Chapter 204: I Never Learn!

Chapter 204: I Never Learn!

On a quiet Thursday afternoon, I leaned back in my chair, surveying the seventies retro décor of my office inside Phoenix Tower. The space felt unusually empty. It was one of those rare days when only Hinata remained at my side, since Jenifer, Tina, and Cat had all traveled up to North City to inspect our various businesses running out of Club Di.

Deep in the smaller bedroom down the hall, Hinata was catching up on her sleep. A long, grueling morning of physical practice had left her exhausted, and Ryu had kept her up far too late the previous night, constantly demanding her time and attention. In truth, Hinata no longer accompanied me strictly for protection. Stationing two Grandmasters in any single nation, let alone inside our own territory, was complete overkill. Yet, she refused to leave my position, driven entirely by a fierce desire to stay loyally at my side forever.

Luke Fu sat directly across from my mahogany desk, reporting his recent operations in his usual rough cadence while waiting for his next set of directives. He leaned forward, tapping his fingers against his knee.

"And he was dumped straight into the Africa camp as a debtor and shipped out," Luke said, a dark smirk playing on his lips. "The heat stroke he suffered out there permanently muddled his head, but it is a good result. He can still function well enough to work, ha-ha!"

"Luke, what is the status of the competing brothel right next to our Country Club?" I adjusted my cuffs, keeping my gaze locked on him. "Have our people captured clear photographs of all the politicians and city officials going in and out of that front door? Do those targets realize I have a world-class hacker under my command, or that we use absolutely no security cameras inside our own walls?"

"Yeah, Leader." Luke pulled off his iconic oval sunglasses, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "Jasmine Rin has had her men watching that entrance twenty-four hours a day, and we file every single face. Some of those high-profile guests have started using ridiculous disguises just to enter and leave, but we tail them right to their doorsteps and uncover their identities, hehe. Oh, and Sister Jasmine explicitly told me to remind you to come have lunch and visit her."

My lips twitched as Luke grinned directly at me. He knew exactly what kind of complicated history I shared with her. That woman possessed a terrifying level of persistence. She actually went around telling the clients and the upper ranks of the Fire Birds that her body was strictly reserved for the Leader to touch, which always left me massaging my temples in exasperation.

"We ate at her establishment just last week!" I threw my hands up slightly, shifting my weight in the leather chair. "How often does she expect me to show my face there? Whatever. We will schedule a luncheon there for the end of the month. Pass the message along to her so she stays satisfied."

Luke nodded, his grin widening as he pocketed his sunglasses. His expression grew notably heavier, the humor draining from his face as he leaned across the desk. "Leader, are you absolutely certain you do not want me to personally handle those Lee shits and Greg Feng?" Luke lowered his voice, his posture turning tense and lethal. "You know I ain't even afraid of Central, right? Just loosen my collar for a single night and I will erase them from the earth for you. If things go sideways, just promise me you will take care of my baby and my wives when I am gone."

I looked at one of my most reliable, unflinching friends on the dark side of this world, offering a soft smile as I shook my head. "Thanks, Luke, but even if those three die today, the Lee clan will simply dispatch another batch of hounds to replace them," I said, leaning forward to lock eyes with him. "It is always better to keep the devil you know than to deal with the devil you don't. Besides, your little angel needs her daddy to come home in one piece. I need a living, brave man standing at my right hand, not a martyr. Do you get me? I cannot replace the Crazy Hummer Guy."

Luke paused, absorbing the weight of my words. He slid his sunglasses back over his eyes, instantly returning to his cool, detached professional mode as he stood up from the chair. "I will pressure the families of the clients who were bribed by Greg Feng then," Luke said, adjusting his jacket as he prepared to leave. "I will personally ensure they understand Greg is a highly toxic business partner. Still, wouldn't it just be a hell of a lot easier to burn his factories to ash?"

I let out a long, heavy sigh, the complex web of regional politics weighing on my shoulders. "I want to do it very much, Luke, but two distinct problems stop my hand," I explained, gesturing toward the city skyline outside. "First, Jill Feng is the actual legal owner of those physical buildings, meaning an arson attack would be a direct strike against her. Second, that exact reaction is precisely what Raymond Lee wants from me. He has positioned hidden lookouts to guard those clothing and business structures, recording every single ounce of violence I deploy. His ultimate goal is to throw me into a normal civilian jail, not a government facility."

Luke gave a sharp, understanding nod of his head, turning on his heel toward the exit. "Alright, boss. I also left all one hundred of those white, base-model BMWs in the empty parking lot exactly as you ordered," Luke reported, pausing near the door. "Every single feature on them is identical except for the license plates, meaning they will blend into the city traffic cameras like a ghost in plain sight. A specific group of our people carrying large equipment cases arrived and took possession of them, right on schedule."

"Excellent. And since I know you have the discipline not to ask, I will tell you directly," I said, resting my elbows on the desk. "Those are our elite operatives who are currently spreading out across Star City. If any of your local subordinates come to you complaining about suspicious movements, tell them to completely ignore those actions. I handed them official Fire Birds tokens so they can utilize our hidden facilities as phantom members. Spread the word to let them act with total freedom—even if they end up killing our own men, it will be by my direct order."

