The Second Surgical Showdown at the Exchange Conference
As expected, the second round of the surgical competition at the exchange conference never took place—because there was simply no need.
After witnessing Jiang Fei’s godlike surgical skills twice with their own eyes, every member of the Western medical delegation, despite their fury and grim expressions, had to admit one undeniable truth: even their most prideful surgical techniques were no match for Jiang Fei.
Not just the younger members—even Howard, the vice-president of the Western Medical Association and a knighted professor renowned for his medical expertise, had little confidence in defeating Jiang Fei if he were to step into the ring himself.
The first round had already ended in a crushing defeat for Western medicine, and worse, they had been utterly humiliated—so much so that they couldn’t even treat the patient, leaving them helpless and a laughingstock. By tomorrow, this would undoubtedly dominate headlines and trigger a media storm.
If the second round were to proceed, it would only deepen their shame. The best option was to avoid further embarrassment and concede defeat.
As the Western delegation, faces dark with humiliation, pushed past the swarming reporters and fled the scene, Jiang Fei didn’t get a chance to speak to the press either.
By then, he was completely drained.
Having performed the legendary Divine Needle Technique twice in succession, followed by two rounds of bone-scraping detoxification, his mental focus, physical stamina, and even his internal qi were nearly exhausted.
By the time he finished bandaging the last patient, his legs nearly gave out. He swayed on his feet, barely avoiding collapsing to the ground in a faint.
Luckily, a sharp-eyed young nurse noticed his condition and rushed to support him.
Then, like cats drawn to the scent of fish, several other nurses—already awestruck by Jiang Fei’s godlike performance—hurried over to help. Their eyes sparkled with admiration as they gazed at him with undisguised worship.
For these young nurses, handsome men were nothing new. Wealthy men? Plenty. Skilled doctors? They’d seen their share.
But a man like Jiang Fei—unparalleled in medical skill, devastatingly handsome, and undoubtedly destined for greatness? That was a first.
Just imagine—a single man, single-handedly dismantling an elite Western medical delegation, forcing them into a humiliating retreat. How could anyone resist such charisma?
These nurses certainly couldn’t.
“Dr. Jiang, are you okay?”
“Dr. Jiang, you must be exhausted! Here, lean on me!”
“No way! Dr. Jiang is ours! Stop crowding him!”
One nurse, who had assisted Jiang Fei in both surgeries, blushed fiercely and shielded him like a mother hen protecting her chick.
Though Jiang Fei was barely able to stand, his mind was still sharp enough to register everything happening around him.
These nurses are way too enthusiastic! If you’re going to support me, then support me properly—why are you groping my chest? And my abs? Since when is this how you help someone stand?!
Hey! Who just kissed me?! Where’s your dignity as proper young women?!
Thankfully, members of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Association rushed in just in time to rescue their “savior.” Otherwise, Jiang Fei’s reputation—and virtue—might have been lost forever to this pack of overzealous nurses.
Calling Jiang Fei a “savior” wasn’t an exaggeration. Once the conference concluded, the full picture became clear.
The TCM delegation had failed to prevent the Venom King, the infamous poison master, from sabotaging the event. Worse, Western medicine had colluded with him in a despicable scheme to discredit TCM. The clearest evidence? Both patients assigned to Jiang Fei and Cui Xiuping for blood stasis treatment had been secretly poisoned—proof that the Western delegation knew about the toxins in advance.
Without Jiang Fei, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
If two patients had died under TCM care during such a high-profile event, the backlash would have been unimaginable—just the thought sent chills down the spines of the TCM representatives.
But thanks to Jiang Fei, the plot was exposed and neutralized.
This exchange ended in a total victory for TCM. Once the newspapers flooded the streets tomorrow, the impact on Western medicine might be minimal—people would still flock to their hospitals. But for TCM, this was an unprecedented triumph, a chance to reclaim its glory.
Western medicine wouldn’t lose much ground, but TCM’s reputation would soar, paving the way for a brighter future.
