Chapter 117: Star Force Assemble!

Chapter 117: Star Force Assemble!

On my way to the Kung-Fu Club, I quickly slipped into my grey practice uniform while letting my mind chew over everything I had just uncovered. The reality of the situation hit me with full force.

I best go find a book on how to handle a Yandere?! I don't want a, Bad Ending!

Once I was fully dressed and decent for practice, I left the changing room and headed straight out into the main stadium to track down the coach. I walked up to Coach Love Triangle, Tracy Hong, to report for duty.

"I am back Coach, so what are the plans?"

The shorter, middle-aged woman had her graying hair secured in a tight, sensible bun. Her face immediately lit up with a warm smile the moment she saw me back from my vacation.

"Good you are back. The ten-man team has finally been confirmed with all four groups. You and Tony Deng will be the two Captains for the team, one from Karate and one from Kung-Fu."

She casually handed over a metal clipboard packed with the finalized roster and their specific stylistic affiliations.

Star University Martial Arts Team: Rick Tang-(Kung-Fu), Tina Feng-(Kung-Fu), Ashley Hue-(Kung-Fu), Cat Woo-(Kung-Fu), Danny Shu-(Kung-Fu), Tony Deng-(Karate), Scott Song-(Karate), Ralph Colt-(Boxing), Matsuda Tanaka-(MMA-Sumo), Jill Hammer-(MMA-kickboxing)

I scanned down the list of names, a heavy frown settling over my features as I looked back up at her. "Coach, is this really the best we have?"

"Nope, but not everyone wants to participate in the tournament, claiming it is just a show for the crowd. Some don't want attention and so on. Plus as you can see, some have well known families behind them and pay to get their brats in, like that American Boxer Ralph Colt, and that Scott Song. Well at least Tony Deng has some talent."

I carefully detached a copy of the official team list to research their backgrounds later that night. "Alright, so it will be held the Saturday before New Years, right?"

Tracy Hong offered a firm nod, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "It will be one week from this coming Saturday, so just under two weeks. It will start at 8 am and will go till 5 pm with a one hour lunch-break."

"And what do you need me to do?"

"Just gather the Kung-Fu participants, and then work with them a bit. Then next week all ten of you will train together."

I offered a quick nod of understanding, turning around to go collect the Ginyu Force, I mean, the Star Force.

"Star Force Assemble!"

I jokingly struck a dramatic, exaggerated pose directly in front of the gathered martial arts group, keeping my face looking cool as a cucumber. Tina, Ashley, Cat, and Danny just stared back at me with completely blank, dumbfounded expressions, looking at me as if I had completely lost my marbles.

"Seriously? None of you have seen the Dragon Ball anime? There are five of us and we can make people laugh and have fun?!"

Tina let out a soft, amused sigh. "No Dear."

Ashley awkwardly shifted her weight, a sheepish smile crossing her face. "Um, Jim just got me watching some, but I don't get it."

Cat tilted her head, her eyes narrowing with a flat look. "I thought you were not getting revenge?"

Danny simply raised his hands in mock surrender, offering a completely deadpan expression. "My father told me to agree with the women."

Man, these sheltered noble heirs really had absolutely no idea how to let loose and have a little fun. I felt entirely defeated by the time Tina officially down-voted my brilliant presentation.

"Sigh, Man, I should drop Kung-Fu and take Theater, you are all no fun."

Tina just smiled brightly at my dramatic play-pouting, fully aware that I was just joking around and would never actually walk away from the team. I clapped my hands together to shift their focus.

"Alright, as all of us are Practitioners of Kung-Fu, I will teach you the Sport-Style of it. This style is useless in a fight, but is very good for scoring points. Sadly we can't use all of our real potential in this event. So take a look at the dummy-bag."

For the remainder of the afternoon class, and planning well into the rest of the week, I focused entirely on training these four to utilize little tricks to cheat, I mean, to use the official tournament rules heavily in our favor. It was honestly a tough mental transition to go from real-world, lethal combat to the ridiculous restraints of sport fighting.

What I really demonstrated to them was the essential "staying still like water" theory derived from my Wing Chun Kung-Fu mastery. The concept forces you to completely rest your body rather than hopping around like a hyperactive rabbit, which is a terrible habit most amateurs constantly fall into.

Both Danny and Cat looked genuinely surprised as the lesson went on, realizing that I was earnestly and meticulously training them without holding anything back. Instead of asking unnecessary questions, they kept their mouths shut and absorbed every single technique.

The single best aspect of being at the absolute peak of martial arts knowledge is the innate ability to effectively teach others; I could even teach that giant Sumo guy a few things, even though my current physical build isn't properly suited for his specific art. My only true limitation with any combat style right now is my physical body.

