Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 130: Star Quality

“You… you will pay for your actions today, Shi…” Ryūsuke Ryūshō, with one bloodshot eye and his body covered in blood, managed to speak with his last breath.
The word “Shi” had barely left his lips when a cold blade flashed in an instant. Ryūsuke Ryūshō’s head, along with a spray of blood, flew into the air. His mouth remained frozen in that shape, unable to utter another word!
Before his head even hit the ground, three more heads flew up to join it in midair…
Kim Myung-hoon and another Korean were utterly shocked! In their eyes, that unexpected visitor had become a synonym for “Death God”—capable of releasing sword energy so casually and with such control. It wasn’t the release of sword energy itself that was terrifying; rather, it required a sudden burst of powerful internal energy to overcome physical limits and unleash it.
Thus, sword energy was usually extremely powerful, as it was a life-threatening move requiring all one’s strength. It was often difficult to control and could deal devastating blows to enemies!
But the way that man used his sword energy was as if the soft sword in his hand was a living creature—easily controlled, with precise speed, force, and sharpness. Those Japanese didn’t even have time to react. Before they could feel pain or even scream, they were already dead. This showed just how extraordinary his skills were!
As Kim Myung-hoon and his companion were stunned, Chu Tianyu’s cold, almost self-talk-like voice rang out fiercely: “Just for that last word you said, the Ryūshō clan—no matter how far away, will be punished!!!”
Kim Myung-hoon felt a chill run down his spine. His hand holding the hidden weapon trembled inexplicably. It seemed as though Chu Tianyu’s voice came straight from hell.
All he could think now was: “It’s over. The fourth-ranked Ryūshō clan in Japan is completely ruined! Getting involved with someone like him means, as he just said, punishment no matter the distance…”
When Chu Tianyu turned to look at them, an oppressive pressure rushed over, forcing Kim Myung-hoon and his companion to take several steps back involuntarily. His companion was even more terrified than he was, his body trembling violently as he leaned close to him.

Chu Tianyu did not attack immediately but asked coldly, “When I fought against ‘them’ just now, I deliberately revealed a few weaknesses. With your skills in hidden weapons, you surely wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. I just want to ask—why?”
Faced with Chu Tianyu’s unyielding tone, Kim Myung-hoon didn’t even think of resisting and simply replied, “We won’t team up with the Japanese. No matter how many weaknesses you reveal, we still won’t! This operation was also arranged by intermediaries; otherwise, we wouldn’t have gathered with them at all!”
“Good, so a ‘still won’t’! Just because of that statement, I’ll give you a chance to live—go back the way you came! But your despicable actions cannot be forgiven. Keep whatever skills you have left and get lost!”
Kim Myung-hoon and his companion felt a chill sweep over them as their vital energy drained instantly, leaving them utterly powerless. “Ding ding dang~~” The sound came from the silver beads in their hands, which fell to the ground due to the sudden loss of force.
Looking ahead, there was no one in sight. The last words, “Get lost!”, still echoed throughout the factory. When they finally regained their senses and checked their bodies, they realized in horror that their skills were indeed gone!
“Go back! Report to the organization—this isn’t something our Kim Corporation can get involved in! That guy… he’s not even human!” Kim Myung-hoon said, his face pale.
His companion nodded firmly. “Yes!”
After that, they supported each other and tried to find the remaining two translators, only to discover in shock that they too had been pierced in the heart by blades at some point…
…
At 10 a.m., Chu Tianyu, dressed casually, sat in a high-end coffee shop, listening to soft, romantic music and savoring the rich flavor of his charcoal-brewed coffee, waiting for Xue Ning’er to arrive. He hadn’t expected the place to be so elegant, with waitresses of outstanding grace. If they were placed in any movie as the protagonists, people would believe it!
Yet the coffee shop’s door was small, its sign unremarkable. It was more accurate to describe it as a private club rather than a coffee shop.

When Chu Tianyu first arrived, he was kept outside. A thin young man asked him kindly if he had an appointment. Chu Tianyu was immediately puzzled—not by the question itself, but by the fact that this young man seemed to possess some cultivation skills. Though not yet at a high level, it was strange that he was working as a waiter in such a small place!

Only after Chu Tianyu mentioned he had an appointment with Xue Ning’er did a graceful waitress come out and lead him to a large table in the middle, saying that Miss Xue had already reserved that spot!

