Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Chen Honored Elder, please wait a moment.”

Shen Mi left the Dragon Claw Grass on the table, then turned and hurried out of the accounting room with a gust of purpose.

When she returned, she was holding more than a dozen types of herbs and a stack of pre-cut oil paper.

Without a word, she sat down at the desk. Her fingers flew, her movements exceptionally deft as she took the dozen or so precious herbs the caravan had brought back from the Northern Lands. Following a specific ratio, she precisely divided them into five portions, wrapped each in oil paper, and tied them securely.

Chen Cheng had just recorded all these herbs in the ledger when they were put into storage, so he knew they were not cheap. A rough estimate put the value of these five packets at thirty to fifty taels of silver.

”Chen Honored Elder, take these back with you.”

Shen Mi pushed the five packets of herbs and the Dragon Claw Grass toward Chen Cheng, her tone crisp and direct.

”Simmer these into a thick decoction over a low flame. Before taking each dose, break off a ’claw’ from the Dragon Claw Grass, crush it, and mix it into the soup.”

”...Master, this is?”

Chen Cheng stared at the sudden, generous gift before him, momentarily stunned again.

The corners of Shen Mi’s lips curved up into a bright, crisp smile.

”This is a proprietary herbal decoction formula from my Shen Family, meant to supplement a Martial Artist’s training. It must be paired with Dragon Claw Grass to achieve its best effect.”

”After taking it, not only will your cultivation be twice as effective, but it will also nourish your heart and lungs, strengthen your stomach, and most importantly, enhance your ability to digest and absorb meat and medicinal foods. Every bit of nourishment you consume will be fully converted into your own strength!”

She paused, then said seriously,

”Chen Honored Elder, you mustn’t refuse! The most important thing for you right now is to break through to the Three Pillars of Blood Qi. With these five packets of ’Dragon Claw Soup,’ you’ll surely save a great deal of painstaking effort and achieve your goal sooner!”

”As I said before, the stronger you are, the more weight I carry within the family. We rise and fall together. Helping you is helping myself!”

”...I understand.”

Since she had put it that way, Chen Cheng naturally wouldn’t refuse again. He rose and cupped his fists in a solemn salute.

”Thank you, Master!”

”Alright, no need to be so formal.”

Shen Mi waved her hand, then lowered her voice.

”From the look on Zhao Hai’s face earlier, he’ll most likely still try to cause trouble for you... Fortunately, he’s busy with the trade caravans year-round, and his Martial Arts skills aren’t strong. He definitely can’t do anything to you openly, but in secret... you should be careful.”

Seeing Chen Cheng nod, Shen Mi continued,

”One more thing. I’ve already spoken with Elder Wen. From now on, if there’s anything you don’t understand about Martial Arts, you can ask him.”

”Thank you, Master.”

Hearing this, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but be moved.

He knew very well that Elder Wen owed Shen Mi a massive favor, but Shen Mi had just passed that favor on to him, Chen Cheng.

What kind of man was Elder Wen? Even back when Chen Cheng was a handyman, the name was as familiar as a clap of thunder.

He had become famous in his youth and only grown stronger with age. Having been through countless battles and grown accustomed to life and death, his presence alone had guaranteed half a lifetime of stability for the Yongsheng Trading Company.

But even more precious than his strength were the things he had gained through his experience: the practical combat knowledge honed between life and death, the unique understanding of Blood Qi circulation forged through training, the insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various Cultivation Techniques, and even the unwritten rules and taboos of the Jianghu...

This intangible wealth was far harder to obtain, and far more precious, than a few taels of silver or some packets of herbal decoction!

If he could receive genuine guidance and absorb the essence of that knowledge, it would undoubtedly open a door to a much wider world for Chen Cheng.

Its true value was simply immeasurable!

At this thought, Chen Cheng’s gratitude toward Shen Mi deepened immensely. This was no simple gift; she was genuinely clearing a path and paving the way for him!

”Master...”

”No need to say more.”

Shen Mi smiled and offered yet another convenience.

