The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 254

Liu Yunduo had expected today’s match to be a fierce, evenly matched battle where both sides would have to fight with everything they had. That was why she had formally challenged Jiang Fei and made him sign a “life-and-death waiver.”

In her mind, when two masters went all out, blades had no eyes—casualties were almost inevitable.

But reality had diverged wildly from her expectations. What was supposed to be a duel had turned into a one-sided lesson from Jiang Fei, with her gaining invaluable insights on the spot.

After this fight, if she retreated into seclusion to refine her techniques, her swordsmanship would improve by leaps and bounds!

So it was no exaggeration to say she felt endless gratitude toward Jiang Fei. Thanks to today’s battle, her chances against Miyamoto Ichizen a month from now had just skyrocketed.

Watching Liu Yunduo bow deeply, Jiang Fei chuckled and waved a hand. “No need for that. Like I said, I don’t share your grand ambition of crushing Japan’s swordsmanship, but I genuinely hope you succeed.”

Internally, though, he mused: “‘Guidance I’ll never forget’—she really talks like she’s stepped out of a wuxia novel, huh? And ‘whatever you ask, I’ll obey’?”

His eyes flicked over her. She was beautiful, with a striking figure, and the way she wielded her sword in those embroidered shoes gave her an almost ethereal grace. But Jiang Fei wasn’t the type to let his thoughts wander down that path.

What he was curious about was her inner energy—her neijin.

After their clash, he was certain Liu Yunduo, like the hulking Tian Fei he’d subdued earlier, had cultivated neijin. Otherwise, her swordsmanship wouldn’t have reached such heights.

Just how strong was it? How long had she been refining it? The only way to know for sure would be to use his North Darkness Art to absorb it…

“If I took her neijin, my North Darkness True Qi would grow significantly. But…”

He sighed inwardly. He wasn’t some demonic cultivator. He had no desire to become a reviled monster hunted by the entire martial world. So even if he’d discovered the true potential of the North Darkness Art, he couldn’t use it recklessly—he needed the right targets.

And Liu Yunduo still had her mission: to crush Japanese swordsmanship. If she lost her neijin, Miyamoto Ichizen would probably cut her down in one move.

“This woman really is different—her words, her actions, her personality. I wonder what kind of past shaped her like this.”

Unable to resist, Jiang Fei asked, “There’s something I’ve been curious about. Mind answering?”

Liu Yunduo, her face still glistening with sweat, met his gaze with respect and gratitude, her cheeks faintly pink. “Ask me anything. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you.”

Jiang Fei narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why are you so determined to defeat Japanese swordsmanship? And I mean the real reason. You can feed that ‘patriotism’ line to Su Mengnan, but not to me.”

A woman liking combat wasn’t strange—Ye Yuanyuan was proof of that. But vowing to annihilate an entire nation’s sword arts? That went beyond mere nationalism.

Even in China’s martial world, where true masters still existed, none had ever set such an extreme goal.

The sun had climbed higher, its warmth intensifying. Though both had sheathed their swords, the crowd remained hushed, not daring to interrupt.

This time, Liu Yunduo didn’t hesitate. “Have you heard of Liu Weiyi?”

Jiang Fei blinked, then nodded. “Of course.”

While he wasn’t well-versed in Japanese swordsmanship, he’d studied China’s sword arts during his time at the Central Martial Arts Institute. Liu Weiyi was a renowned master, once praised by the Wudang Taoist Chen Zhoujian as one of the top ten swordsmen in the country.

But Liu Weiyi had vanished from the martial world three or four years ago, as if he’d retired into seclusion. No news of him had surfaced since.

“He was my father,” Liu Yunduo said, her eyes sharpening with something dark—a mix of killing intent and hatred.

“Your father?” Jiang Fei’s eyebrows shot up. “What does that have to do with your goal? Did he ask you to do this?”

She shook her head, her voice icy. “Four years ago, he traveled to Japan to challenge their greatest swordsmen. But they conspired against him—and killed him.”

Liu Weiyi was dead?

The revelation hit Jiang Fei like a thunderbolt. A master of such renown, murdered abroad? No wonder he’d disappeared.

“So… your vow is to avenge him?” Jiang Fei asked after a long pause, his voice heavy.

Martial world grudges were complex, but a father’s death? That was universal. Even Jiang Fei had seethed with rage when Tian Fei had tried to have him killed—let alone this.

No wonder a woman like Liu Yunduo had taken up such a mission.

She nodded, her resolve hardening. “One day, I will dismantle Japanese swordsmanship. And every last person involved in my father’s death will pay. For that, I’d die without regret.”

“Then I hope you succeed,” Jiang Fei said quietly.

“Thank you,” she replied, bowing again. “After today’s guidance, you’re practically my master. Please accept another bow.”

Jiang Fei waved her off. “Think of it as advice between friends. ‘Master’ makes me sound like some old geezer.” He paused, then added, “If you have time before your match with Miyamoto, feel free to come to me for another spar.”

Knowing her true motive had earned his respect. If he could help her avoid her father’s fate, he would.

…..

After the duel, Jiang Fei’s reputation in the martial world soared to unprecedented heights.

Liu Yunduo, the heroine who’d defeated Japan’s top young dual-blade master, had been utterly outclassed by Jiang Fei—like a novice facing a grandmaster. Whispers of his godlike swordsmanship spread like wildfire. No longer just the “Genius Sword Saint,” some now called him the man destined to become the Sword God.

Jiang Fei couldn’t help but laugh when he heard the title. The inheritor of Dugu Qiubai’s legacy, being compared to Ximen Chuixue? The irony was rich.

Still, he was far from being hailed as the undisputed best in the martial world. The waters of China’s martial arts scene ran deeper than politics or business—there were always hidden masters, peaks beyond peaks. Defeating Liu Yunduo was impressive, but it didn’t make him invincible.

Return to Jin City

Jiang Fei didn’t stay to watch Liu Yunduo’s duel with Miyamoto. With all his affairs in the capital settled, he and Lin Molly boarded a flight back to Jin City.

The Chinese Medical Association was now in good hands, with the three major schools steering its future. His presence wasn’t needed.

Besides, he had personal business to attend to: his college roommate Zeng Tong and his fiancée He Yuxuan were about to take wedding photos—and they’d chosen his villa in Daocun as the location. As the host, he had to prepare.

On the flight back, by sheer coincidence, he ran into Ye Yuanyuan and her friend Mango.

“Finished your business?” Jiang Fei asked, glancing at Mango.

The once-proud, eccentric heiress was a shadow of her former self. Though physically recovered from her ordeal with Tian Fei, her spirit was broken. She stared blankly, not even acknowledging Jiang Fei or Lin Molly.

Ye Yuanyuan had a caretaker tend to Mango before pulling Jiang Fei aside.

“That muscle-bound bastard’s lips were sealed tighter than a vault,” she muttered. “Died without revealing a single thing about Hua Handong’s plans.”

But she had dismantled all of Hua Handong’s remaining forces in China. Even if the man himself remained at large, his ability to cause trouble was now neutered.