Chu Tianyu arrived early. Soon after, more men and women came in. Although they all seemed to have excellent taste, especially the women who were stylishly dressed and beautifully poised, Chu Tianyu gave them just a quick glance and paid no further attention.

But if it were Bai Lei and Bao Cai here, they would surely have started shouting, calling them idols or stars, and rushing forward with pens and notebooks to ask for autographs!

For Chu Tianyu, who didn’t read books or newspapers, all this was simply ignored, leaving no impression at all.

By the way, by “books” Chu Tianyu meant entertainment magazines, and by “newspapers” he meant gossip magazines about idols…

By now, Chu Tianyu had already drunk his third cup of coffee, yet Xue Ning’er still hadn’t shown up. Checking his watch, he realized more than half an hour had passed!

Chu Tianyu frowned and sighed to himself, “Why show off? Just pay someone a high price to buy a few tickets—surely there are still some good tickets available!”

But at that moment, he didn’t think much of it. Considering his relationship with the Tianyin Sect, getting a few tickets shouldn’t be a problem. If necessary, he could even bring Xue Ning’er to their dormitory and hold a small concert! Then he could act as a scalper himself—that would be pretty cool!

Unbeknownst to him, Xue Ning’er had arranged to meet him here over the phone, turning what should have been a simple matter into something complicated. And now she was even so late!

As he was lost in thought, suddenly he heard laughter coming from the door. Xue Ning’er and three stylishly dressed girls walked in…

Xue Ning’er spotted Chu Tianyu from afar and immediately waved at him with a smile. Chu Tianyu waved back at her as well. As they walked over, it seemed they knew everyone in the café, greeting them warmly. Finally, they reached Chu Tianyu’s side. Once seated, the three girls stared at him curiously from head to toe, though it was hard to tell what expression they had.

Chu Tianyu ignored them and simply smiled at Xue Ning’er. Before he could speak, Xue “Shuimin” spoke up apologetically, “I’m so sorry! We were waiting for them to get up, which is why we’re late!”

Chu Tianyu’s expression changed slightly, and Xue Ning’er, seemingly noticing this, continued, “They’re also guests at this concert, scheduled to perform with me. They just arrived from out of town last night, so they woke up a bit late…”

Despite Xue Ning’er’s polite explanation, the three girls seemed unconvinced and said, “Oh, Ning’er, why explain so much? Just order something to eat quickly—we’re still hungry! Hey, Ning’er, haven’t you introduced us to this person yet?”

Judging from their ambiguous expressions, they must be suspicious of the relationship between Chu Tianyu and Xue Ning’er. Before Xue Ning’er could respond, Chu Tianyu calmly said, “I’m just here to get a few tickets!”

After a brief “Oh…”, without even asking for his name, the girls turned their attention back to chatting among themselves. Clearly, in their eyes, given Chu Tianyu’s appearance and purpose, he couldn’t possibly be Xue Ning’er’s suitor. At best, he was someone trying to take advantage of their relationship to get tickets.

This left Xue Ning’er in an awkward situation, so she quickly tried to salvage things by saying, “Hehe, let me introduce him. This is Chu Tianyu, and these three are the most popular idol groups these days…”

Before she could finish speaking, the three girls let out a gasp. They immediately stood up, their faces glowing with excitement, and headed toward the door, calling out as they went, “Hello, Teacher Chen…”

Chu Tianyu looked puzzled and turned to Xue Ning’er with doubt. Xue Ning’er could only say helplessly, “Brother-in-law, I’m so sorry! I wanted to invite you here for a quieter place. This coffee shop mainly serves celebrities from the film, music, and entertainment industries. Coming here not only gives us a chance to relax away from being recognized everywhere but also allows us to interact with peers, as we all share a common language. You know, being a celebrity can be very lonely—sometimes there’s not even time to talk…”

At this point, Chu Tianyu could definitely understand! He remembered the time he went shopping with Feifei in Chengdu. The madness and obsession of fans still made him break into a sweat!

“Take that Mr. Chen who just came in, for example. Don’t think of him as just a physics or chemistry teacher—he’s a highly renowned and talented screenwriter. If you can build a good relationship with him, getting a supporting role won’t be a problem at all! And they often invite big names here, where through interactions, they gradually cultivate a star-like aura…” Xue Ning’er explained in detail.

“Do you come here often?” Chu Tianyu asked curiously.

