The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 198

Summer was in full swing. The scorching heat in Beijing could make one dizzy, while the southern city of Jincheng was no better—its basin-like terrain turned it into a blazing furnace, making people wish they could hide in air-conditioned rooms forever.

Jiang Fei stepped off the plane at noon, right when the sun was at its fiercest. Just as he was about to hail a taxi, a slender beauty with long, straight black hair and sunglasses caught his eye, walking toward him through the crowd.

“I told you not to come pick me up,” Jiang Fei said, touched at the sight of Lin Moli.

Yesterday, when they had texted, she had asked about his return flight. He’d mentioned it was today at noon but insisted she didn’t need to come—he could just take a cab. Yet here she was.

Ever since Bai Ruoxi returned from abroad, Jiang Fei and Lin Moli had spent far less time together. And Lin Moli, who had always faced problems head-on, had unexpectedly chosen to step back this time, avoiding any direct confrontation with Bai Ruoxi.

This relieved Jiang Fei, who had been worried the two women might engage in some dramatic rivalry. But at the same time, he couldn’t help feeling guilty toward Lin Moli.

Today, she wasn’t wearing her usual professional attire. Instead, she had on a white chiffon blouse with loose sleeves and a black polka-dot chiffon skirt, paired with gold ballet flats—an elegant, feminine look that softened her usual strong demeanor. As she walked, she carried herself with effortless grace, turning heads like a refreshing summer breeze.

She didn’t say anything at first, just looked Jiang Fei up and down in surprise. “You didn’t bring any luggage?”

“Nope, left everything in Beijing,” Jiang Fei replied casually, lying through his teeth.

In truth, he had returned with a backpack—but he had discreetly stashed it in the system’s storage space when no one was looking.

The system’s storage, roughly one cubic meter, wasn’t huge, but it was more than enough for essentials like luggage, silver needles, and medical supplies.

Lin Moli naturally looped her arm through his as they walked toward the parking lot. Like Bai Ruoxi, she immediately zeroed in on the key detail in his answer. “So you’re going back to Beijing soon?”

Jiang Fei rubbed his nose, forced to admit it. “In half a month. There’s something I need to take care of.”

Lin Moli’s tone instantly turned sour with jealousy. “What, half a year apart wasn’t enough? You had a whole week together, all lovey-dovey, and you’re still not sick of each other? Now you’re rushing back in just two weeks?”

Jiang Fei’s eye twitched. “It’s not like that. The trip is for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association. Remember Professor Qin Zhengming from the Second Hospital’s TCM department? It’s his organization—the top TCM group in the country. They invited me to an exchange event with Western medicine practitioners. It’s important.”

Lin Moli knew more about the association than Bai Ruoxi. After all, she had worked at the hospital and now managed Jiang Fei’s clinic, keeping up with medical news daily.

Hearing this, her jealousy faded into surprise. “You were invited to the exchange? Today’s TCM Daily had a whole feature on it—it’s supposed to be a major event. But… why you?”

“It made the papers?” Jiang Fei was equally surprised, realizing the event carried more weight than he’d thought.

Initially, he had agreed to participate out of duty as a TCM practitioner, with no real pressure to excel. But now, with the system’s mission and the reward of the Dugu Nine Swords manual, failure wasn’t an option. He had to win, no matter what.

And something about this mission felt off, like there was a hidden catch he hadn’t figured out yet. The system wouldn’t offer such a lavish reward for no reason—there had to be an unusual challenge ahead.

“This ‘exchange’ isn’t as friendly as it sounds,” Jiang Fei explained. “It’s more like a competition—TCM versus Western medicine, a showdown to decide which system is superior. If TCM loses, our standing will take a huge hit.”

Lin Moli finally smiled. “So the association lacks confidence and wants you as their secret weapon?”

Jiang Fei grinned. “Pretty much. My reputation precedes me. Plus, I showed off a little in Beijing, and now the association’s leaders see me as their savior.”

It was an honor.

For a doctor to be sought after by the highest echelons of TCM was something most could only dream of—like an actor winning an Oscar or a writer bagging the Nobel Prize.

As they reached the car, Lin Moli took the driver’s seat, not letting the jet-lagged Jiang Fei behind the wheel. Once they were moving, she asked, “Did you give them a hard time at the conference?”

She knew about Jiang Fei’s past clashes with some association members and his grudging nature.

Jiang Fei sighed. This woman really knows me too well.

“They were respectful, especially that ‘Ghost Hand’ Old Master Cui. I couldn’t just pick a fight. But I did run into that old fool Yu Qingsong from Beijing TCM University—I didn’t hold back with him…”

He recounted his time at the conference, including the “Millennium School” and elite TCM families. Lin Moli listened intently as she drove.

Having committed to Jiang Fei’s clinic, her career path was set in TCM, so insider knowledge was valuable.

The drive from the airport to Jiang Fei’s downtown apartment took about half an hour—just enough time for him to summarize his Beijing trip.

These days, Lin Moli either stayed at the suburban villa or crashed at Jiang Fei’s place. She was, in her own words, homeless.

The apartment she used to live in had been a gift from her parents, meant as part of her dowry. But when Jiang Fei proposed opening the clinic and Bai Ruoxi decided to invest, Lin Moli didn’t use her savings—she sold the apartment to fund her share.

Jiang Fei hadn’t known at the time, assuming she came from money. It wasn’t until later, when he suggested visiting her parents, that the truth came out.

The revelation left him speechless and deeply moved. She had gambled everything on him without hesitation, back when the clinic’s success was far from certain.

Now, of course, the investment was paying off—the clinic’s profits were already recouping most of the costs. But at the time? She had taken a leap of faith.

Glancing at Lin Moli’s flawless profile, her focused expression as she drove, Jiang Fei felt something inside him soften.

Compared to what she had sacrificed for him, anything he did for her paled in comparison.

As the car rolled into the apartment complex, Jiang Fei suddenly spoke, his voice low.

“I’m sorry.”

Lin Moli’s grip on the wheel tightened momentarily. She knew exactly what he meant. But she quickly masked her reaction, shooting him a sidelong glance.

“What’s there to apologize for? I never asked you for anything.”

And it was true.

Love wasn’t about right or wrong—only willingness.

When two people chose to be together, could anyone really measure who gave more or who took more?

Lin Moli had made her choice. She had decided to love him, knowing the challenges, accepting the heartache. Like drinking water, only she knew if it was warm or cold.

Love was a silent battle, and she wasn’t trying to win. She just wanted to be with him, to find happiness.

Of course, no woman wanted to be just one of a man’s leading ladies—just as no man wanted to share his woman.

But what could she do?

Fate had dealt these cards. She had met Jiang Fei too late, after Bai Ruoxi. Even if circumstances later gave her an opening, she was still the interloper.

Parking the car, Lin Moli didn’t get out immediately. Instead, she leaned her head against Jiang Fei’s shoulder and sighed softly.

“I chose this path. I don’t regret it. Not then, not now. So don’t blame yourself…”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“It would hurt my heart.“