After Jeff finished explaining the rules of the match, one of his disciples immediately stepped forward.
"I'm willing to be the recipient of the acupuncture. Miss Linch, do you agree?" he said confidently.
He was short, with a sly, lecherous face. His shifty eyes shamelessly scanned Tracy's body from head to toe.
The way he looked at her made Tracy deeply uncomfortable.
So she made up her mind—she would teach him a lesson.
"Alright. I'll perform the acupuncture," Tracy said calmly.
The moment she spoke, Jeff's disciples burst into laughter.
The short man might not have looked like much, but he was the toughest among them when it came to physical endurance. His father, a well-known figure in the Australian Ninja League, had trained him rigorously since childhood. Though he only managed to grasp basic ninjutsu, his real interest lay in acupuncture. So he secretly left Australia for Canada and became Jeff's student.
He might not be exceptional, but his foundation was solid—definitely not someone an inexperienced acupuncturist could handle.
To pick him as her test subject?
It was foolish.
Jeff smirked to himself.
Then, pretending to be generous, he said, "Well, in that case, I won't bully you, little girl. Why don't you also choose someone to receive my acupuncture?"
Traditionally, both sides would select a recipient from the other team. Since Tracy had gone first and chosen Jeff's disciple, Jeff simply followed suit—it was a show of supreme confidence.
"I'll do it," John volunteered with a smile, stepping forward without hesitation.
Jeff accepted immediately, and Tracy nodded her approval.
Jasper, however, sneered.
"This competition only represents you. Regardless of who wins or loses, it has nothing to do with the Traditional Medicine Association of the U.S."
He was trying to disassociate the Association from Tracy—just in case she lost. If Jeff humiliated her, he didn't want the Association's name being dragged through the mud again.
Bernard, the Association's president, gave Jasper a look of admiration.
Smart.
He was being cautious.
Protecting their reputation.
But Jeff laughed mockingly.
"You're just a sore loser. Did you forget how I crushed you into the ground last time?"
Jasper's face turned red and blue with rage and shame.
But no one paid him any more attention.
The match had begun.
Jeff gestured politely. "Miss Linch, after you."
"I'll go first, then."
Tracy picked up a needle and carefully inserted it into a specific acupoint on the man's arm.
He didn't flinch.
In fact, his expression turned... strange.
A twisted grin spread across his face as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, obscenely.
Why had he been so eager to be the test subject?
Because he wanted to get close to Tracy.
Such a beautiful woman, with such curves—how could he not take the opportunity to enjoy her touch, even under the guise of acupuncture?
When she pressed on the acupoint to insert the needle, he nearly melted.
The fragrance in the air... the feel of her fingers...
He was practically in ecstasy.
But Tracy quickly stepped back, coldly indifferent.
The first needle was simple—just a starting move.
Then Jeff stepped up, inserting a needle into John's arm.
Unlike Tracy's, Jeff's needles were golden—striking and authoritative.
He smiled with full confidence.
Then came Tracy's second needle.
Jeff followed with his own.
Tracy's third needle.
This time, the Australian disciple's eyebrows knit slightly.
By the third needle, those observing could already sense a difference.
Although Bernard and the others had initially scoffed at the match, they now found themselves watching in complete silence—riveted.
When Tracy inserted the third needle, their eyes locked in.
Her technique wasn't just competent.
It was refined. Precise. Powerful.
By the fifth needle, even Bernard and the other senior members of the Association were exchanging glances—surprised.
Her technique resembled Holbrook's style... but it was different.
It was a reversed version of the Nine Restoring Yang Needles.
One of them finally asked, "Doctor Davis, did you teach Miss Linch this method? It looks... unusual."
"Humph. Don't call me 'Doctor Davis.' We're not that close," Holbrook grunted, unwilling to explain.
Bernard fell silent, a bit embarrassed, and turned back to watch the match.
By the seventh needle, the Australian disciple was visibly struggling.
He began breathing heavily through his mouth, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
John, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm.
Then came the eighth.
And the ninth.
Now the Australian man's face was twisted with pain. His facial muscles twitched involuntarily.
Bernard and the others were stunned.
It was now obvious that Tracy's technique was not only inspired by Holbrook's—she had surpassed it, mastering a reverse version of the famous method.
Just mastering this one technique was enough to earn someone a high standing in the traditional medicine world.
Holbrook himself had relied on it to achieve his legendary status.
Of everyone present, Jasper had the most conflicted expression.
By the time Tracy inserted the fifth needle, he had already realized:
This young woman—only twenty-five years old—was a true acupuncture master.
She wasn't just skilled.
She was a genius.
So Jasper wisely shut his mouth and stayed quiet after that.
Everyone assumed the match was over after the ninth needle.
Logically, the next needle would need to start on a new meridian.
But to everyone's shock...
Tracy inserted a tenth needle—right after the ninth.