The Almighty Martial Arts System

A Peaceful Night

The night passed without incident.

Neither Xia Xiaozhi nor Xu Jing, the two young girls, came knocking on Jiang Fei’s door alone in the middle of the night—nor did they show up together. This left Jiang Fei, who had stayed up tossing and turning until nearly 1 a.m., both relieved and a little disappointed.

“Might as well believe in ghosts than trust a woman’s words! Whether they’re mature or young, they all love to boast but bail when it counts!” Jiang Fei grumbled to himself after waking up.

Last night, seeing how Xu Jing and Xia Xiaozhi had been practically vibrating with excitement, he’d thought they might try something after finding out Lin Moli wasn’t around. But in the end, they’d stood him up.

If they had sneaked into his room, Jiang Fei—as a former Communist Youth League member—would have sternly reprimanded them for their inappropriate behavior and urged them to turn back before it was too late.

But…

If they’d been too aggressive and he couldn’t resist—well, what could he have done?

After getting up, he practiced some Tai Chi, pulled out a sword from his storage space for a quick session, then returned to the villa to make breakfast. By then, Xia Xiaozhi and the others were awake. At the same time, Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan, the soon-to-be-wed couple, arrived in Daocun with their professional photography crew.

The moment they met, Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan stared at Jiang Fei as if they didn’t recognize him. After a long pause, He Yuxuan finally asked, “Zeng Tong, are you sure this is our Fei Ge?”

Zeng Tong shook his head. “Not at all! The Fei Ge we know may be flashy, but not this flashy. The nation’s top traditional Chinese medicine master, the ‘King of Acupuncture,’ a piano virtuoso—damn!” He glared at Jiang Fei accusingly. “Tell the truth—are you an alien who’s taken over Fei Ge’s body? You look like him, but your soul’s been replaced, hasn’t it?”

Jiang Fei rolled his eyes at the couple’s theatrics and said darkly, “Since you’ve uncovered my true identity as an alien, how dare you come to Daocun? Are you looking to die?”

“Zeng Tong, I’m scared~~~” He Yuxuan ‘frightenedly’ threw herself into Zeng Tong’s arms, looking at Jiang Fei with exaggerated fear.

Zeng Tong also pretended to tremble. “Alien overlord, spare us! We come in peace—just here to take wedding photos. You can keep Fei Ge; we won’t avenge him. Serves him right for being so showy all the time!”

Jiang Fei sighed in defeat. “You two are impossible. Had breakfast yet? If not, there’s extra inside.”

Only then did the couple stop joking and return to normal.

“Of course we haven’t eaten! We left before dawn just to get here in time for your cooking!” He Yuxuan said cheerfully, her inner foodie fully on display.

The couple quickly headed in for breakfast, leaving Jiang Fei to greet the photographers.

The photography team—three men and one woman—had arrived in a van, equipped with cameras, reflectors, and outfits for Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan. Wedding photos required more than casual clothes, and the couple had prepared three different styles for the shoot.

As they unloaded gear, the lead photographer—a long-haired, artistic-looking man with a DSLR around his neck—shook Jiang Fei’s hand and introduced himself. “This place is breathtaking—like something out of a fairy tale! The natural scenery here rivals Jiuzhaigou! No wonder the couple changed their minds about Sanya and chose here instead.”

Though Jiang Fei had heard Daocun’s beauty praised many times, it always pleased him.

“If you tell me what kind of shots you’re looking for, I can recommend some spots,” he offered.

The photographer shook his head, still mesmerized. “No rush. Let me explore the village first. The lake, streams, meadows, woods—even the houses—everything here is picture-perfect!”

Despite arriving at 8:30 a.m., the team didn’t start shooting until after 10. And with so many scenic backdrops, even two hours weren’t enough. They ended up continuing into the evening, capturing the golden hues of sunset.

Daocun’s ever-changing colors under different lighting created effects no Photoshop could replicate.

In the red-hued meadow, He Yuxuan—dressed in a white wedding gown—was lifted into the air by Zeng Tong in a sharp suit, both laughing joyfully. Nearby, Xia Xiaozhi, Xu Jing, and Tan Yuan squealed in envy.

At their age, girls often dreamed of their future weddings, and the romantic scene made their hearts race. Xia Xiaozhi and Xu Jing even shot Jiang Fei flirtatious glances, their minds likely picturing themselves in wedding dresses, shyly embraced by their ‘uncle.’

Jiang Fei’s thoughts, however, drifted elsewhere.

When would he take wedding photos? And with whom?

For most, this was a simple question. But for him, it wasn’t.

Bai Ruoxi? Lin Moli? Or… both?

The last option was just a fantasy.

Given Lin Moli’s surprising willingness to ‘step back’ in this lifelong matter, Jiang Fei would likely end up taking photos with Bai Ruoxi—his longtime girlfriend who had even met his parents.

The shoot lasted until 7:30 p.m. Afterward, the crew packed up, and the couple changed out of their formal wear. Though reluctant to leave Daocun’s beauty, the photographers had to return to Jincheng.

Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan, however, stayed behind for a day of relaxation—and feasting.

They hadn’t taken time off work, only using the weekend for the shoot. Their real break would come during the National Day holiday in October, when they planned to take a two-week honeymoon after their wedding.

For now, they’d return to their jobs—otherwise, they’d have lingered longer in Daocun.

…..

Aftermath of the Duel

After her sword duel with Jiang Fei at the Central Martial Arts Hall, Liu Yunduo secluded herself for over twenty days.

During this time, she did little else but eat, sleep, and refine her swordsmanship.

Thanks to Jiang Fei’s deliberate guidance, her gains were far greater than expected. His “Dugu Nine Swords” had pinpointed every flaw in her technique, like a master offering meticulous instruction. That single match had advanced her skills more than years of solitary practice.

It was no wonder martial artists throughout history sought out challenges—beyond fame and fortune, dueling was the fastest path to growth.

When Liu Yunduo finally emerged, Su Mengnan greeted her eagerly. “Queen Alliance Leader, you’re out! With ten days left before your match against Miyamoto Ichizen, should we find Jiang Fei for another duel? Though he’s back in Jincheng now—we’d have to travel there.”

After witnessing Jiang Fei’s swordsmanship, even the proud Su Mengnan had to admit defeat. The man was a once-in-a-generation genius, surpassing even his idol, Liu Yunduo.

Wisely, Su Mengnan chose to ‘adapt to circumstances,’ burying his grudge against Jiang Fei. Provoking such a monster would be suicidal.

“No,” Liu Yunduo refused. “We’ll return to Huacheng and wait for Miyamoto.”

“Why? Have you perfected your sword skills?” Su Mengnan asked, both surprised and confused.

Liu Yunduo smiled wryly. “After seeing Jiang Fei’s swordsmanship, how could I claim perfection? Another duel would only expose more flaws—flaws I don’t have time to fix before facing Miyamoto. If my ‘sword heart’ wavers in doubt during the match, I’ll lose before even drawing my blade.”

“So we return to the Huacheng Sword Alliance and wait.”

The storm was coming.