I have already estimated that my perfect peak form will finally manifest within the next two years of rigorous training. Only then can I truly unlock my full potential and fight as a true Grandmaster.

After the grueling practice session concluded, the group split up to hit the stadium showers. I quickly scrubbed down and changed back into my matching navy-blue suit, standing out in the hallway as I waited patiently for Tina to finish getting ready.

"Fuck! No way, is this real?"

"It is! See it on her official web-site. See and it looks like the University approved the event."

"Man, I better go buy a poster and get her to sign it for me then, ha-ha, lucky day!"

"It says, um, it is her official stop when she gets into Star City, and she wanted to meet others of her age group. A reporter had asked why, and her response was she was going to make Star City her new home."

"Wow, then if the main studio is here, does that mean she is going to make movies again?!"

I leaned casually against the hallway wall, listening to a group of passing students excitedly gossiping back and forth. I naturally assumed they were freaking out over Kate Kong, just as Tina finally stepped out of the locker room.

"Dear, are you ready?"

"Let's go, I am all ready."

We began walking down the corridor together toward the exit, passing another pair of students who were loudly discussing the event.

"If Kate Kong is autographing with Ana Zi, then how will they keep random people from joining in?"

"Easy, if you don't have a student identification, you can't get in line. So only the students and teachers can meet the stars."

Tina easily caught the conversation, turning her head toward me with a playful, teasing grin. "So I guess you won't be around for lunch on Monday, fufu?"

"What? Why would I not be?"

Tina blinked, a look of genuine surprise crossing her features as she stared at me. "I thought you were a big fan of Kate Kong? Hell you even made me listen to her music and watched that stupid Vampire movie with you."

I offered a simple shrug, steering her through the main university doors into the crisp afternoon air. "She really played a vampire well, and even Ana Zi did a good job, and I love the songs she sings, but that's it. What would I do with her signature? Plus I don't want to stand in a line full of weirdos. I am a fan, but I don't wear shirts or go around acting silly about her."

Tina nodded slowly, beginning to understand my practical perspective on celebrity culture, before pressing further. "Signatures aside, would you still not want to meet in person, just one time?"

I shook my head firmly, letting out a small sigh as we walked down the concrete path. "After meeting Ana Zi and finding out about her and Sam Sun, I just don't want to know about the personal lives of my entertainers anymore. It is disappointing to meet with them and find out they are just normal people with issues. It is like if you met a dragon and found out it was no more than a lizard with strapped on wings, the magic is lost."

An entirely different thought crossed my mind, and I flashed a broad grin, sliding my arm securely around Tina's slender waist before leaning down to whisper directly into her ear. "And lastly, I am surrounded by the most amazing women a man could be blessed with."

Tina squinted her eyes at me, a localized blush tinting her cheeks as she gently used her palm to push my face away. "Save it for Thursday, Playboy."

We quickly met up with the rest of my girls at the parking lot and made our way back home for the evening.

Unfortunately, that night, I almost did not survive my encounters with Nadia and Nichole! I seriously considered calling in sick from school the next morning due to the sheer fact that the damn twins had literally split the night into strategic combat shifts; while one sister slept to recover her energy, the other actively fought me in bed. Then, precisely halfway through the night, they seamlessly switched shifts, sigh.

That following Tuesday passed entirely normally, with the single exception of the insane, non-stop hype circulating around campus regarding the upcoming signing event with Kate Kong.

Over on the official University online forum, Sam Sun posted a direct thread confirming that Kate and Ana were indeed co-hosting the campus event.

Naturally, with Sam confirming the news due to his high-profile status as the son of the CEO of Star Entertainment Group, the student body completely exploded into a frenzy.

Meanwhile, James seemed entirely surprised but deeply happy about the massive level of trust Ashley was finally placing in him. Of course, he was still secretly wrestling with the absolute shock of realizing he was the lover of a freaking Syndicate Leader! Hey, finding out your college sweetheart secretly runs a ruthless group of thugs and professional killers is a bit of a surprising revelation. Rule number one: If you marry a King Pin type, never ask them how work went!

Well, I realized I had forgot to ever really tell James about the full extent of my own heavy involvement with the Fire Birds, so he was slightly less stunned by the criminal element, but he clearly felt like his life would never be normal again. It was honestly his very first correct guess in life.

Thankfully, when that night finally arrived, Mei proved to be a real angel by letting me just sleep while holding her tightly in her arms. She had already enjoyed plenty of intense sex during our cruise and island trip, and knowing that my last two days back home had been utterly exhausting, she graciously let me off the hook with nothing but pure snuggling.