“Hehe, my sister and I hardly come here. We’re not like them who are truly part of the industry. We have our own Tianyu Music Company, which is run by our aunts. And we only sing; we don’t get involved in other industries, so we don’t need to be restricted by so many things!”

“By the way, brother-in-law, do you rarely pay attention to entertainment news? There are several popular celebrities here, and it seems like you don’t even recognize them!” As she spoke, Xue Ning’er suddenly seemed to remember something and tilted her head, asking.

“Hmm, I indeed pay little attention to this area. Sigh. Maybe I’m getting old-fashioned, hehe…” Chu Tianyu joked.

“Not at all! My sister says you’re very capable and do amazing things. People who do great things don’t waste time paying attention to such things…” Xue Ning’er insisted.

“Hehe, little girl, that remark has upset quite a few people! It’s fine to enjoy leisure and entertainment. Even those who do great things have the right to listen to music, watch movies, and have their favorite celebrities. It’s no big deal! Hehe, I’m a loyal fan of your sister!”

For some reason, maybe because of Feifei or her constant use of the term “uncle,” Chutianyu really treated Xue Ning’er like a younger sister, speaking to her in an older brotherly tone.
“Hehe, you two just be fans of each other—you praise her, she praises you. It’s so cheesy!” she said, frowning at her small nose while fanning herself with her hand.
As they were talking, the three girls returned, chatting excitedly among themselves. “Oh, what’s so exciting for you guys?” Xue Ning’er asked.
The three girls sat down and showed them their business cards. One girl with a oval face said proudly, “We just talked to Teacher Chen. He said he’ll consider creating some roles suitable for us in his next movie and even inviting some well-known foreign stars. For example, Shinoda, the most popular star in Japan right now, has basically agreed to collaborate. He guarantees that acting with him will make us instantly famous and help us break into the film industry! He’s scheduled to discuss the details with us soon. It’s a shame you and your sister only sing and don’t participate in movies. With your talents, if you had the chance, even big directors and screenwriters would fight to cast you!”
“Yes, but just singing alone is enough for you. Sigh, I really envy your voices. Even those of us who come from singing backgrounds can’t help but admire them. We get completely captivated every time we listen…” another girl added.
“That’s right! You don’t have to worry at all. Unlike us, if we don’t seek other opportunities within these two years, it’ll be too late—no one will want us then!” the last girl said.
“What detailed discussions? But judging from Teacher Chen’s smug expression, it seems he doesn’t have good intentions at all!” Xue Ning’er warned after hearing their words.
“Hehe, that’s just how the entertainment industry works. Who else can have their own entertainment company like you and Feifei? We’re just puppets controlled by others. We’ve gotten used to it. After all, it’s a win-win situation!”
Chutianyu listened to their chatter and felt uncomfortable when they mentioned making movies. Why hire foreigners when there are so many talented actors in China of all kinds? What’s the point of bringing in foreigners just to pretend they’re better?

Especially when she heard those girls talking excitedly about collaborating with some Japanese actor named Sanada that he didn’t know, Chu Tianyu’s frown deepened even more. It was understandable for them to pursue fame and fortune, but if they did so by abandoning even the most basic moral principles and the spirit of a nation, it became detestable! As the girls’ talk grew more absurd, he could no longer bear it.

So, regardless of how happily they were talking, Chu Tianyu interrupted directly, “Ning’er, I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving first!” Without waiting for Xue Ning’er’s reply, he got up and left. Xue Ning’er was initially stunned. Only when she saw Chu Tianyu already at the door did she realize what had happened and hurriedly chased after him outside. By then, there was no trace of Chu Tianyu anywhere.

Xue Ning’er was filled with regret. She had wanted to take this opportunity to have a good talk with her brother-in-law. In her mind, Chu Tianyu’s tall and impressive image had long been firmly established—through what her sister and many disciples of the Tianyin Sect had described, plus his authoritative manner during that banquet. To her, every aspect of Chu Tianyu seemed perfect and fascinating. In that sense, she was definitely his most loyal fan!

Just as she felt disappointed, a message arrived on her phone. It was from Chu Tianyu. She quickly opened it and saw the message: “I won’t be going to the concert. When you’re free, just hold one at our dormitory so I can experience being a ticket scalper too! I wonder if my little sister will grant me this honor and let me enjoy some privileges? Hehe…”

Reading Chu Tianyu’s humorous message, Xue Ning’er knew he wasn’t blaming her, and her mood immediately improved. She quickly sent a smiling emoji back: “As you command, brother-in-law!”

