The female judo instructor stepped forward to conclude the session. "As you all saw, when facing physically stronger men, many of our techniques are limited by strength and can't be executed smoothly. So in real-life emergencies, you must use the most decisive methods to break your opponent's balance. Never get tangled up with men or try to overpower them—just strike their vital points directly…"
Next, the coach invited Jason Luo to formally demonstrate with Catherine. This time, Jason relaxed his body and fully cooperated, letting Catherine thoroughly enjoy the experience.
During the session, the instructor also gave Jason some pointers—how to generate Power from the back to rise, how to escape an armbar, and how to counter a rear naked choke.
These techniques might not seem useful for now, but Jason still memorized them carefully.
Leaving the judo center, Jason shook his head quietly. If men and women practiced this sport together, even without feelings at first, they'd end up developing them eventually—the amount of close physical contact was simply too much.
Meanwhile, Catherine was in high spirits. She hooked her arm through Jason's and teased, "So? You see how awesome I am now? You'd better behave yourself from now on! But seriously, you're heavy—I'm starving after that! Alright, lunch first, then you can visit your coach this afternoon. Tonight, I'm taking you to a nightclub. We're partying all night!"
"Nightclub? I don't drink. What would I even do there? Not going."
"Oh, come on! It's not what you think. You'll see when we get there. There are tons of amazing dancers—it's really fun! My girlfriends and I go all the time…"
Jason thought for a moment. As long as there was no drinking, it didn't matter. He was young anyway—seeing something new might be nice.
When he nodded, Catherine grinned and swung her hair as she mounted her motorcycle. "Hop on! This time we're having Japanese food!"
Being around Catherine was infectious. Her energy and joy made everything around her shine, and Jason couldn't help but admire her for that.
Maybe he should try to relax too. He didn't really have any big problems anymore—why keep living so tensely?
After lunch, Catherine dropped Jason off at his hotel before heading off. Her schedule was packed; her team had afternoon training and upcoming games.
Despite her free-spending ways, Catherine earned her own money. Football was America's number one sport, and the women's lingerie football league was a popular pay-per-view event. In terms of income, even Jason couldn't compare to her.
After showering and changing clothes at the hotel, Jason took a car to the medical center.
Seeing Coach Pedro in person finally put him at ease. The old coach looked well, and the doctors said his condition had been stable lately—maybe Jason's recent success had even helped lift his spirits.
Sonny happened to be there too, making the room feel lively. "Ah-ha! The wonder kid's here! Now our boxing coach has something to brag about! Everyone, take a look—my most disappointing student is now the North American Intercontinental Champion! Haha!"
The American-style joke made everyone laugh. Pedro immediately asked, "Why didn't you bring your girlfriend, Jason? I have to thank you—she's brought me so much happiness. She's clearly a bright and cheerful girl. You've got good taste."
Jason smiled awkwardly. "She's got training this afternoon. We already met earlier. Actually… we're not officially dating yet."
Pedro and Sonny exchanged glances. Sonny shrugged. "Even God wouldn't know how that'll turn out. Maybe next time we see you, you'll already be married, huh, old devil?"
Pedro saw the joy on Jason's face and chuckled. "Looks like the kid's doing fine. You can take a break, Sonny. I'm sick of your chatter every day."
Sonny laughed and left without taking offense.
The old coach really seemed to be recovering. The two talked for a long time, mostly reminiscing. Pedro shared stories from his youth, trying to pass on life lessons through them.
Eventually, the conversation turned back to boxing. After a pause, Pedro spoke thoughtfully, "Boxing changed your fate, but you can also use boxing to change other things in the future. Muhammad Ali fought for the rights of Black people through boxing. Manny Pacquiao used it to bring hope to his countrymen. And of course, you could follow Mayweather's example and pursue greater commercial success. The path you choose is yours alone. I just want you to remember—if you wish to be a truly great boxing champion, effort inside the ring alone won't be enough…"
...
When night fell, Catherine arrived with Jennifer and a few of her girlfriends to pick up Jason. They took him to a nightclub called Champion.
Don't underestimate this place—it had hosted the 2016 and 2018 WOD World Street Dance Championships, so its atmosphere was nothing like ordinary clubs.
The moment they entered, pounding beats drowned out everything else. On the main stage, two street dance crews were in a fierce showdown—they called it a "Battle"!
Even though Jason didn't know much about street dance, he could tell these were top-tier dancers.
Their timing was perfect, their rhythm sharp, each one showcasing unique moves. Some of their tricks were downright unbelievable. The young audience gasped in awe, the entire crowd swaying freely to the music...
This was a great place. Jason had worried it might be a seedy dive full of trouble, but clearly, not all nightclubs were like that.
Catherine and her friends were clearly regulars. The waiter led them straight to a table near the stage with an excellent view. The girls were thrilled. Jennifer shouted, "Drinks! Drinks! We're not going home sober tonight!"
Jason quickly spoke up, "Just so we're clear—I don't drink. Get me a soft drink."
Jennifer immediately protested, "Why not? We're athletes too, and we're not competing. What's the harm in one drink? Right, Princess? Your boyfriend's such a buzzkill. We're having cocktails—he should be drinking tequila!"
Catherine waved her hand confidently. "Bring it on! We're having fun tonight. Jason, don't kill the vibe. We'll play a game later—if you lose, you drink. If you win, we'll let you off, deal?"
Jason sighed inwardly. He was already here—he'd just drink as little as possible and try not to make a fool of himself.
When the drinks arrived, the girls laughed and toasted as they enjoyed the dazzling dance battle on stage. The atmosphere was electric. Jason watched closely, fascinated by the dancers' movements—their agile, unpredictable footwork sparked new inspiration within him.