Chapter 39: Transition to University Life!

Chapter 39: Transition to University Life!

A massive wave of events hit the city all on that single day. The evening news cycle was absolutely on fire with major reports, and the local grapevine was ablaze with chatter over everything going on.

The top story on every channel centered around the Star General Hospital scandal. A massive public investigation had dropped on Dr. Chris Honda, exposing his private life completely. Over a dozen prominent women had already been interviewed by detectives, laying out the exact details of how they had been drugged, blackmailed, and secretly videotaped by the once-genius plastic surgeon turned criminal.

The second major story dominating the nationwide news was the sudden, shocking arrest of the Head of the Long family, Kimberly Long. The reports stated that Central Intelligence agents had dragged her from her home for targeting an unnamed private citizen with a contract assassin. The media chalked most of the details up to pure speculation since the government refused to release hard evidence to the public, but her raw, unedited mugshot did not look good at all without her usual high-society makeup. That image was definitely going to haunt her reputation for a long time.

The third story was a more localized advisory regarding a high-altitude test-firing of a new military bunker-buster bomb in the uninhabited northern mountain range. The government issued a strict warning for civilians to completely avoid the area in case some of the live ordnance failed to explode on impact, noting that secondary tests might hit the region as well.

The very next afternoon, my phone buzzed inside my pocket, and I pulled it out to find Tina on the line.

"Rick, are you free tonight for a bodyguard shift?" Tina asked, her voice dropping to a serious tone. "I have a private negotiation scheduled with the Hidden Dragons vice leader, Ashley Hue. This meeting directly concerns both your personal standing and the Fire Birds syndicate, so can you make it?"

"If it's an official work contract, I will gladly come along even if I don't particularly want to see her face," I replied, my street-smart instincts framing the move. "Just let me know exactly what time I need to come pick you up."

"Then be at my gate at seven o'clock sharp, and we will head downtown to meet her at a high-end restaurant," she said.

I immediately went down to my den to get ready for the shift, pulling on my standard professional bodyguard outfit. I checked the actions of my gear, strapped my legal HK P30 handguns into their holsters beneath my heavy long coat, and made sure my spare clips were locked into place. After heading upstairs to let my two wives know exactly what was up, I walked out to the garage and hit the road.

Exactly thirty minutes later, I guided the heavy Hummer up to the front security gates of the Feng estate to wait for Tina.

To my complete surprise, Tina's mother, Lane Feng, was the one who walked down the brick path to meet me at the vehicle. She stepped up to the driver's side window, a highly amused, knowing smile spreading across her lips as she offered a warm greeting.

"Hello, Rick," Lane said, leaning slightly against the frame. "How exactly are you holding up after your little run-in with the Mountain Temple monks the other night?"

"Hello, Mrs. Feng," I replied, keeping my posture relaxed. "I am doing completely fine. I was honestly just deeply irritated that the encounter forced me to reveal my hidden trump card weapon so early in the game. I was getting very close to launching a full-scale, bitter blitz against the Long family estate to finish it myself, but someone in the government intelligence network intervened before I could start."

Lane’s eyes squinted in pure delight, looking at me the way an adult looks at a kid standing inside a candy store. "Rick, purely due to my own professional curiosity regarding high-tier combat, if you are willing to share a specific training secret with me right now, I am fully willing to procure a very nice, military-quality sniper rifle for your private collection. What do you say to that deal?"

My eyes narrowed as I calculated the trade. "Sure. Is it structurally possible for your network to source a fifty-caliber sniper rifle?"

"Ufufu! How does a brand-new, factory-spec Barrett M107 fifty-caliber long-range sniper rifle sound to you, Rick?" she asked with a soft chuckle.

"Name your terms," I grinned, leaning closer to the window. "What exactly do you want to know about the fight, beautiful Mrs. Feng?!"

