train future Iron Fists ourselves. Meanwhile, the book served as a gift. He gave gave my grandfather schooling and we returned the favor. Again,... I was waiting for the proper time."
Danny changes the subject, "There are people after Orson."
"We know all about Crane Mother's attempt at Orson's life. She's been after him for decades."
"What do you plan to do about it?"
"Orson Randall hasn't been a part of K'un Lun since long before even I was born. He has his own destiny."
"You're just going to leave him to die?"
"He was a valuable ally to K'un Lun. We will honor him forever but since he has left us, he is no longer in our care. We expect no less from him."
"What about Crane Mother? She lied and now he's wanted for murder. We met up with some guy called the Green Mist of Death."
"The Crane Mother is more interested in the tournament right now, as is the Green Mist of Death. They are both here and while they are here, they will abide by the laws of the Heart of Heaven," Danny begins to say something but is cut off, "We are likewise expected to abide by the laws here. Do not rush to confront either of them."
"Understood," Danny says reluctantly.
"Daniel," Lei Kung begins sadly, "After you left K'un Lun, my son went out to find you. He was consumed with jealousy and rage. Did he -"
"I met Davos in New York," Danny hangs his head sadly, "I'm... sorry."
Lei Kung nods, "You... did what you had to do, no doubt."
Danny places a comforting hand on his shoulder as they stand in silence.