And so, Jiang Fei’s position as the Chairman of the TCM Association was all but guaranteed.
Most importantly—his mission was complete.
Ding!
“Congratulations, Player! Mission ‘Save Traditional Chinese Medicine’ accomplished. Reward: ‘Nine Swords of Dugu’ manual. (This manual is a system-exclusive gift—no level requirements for learning!)”
Just before slipping into unconsciousness, Jiang Fei heard the system’s sweet, triumphant chime.
Headlines the Next Day
-
“East-West Medical Exchange Ends in Stunning Victory: TCM Triumphs Without a Second Round—All Thanks to One Young Miracle Doctor: Jiang Fei!” —TCM Daily
-
“As Critics Dismiss TCM as Obsolete, a Genius Emerges: Jiang Fei, the Modern-Day Hua Tuo!” —Medical Advancements
-
“Jiang Fei: The Greatest Medical Mind of Our Time. ‘Bone-Scraping Detox’ and ‘Divine Needle Technique’—Legends Brought Back to Life!” —Global Medicine
-
“The Legend of Jiang Fei: Master Physician, TCM Chairman, Musical Prodigy… and Heartthrob.” —Huaxi Metropolis
The next day, nearly every major newspaper was flooded with coverage of the medical exchange—or rather, coverage of Jiang Fei.
While the uproar might not have matched the frenzy of his earlier scandal with pop star Qiao Yiyi, this time, the attention came from far more influential circles.
A young miracle doctor with unparalleled skills? The chairman of the TCM Association? These titles made Jiang Fei a magnet for the rich and powerful.
After all, everyone faces illness at some point. Having a genius physician on your contact list could be a lifesaver—literally.
And as the TCM chairman, Jiang Fei now commanded an invisible empire—a network of the nation’s top physicians, granting him immense influence over medical policies and practices.
In the aftermath, countless powerful figures scrambled for Jiang Fei’s contact information. But the exhausted hero had been whisked away by Cui Xiuping to Bai Ruoxi’s apartment, where he rested behind closed doors, recovering in peace.
Truthfully, even Cui Xiuping—himself a prodigy of the Thirteen Ghost Point Needles—had never seen anyone push themselves to the point of collapse like Jiang Fei had. Not even his legendary grandfather had achieved such a feat.
It only deepened his awe. Jiang Fei’s mastery existed on a plane Cui Xiuping could scarcely dream of reaching.
Back at Bai Ruoxi’s place, she had taken two days off to care for him. She had watched the entire exchange from the audience, alongside her colleagues. And true to his word, Jiang Fei had made her proud.
Bai Ruoxi wasn’t one to chase glory, but remembering her coworkers’ stunned, gaping expressions still brought a faint smile to her lips.
Her boyfriend’s brilliance wasn’t just impressive—it was legendary.
Sitting by the bed, she skimmed through the morning’s newspapers, each one singing Jiang Fei’s praises.
She didn’t notice that Jiang Fei, now fully recovered, had woken up.
His first act? Pulling up the system interface and locking eyes on the prize: the Nine Swords of Dugu manual in his inventory.
Without hesitation, he selected it and clicked “Learn.”
Ding!
“Congratulations! You have mastered the Nine Swords of Dugu!”
A description followed:
“The Nine Swords of Dugu, created by the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, is a peerless sword art that transcends form—emphasizing intent over technique, offense over defense. Unlike most martial arts, it does not rely on internal energy. Once the sword’s essence is grasped, its profound variations can be executed effortlessly. Even those without inner strength can wield it with deadly precision—though true power is unlocked when paired with internal cultivation.”
Jiang Fei grinned.
A wide, relieved grin.
He had worried that, like the incomplete Taiji Fist, this might be a watered-down version.
But no—the Nine Swords truly required no internal energy to learn or use!
Sure, in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, Linghu Chong had wielded it flawlessly even after losing all his inner strength, defeating the Four Manor Lords of Plum Manor.
But who knew if the system had tweaked the rules?
Now, seeing the confirmation, Jiang Fei could finally relax.
