The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 178

Jishi Hall was a three-story antique-style building, exuding the charm of old Beijing. The red-and-blue patterns adorning its facade gave it a distinct Ming and Qing dynasty aesthetic.

After the trio got out of the car, attendants quickly approached to help with their luggage and led the way inside.

Passing through the front hall—a towering three-story antique structure—they arrived at the rear, where the view suddenly opened up to reveal an exquisite courtyard. It truly felt like the residence of a nobleman. Though the courtyard wasn’t particularly large, its decor was extraordinary. Beautiful flowers and plants were artfully arranged throughout, and Jiang Fei, a Level 9 horticulture master with unparalleled expertise in botany, couldn’t help but be impressed. His eyes gleamed as he took in the meticulously placed potted plants and trees, silently marveling at the Cui family’s wealth.

“That boxwood must be worth a fortune, right?” Jiang Fei asked, pointing at an unusually tall and uniquely shaped specimen at the center of the courtyard.

Cui Xiuping was momentarily taken aback. “You know about potted plants?” he asked before casually adding, “This isn’t just any ordinary boxwood—it’s a ‘Boxwood Emperor.’ Over a decade ago, my grandfather treated someone who insisted on gifting it to him. At the time, my grandfather didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just a simple potted tree. But later, an antique appraiser visited and said this piece is worth at least a million now.”

A million?!

Jiang Fei was utterly defeated. The Cui family’s wealth was truly on another level. Judging by the rarity and price of this boxwood alone, the combined value of all the potted plants in this courtyard had to be at least 2.5 million!

Even Bai Ruoxi, who wasn’t materialistic and didn’t care much for money, couldn’t help but be stunned. Seeing a single tree valued at over a million was beyond her expectations.

“What do you think of the place?” Cui Xiuping asked as he led Jiang Fei to a suite on the second floor. “If you’re satisfied, you can stay here in the rear courtyard of Jishi Hall during your time in Beijing. It’s not a hotel, but we have staff to assist with everything, so it’s not much different.”

As Jiang Fei took in the courtyard’s lavish decor, he mused that even a five-star hotel’s presidential suite couldn’t compare. The furniture was all made of rosewood, blue-and-white porcelain vases stood at every turn, and the walls were adorned with ink-wash paintings and calligraphy—whether genuine or replicas, Jiang Fei couldn’t tell. But given the overall grandeur, they were likely authentic. Even if they were fakes, each piece was probably worth thousands.

Jiang Fei couldn’t have been more pleased with the accommodations. If not for his exceptional medical skills—particularly the Divine Needle Eight Techniques granted by the system—he would never have had the chance to stay in such a place.

Seeing the Cui family’s opulence only strengthened his resolve to learn from them. He wanted to understand their business model—how a medical family had transformed into something even wealthier than nouveau riche tycoons.

With that in mind, Jiang Fei grinned and bluntly asked, “Mind if I take a look at the front shop of Jishi Hall?”

Cui Xiuping, who had already been irritated by Jiang Fei’s remarks throughout the trip, had just been about to leave after completing his hosting duties. Now, Jiang Fei’s sudden request made him frown suspiciously. He studied Jiang Fei for a moment, trying to discern his intentions, but eventually nodded. “Fine. I have some business up front anyway—you can come with me.”

Bai Ruoxi stayed behind to unpack and prepare for her company duties.

Retracing their steps through the courtyard, they entered the front shop through a side passage. At the main entrance stood two elegant hostesses in traditional qipaos, who immediately bowed and greeted Cui Xiuping with smiles. Waving them off, he pointed to one of them—a round-faced woman—and said, “This is Dr. Jiang. Show him around Jishi Hall.” Then, turning to Jiang Fei, he added, “I have matters to attend to, so I’ll leave you here.”

Jiang Fei smiled. As a normal man, he certainly preferred being guided by a beautiful woman over Cui Xiuping.

Before leaving, Cui Xiuping paused and added to the hostess, “Don’t neglect Dr. Jiang. Fulfill any requests he has—he’s an honored guest invited by my grandfather.”

This wasn’t out of goodwill. Cui Xiuping knew Jiang Fei’s temperament—if any staff member offended him, he might just walk out and refuse to participate in tomorrow’s medical conference. Cui Xiuping couldn’t risk that.

The round-faced woman’s eyes widened in surprise as she reassessed Jiang Fei. If the old master himself had invited this young man, he must either be from a prestigious family or a medical prodigy.

“This way, Dr. Jiang,” she said politely, gesturing for him to follow.

As Jiang Fei walked behind her, admiring the way the qipao accentuated her figure, he wondered if he should buy one for Bai Ruoxi. He’d always thought she’d look stunning in one. Maybe after the conference, they could visit Ruifuxiang—a famous Beijing tailor.

Entering the main hall, Jiang Fei was momentarily stunned. Jishi Hall was nothing like his own clinic or a typical pharmacy.

In fact, it resembled… a shopping mall.

Yes, a shopping mall!

The first floor was laid out like an upscale department store, except instead of clothes or electronics, the glass counters were filled with supplements, tonics, and health drinks—endless varieties of them. It gave Jiang Fei strong “Brain Gold” vibes.

A pharmacy that doesn’t sell medicine, just supplements?

To his further disbelief, there was even a section selling chocolates, ice cream, macarons, Häagen-Dazs, coffee, and other desserts.

Is this really a medical hall?

Had the Cui family built their fortune not on medicine, but on commercial ventures disguised as healthcare?

Disappointed, Jiang Fei had expected a traditional, dignified medical family—one that earned wealth through healing, not gimmicks. His own clinic followed that philosophy. But the Cui family seemed to have fully embraced commercialization.

If this was the state of traditional Chinese medicine, no wonder it was losing ground to Western medicine.

“Are all three floors like this?” Jiang Fei asked, unable to hide his dismay.

The woman shook her head. “Each floor serves a different purpose. The first floor is indeed like a ‘mall,’ selling our health supplements and tonics.”

“The second floor is the pharmacy, offering traditional Chinese medicines—from common cold remedies to rare herbs like ginseng and lingzhi. Experienced physicians also consult patients there.”

“The third floor is a wellness center, offering services like acupuncture, cupping, and massage. But it’s membership-based—only registered clients can access it.”

“Would you like to visit the upper floors?”

Hearing that the other floors weren’t as commercialized, Jiang Fei felt slightly relieved. At least they hadn’t completely abandoned medical ethics.

“Not yet. Tell me—how well do these supplements sell? What’s the feedback?”

The woman smiled proudly. “Jishi Hall’s products are nationally renowned. They sell extremely well, not just here but in pharmacies across the country. As for efficacy, all genuine Jishi Hall supplements deliver excellent results.”