Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Over the past few days, Chen Cheng had repeatedly deliberated, contemplated, and broken down the methods he imagined. In the dead of night, he even went so far as to test and practice them himself.

The process was like fumbling in absolute darkness for the shape and texture of some indescribable object, guided only by a faint echo.

At first, he didn’t hold out much hope.

Until three days ago, when inspiration suddenly struck, and he actually managed to figure a few things out.

Using the outwardly slow, harmonious form of Health Tai Chi as a framework, he then channeled the True Intent of ’Unceasing Harmony, ever-generating’ contained within it to manipulate and build his Power.

He guided his Blood Qi and physical strength away from the established paths of the Hidden Dragon Fist. Instead, he transformed them into an inward-coiling tide, stacking layer upon layer, constantly compacting itself.

This Power continued to circulate harmoniously and compress, condensing into a sphere, and then from a sphere into a single point.

When released in an instant, it could unleash a type of Power similar to, but far stronger than, the Hidden Dragon Fist’s Hidden Strength.

Add to that the Penetrating Armor Trait.

In the end, whether it was the process of Force Manipulation, the fundamental nature of the Power, or the destructive effect it caused, it was all vastly different from the Hidden Dragon Fist.

And this was another, deeper layer of Chen Cheng’s scheme—one that was also far more deceptive.

Afterward, no matter who investigated, it would be impossible to trace it back to him. Instead, they would most likely be led by the nose by his scheme, muddying the waters completely.

...

「The next day, at the crack of dawn.」

Zhao Chuan personally went to the small courtyard where Scar Bear lived.

At this moment, Scar Bear was sprawled on the bed like a pile of mud. His face was ghastly pale, his eyes sunken, and his mouth hung half-open, breathing out more than he took in.

Zhao Chuan walked over and pulled away the thin blanket haphazardly draped over Scar Bear.

The injuries that met his eyes caused Zhao Chuan’s pupils to contract almost imperceptibly.

Scar Bear’s chest was caved in over a large area. The flesh had turned a deep purplish-blue, with countless blood vessels and blue veins spreading outward like a spiderweb. Beneath the skin were dense, sharp protrusions—shattered pieces of his sternum that looked like they might burst through at any moment.

”What in the hell happened last night?” Zhao Chuan demanded in a low voice.

Raw terror flooded Scar Bear’s cloudy eyes. He gasped weakly, his throat hitching with pained sobs as he haltingly recounted the events.

After listening, the muscles in Zhao Chuan’s face gradually tightened, and his expression turned frighteningly grim.

”Are you sure it was the Red Moon Nunnery’s... Cloth Puppet?”

”I... I’m sure.”

Scar Bear was on the verge of death, but his mind was still clear.

”I saw it with my own eyes last night... and I wasn’t the only one... Besides, that... that wicked Power... I took a direct hit from it...”

”...Could it be that punk Chen Cheng’s doing?”

Zhao Chuan clenched his jaw so hard the muscles in his cheeks bulged.

”Shouldn’t be... Last night, when Lord Wu and Lord Liu came looking for me... it was on a whim... Chen Cheng isn’t a god, how could he have known in advance?”

Scar Bear shrank back, his voice weak.

”Besides, those Cloth Puppet techniques... Chen Cheng couldn’t have learned them, right?”

”...Then it really was the Red Moon Nunnery.”

Zhao Chuan’s expression changed slightly. As if deflated, he waved his hand in irritation.

”Alright, this matter is beyond my authority now. I’ll report it to the Lord Chief and let him decide. You keep your mouth shut! Don’t you dare breathe a single word about the stupid shit you all did!”

”Understood... Don’t worry, Zhao Chaitou, my lips... are sealed...”

Scar Bear caught his breath, then spoke cautiously.

”Zhao Chaitou... Last night, to get the job done, the two Lord Officials took twenty-three taels of silver from me... That... that was my entire life’s savings... You see...”

”What the hell does that have to do with me?!”

Zhao Chuan glared at him, his eyes filled with contempt.

”You idiots acted on your own and made this mess. People died, things were lost, and you still want compensation? You should be grateful I’m not making you pay for it with your own life!”

Choked speechless, Scar Bear’s face turned deathly white. He pleaded wretchedly.

”Lord... Lord Zhao, just take pity on me... I don’t have money to see a doctor... My life... you...”

Zhao Chuan turned a deaf ear, spun around, and left, as if spending another moment in this filthy place would bring him bad luck.

Scar Bear wanted to erupt in curses, but his rage aggravated his wounds. He immediately broke into a violent coughing fit, his face contorting and blood trickling from his nose and mouth. But no one paid him any mind.

His money was gone, and his body was broken.

Even the lackeys who used to be so eager to serve and obey him now kept their distance. Not a single soul was in sight.

「Some time later.」

Several figures, as thin as paper, slipped into the small courtyard one after another.

They were all women.

None of them were old. Their faces were sallow, their eyes vacant. Their faces, necks, and exposed wrists were covered in overlapping bruises, both old and new, and even bite marks and scratches still scabbed with blood.

They didn’t speak to each other, sharing only a chilling, numb sort of understanding.

Soon, a wretched, inhuman scream erupted from inside the house—Scar Bear’s last.

A moment later, the women dragged Scar Bear’s corpse out as if he were a dead pig or dog, pulling it slowly toward the depths of the alley.

Who knew if it ended up in the Vegetable People Shop or the Red Moon Nunnery?

In the end, no one asked.

...

「Noon. The Outer Hall dining area was bustling with noise.」

Xiao Yi sat among several well-off Black Disciples, animatedly recounting how Master Ye had made an exception and recruited him into the Inner Hall the day before. Spittle flew from his mouth, landing in his food.

When they got excited, someone—it was unclear who—suggested they leave. They abandoned their barely touched meals and headed straight for a restaurant outside the Martial Arts Hall.

Seeing this, the disciples watching from the sidelines all wore looks of envy.

In a distant corner by the window, Qian Baolu ate while casting a cold, sideways glance in their direction.

”Junior Brother Chen, I wasn’t exaggerating, was I? That bastard Xiao Yi is a real thankless wolf who turns on his own people!”

Qian Baolu slammed his chopsticks down, filled with righteous indignation.

”Those few guys who used to call him brother, who came from the same dirt-poor background, now they aren’t even qualified to sniff his farts from behind!”

”The ones around him now are either from wealthy families in the Outer City or their fathers are minor officials at the Government Office. Every last one of them is lazy about their martial arts training but completely dedicated to networking.”

Chen Cheng didn’t reply. As his gaze swept over, it was caught for a moment by another figure.

It was Lin Fengxiao.

His face was as sallow as wax paper, with heavy, dark circles under his eyes. His chapped lips were covered with raw, crimson cracks.

He walked straight over, sat in the seat Xiao Yi had just vacated, and pulled all their leftovers in front of him. He lowered his head and began to wolf them down.

The gazes directed at him were filled with contempt, surprise, and a few fleeting flashes of pity.

He paid them no mind, even tossing his chopsticks aside and switching to scooping the food up with his hands to eat faster.

”...What has this world forced good people into becoming?”

Qian Baolu picked up his bowl, gave Chen Cheng a nod, and walked over toward Lin Fengxiao.

Chen Cheng was long past being surprised by Qian Baolu’s ridiculously god-tier social skills. He silently called over a White Disciple and ordered two more servings of Deer Meat Medicinal Cuisine for himself.

—