Wednesday to Saturday passed entirely calmly and uneventfully, giving my racing heart a much-needed chance to finally rest.

I hadn't heard a single word from Lucy since our intense talk on Monday morning. For some reason, her sudden radio silence made me way more nervous than if she were actively nagging me all day long. By the time Sunday arrived, I couldn't take the suspense anymore and planned to call her myself.

Thankfully, Mercy Mu had been able to slide right back into her normal morning shower schedule like before, now that my physical energy had fully recovered. Before she actually got down to the business of cleaning the Dragon, she spent a couple of quiet minutes earnestly practicing her kissing skills with me. Standing under the warm water, I somehow felt a deep realization that I never want her out of my life. I strongly believe, but can't quite prove, that she intended for things to turn out exactly like this from the very start.

Later that afternoon, Victoria called to inform me that Harem-Chat had just experienced a massive, sudden spike in new signups, thanks to my first-month-free promotional special. I won't see a huge influx of actual revenue come in for a little while because of the trial period, but the absolute hardest part of selling any monthly subscription product is getting the buyer to make that initial step of signing up. Once they are officially through the digital door, getting them to financially invest is easy.

I already started mapping out a future New Year's Special in my head, planning to offer a full one-year membership for the exact price of nine months to lock them in long-term.

On Saturday, while all of my wives left the house to go out and play for the day, Jenifer cornered me once again to help her balance the household books. I spent a couple of hours fixing a few complex financial sheets that Tina had thoroughly struggled with. Tina honestly does an exceptional job handling the majority of our accounts, but she occasionally runs into frustrating issues with the local government constantly trying to nickel-and-dime us at every turn.

It is now Sunday afternoon, and the entire house is content just staying indoors to watch TV or handle their heavy university workloads. Nadia, Nichole, and now Mei are all buried up to their necks under a mountain of complex law homework that looks at least twice as brutal as most regular classes.

Finding myself with some rare downtime, I retreated to my private computer room to officially contact Lucy Shen. I dropped her a quick text message requesting an encrypted online chat session, and she swiftly accepted the invitation.

The secure, private video connection instantly flickered to life on my monitor, revealing a thoroughly grinning Lucy wearing a casual black Metallica shirt. She easily noticed my eyes lingering on the band logo but chose to completely ignore the obvious nod to my own musical tastes. I just smiled to myself, realizing that beneath all the mystery, she really is an incredibly special woman.

[Hello Rick, business, pleasure, or both?]

I shook my head in pure amusement at her playful greeting, leaning back in my office chair. "I was only following up with you due to how we ended things. I half expected you to be in my face all the time."

Looking closely at the video feed, I could see that she was currently sitting inside her massive Velvet Tower executive office, her fingers actively typing away at a secondary keyboard while we talked. She offered a stunning smile directly into the camera lens.

[Relax there Rick, I said I was obsessed with you, not that I am insane. I have watched you from the shadows for years. Do you think I am dumb enough to chase you away from me? No, I can keep tabs on you while I work. But... If you want me to be more proactive, I would love it?]

I quickly waved my hand dismissively in front of the webcam to assure her. "No, I am good with the amount of interaction we have. I will at least talk with you like this once a week. Just keep things normal, sigh. I honestly don't know what to do with you?"

A look of genuine, profound care softened her features, completely replacing her usual sharp demeanor as she leaned closer to her microphone to comfort me.

[The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable, so you can treat me anyway you want, just don't push my help away. Even if you never wanted to see me in person, I would reluctantly do it. Even if you want me at your side everyday, I will do it. Even if you want to use me as a weapon, you get it, right?]

Staring straight into the intense, unyielding depth of her blue eyes, I decided it was time to firmly assert myself. "You are not a tool to be used. So I will never do that. I know you want to help me, but... If you ever need help, I will try."

A brilliant, touched smile broke across her face.

[Sure, I am not perfect, and you are like me with computers, so I might have you help me out here, Ufufu. Also Rick, your espionage skills are still pretty basic, so I can train you when you have free time. I was trained by a professional when I was younger. I want you to learn everything you can, so you won't need me as much.]

I blinked in surprise, tilting my head. "Huh? I thought you would prefer for me to need you rather than me to do it all?"

[No silly, I meant won't need me to protect you. I would rather be protected by you, Rick, see?]

I offered her a serious, deeply respectful nod, finally understanding the true depth of her motivation; she simply wants me to survive this turbulent life no matter what the cost. But a heavy weight settled in my chest because I absolutely refuse to sacrifice the people around me just to save myself. I can easily move on through reincarnation, but they are left behind to suffer the consequences. Lucy caught the sudden melancholy in my expression and offered a piece of cosmic wisdom I had never heard before.

