The Almighty Martial Arts System

“How does this woman know me? Did you tell her?” Jiang Fei asked in a low voice, frowning at Cui Xiuping beside him.

Cui Xiuping was equally puzzled upon hearing Yu Ruzhi suddenly mention Jiang Fei’s name. He shook his head in confusion. “I’ve barely had any dealings with the leader of the Fire God Sect. Why would I bring you up to her?”

“That’s strange,” Jiang Fei muttered, rubbing his temples. He didn’t doubt Cui Xiuping’s words—there was no reason for him to lie about this.

But how did Yu Ruzhi know him? And how did she know his background? Could it be that this high-ranking sect leader, despite her status, was secretly a fan of entertainment news, keeping up with tabloids like some devoted admirer of Qiao Yiyi?

It wasn’t entirely impossible.

Everything about this woman struck Jiang Fei as bizarre. If he hadn’t seen it for himself, he wouldn’t have believed she was the leader of a “millennium-old sect.” If that were the case, then her following celebrity gossip might not be so far-fetched.

Still, even if she knew about him and Qiao Yiyi from the tabloids, why would she bat her eyes at him and single him out to invite him to the Medical Duel Competition?

There’s no smoke without fire.

Jiang Fei couldn’t shake the feeling that he was caught in this woman’s “trap.” She must have some ulterior motive—some scheme involving him!

Sure, Jiang Fei knew he was handsome, the kind of guy who could win over looks-obsessed admirers with just a glance. But Yu Ruzhi, the leader of the Fire God Sect? He doubted she was some simple-minded fangirl who’d fall for his charm without even meeting him.

Jiang Fei was confident, but he wasn’t delusional.

The leader of a millennium-old sect—could she really be that simple? And with that seductive, cunning demeanor of hers, any man who underestimated her would be devoured without a trace!

Of course, if she really wanted to “devour” him, Jiang Fei figured he might as well surrender if resistance was futile. But what worried him was that this stunning, enigmatic woman might have darker intentions—something beyond mere attraction.

And that, he wouldn’t accept.

“Jiang Fei?” Onstage, Yan Xiping and Kong Yun frowned at the name, following Yu Ruzhi’s gaze until they spotted Jiang Fei sitting beside Cui Xiuping.

As leaders of two major millennium-old sects, they rarely concerned themselves with trivial matters. They hadn’t heard about Yu Qingsong or Qin Zhengming’s defeat in Jincheng, nor did they keep up with entertainment news. So, Jiang Fei was a stranger to them.

“He defeated several of our Medical Association’s members? At such a young age, his skills must be decent,” they mused, pleased at the prospect of recruiting a promising talent.

But the crowd below—those who’d already clashed with Jiang Fei—erupted in protest.

“Him? Representing us in the Medical Duel Competition? Possibly even facing off against Western medicine? This is a joke!”

“This guy calls himself the ‘King of Acupuncture’—does that automatically qualify him? Representing the Medical Association isn’t just about skill, it’s about ethics! And his ethics are clearly lacking!”

As the uproar shifted from general excitement to targeted criticism of Jiang Fei, Yan Xiping and Kong Yun’s frowns deepened. Only Yu Ruzhi remained unfazed, her smile unwavering as she stared at Jiang Fei, making him increasingly uneasy.

What was this woman plotting?

“Quiet! Quiet!” Kong Yun stood, raising a hand to calm the crowd. “If there’s an issue, let’s discuss it properly.”

Yu Qingsong, his face dark with anger, stood up. “I oppose Sect Leader Yu’s decision! What right does this brat have to represent us? Someone who looks down on the Medical Association has no place speaking for us!”

Though not the most skilled in the Medical Association, Yu Qingsong was a senior figure with considerable influence. Every member of the Association was a respected expert in their field—none would hesitate to voice their opinions, even to the leaders of the three great sects.

“He looks down on the Medical Association?” Yan Xiping and Kong Yun exchanged glances, their expressions hardening as they studied Jiang Fei and Yu Qingsong.

Losing to a non-member in skill was one thing. But disrespecting the Association? That was a line no leader would tolerate.

Yu Qingsong scoffed. “Not only does he disrespect us, but his private clinic even displays a plaque declaring him the ‘King of Acupuncture’! Such arrogance—does he deserve to represent us?”

Finally, Jiang Fei stood, clasping his hands in a mocking salute before addressing Yu Qingsong. “You know, I wanted to be civil. Like Voltaire said: ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ But listening to you—a man past the age of wisdom—twist facts out of sheer pettiness? I can’t stay silent.”

Yu Qingsong’s face twisted. “You—!”

Jiang Fei cut him off. “My turn. First, I get why you’re bitter. In Jincheng, you tried to humiliate me and failed spectacularly. If you want a rematch, I’m game anytime.”

“As for ‘looking down’ on the Medical Association—truth is, I’ve never cared enough to form an opinion. How can you respect or disrespect something you’ve never engaged with? But you? Oh, I definitely look down on you. If you’re the face of the Association, then fine—consider me unimpressed.”

“Lastly, did I ever say I wanted to join your competition or represent you? Why are you all so worked up over something I never even wanted?”

Jiang Fei’s smirk was icy as he scanned the room. If these people wanted a fight, he’d give them one.

He wasn’t here to make friends. He had no ties to these people, no reason to tiptoe around their egos.

Normally easygoing, Jiang Fei wasn’t about to turn the other cheek—not when Yu Qingsong kept pushing. The old man’s mediocrity in medicine didn’t match his arrogance, and Jiang Fei had had enough.

The crowd fell silent, some stifling grimaces at Jiang Fei’s razor-sharp retorts. His words bordered on disrespect, but they weren’t entirely wrong.

Yu Qingsong, however, trembled with rage, his finger shaking as he pointed at Jiang Fei. “Y-You…!” he sputtered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Yan Xiping and Kong Yun exchanged a glance before Kong Yun spoke coldly. “Since this young man has no interest in our competition, he may leave.”

With Chinese medicine in crisis, talent was scarce—but not scarce enough to tolerate troublemakers. Even if Jiang Fei had skill, they wouldn’t risk his defiance. Besides, the odds of him outmatching the sects’ elite disciples were slim.

Jiang Fei shrugged, dusted his hands, and stood to leave. The frustration still simmered, but his outburst had vented some steam. If they didn’t want him, fine.

Cui Xiuping looked torn, half-rising as if to stop him. Yu Ruzhi, too, began moving forward—

But before either could act, an elderly man in traditional attire entered the hall and declared:

“Jiang Fei must participate in this competition.”