She smiled at the compliment, her focus turning sharp. "How were you physically able to land three separate, maximum-accuracy shots onto a Master-level martial monk without him being able to execute his standard evasion? Normally, practitioners of that caliber possess the hardwired physical speed to completely avoid incoming gunfire at close range, especially from the distance you two were standing at."

Instead of explaining it with words, I opened my car door and stepped out onto the driveway. I reached beneath my coat, pulled both of my handguns from their holsters, and manually ejected the ammunition magazines onto the driver's seat to clear the chambers. With the weapons completely safe, I brought my hands up, locking my body into a fluid, balanced stance.

"The core reason these martial arts Masters can look like they are effortlessly dodging bullets is due to their extreme situational awareness," I explained, my voice dropping to a grounded, steady register. "They don't dodge the actual bullet after it leaves the barrel; they read the physical alignment of the shooter's hands, tracking where the weapon is pointing and watching the trigger finger to predict the exact split second of the firing action. Because of that prediction skill, even a Master-level marksman cannot easily hit them all of the time, and anyone with lower training skills has basically a zero percent chance of scratching them."

With the baseline set, I began executing a series of rapid, seamless combat motions right there on the asphalt, letting her see exactly how my hardwired training shifted my center of gravity.

"To counter that prediction loop, I permanently combined my master-tier marksmanship directly with the fluid, unpredictable hand strikes of my Grandmaster Kung-Fu," I told her, my hands sweeping through a sequence of sharp, interwoven defensive guards and mock shooting postures. "I call the resulting style Gun-Fu. When I execute this specific form, a Master-level monk cannot read the trajectory or predict the trigger pull any better than a normal man off the street. Only a true Grandmaster Monk would possess the physical speed to evade my shots. Does the layout make complete sense to you now?"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Lane smiled brightly, applauding my live demonstration as I smoothly reloaded the ammunition magazines back into my handguns and slid them securely back beneath my coat.

"That is incredibly simple and utterly ingenious, Rick," she praised, her eyes sparkling. "To think you managed to program a complete structural workaround for a Master's defensive evasion technique. I will personally ensure the Barrett is ready for you by the end of the week, packed with enough custom ammunition to last you a very long time. That way, if you ever find yourself needing to completely wipe out a rival family line, you can handle the logistics from a perfectly safe, comfortable distance, ufufu."

"You are completely spoiling me, so thank you very much, Mrs. Feng," I smiled.

A moment later, the front doors of the estate opened, and Tina stepped out onto the porch wearing a stunning red dress. She was completely alone today, walking down the path with a sharp stride. I stepped around the side of the Hummer, opened the heavy rear passenger door, and offered a polite wave of my hand.

"Your luxury limousine is waiting, my lady!" I called out.

Tina climbed into the leather interior, the rich scent of her perfume filling the air as she shot me a deeply irritated look. "You are absolutely dripping with pure sarcasm today, Rick, humph!"

I slammed the heavy door shut right on her face before she could utter another word of complaint. Her mother let out a loud, highly amused laugh from the driveway as I climbed back behind the wheel, started the engine, and drove off toward downtown.

Once we merged onto the main highway, I glanced up at the rearview mirror to check her expression. "I know you are scheduled to share a meal with the Hidden Dragons vice leader tonight, Tina, but looking at the board, should I be actively expecting a physical fight at this venue?"

Tina looked up from her smartphone, her expression serious. "You caught the news reports about the midnight bombing in the northern mountains, right, Rick?"

I offered a brief nod, keeping my focus locked on the traffic ahead.

"The Air Force successfully dropped a heavy bunker-buster ordnance directly onto a specific section of the Mountain Temple territory," Tina explained, her voice low. "The blast completely eliminated roughly one-quarter of their hidden monastery infrastructure. The central government intelligence division explicitly delivered a message to their elders alongside the payload: if their monks ever step foot inside Star City borders again, their entire hidden sanctuary will be permanently eradicated from the face of the map."

