“Then go ahead and sanction me!”
When Jiang Fei uttered this absurdly humorous line, even Ye Yuanyuan, who had been glaring coldly at the infuriating Cui Xiuping, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Even Old General Ye Zhennan, lying in his hospital bed, couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
This guy was truly something else!
As for Cui Xiuping, his face had already turned green with anger.
“Jiang Fei, don’t push your luck!” Cui Xiuping pointed at Jiang Fei and shouted, looking as though he was ready to roll up his sleeves and engage in a three-hundred-round battle with him.
However, as a doctor, he wasn’t about to resort to physical violence to settle a dispute. That would be far too crude and unbecoming of a medical professional.
Doctors should compete in the realm of medical skill, and Cui Xiuping was brimming with confidence in this regard. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to Jin City after hearing about Jiang Fei’s exploits, fully aware of the challenges ahead.
“Do you really think your medical skills are that impressive? Just because you defeated Doctors Yu Qingsong and Qin Zhengming doesn’t mean you’re invincible! Since you dare to challenge the authority of the TCM Association, I’ll see for myself just how powerful your so-called ‘Eight Divine Needles Technique’ really is. Let’s see if it can stand up to my ‘Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles’!” Cui Xiuping roared, his anger palpable.
Jiang Fei smirked. “So, you’re saying you want to avenge those two old guys and challenge me to a duel?”
Cui Xiuping nodded firmly, without hesitation.
“And what happens if I win? Or if I lose?” Jiang Fei asked.
Cui Xiuping’s eyes burned with intensity as he stared at Jiang Fei, as if he wanted to devour him whole. “If you lose, not only will you apologize, but you’ll also publicly smash that ‘King of Acupuncture’ plaque outside your clinic in front of everyone!”
Originally, Cui Xiuping hadn’t planned to involve himself in Jiang Fei’s self-proclaimed title, but now he couldn’t resist the urge to humiliate him.
“And if you lose?” Jiang Fei countered.
“I’ll leave the world of TCM forever!” Cui Xiuping declared without hesitation, his confidence unshakable.
For someone who had grown up in a family of renowned TCM practitioners and dedicated his life to preserving and advancing the field, such a bet was a testament to his unwavering self-assurance.
Of course, Cui Xiuping’s conditions were equally harsh for Jiang Fei. If Jiang Fei were to apologize and publicly destroy his plaque, his reputation in the TCM community would be irreparably damaged.
This was a bet that could end careers!
“I accept! What are the terms?” Jiang Fei asked, his tone calm but commanding.
Before Cui Xiuping could respond, Old General Ye Zhennan, who had been sitting quietly on the hospital bed, suddenly spoke up. His previously amused expression had vanished, replaced by a stern look.
“Young Doctor Cui, it seems you’ve forgotten my presence. Didn’t I already ask you to leave?”
“Old General Ye…” Cui Xiuping’s expression shifted slightly, but he wasn’t intimidated. He tried to explain, but Ye Zhennan cut him off.
“I said, leave!” Ye Zhennan’s voice, though aged, carried immense authority. He raised his voice and called out, “Guards, escort him out!”
The moment the words left his mouth, the door to the hospital room swung open. The middle-aged man Jiang Fei had seen many times before—the one Ye Yuanyuan referred to as “Uncle Tiger”—entered. Before Cui Xiuping could react, the man gently but firmly guided him out of the room.
Ye Zhennan let out a cold snort.
The Cui family might have significant influence and connections, but so what? As a veteran soldier who had fought countless battles and shed blood and sweat for his country, Ye Zhennan feared no one.
If it weren’t for the fact that Cui Xiuping had come with good intentions to treat him, Ye Zhennan might have handled the situation far less politely.
Though retired and generally more mild-mannered, Ye Zhennan’s temper was still something few dared to provoke.
Cui Xiuping’s audacity to challenge Jiang Fei right in front of him had clearly crossed a line. Not only had Jiang Fei cured his paralyzed legs, but Ye Zhennan had also promised to support him. How could he stand by and do nothing now?
To remain silent would be a betrayal of his word.
