The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 182

“Bad news travels fast.”

Jiang Fei hadn’t expected that his victory over the two elderly doctors, Qin Zhengming and Yu Qingsong, in the distant city of Jin Cheng—along with his casual mockery of the Chinese Medicine Association—would spread so quickly among its members. Yet, no one seemed to mention his medical skills or his actual accomplishments.

It seemed his reputation within the association had already soured. If he revealed his identity now, he doubted they’d let him off easily.

But Jiang Fei wasn’t panicked, nor did he plan to leave. He was genuinely curious about what the association’s conference would be like. What would the top Chinese medicine practitioners in the country discuss?

Would they compete in medical skill? Debate how to promote traditional Chinese medicine? Or just talk about making money?

However, as much as Jiang Fei wanted to observe quietly, the association members couldn’t help but notice the unfamiliar face beside Cui Xiuping.

“Huh, Xiuping, who’s this with you? A new member?” someone asked, eyeing Jiang Fei curiously.

Only association members and uniformed staff were allowed in the hall, and Jiang Fei—dressed casually and standing beside Cui Xiuping as an equal—clearly wasn’t a waiter.

“Someone so young joining the association must be from a prestigious medical family or a ‘millennial school,’ right?” another remarked admiringly.

Though the hall had many middle-aged and young attendees, membership wasn’t easily obtained. Every person here, regardless of age, had earned their place through genuine skill.

The association had no backdoor entries—not even for someone like Cui Xiuping, with his illustrious family background. Only those whose medical expertise matched the nation’s finest were admitted.

The younger attendees either came from centuries-old medical families like Cui Xiuping’s, born with a silver spoon and immersed in advanced knowledge from childhood, or they were prodigies from the “millennial schools.”

Hearing this, Cui Xiuping’s eyelid twitched. How should he introduce Jiang Fei?

Part of him wanted to expose Jiang Fei on the spot—to announce that this was the man who’d declared himself the “King of Acupuncture” in Jin Cheng while belittling the association. If he did, the entire room would turn on Jiang Fei, giving him a taste of humiliation.

The thought was satisfying.

But if he did that, Jiang Fei might cause a scene and ruin the conference. Worse, he’d promised his grandfather to bring Jiang Fei for a meeting. The task wasn’t complete yet.

Suppressing the tempting idea, Cui Xiuping forced a smile and waved it off. “I’ll introduce him properly later.”

Just wait until the medical competition later. Then I’ll show him what real skill looks like.

Though his grandfather seemed impressed by Jiang Fei’s “Eight Divine Needles” technique, Cui Xiuping wasn’t convinced. As the rising star of Chinese medicine, he rarely met his match among the younger generation. Beating Jiang Fei would be effortless.

As they took their seats, Jiang Fei asked curiously, “What’s this ‘millennial school’ they mentioned?”

Cui Xiuping explained, “Think of them like martial arts sects—similar to the Huashan or Songshan schools in wuxia novels. The term ‘millennial’ doesn’t mean they’ve existed for a thousand years, just that they have a long history, legendary founders, classical texts, and many accomplished disciples.”

“These schools share similarities with medical families like mine. Both pass down invaluable knowledge, making it easier for later generations to excel. That’s why so many young and middle-aged doctors here can rival the nation’s top experts.”

“The three most prominent ‘millennial schools’ in China are all part of the association: the Fire God School, the Danxi School, and the Offensive Evil School. The association’s three current leaders are the masters of these schools.”

Jiang Fei listened with fascination. Despite his own high-level medical skills, this was his first time hearing about such secretive traditions. It was like something out of a martial arts novel!

“Is it hard for ordinary doctors to join these schools?” he asked.

“Extremely,” Cui Xiuping replied. “Even the largest, the Danxi School, has only about a hundred members. The smallest, the Offensive Evil School, has barely fifty.”

Jiang Fei smirked. “Do these schools run businesses outside? Clinics, pharmacies?”

Cui Xiuping frowned, knowing what Jiang Fei was implying. “Of course they do. Each school’s external ventures are as large as my family’s Jishi Hall. What’s wrong with doctors making money? You run a clinic yourself—do you treat patients for free?”

Jiang Fei chuckled. “Relax, I’m just asking. You’re awfully defensive—guilty conscience?”

Cui Xiuping nearly choked on his anger. Again, he’s trapped me!

Jiang Fei turned away, scanning the room.

Making money through medicine wasn’t inherently wrong—doctors needed to eat, after all. Charging for treatment was only fair, a principle Jiang Fei himself followed.

But with profit came responsibility.

As an officially recognized organization whose members even received special government stipends, the Chinese Medicine Association had a duty to contribute to the field. Yet instead of advancing Chinese medicine, its members seemed preoccupied with wealth and infighting—so much so that they couldn’t even elect a proper leader.

Was that acceptable?

Even as an outsider, Jiang Fei found it disgraceful.

Just as his frustration peaked, a sharp, angry voice cut through the murmurs:

“Jiang Fei?! You dare show your face here? Come to mock the entire association?”

Jiang Fei turned to see Yu Qingsong, the prestigious professor from Beijing Chinese Medical University, glaring at him with a mix of fury and humiliation.

The elderly doctor had failed to treat Ye Zhennan in Jin Cheng—only to be thoroughly outdone by a young upstart. The memory still burned.

“What a coincidence,” Jiang Fei said lightly, unfazed.

Yu Qingsong’s finger trembled as he pointed. “H-He’s the so-called ‘King of Acupuncture’! The one who looks down on our association!”