Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”There’s one more thing I need to make clear to you.”

Fatty Fang dropped the topic of the Blood Nourishing Powder and said with a serious expression,

”If you sign that new Death Oath Contract for the Middle Courtyard, you won’t be able to hold any outside posts to make money for the next three years.”

”Hold a post?”

Chen Cheng’s eyes filled with confusion.

”It means having your name registered somewhere outside the Martial Arts Hall, taking on a side job.”

Fatty Fang explained.

”In the city, many businesses, guilds, Gangs... even some fringe jobs at the Government Office are willing to pay a Martial Artist who has refined One Pillar of Blood Qi to register with them. You’d get a monthly salary without needing to check in daily, but you’d have to put in the work when called upon.”

”Oh, now that you put it that way, I understand.”

Chen Cheng recalled something from his past.

”Back when I was at the merchant firm, I saw a few part-time Martial Artists. Some guarded important storehouses, while others escorted caravans on long journeys...”

”They could earn quite a bit of money, but it was genuinely dangerous. Especially the ones escorting merchants—you never knew if they’d make it back.”

”Exactly.”

Fatty Fang nodded.

”Why do they insist on Martial Artists with Blood Qi? Because with these jobs, you can never be sure you won’t have to shed blood or fight for your life... And that’s precisely why you can’t hold an outside post while bound by a Death Oath Contract.”

”Besides, once you enter the Middle Courtyard bound by the Death Oath Contract, there will be other restrictions...”

”If that’s the case...” Chen Cheng’s brow furrowed slightly.

He had been weighing whether to spend the money to buy back his freedom or to continue gambling with his life for three more years for free.

Now, after hearing what Fatty Fang said, he made up his mind completely.

’Freedom it is!’

It wasn’t just about the many restrictions that came with the Death Oath Contract.

More importantly, even if he managed to refine Nine Pillars of Blood Qi within three years and earn Military Merit, the shackles of the Death Oath Contract would still be there. Trying to remove them at that point would surely cost an outrageous price!

Chen Cheng said with great solemnity, ”Senior Brother, I must ask you to lend me the silver to nullify the Death Oath Contract.”

”...You.”

Fatty Fang was caught off guard for a moment, then broke into a wide grin.

”Fine, fine, who am I to go back on my word? I’ll front you the ten taels of silver to nullify the Death Oath Contract... But the monthly gift of five taels—you’ll have to come up with that yourself.”

”Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Chen Cheng immediately stood up and performed a proper fist-and-palm salute.

”Alright, alright, enough with the formalities!” Fatty Fang said dismissively, but the smile never left his lips.

Chen Cheng sat back down and asked, ”Senior Brother, why haven’t I seen Wang Han and Shi Lei today?”

Fatty Fang pursed his lips.

”Wang Han tried to force a breakthrough last night and failed... I don’t know if he was faking it or not, but he spent the latter half of the night laughing and crying like a madman. He stirred up the Gang in his neighborhood and was carted off overnight.”

”Carted off where?” Chen Cheng pressed.

”That’s not for you to ask. In short, as long as he’s still breathing, he has to follow the Upper Courtyard’s arrangements to work off his debt until death.”

Fatty Fang’s tone was grim, even carrying a hint of a warning.

Hearing this, Chen Cheng’s heart tightened. ’I didn’t expect Dragon Mountain Hall to be cooperating with the various Gangs. Their reach is quite long.’

”As for Shi Lei, he said he had a family emergency and came to me first thing this morning to ask for three days’ leave. According to the rules, a Lower Courtyard Disciple can’t just leave whenever he pleases.”

Fatty Fang’s tone softened a little.

”But... seeing as he’s usually diligent and is close with you, I made an exception and approved it this time.”

Chen Cheng smiled thoughtfully. After chatting with Fatty Fang for a while longer, he returned to the training grounds, took his stance, and resumed practicing the Hidden Dragon Fist.

At noon, the wild chicken in the stew pot was cooked until it was tender, its aroma filling the courtyard.

Everyone gathered around to share the meal, and the sounds of thanks directed at Chen Cheng were nonstop. The atmosphere was excellent.

Even Fatty Fang was pulled over by Chen Cheng to join the fun for a bit. He normally had no shortage of meat, but Qiao Qiao’s cooking was truly excellent. The broth was so delicious that he couldn’t resist having a second bowl.

In the midst of the lively meal, there was a knock at the courtyard gate.

A young disciple ran to open the gate a crack, asked a few questions, and then ran back.

”Senior Brother Chen, someone’s here for you. It’s the same person as last time...”

”Thanks.”

Chen Cheng smiled at the young disciple and got up to walk toward the gate.

The visitor was none other than Zhang Ping. He was dressed more warmly than usual, but his face was a little pale. He stood there rubbing his hands, his gaze shifting restlessly.

”Steward Zhang?”

”Brother Cheng, a word in private, a word in private...”

Before Chen Cheng could ask anything, Zhang Ping grabbed his arm and hurriedly pulled him outside to a secluded corner of the wall.

”Something terrible has happened... Las-last night, Zhao Shan died...”

”Died!? Are you sure?”

Chen Cheng put on a perfectly calibrated expression of shock.

”It’s absolutely true! There’s no mistake!”

Zhang Ping swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper.

”He died right at the entrance to his alley... They say it was an ambush. The killer must have been an acquaintance who knew he’d be passing through there... It didn’t take much effort, he was finished in two moves!”

”Tsk, so something like that happened.”

Chen Cheng paused, then abruptly changed the subject.

”Did Steward Zhang come all this way just to tell me this?”

”Yes, but not entirely...”

Zhang Ping leaned in a little closer.

”The Master is furious this time, and Boss Zhao has sworn he’ll tear this place apart to find the killer...”

”I know you’re not the killer, Brother Cheng, but there’s no guarantee they won’t start investigating you...”

”I figured I had to give you a heads-up... In case they do come asking, you’ll be prepared and not caught off guard.”

”Thanks.”

Chen Cheng gave a slight nod, his expression unchanged.

Zhang Ping didn’t dare to stay long. After saying his farewells, he hurried away.

Chen Cheng wasn’t too worried about the matter.

From what he knew of the beautiful Master, no matter how they investigated, it would all come down to solid evidence in the end. She wouldn’t convict someone based on feelings without any proof.

Chen Cheng hadn’t left a single trace last night, so naturally, he had nothing to worry about.

...

「Two days later, at the Chen Family’s Old Mansion.」

”Everyone’s here.”

Old Chen was nestled in his creaky old recliner. His gaze swept over the late-arriving Chen Yan, his fourth child, then glanced at Chen An and his wife, who had been squatting silently by the wall for some time.

”Third, Fourth, I’ve called you here today because of Hao... He’s at a critical point!”

”He’s trying to break through and condense his blood, but he’s missing one dose of Blood Refining Powder. Your eldest brother, your sister-in-law, and I can’t squeeze out another coin.”

”Dad, are you saying... you want our two families to foot the bill again?”

Chen Yan complained, her brows knitting together.

”It’s not like you don’t know how much my family has already chipped in for Hao’s martial arts training over the past six months.”

”This past month, the excuses for needing money have been one after another, without a moment’s rest! My Old Zhao has been complaining for a while now, and we’ve argued about it more than a few times!”

”Auntie!”

Chen Hao stepped forward, his face earnest.

”Just this once, I swear it’s the last time!”