And so, Cui Xiuping was unceremoniously “escorted” out, his anger left unvented and his words unsaid.
Jiang Fei watched the scene unfold with mild surprise but made no move to stop it. Once Cui Xiuping was gone, he turned to Ye Zhennan and said, “Old General, you didn’t have to do that. I was actually looking forward to competing with him.”
Ye Zhennan simply smiled without responding.
Ye Yuanyuan, however, couldn’t hold back. “Jiang Fei, don’t be ungrateful. That guy Cui Xiuping might be annoying, but didn’t you hear him? He’s the grandson of the legendary ‘Ghost Hand’ Old Doctor Cui and has fully mastered the ‘Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles.’ Do you really think he’s as easy to beat as those old men from before? If you lose to him, you’re finished.”
Jiang Fei shook his head, his expression calm but his words brimming with confidence. “What’s so special about the ‘Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles’? He’s not even my target. It’s his grandfather, Old Doctor Cui, who interests me. I’d like to challenge him someday.”
Jiang Fei had never met Old Doctor Cui, but from what he’d heard, the man was a towering figure in the TCM world—the undisputed leader of the TCM Association.
If Jiang Fei could challenge and defeat him, his title as the “King of Acupuncture” would be solidified, and the old men of the TCM Association would no longer dare to trouble him.
Ye Yuanyuan’s eyelids twitched as she glared at Jiang Fei. This guy really had no filter, did he? No wonder the old men of the TCM Association couldn’t stand him.
Yet, despite his arrogance, Ye Yuanyuan found herself strangely drawn to his confidence. It was the kind of boldness that made a man truly admirable.
After Cui Xiuping’s departure, Jiang Fei began his acupuncture treatment on Ye Zhennan. Despite the significant progress in the old general’s condition, the treatment remained as demanding as ever.
Ye Zhennan’s legs had been severely paralyzed, with poisoned blood and damaged neurons. In Western medicine, such a condition would be considered incurable, no matter how advanced the technology or skilled the doctor.
Only techniques like the “Eight Divine Needles,” the “Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles,” or the “Turtle Spirit Technique” could possibly treat such a condition.
After finishing the acupuncture session, a tired Jiang Fei sat down to rest while a massage therapist worked on Ye Zhennan’s stiff muscles. Once the therapy was complete, the day’s treatment was finally over.
This time, it wasn’t a dedicated driver who took Jiang Fei back, but Ye Yuanyuan herself. She happened to have some business in the city, so she offered to give him a ride.
“Your Highness, where shall I take you?” Ye Yuanyuan asked sarcastically, glaring at Jiang Fei through the rearview mirror.
She, the esteemed Miss Ye, was personally driving, and this guy had the audacity to sit in the back seat like some VIP. Did he really think of her as his chauffeur?
“Let’s decide once we reach the city,” Jiang Fei replied lazily, leaning back comfortably in his seat. He planned to call Qiao Yiyi during the ride to arrange their meeting.
He had already missed one session of treating her vocal cords, and while one missed session wasn’t a big deal, missing multiple sessions could cause serious problems.
Meanwhile, Qiao Yiyi and her manager, Aunt Mei, had gone to a top-tier hospital for a check-up. After confirming that her vocal cords were healing well—much better than three days ago—Aunt Mei finally relaxed.
The two then recorded a short video for Qiao Yiyi’s fans, reassuring them of her recovery and calming the concerns of her sponsors.
Just as Qiao Yiyi was considering whether to contact Jiang Fei or Lin Moli, Jiang Fei called to ask where she was. After a brief discussion, they decided to meet at Jiang’s clinic.
Not only did the clinic have the necessary equipment for treatment, but both Jiang Fei and Qiao Yiyi also needed to visit the place. Jiang Fei, as the owner, needed to check on things, while Qiao Yiyi, as the future spokesperson, needed to familiarize herself with the clinic.
The agreement for Qiao Yiyi to serve as the clinic’s free spokesperson had already been finalized between Aunt Mei and Lin Moli. Once Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords fully recovered, the contract would officially take effect.