The Almighty Martial Arts System

These supplements aren’t just sold at Jishi Tang—they’re distributed nationwide!

Jiang Fei suddenly understood why the Cui family was so extravagantly wealthy.

This was practically like establishing their own pharmaceutical brand!

Selling these expensive supplements and nutritional products nationwide would generate astronomical profits. And according to the cheongsam-clad beauty, sales were already strong—which made it even more staggering.

If the prices were raised just a bit more…

“By the way, how much do these supplements generally cost?” Jiang Fei suddenly asked. He hadn’t paid attention to the prices earlier, too busy browsing and feeling disappointed. Unlike regular store items, these products weren’t clearly labeled with prices.

“The prices vary. A large box of basic nutritional supplements costs only three to four hundred yuan. But some premium herbal tonics can go for over a thousand, even several thousand yuan per small box!” the cheongsam woman explained.

They happened to walk into a small standalone shop, where she invited Jiang Fei inside. Pointing at an exquisitely packaged bottle with a fierce tiger depicted on the label, she said, “For example, this Tiger Bone Wine is one of Jishi Tang’s most prestigious products. It treats meridian imbalances, wind-cold-damp obstruction, muscle spasms, hemiplegia, numbness in limbs, back and leg pain, age-related weakness, bone aches, difficulty walking, bruises, and blood stasis. Even this 250ml bottle has a fixed retail price of 6,666 yuan.”

Jiang Fei’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How much?! Six thousand six hundred sixty-six yuan?! That’s insanely expensive! This is called ‘Tiger Bone Wine’—does it actually contain real tiger bones?”

He barely registered the claimed medicinal effects; his mind was stuck on the outrageous price for such a small bottle.

This was even pricier than top-tier national liquor. Jiang Fei was speechless. Selling products like this, it was no wonder the Cui family was swimming in money.

But there was no way this wine actually contained real tiger bones. If it did—like the Compendium of Materia Medica’s authentic version—the price might be somewhat justified.

However, tigers had been protected as endangered species for decades, no longer seen as mere pests or threats. Consequently, the production and use of tiger bone wine had long been banned.

Sure, some wealthy individuals might still have access to the real thing—money could buy almost anything, even illegal goods. Ivory, Tibetan antelope pelts—criminals still risked it all for profit.

But even if someone could acquire it, they’d never dare sell it openly!

Not even Jishi Tang, no matter how well-connected, could get away with that.

The cheongsam woman smiled faintly. “I don’t know if this wine contains real tiger bones—probably not. But its efficacy is genuine. It was reportedly developed by the legendary Dr. Cui himself. I have a relative with chronic rheumatism who suffered constant pain. After buying this wine, just a small sip during flare-ups brings significant relief.”

Hearing that the “Ghost Hand” Old Dr. Cui had personally developed the product, Jiang Fei frowned. Initially, he’d dismissed such supplements as outright scams, but now he wondered if there might be some merit to them.

Had Dr. Cui discovered a substitute for tiger bones?

Curious, Jiang Fei said, “Let me see the wine’s instructions. If it’s this miraculous, I’d like to take a closer look.”

The cheongsam woman nodded and asked another salesgirl behind the counter to hand Jiang Fei the leaflet.

Salvia root, dried rehmannia, wolfberry bark, dried ginger, ligusticum, prickly ash root, atractylodes, acanthopanax bark, citrus aurantium…

Jiang Fei’s brow furrowed.

The formula was utterly ordinary, nearly identical to the Thousand Gold Formulas’ tiger bone wine recipe—except for the missing key ingredient: tiger bones.

But without tiger bones, could it still be called tiger bone wine? Would it even work?

After a moment’s thought, he understood.

Jishi Tang wouldn’t dare price it so high without reason. The wine must have some real effect—it couldn’t be a complete fraud.

As for the secret formula, of course they wouldn’t disclose it on the leaflet. Such a proprietary blend was priceless. If leaked, competitors could replicate it, ruining Jishi Tang’s monopoly.

So, the listed ingredients were just the basic, well-known ones. The true substitute for tiger bones was deliberately omitted.

Intrigued, Jiang Fei grew eager to test the wine’s effects and uncover its hidden components.

“Can I try a small sample? I’d like to see how effective it is,” he asked abruptly.

The salesgirl was stunned. In her year at Jishi Tang, no customer had ever made such a request.

Is this a fruit stand? You can’t just ‘sample’ a 6,000-yuan bottle!

Besides, the bottles were sealed. They couldn’t be opened before purchase.

Even the cheongsam guide was at a loss.

Given Young Master Cui Xiuping’s earlier demeanor, this Dr. Jiang was clearly someone important—even Old Dr. Cui held him in high regard. Wasting a 6,000-yuan bottle on him probably wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

But she couldn’t make that call herself!

Six thousand yuan wasn’t small change for employees like her. Without commissions, her monthly salary didn’t even cover that. And if she messed up, she could face fines—or worse, termination.

“Dr. Jiang, the wine is pre-sealed. We can’t pour a sample…” she said awkwardly.

Jiang Fei realized his request was unreasonable. Even regular liquor stores didn’t offer free tastings.

“Then I’ll buy a bottle. Do you accept card payments?” he said. He wasn’t strapped for cash—spending a few thousand to investigate the wine’s secrets was worth it.

Ye Yuanyuan had just transferred two million to Jiang’s clinic. Before coming to Beijing, he’d asked Lin Molly to deposit a sum into his account. Though she knew he was accompanying Bai Ruoxi, she hadn’t been petty—quietly sending a million…

The salesgirl relaxed. This VIP was choosing to pay, not demand freebies. It meant extra sales credit for her.

But the cheongsam guide grew even more anxious.

If Dr. Jiang was such an esteemed guest that he had to pay for a drink, and word got back to Cui Xiuping, she’d still be blamed.

“Dr. Jiang, could you wait a moment? Let me inform the young master—he’s upstairs,” she said hurriedly.

Jiang Fei didn’t quite follow but saw her concern. “Fine, go get Cui Xiuping. I actually have some questions for him anyway.”

Having glimpsed Jishi Tang’s operations, he’d gained valuable insights. While he couldn’t replicate their business model entirely, there were lessons to absorb—details only the Cui heir could clarify.

The cheongsam woman rushed off. Cui Xiuping arrived within minutes.

Until he fulfilled his grandfather’s orders, he had to keep Jiang Fei appeased.

Just wait till tomorrow’s medical conference, he thought. Once I expose his so-called ‘Divine Needle Technique’ as a fraud, I’ll settle the score!

His suppressed resentment hadn’t vanished—it was just biding its time.

“What now?” Cui Xiuping asked irritably.

“I’m curious about your Tiger Bone Wine. Since your grandfather developed it, I’d like to try it,” Jiang Fei said.

Cui Xiuping studied him, then the leaflet, and smirked. “You don’t just want a taste—you want to reverse-engineer our secret formula, don’t you?”

Jiang Fei grinned. The guy was sharp. “Guilty as charged.”

To his surprise, Cui Xiuping wasn’t angry. “Open a bottle for him,” he told the salesgirl. Then, to Jiang Fei, he said smugly, “Go ahead. Try deducing our formula.”

As if you could crack it just by tasting!

If it were that easy, everyone would be making it by now.