Back at the coffee shop, the three girls curiously asked, “Ning’er, your friend was so rude! Just leaving like that without saying goodbye?”

“Yes, Ning’er. What exactly is his relationship with you? If it’s not close, avoid him in the future. Otherwise, he’ll keep asking for free tickets and stuff, giving him more material to brag about later!”

“Right, right…”

Hearing this, Xue Ning’er became angry. If they hadn’t been special guests for this concert and their names hadn’t been promoted, and if she hadn’t had to be responsible to the audience, she would have left just like Chu Tianyu!

So, she snapped, “What are you talking about! Do you know who he is? He’s my brother-in-law!!!”

“Brother-in-law!?” The three girls exclaimed in unison.
“Are you saying he, he and your sister, Feifei are…?” one of the girls asked doubtfully.
Xue Ning’er nodded as if too lazy to speak.
“Which wealthy family does he belong to?” another quickly asked.
“Surely it’s a powerful family! The Chu surname? Could it be the son of Chu Ye Group? No wonder Feifei, who was so popular, suddenly stepped back from the spotlight—she must be getting married into a wealthy family!” the last girl guessed.
“Oh, if it’s Chu Ye Group, that’s a family worth billions. She’ll become a wealthy lady—no need to show up in public like us. Even if we work hard our whole lives, it won’t cover their annual expenses. Sigh, I envy her!” the other two agreed.
Xue Ning’er was speechless. She had never interacted with them before. On stage, they seemed full of energy and youthfulness, but in reality, they were so superficial and annoying.
If Chu Tianyu were here to see this, he would only have two words to offer to these people who seemed to have star qualities: “Disgusting!”
…
When Chu Tianyu returned to the dormitory, Bao Cai and the others surrounded him as if waiting for good news, eagerly asking, “Tianyu, how did it go? Did you get tickets? Are they in the first row of Class A? Hehe, with your abilities, there shouldn’t be any problem!” As he spoke, Bao Cai rubbed his hands excitedly, as if ready to grab the tickets the moment Chu Tianyu nodded in agreement.
“I didn’t get any tickets!” Chu Tianyu said calmly.
At these words, not only Bao Cai but also Bai Lei was stunned, looking at Chu Tianyu in confusion. After a moment, Bao Cai seemed to suddenly realize something and said, “Haha, Tianyu, maybe someone will take us in and we can sit right at the front. Haha, that would be even more impressive. Maybe we can even go backstage and experience what it’s like to be a star up close!”
Chu Tianyu curled his lips and said, “I might as well skip such a concert. But don’t worry, I’ll invite Xue Ning’er to our dormitory for a private concert. As for those other stars, it’s better not to even watch them!”
With that, before anyone could react, he went to the balcony to calm himself down—thinking of those people made him feel uncomfortable!

“Tch, Third Brother, if you can’t get tickets, just say so. We won’t blame you. But coming up with nonsense like inviting Xue Ning’er alone is really wrong of you! And since everyone knew you could get tickets, Da Ge has been eagerly waiting for you all morning! You just deceived us naive souls like this…” Bao Cai said in exaggerated disappointment.
Chu Tianyu’s words completely ruined Bao Cai’s chance to spend a wonderful night with Xiao Xue. Originally, after the concert, Bao Cai had planned many romantic and exciting “surprises” to win Xiao Xue’s heart completely…
“Enough, Bao Cai. Stop being so shy. When courting a girl, you can’t follow clichés. There’s a way to court her that suits your circumstances. Of course, it’s best if you have the means, but if not, you won’t create conditions to do it! For example, take her to the wilderness, bring a radio, prepare some food and drinks, and enjoy the moon while listening to music on the radio— Wouldn’t that be great? It would be even better if there’s a dark, windy night with howling wolves—then Xiao Xue would surely dive into your arms!” Bai Lei couldn’t help but scold while giving advice.
“Huh, that’s a good idea! How come I didn’t think of it? Alright, let’s do it that way!” Bao Cai slapped his thigh in realization.
Hearing Bao Cai’s words, Bai Lei and Da Ge couldn’t help but roll their eyes in contempt, adding an “I give up to you” expression.