The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 256

Jin City’s Relentless Heat

This year, Jin City was sweltering. Even after the start of autumn, there was no relief from the heat. With no rain in sight, the old folks said that autumn hadn’t properly “set in”—it was still the tail end of the scorching summer, lingering like a stubborn “autumn tiger.”

Instead of the usual cooling trend where each rainfall brought lower temperatures, the post-autumn days grew even fiercer than the peak of summer. The city itself felt like a giant furnace; by nine in the morning, few people dared to stroll the streets for leisure.

But this rule didn’t apply to Rice Village.

Nestled in the highlands, Rice Village had already embraced autumn properly. Even at high noon, the sunlight was golden and warm rather than harsh.

An Influx of Visitors

The day after Jiang Fei returned to Jin City, Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan—the young couple—immediately announced they were bringing a photography team to Rice Village for their wedding shoot. Without a hint of hesitation, they tasked Jiang Fei with playing host.

The two had spared no expense to make their wedding photos as dreamy as possible. Their hired team was professional—not quite movie-level, but well-equipped for outdoor shoots, complete with photographers, lighting crews, and reflectors.

After five or six years together, their love hadn’t dulled. They still saw each other as irreplaceable, like ribs to their own bodies. Since this would likely be their only wedding, a little extravagance seemed justified.

But as eager as Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan were, they weren’t the most impatient.

They’d arrive the next day.

Meanwhile, Xia Xiaozhi—who’d been waiting for Jiang Fei’s return like a starved cat eyeing a fish—immediately rallied her three best friends the moment she heard he was back. Their two-month summer break was nearly over, with only half a month left before school resumed. If they didn’t seize the chance to visit the paradise-like Rice Village now, they’d be stuck in classrooms again.

Jiang Fei first stopped by his rented apartment to pack before heading to Xia Xiaozhi’s place, where the trio—Xia Xiaozhi, Xu Jing, and Tan Yuan—were already gathered, chattering excitedly as they stuffed their bags with supplies for the week-long trip.

A Mother’s Request

“Professor Jiang, I’ll have to trouble you to look after these three girls this week,” said a middle-aged woman in a floral-patterned blouse, smiling warmly at him.

This was Xia Xiaozhi’s mother, whom Jiang Fei addressed as “Aunt Wang.”

“No trouble at all. I see them as little sisters,” Jiang Fei replied, watching the girls bicker over what to pack.

Aunt Wang ran a small fruit stall—a classic working-class woman, far from the pampered elite who obsessed over skincare. Nearing fifty, she had the typical middle-aged build: a rounded waist, a soft belly, and a no-nonsense demeanor.

But given how lovely Xia Xiaozhi was, Aunt Wang must’ve been quite a beauty in her youth. Even now, her face was pleasant and kind—though those who knew her understood she was anything but meek. Sharp in business and sharper in conversation, she could talk circles around anyone, turning black into white with a few well-placed words.

“Xiaozhi! Hurry up! Professor Jiang is waiting!” she barked, her voice carrying like a megaphone. Then, turning back to Jiang Fei, she sweetly urged, “Professor Jiang, have some tea!”

Jiang Fei obliged, but unease prickled at him. There was something in Aunt Wang’s gaze today—a look that suggested she wanted something from him.

Did my newfound fame somehow make me attractive to middle-aged women too? he wondered, half-amused, half-horrified.

As the girls continued their packing marathon, Jiang Fei sighed internally.

Women. No matter the age, they’re all the same—endlessly fussy.

“Ahem… Professor Jiang…” Aunt Wang leaned in, her tone dripping with faux hesitation, though her expression was anything but shy.

Jiang Fei braced himself. “Aunt Wang, is there something you’d like to say?”

Even the icy Ye Yuanyuan was easier to handle than this shrewd, relentless woman. With someone like Aunt Wang, he couldn’t just brush her off with sarcasm—he had to tread carefully.

“Well, since you’re practically family, I’ll speak frankly!” she declared, as if steeling herself for a great sacrifice.

Jiang Fei barely suppressed an eye roll. Since when did I become family? I’m not your son-in-law.

“Professor Jiang, I’d like you to keep tutoring Xiaozhi next semester. What do you think?”

Jiang Fei blinked. “Wait—last time, you agreed I could quit!”

“Ah, but that was before I saw you lecturing at Peking University on TV last night!” Aunt Wang clasped her hands, eyes gleaming. “You were magnificent! If my Xiaozhi studies under you, she’s bound to get into Peking University too!”

Jiang Fei’s scalp tingled.

What kind of logic is that?

“Aunt Wang, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not a Peking University professor. The dean just invited me to give a guest lecture—it’s completely different. And my subject isn’t even part of the standard curriculum. Honestly, I’m not that great of a teacher—”

“Nonsense!” Aunt Wang waved him off. “You’re the pride of Jin City! The smartest man in China!”

Jiang Fei: “…”

“Please, Professor Jiang! Think of us poor parents, just hoping for our child’s future. Without your guidance, who knows if Xiaozhi will even be able to feed herself someday!”

Jiang Fei’s lips twitched. So now it’s my fault if she starves?

As Jiang Fei remained silent, Aunt Wang’s eyes welled up theatrically. “Do you… dislike Xiaozhi? Is she too noisy? Too disobedient?”

“Of course not!” Jiang Fei backpedaled hastily. “She’s lively, but very well-behaved. I’m quite fond of her—” as a little sister, he mentally added before Aunt Wang could misinterpret.

But Aunt Wang’s face lit up. “So you do like her!”

“Like a sibling!” Jiang Fei clarified, half-expecting her to fetch a kitchen knife if she suspected anything else.

“I know, I know!” She chuckled, then lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Fine, if you’re too busy to tutor, how about this—could you pull some strings for her college admission? I heard Peking University has recommendation quotas… With your connections…?”

Jiang Fei groaned, burying his face in his hands.

Aunt Wang had officially defeated him.