I let out a low whistle under my breath. "That is some incredibly harsh, definitive shit. Who the hell called in a strike like that for me?" I paused, my analytical mind processing the strategic layout. "But why not just authorize a full launch to blow up the entire monastery while they had the target locked? Leaving three-quarters of a hidden assassin faction alive seems like a terrible tactical choice, doesn't it?"

"No," Tina countered, shaking her head. "The politics behind the factions are heavily interwoven. The Mountain Temple is tied directly to the Long dynasty by marriage; the Sect Leader's oldest son is married to the second daughter of the Long main line, who happens to be Ashley Hue’s biological mother. Completely eliminating their entire hidden order all at once would be viewed as launching a total war against the Long house, rather than punishing them for a single localized infraction. The government chose to handle it with precision."

"I guess I still don't understand high-society politics well enough," I muttered, taking a tight turn off the exit ramp. "That is exactly why living my life as a simple commoner is far more straightforward."

Tina leaned forward in her seat, bringing her lips close to my ear as she whispered softly over the hum of the engine.

"Look at the long-term play, Rick. By executing only a specific section of the monks and forcing them to stay out of Star City under threat of death, the government has created an impossible situation for Kimberly Long. The Mountain Temple elders are going to be absolutely furious at her for bringing the military's wrath straight to their doorstep over her personal grudge. The exact split second she steps outside our city limits, those monks will tear her apart. Do you see the trap now? As the Head of the Long house, she is legally required to travel all across Eurasia to manage her family's massive corporate assets. How effective can she possibly be as a permanently caged leader? That is exactly how the government chose to punish her."

I offered a simple shrug as we neared our final destination. The restaurant was a high-class, ultra-exclusive dining establishment built specifically for the wealthy elite, a spot where every single item on the menu was heavily overpriced simply because the patrons possessed the cash to waste.

After parking the heavy Hummer in a secure spot, I scanned the surrounding sidewalks and entryways for any signs of trouble before opening the door to let Tina step out. I fell into a disciplined stride exactly two steps behind her, keeping my eyes locked on the surroundings as we entered the main hall.

A formal server guided us through the lavish interior, leading us straight into a secluded private dining room equipped with a massive, U-shaped leather party booth meant for high-society functions. The moment I stepped through the threshold, my eyes landed on the guests. I wasn't surprised at all to see Victoria Long sitting right next to Ashley Hue; the live tracking readings on my custom smartphone app had already pinged me the exact second their devices arrived at the coordinates together. I quietly took up a stationary post right by the closed door, keeping my arms crossed as the three women took their seats at the linen-covered table.

Victoria glanced across the room, her eyes locking onto my posture as I stood watch by the exit. "Why exactly are you not joining us at the table for a meal tonight, Mr. Lee?"

I squinted slightly at the Long family woman, keeping my facial expression completely flat and professional as I delivered a blunt response.

"I am currently operating as Miss Feng's active bodyguard for this shift," I told her, my voice calm. "I need to remain completely alert in case we run into any sudden... assassins."

Tina caught the underlying tension, offering a sharp smile as she looked at her high-society peers. "If he hadn't agreed to come along tonight as my paid protection detail, do you two honestly believe he would have ever bothered showing up to your little syndicate meeting in the first place?"

Ashley immediately stepped in to separate the friction between the Long house and the syndicate networks, smoothing out her voice to keep the negotiation on track. "I am standing here tonight officially representing the interests of the Hidden Dragons network, and Victoria Long is here representing the main Long House line. We came to this room to have a peaceful discussion and share a meal."

Victoria looked back over her shoulder toward my post. "Please, Rick. Join us at the table for a plate."

I offered a brief wave of my hand, keeping my distance as I drew a hard line in the sand between us.

"I already took care of my dinner shift over at Big-Burger before the shift started," I told her coldly, letting her see the complete lack of warmth in my eyes. "I explicitly smashed a super-deluxe combo meal knowing I was going to be working active detail tonight, so I am completely full. Thanks for the offer."