”From now on, spend more time on your training. As for guarding the warehouse, with Elder Wen around, you can come when you want and stay at the Martial Arts Hall to train in peace when you don’t. No need to ask me for leave.”

Chen Cheng nodded emphatically. After another cupped-fist salute, he took the packets of herbs and the wooden box and left.

「A moment later.」

Granny Ding came looking for her, her face etched with worry and her voice hushed to a whisper.

”Master, it’s terrible... The matter of renewing the Trade Document early at the end of the year... the Government Office has finalized it. Fuchang Trading Company specifically requested to compete with us... It’s the old rule, a duel will decide who gets it!”

”The Trade Document is renewed every five years, but it’s only been the second year... Such an ugly way of doing things... Fuchang Trading Company must have really found a powerful backer...”

Shen Mi’s elegant brows knitted together instantly.

’If we can’t win this fight, we won’t be able to run the trade route to the north anymore... And trying to force our way into trade routes in other directions is harder than climbing to heaven...’

”Isn’t that the truth!”

Granny Ding sighed.

”The trade routes in other directions aren’t involved in the wars; they’re safe, and the profits are even greater. Unfortunately, they’re all completely locked down by the major trading houses with stronger backings. You can’t even squeeze a needle in... If we lose the northern Trade Document, it will be a devastating disaster...”

”There’s no need to be so pessimistic.”

Shen Mi said calmly.

”At least Elder Wen has returned. With him here to hold down the fort, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

She said this aloud, but in her heart, she didn’t dare to truly believe it.

’Since Fuchang Trading Company has already used its connections to move up the battle for the Trade Document, they must have made thorough preparations. The expert they’ve invited is probably no weaker than Elder Wen.’

’If that’s really the case...’

Shen Mi didn’t dare to think any further.

And she couldn’t reveal a single word of these worries. She couldn’t even let her brow furrow for an extra second.

Right now, countless eyes both inside and outside the Yongsheng Store were watching. If she showed the slightest fear first, morale would instantly collapse.

And once morale collapsed, Fuchang Trading Company would seize the opportunity to poach their members with high offers. She was afraid that before the day of the duel even arrived, the Yongsheng Store would crumble on its own.

Fortunately, there were still two months until the end of the year. It wasn’t a completely hopeless situation.

The only fear was that for every foot the Tao rises, the devil rises ten.

...

On his way back to the Martial Arts Hall, Chen Cheng bought a small brazier, a sturdy iron kettle, and a few catties of hardwood charcoal that produced less smoke.

Once inside his room, he carefully bolted the door and windows, then began to brew the Five Dragon Soup.

Soon, a faintly bitter aroma, a mixture of various herbs, filled the room. The scent was more or less noticeable outside, but no one would pay it any mind.

Those well-off Black Disciples brewed herbal decoctions almost daily. Every few days, they would go home to soak in medicinal baths and apply all sorts of unknown medicinal muds and ointments to their bodies.

Compared to all that, the smell of the Five Dragon Soup was completely unremarkable.

While the soup simmered on a low flame, Chen Cheng silently adjusted his breathing rhythm and began to cultivate his Endless Moon Breath.

When cultivated to Perfection, this Evil Technique could conceal one’s life force to the absolute limit, but it caused immense damage to the heart and lungs.

Chen Cheng would cautiously complete a single Circulation, then immediately stop. He would then practice a round of Health Tai Chi, waiting until he was certain the damage to his heart and lungs had been completely healed by his Health-Preserving Traits before resuming his cultivation of the Endless Moon Breath.

Back and forth he went, like the most demanding artisan meticulously polishing a flawless piece of jade, refusing to allow the slightest ’flaw’ to remain.

「About four hours later.」

The Five Dragon Soup had become quite thick and had a faint golden sheen. When poured from the iron kettle, its color and consistency were almost like beeswax.

”He did it! Senior Brother Lin... he finally did it!”

Outside, a sudden burst of commotion made Chen Cheng’s hand pause as he was pouring the herbal decoction.