Luke, who had operated by my side for nearly four years, immediately read between the lines of my explanation. A look of deep impression crossed his face as he realized I had already deployed a massive contingency force of hitmen into Star City, perfectly predicting the government's underhanded meddling before it even manifested. He offered a casual wave, stepping out into the hallway toward the elevator banks.

Roughly fifteen minutes passed in silence before the line on my desk intercom buzzed loudly. I pressed the receiver, listening to the receptionist's nervous voice.

[Leader, sorry to disturb you, but Head Feng has just arrived at the front desk demanding a meeting with you. She does not possess an official appointment, so how should I proceed?]

I rubbed my chin, my mind racing as I tried to deduce why Jill had suddenly shown up at the Fire Birds headquarters. In the past, Tony and Daniel Feng used to hold meetings here constantly, making her presence an echo of old times. But this marked the very first time Jill Feng had ever set foot in this building on her own accord.

"Let her know that Tina is currently out of town, working up in North City," I instructed, keeping my voice level.

A brief moment of silence passed over the line before the secretary's voice returned through the speaker.

[Mrs. Feng explicitly stated she is here to see the Leader, not the Vice-Leader.]

"Then send her up immediately," I replied, releasing the button.

Five minutes later, the heavy oak doors of my office swung open. Jill Feng stood framed in the doorway, a woman I had not laid eyes on in over a year.

She stood remarkably tall and proud, carrying the exact regal posture of her mother, Lane Feng. Physically, she was an identical mirror image of her mother, save for her piercing gold eyes that contrasted sharply with Lane’s deep blues. She cast a sharp, calculating gaze around the office room before taking a step inside.

"Is your office completely free from hidden eyes and ears?" Jill asked, her voice carrying a tense, authoritative edge. "We need to discuss highly confidential topics."

Seeing her guarded demeanor, I immediately realized she wanted to speak to me regarding my hidden identity as the Yellow Emperor. She had completely avoided the topic during our last rough, emotionally charged phone call. Back then, I could hear how deeply hurt she was by the circumstances, but sadly, I had been utterly helpless to change things for her.

As for Hinata sleeping in the adjacent room, if she happened to be awake, she already knew my secrets anyway. It would not be a big deal if she overheard our conversation. I deliberately ignored her nearby presence, knowing Hinata never questioned or exposed my hidden operations, choosing instead to act entirely like a silent, submissive servant.

"Yes, I strictly forbid any surveillance apparatus inside this room except for my own encrypted smartphone," I assured her, rising from my seat. "What about your own device?"

She clicked the door lock firmly behind her, stepping across the expansive red shag rug toward my desk. "I left both my purse and my phone locked inside my car," Jill said, her eyes tracking the wide windows. "Please close the blinds immediately, just in case anyone outside is trying to take long-range photographs of what I am about to show you."

My eyes drifted to the heavy legal envelope clutched tightly in her hand. Nodding, I pressed the automated desk button to lower the security shutters, instantly blocking out the afternoon sun. The massive room became dimly illuminated, lit only by the colorful glow of my decorative lava lamps and the sharp overhead light pooling across my desk area.

Jill glided over to the leather chair opposite my desk, sinking into it and elegantly crossing her legs. Without a single word, she seriously tossed the thick envelope across the desk toward me. Taking the silent cue, I pulled out the documents and began skimming the contents.

The first official document was a formal declaration of her stepping down from her position as the Head of the Feng clan. The second piece of paperwork detailed the exact individual slated to take her place. The final document, resting at the very bottom, was her official divorce papers—all of them freshly signed and dated for tomorrow morning.

The individual designated to assume control of the Feng family was a notorious faction member fiercely loyal to the rival Lee clan. He was a man Tony Feng absolutely despised, but legally speaking, he was indeed the next bloodline successor in line to inherit the leadership position. The entire reason

Tony and Daniel had staged that massive competition in the first place was to prevent this specific man from gaining control of the Fire Birds or inheriting this unthinkable family seat. Even when he was just a side-branch head, he had been nothing but pure trouble.

I lifted my eyes from the paperwork, staring at Jill in utter confusion. She simply shrugged her shoulders, leaning back against the cushions. "I absolutely hate my current life," Jill said, her voice dropping into a weary, defeated tone. "Living as a commoner woman entirely free from all these corporate and familial burdens sounds infinitely better than struggling to keep the Feng family together. You know exactly why I am this upset, right?"

I studied her face, wondering if this was an indirect request for blood. "If you are revealing all of this to me, does it mean you want me to get rid of Greg for you?" I asked, setting the papers down. "Or am I completely missing something here? You know I absolutely hated being forced to choose between you two back then, but I will be honest with you, Jill—I have always loved Tina."

"I was mad because you never seemed to care for me at all!" Jill snapped, her composure cracking as her golden eyes flashed with old pain. "You knew exactly how I felt about you, and yet you did absolutely nothing to stop it. That is the true reason I yelled at you over the phone—for simply leaving me trapped in the hands of that utter trash. But I hate my father's desperate actions even more, which is why I am throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I just want to find real happiness, Rick."