Victoria was a highly intelligent corporate woman; she could tell just by the icy tone of my voice that the bridge between us was completely burned to ash. The kind, helpful neighborhood boy who had cheerfully changed her flat tire and rescued her runaway shopping cart in the parking lot weeks ago was completely gone. If she ever found herself stranded on the side of the road again, my street-smart instincts meant I would leave her right there on the asphalt. Her older sister had completely ruined any chance of a relationship this time.

A private server entered the room a moment later, quietly taking the three women's orders and serving a round of expensive drinks before slipping back out the door. Once the privacy was secured, Tina leaned back against the leather cushions and opened the discussion.

"So, let's get straight to the business at hand," Tina stated, her gold eyes narrowing. "Why exactly did you request a formal meal with my division, Miss Hue? And more importantly, why did a prominent university business teacher like you bother showing up to a secret syndicate negotiation, Teacher Long?"

Ashley cleared her throat, leaning forward over the table to explain the internal fallout of their clan.

"The two of us were completely against the Head's foolish actions from the very start," Ashley confessed, her tone dropping to a serious register as she looked at Tina. "According to our internal news, Kimberly had been drinking heavily the night of the Hospital Ball. Fueled by alcohol and a toxic, ancient grudge against Rick's biological lineage, she independently pushed a contract through our hidden networks to have him permanently crippled. She wanted immediate retribution for a past slight done to the Long family name by his father years ago."

"It makes so much sense now," I say, opening my eyes to stare at the two women. "Laura Long is the sole reason my parents were originally kicked out of their respective clans. She is the reason my biological mother probably died early due to extreme stress, why my father died of a broken heart in a commoner district, and why Scott Tang has spent years trying to kill me alongside the vindictive Laura Long!"

I look back and forth between Victoria and Ashley, a dangerous, mocking smile spreading across my face.

"So I was almost assassinated in an alley by your petty Long clan over a personal grudge that I had absolutely zero part in, for a situation that occurred before I was even alive. And in your family's twisted minds, that was reasonable justification to end my life. So then all of my life's grievances and suffering can be laid directly at both of your feet, is that your version of high-society justice? No. You honestly expect me to just sit back and swallow your family's trash because your mother and your sister were so spiteful?"

Victoria’s face drains of color entirely. She suddenly stands up from the leather booth, walks straight across the private room until she is standing directly in front of my post, and bends her upper body forward into a formal, deep bow.

"You are completely right, Rick," Victoria says, her voice shaking with raw emotion. "And that is exactly why I am offering you my own life right now in exchange to let the rest of the Long family go. Just kill me right here."

I stare down at her. What is this woman thinking? Is she seriously trying to play out some third-rate television drama in front of me?

"Your life is completely worthless as payment for my past," I tell her, my voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Killing you right now would only serve to make your older sisters even more unhinged. So go back to the table, eat your expensive dinner, and finish talking about peace with Tina. I don't want to exchange another word with the Long house. All of you completely disgust me."

I lean my shoulder back against the wall, crossing my arms tightly over my chest and closing my eyes to completely cut off their presence.

Tina lets out a soft, amused laugh from the booth, breaking the suffocating silence. "Ufufu! You heard my bodyguard, ladies. I will be the one you talk to for the peace arrangements tonight. Come back and sit down, Miss Long. Don't bother looking at him like he is ever going to forgive your lot."

While the three women continue their meal in complete, awkward silence, I keep my eyes closed, letting my thoughts process everything I just uncovered from their gossip.

The main crux of the matter is the simple fact that I was right about my father all along. That old man didn't refuse to love his clan out of weakness; he just completely refused to subject his life to that miserable woman Laura.

The core reason I chose to close my eyes and shut down the conversation with Victoria is that my street-smart instincts could tell she felt genuine, profound guilt for the endless troubles her family had dumped onto my head. When she heard my breakdown of their family's history and offered up her own life on the spot, I could tell she was 100% serious about the sacrifice.