[I see your eyes. If you are thinking how short life is, then don't worry. You're only ever going to keep memories of a single past life at a time. So everything you live and feel here can benefit the next you. So live a happy life. I can tell, your last one was not a good or happy-one, right? So pay it forward and help the next you by loving and being happy. Your good life will help the next incarnation. Don't feel like you are losing anyone, we are not immortal.]

A wave of solemn clarity washed over me. It honestly sucks to be the lone survivor of an entire lifetime, but I guess that is the tragic price a soul must willingly pay to achieve true immortality. I nodded slowly to show I fully grasped her words, prompting her to smile brightly as she began to wrap up the call.

[Rick, you still owe me that Big Burger date. So let's go sometime to that same shop and have it. You can pay, fufu. Also, let us use the old apartment you and Mary own. It will be a good safe house for us to use for covert meetings. I have already wiped most of the trails connecting you to it, so enemies won't look there for us in the future.]

"Sure, I will let Mary know I am using it in secret. Take care then."

Lucy blew me an affectionate kiss directly toward her monitor screen, her playful laugh echoing through the speakers just before the encrypted call abruptly disconnected, leaving me to let out a slow sigh.

While Rick was occupied with his secure online chat session, an entirely separate conversation was taking place across town at a pristine white-stone table...

The two women were relaxing inside a massive, modern glass-enclosed room, the entire space meticulously constructed from pure white stone and matching tiles to create a breathtakingly natural atmosphere. At the far end of the sprawling, school-sized indoor swimming pool, an elegant fountain gently poured continuous streams of crystal-clear water into the basin. Standing proudly in the absolute center of the cascading fountain was a magnificent, symbolic statue of the legendary Black Tortoise.

The enormous room instantly gave off the luxurious vibe of an elite greenhouse, complete with vibrant, exotic tropical plants flourishing inside massive white ceramic pots placed strategically throughout the area.

Seated on the left side of the table was a strikingly beautiful woman with cascading white hair and piercing red eyes, carefully sipping from a mug of hot chocolate. She wore a sleek, navy-blue one-piece swimsuit, a thick white towel draped loosely over her shoulders since her skin was still noticeably damp from her recent laps in the pool. This stunning woman was none other than the famous celebrity actress and singer, Kate Kong.

Sitting directly in the chair opposite her was Jean Jia, sporting shoulder-length red hair and sharp blue eyes. She functioned as Kate's official talent manager. Jean was also dressed in a stylish swimsuit paired with a matching waist wrap, though her completely dry skin made it obvious she hadn't joined in on the swimming exercise. Instead, her focus was entirely locked onto her laptop screen as her fingers flew across the keyboard, finalizing the massive schedule for tomorrow's big event.

Kate looked over at her long-time manager, a cheerful, radiant smile breaking across her face. "It is so nice to be able to swim in winter. It is the best exercise. This house was fairly new and hardly lived in. With 4 stories, it seemed only two people lived here, I guess like us, huh?"

Jean didn't look up from her laptop, her tone thoroughly practical as she answered. "Well it was not cheap, that's for sure. You used up almost all of your savings, but real-estate is a good investment, so in the long run it will benefit you, the taxes will be better on you as a homeowner. And you are now a real resident of Star City again."

Kate's expression filled with pure, ecstatic happiness at the realization. "Plus the paparazzi can't get in here with the security to get inside here, so it was worth the money. So You said Rick goes to Star University, right? How can I meet him?! What if he does not come to see us? What if he comes to Ana and not me?"

Her manager finally let out a slow shake of her head, closing the laptop screen slightly as she looked up to address the celebrity's rising panic. "You waited 8 and a half years to come back and meet him, a day, week, or month is no big deal. You might even be disappointed when you meet him. He is not the 12 year old boy you wrote letters with anymore."

Kate instantly pouted, slumping back slightly against her white chair. "Jean, you are a killjoy sometimes."

"I am Jiminy Cricket to your Pinocchio. It is my duty to guide you."

Kate let out a playful huff, quickly switching gears as a sudden spark of annoyance flashed across her features. "I heard that jackass, Sam Sun will be there tomorrow too, right?"

Jean let out a light laugh, entirely dismissing the threat as she adjusted her posture. "Yeah, that is what happens when the SEG boss's son thinks he is important. She lets him go anywhere he wants. Don't worry, we have security and we will be in public, plus like always I will watch your back. Also, I just don't speak to him, ha-ha!"

A mischievous grin returned to Kate's face as she set her empty mug down on the stone table. "I was not going to anyway, fufu. Alright, I will do some more laps to get in the best shape I can for my friend. I hope he shows up!"