"Jill, I always have cared about you," I said, my voice softening as I reached toward the edge of the desk. "But I was completely helpless back then due to the strict separation between the Syndicate and the main family branch. Even now, with everything that has changed, the only thing I can actively offer is to get rid of him for you."

Jill leaned forward, pressing her manicured finger firmly onto the signature line of the divorce paperwork as a soft smile played on her lips.

"Who actually needs him dead?" Jill asked, her voice turning remarkably calm. "This document permanently removes him from my life, so forcing you to crush a harmless bug is completely pointless. It might make you feel better to use force, but I am a big girl and I know exactly how to handle my own problems."

I nodded my head slowly, recognizing the cold logic in her words. I leaned back, folding my arms. "So the real reason you invited the entire family next week was to announce this?" I asked, watching her closely. "Then why come here to reveal it to me like this, simply because I am the active Fire Birds Leader?"

Jill’s expression instantly shifted, her golden eyes locking onto mine with absolute gravity. "Brother-in-law, Yellow Emperor, Rick Tang..." Jill paused, her breath hitching slightly before she spoke. "If there was absolutely no Syndicate law separating our lives, would you have truly loved me? When I am finally free of these family shackles tomorrow, will you love me, or will you reject my presence because you never possessed real feelings for me?"

There was no trace of deception or acting in her posture. I could easily tell she was deadly serious about this confession, causing me to close my eyes for a brief moment to process everything.

My mind immediately flashed back through all of my past interactions with Jill over the years. I recalled the numerous chaotic family dinners, the loud nights at the BBQ House, the shared moments during our university days, and our casual sisterly dates throughout the city. I even remembered the time she suddenly kissed me, playfully claiming afterward that she simply wanted to practice with someone she trusted completely. We had spent so much genuine time together before her family forced her to select a noble husband to satisfy their status. Then came her absolute rage at being callously shafted by the clan, sigh.

I opened my eyes, looking directly into her expectant gaze as I voiced my honest thoughts. "If I am being completely honest with you, yes," I admitted, my voice steady. "If that strict Syndicate law had not been in place to block us, I would have married you instead. And though I deeply hate this sudden decision you have made to hand the Feng family assets away to a rival faction... I will absolutely not reject your feelings."

To my surprise, heavy tears instantly welled up in Jill's eyes the exact moment my words left my mouth, spilling over her cheeks. I immediately rose from my desk chair, stepping around the wood to gently wipe the moisture from her golden eyes.

"Jill, what is wrong?" I asked, my brow furrowing with concern. "Did I say something wrong to upset you?"

She reached up, capturing my hand tightly against her wet cheek as I wiped the tears away, her lips curling into a genuine smile. Her mind briefly raced back to her painful phone call last week, remembering how her own husband had never once bothered to ask about her deeper feelings or tears, yet here I was, refusing to let her down. She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss against my fingers before looking up.

"Rick, that is the exact answer I wanted to hear all along," Jill whispered, her gaze intensifying. "I have officially made up my mind. Let me help you with your struggle, and you can help me with mine."

"What exactly are you talking about?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion. "What kind of help do you need from me, Jill?"

Jill stood up from the chair, stepping close to look me directly in the eyes while reaching out to touch my cheek. She calmly outlined the details of her hidden plan, causing my eyes to open wide in pure shock.

And the moment she untied the delicate straps of her dress, letting the fabric slide completely to the floor, I knew I was in massive trouble...

An hour later, I sat quietly in my leather chair, staring out the wide window toward the distant ridge where my main Feng residence and Ana's house stood. It was a familiar habit of mine, something I found myself doing constantly over these past few turbulent years.

As I took a slow sip of my whisky, a warm pair of hands suddenly settled onto my shoulders, gently massaging the tension away.

I glanced up, meeting Hinata's caring smile as she looked down at me from behind the chair. "I truly love your heart, Sensei," Hinata said softly, her voice filled with deep affection. "You are entirely willing to break your own personal vows just to bring happiness to those around you. You even show genuine love to this foolish woman who once actively tried to end your life. This selfless nature is one of the many reasons I love you so deeply."

Hinata leaned down to press a sweet kiss against my lips, causing a slight blush to creep up my neck as I cleared my throat.

"So, I guess you managed to overhear absolutely everything she and I just did in here, sigh," I muttered, shaking my head. "Yeah... I know I am completely being used here, just like what happened with the twins, but I have always genuinely cared for Jill. Besides, I kill people for a living and run a massive Syndicate, so breaking a few minor family laws shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

Hinata glided around the chair, settling comfortably onto my lap. She reached out, taking a small sip from my glass before leaning in to press her lips to mine, transferring the remaining whisky into my mouth.

"Any decision you make, I will always believe is the absolute right choice," Hinata murmured, tracing my jawline. "So, now that Mrs. Feng made you completely empty, let us depart for our next destination, my Teacher."

I offered her a genuine smile as she stood up, quickly gathering my heavy jacket and my twin swords from the rack. Slid into my gear, Hinata and I quietly exited the private office together.

It was time to go find Lucy and discuss these latest chaotic developments.