If it had been Ashley's mother or Kimberly standing in front of me making that offer, I would have taken them up on it without a second thought. But Victoria was only a literal toddler when the original fallout happened; she was just as innocent as I was in this mess. I am completely sure the only reason she ever harbored any resentment toward my name in the first place was because her mind had been poisoned by her older sister's continuous hate.

And Ashley’s situation is probably even more complicated, considering the reality that the only reason she even exists in this world today is because her mother failed to marry my dad. Life in this city is entirely grey, rarely ever separating into neat lines of black and white.

At the end of the long evening, the meal finally concluded, and the three women stood up to walk out into the dark parking lot together. Victoria steps up to the side of our vehicle, looking at me with a complicated expression.

"Be fully assured, Rick Lee," Victoria says quietly. "I will absolutely not pull any funny business against you once classes start at the university. Once again, I am deeply sorry for the immense slights committed against your name."

I simply reach out and grab the handle, opening the heavy rear door for Tina to climb into the leather interior. I don't offer a single word of reply to her apology. What is there left to say anyway? Even if she tries to pull some games with my grades inside her classroom, I can easily alter my standing—not to mention I already learned all of the business management material anyway.

But looking at her face, I know she is genuinely trying her best to mend the broken fences. However, the Long house isn't going to easily earn my favor ever again. I offer her one final, chilly look as I climb behind the steering wheel of the Hummer.

"See you in class, Teacher Long."

Thud!

I slam the heavy door shut, start the engine, and drive Tina and myself straight out of the parking lot into the city streets.

Back on the sidewalk, both women let out a heavy sigh at the exact same time, completely exhausted by how awkward the entire meeting had been.

Ashley turns to look at her aunt, her voice low.

"Well, at the very least, we successfully avoided an open war in the streets," Ashley murmurs, rubbing her temples. "But to think that so many of my fellow students from the Mountain Temple died just like that for offending Rick Lee... Father is absolutely angry at mother right now. Apparently, some of the monks killed in that northern military bombing raid were his closest childhood friends from the monastery."

Victoria turns a stern look toward her niece. "You better learn a valuable lesson from this situation right now, Ashley. Don't you dare turn out like my older sisters, and stop carrying these endless family vendettas around with you, because only mutual annihilation awaits at the end of that path. I honestly had absolutely no idea how heavily your mother's past choices affected the lives of others until today. Rick Lee lost significantly more than your mother ever did, and our family basically kicked a wounded tiger."

Ashley lets out a soft, nervous chuckle to break the heavy mood. "Well, university life is definitely going to be interesting with all of the main family heirs packed into one damn course together! So have fun dealing with that in your classroom, aunt!"

Victoria reaches out, grabbing her niece's cheek and twisting the skin in sharp displeasure.

"You little brat!" Victoria scolds, her eyes narrowing. "I only accepted this university teaching position so I could help monitor your progress and secure your degree, and now you've managed to drag me straight out of my comfortable, cushy CEO office just to dump me right in the middle of all this family drama! You just wait and see if I don't work you to absolute death during my lectures this semester. Go home, brat, humph!"

Later in the evening...

After driving back across the city and dropping Tina off at the Feng estate, my favorite contractor hooked me up with my brand-new toy—a factory-spec, pristine Barrett M107 .50 Caliber Long Range Sniper Rifle!

Staring at the massive weapon lying inside its protective case down in my den, every single ounce of my earlier discontent vanished into thin air. Why?

Because now, with this heavy-duty hardware in my inventory, I can comfortably eliminate a target from as far away as sixty-five hundred feet out.

Outstanding stuff.

For the remainder of the summer weeks, absolutely zero troubles came rolling toward our estate, and life settled into a slow, peaceful routine. My two wives made me feel incredibly loved and secure every single day, and I completely let them pamper me around the house while Mary balanced her detective shifts and Hana managed her ER room.

After getting a good night's rest on the sheets, I am going to have to tell you all about my favorite, fun highlights from those slow summer days.

But for now, the vacation hours are officially over, and it is time for my university life to finally begin!