The Almighty Martial Arts System

Jiang Fei spotted Cui Xiuping, and naturally, Cui Xiuping saw Jiang Fei too.

However, Jiang Fei had no intention of acknowledging him. Though slightly surprised to see the heir of the “Ghost Gate Needle” technique at the hospital, he didn’t pause or even glance his way. Instead, he simply held Tongtong’s little hand and followed Bai Ruoxi and Su Nan, ready to leave.

Jiang Fei’s deliberate indifference infuriated Cui Xiuping. To him, it was nothing short of an insult—how dare someone ignore the esteemed “Young Divine Doctor Cui”? Even an ordinary person would be offended if treated this way!

“Hey, wait up!” Despite his anger, Cui Xiuping had no choice but to approach Jiang Fei first.

Now that his path was blocked, Jiang Fei could no longer pretend not to see him. He stopped, still holding Tongtong’s hand, and frowned. “What are you doing here? Need something?”

Cui Xiuping glared at him. “You saw me earlier. Why did you ignore me?”

“Are we friends? Do I owe you a greeting?” Jiang Fei couldn’t help but laugh. This robe-wearing guy was even more ridiculous than that effeminate Jing Ran—acting like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum!

“You—!” Cui Xiuping’s face flushed with rage. It seemed he and Jiang Fei were destined to clash. But remembering his mission, he suppressed his anger and said stiffly, “I’m here on business. Here, this is for you.”

“So you did come to the hospital for me. How’d you know I was here?” Jiang Fei asked curiously. Very few people knew about his current whereabouts—even the most relentless paparazzi and journalists had failed to track him down.

Still, he took the offered item. Whatever it was, he might as well look.

“An… invitation?” Jiang Fei was even more puzzled now. The last time they’d met, their conversation had ended badly, with Cui Xiuping even threatening to “punish” him. So why send an invitation now? Was this some kind of trap, like the infamous “Hongmen Banquet”?

“Your stay at this hospital might be a secret, but it wasn’t hard for me to find out. And no, I didn’t come just for you—it was coincidental!” Cui Xiuping snapped, unable to hide his disdain. He couldn’t stand Jiang Fei’s indifferent attitude. How could a fellow traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner show such disregard for the prestigious TCM Association?

To Cui Xiuping, it was like an ancient official disrespecting the imperial court—utterly unacceptable!

“This invitation was personally written by my grandfather, summoning you to the TCM Association’s symposium!” he said through gritted teeth. He didn’t understand why his grandfather held Jiang Fei in such high regard.

So what if he knows the Divine Needle Eight Techniques? Sure, it was one of the three greatest acupuncture methods, and some even claimed it surpassed the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles and the Turtle Spirit Eight Techniques. But Cui Xiuping refused to believe that.

In his eyes, the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles were just as formidable. Yet his grandfather, upon hearing of Jiang Fei, had insisted on recruiting him, calling him a “rare talent” whose absence would be a loss to the declining TCM community.

And so, the proud “Young Divine Doctor Cui” had been reduced to a mere courier, reluctantly delivering this invitation.

“A symposium? Like those tedious university lectures? Sorry, but I’m not interested in formalities.” Jiang Fei shook his head and handed the invitation back, preparing to leave with Tongtong.

“Wha—?!” Cui Xiuping was dumbfounded. His grandfather’s personal invitation, delivered by none other than himself—this was an honor! How could anyone dismiss it so casually?

By the time he snapped out of it, Jiang Fei was already walking away, holding the little girl’s hand as they followed the two women ahead. Cui Xiuping stood frozen, his face cycling through shades of fury.

Then he overheard their conversation:

“Uncle Jiang, who’s that weird man?” the little girl asked in an adorable voice.

“Oh, just a clown,” Jiang Fei replied cheerfully.

Cui Xiuping: “……!!!”

…

At the Parking Lot

As Jiang Fei was about to get into the car, Cui Xiuping finally caught up, panting. He grabbed Jiang Fei’s arm and demanded, “What’s your problem?!”

Jiang Fei glanced at the hand on his arm. “Don’t think that just because I’m still recovering from an injury, I can’t handle you. Want to test me? I could still take on ten of you.”

Cui Xiuping immediately let go—he wasn’t sure if Jiang Fei was bluffing.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stay calm and waved the gold-trimmed red invitation. “First, the TCM symposium isn’t some boring lecture. It’s a gathering of the nation’s finest physicians exchanging knowledge. Second, despite your past conflicts with certain members, my grandfather believes the Association should rise above petty disputes. The earlier incidents, like Dr. Qin’s baseless skepticism toward your skills, were mishandled. So, we’re extending an olive branch—hopefully, you can do the same.”

He paused, then added stiffly, “And… I apologize for what happened at the sanatorium. This invitation is my grandfather’s sincere request for you to join us.”

Cui Xiuping revered his grandfather above all else. If the elder Cui said to apologize, he would—even if it chafed.

Jiang Fei’s expression softened slightly. He could tell Cui Xiuping still resented him, but at least the guy was trying to be civil now.

Jiang Fei wasn’t unreasonable. If someone approached him with respect, he’d respond in kind. It was only Cui Xiuping’s initial arrogance that had provoked him.

Still, after a moment’s thought, he shook his head. “I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t attend.”

“Why not?!” Cui Xiuping’s temper flared again. “Do you still look down on the TCM Association?”

“It’s not that,” Jiang Fei said evenly. “I’ve never disrespected the Association itself—I know it’s an elite group representing the pinnacle of TCM. What I dislike is the condescending attitude of some members, acting as if joining grants them the right to judge others. Even if my skills were mediocre, as long as I’ve harmed no one, who are they to ‘punish’ me?”

Cui Xiuping fell silent, his anger ebbing as he considered Jiang Fei’s words.

“Initially, I did hope to join the Association someday. But after a few encounters, my impression soured. Your grandfather’s invitation does improve my opinion, though. I’m sure there are many honorable physicians like him—just too many pompous old men overshadowing them.”

“Then why refuse?” Cui Xiuping pressed.

Jiang Fei shrugged. “Because the symposium’s in Beijing. Too far, too much hassle. I’m a lazy person.”

Cui Xiuping’s eye twitched. That’s the reason?!

“We’ll cover your travel and accommodations. A car will meet you in Beijing, and all expenses will be paid.”

Jiang Fei sighed. “It’s not about the money. I just don’t want to go. I’m busy these days. Please thank your grandfather for me.”

Just then, Bai Ruoxi, who had been loading their belongings, overheard and walked over. “A trip to Beijing? Why not go with me? I’m heading there anyway.”