Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”A true genius...”

Chen Cheng agreed casually, then changed the subject.

”Senior Sister, what do the annual assessments usually test?”

”Power, endurance, and combat.”

Zhuang Zhen explained patiently.

”Disciples at or below Three Pillars of Blood Qi will use a specially made layered cowhide as a target. The assessment of their Bright Force level will be based on the number of layers of Power they can penetrate.”

”Then, using a specific Bronze Heavy Cauldron, their physical endurance will be tested by how long they can hold it aloft.”

”Finally, and most importantly, their practical combat ability will be assessed through arena fights. The noble patrons who come to watch value real fighting prowess the most, so... these battles will not be simple sparring matches that stop at the first touch.”

Zhuang Zhen paused, her tone growing heavy.

”According to the rules from previous years, both combatants can go all out until one party either surrenders or is rendered incapable of fighting...”

”Master Ye will be there to supervise, but it’s difficult to guarantee that nothing will go wrong... There have been instances of injuries and even deaths in the past. Therefore, anyone who participates must carefully consider the risks.”

”...I see. Thank you for telling me, Senior Sister.”

Chen Cheng nodded silently, a sincere look of gratitude in his eyes.

He could tell, of course, that Zhuang Zhen was still gently trying to persuade him not to rashly participate in the combat assessment.

”Is there anything else?”

Zhuang Zhen asked.

”If not, go pack your things at the Outer Hall dormitory and move in here directly.”

”Alright.”

...

「Two days passed in a flash.」

Chen Cheng’s life continued its familiar rhythm.

With the Inner Hall’s unlimited venison and the nourishment from Fierce Beast Essence Meat medicinal meals, supplemented by a little Treasure Snake Dried Meat each day, he could sleep for just two hours without feeling exhausted or overdrawn. He was still able to train for the maximum amount of time.

Unfortunately, without the Five Dragon Soup, the efficiency of his daily training had dropped considerably.

Chen Cheng had personally tested the Blood-Nourishing Pills he’d received from the General Affairs Room. They were indeed a significant improvement over the Blood Nourishing Powder in terms of training efficiency, but they were a far cry from the Five Dragon Soup.

It couldn’t be helped. Treasure Medicines were simply too rare. Even with over one hundred and twenty taels of silver, he had no way to purchase any.

Originally, Chen Cheng had wanted to ask Shen Mi to see if Shen’s Medicine Shop had any leads, but Shen Mi had been running around for the past two days and hadn’t shown up at the shop at all.

Thus, Chen Cheng’s plan to acquire a Treasure Medicine had to be temporarily shelved.

To prepare for the annual assessment, Chen Cheng had already stopped cultivating the Endless Moon Breath.

This allowed him to dedicate as much time as possible to tempering his Hidden Dragon Fist and Health Tai Chi. Every little bit of tangible strength he could gain was a plus.

...

That afternoon, the sun was exceptionally bright, but once you entered the territory of Kuhuai Village, not a single ray of light could penetrate.

Chen An and his wife, Mrs. Bai, picked their way through the wet, stinking alleyways.

Chen An carried a small bag of coarse rice, while Mrs. Bai held an old basket containing some freshly dug wild vegetables, still caked with dirt.

They walked very slowly, carefully avoiding the stagnant puddles of sewage.

They were still some distance from the shack where Old Chen’s family of four lived when a hoarse, furious roar, like a stone thrown into a stagnant pond, suddenly shattered the surrounding gloom and silence.

”Get out! All of you, get the fuck out! I, Chen Hao, would rather starve to death! I’d rather jump down that old well at the east end of the village! But I will never marry into another family! Get out! Do you hear me?! GET THE FUCK OUT—!!!”

”...Husband.”

Hearing the roar, Mrs. Bai’s steps faltered. She frowned and said worriedly.

”Maybe we should come back another day... Listen to that commotion. You don’t want to get on your ’good’ nephew’s bad side...”

”Well...”

Chen An hesitated, a troubled look on his face.

”Forget it. I promised Dad I’d bring this bit of food over today... Besides, they really can’t even afford to put food on the table... Sigh...”

”...Alright then.”

Mrs. Bai was also soft-hearted. She sighed softly.

”Let’s just drop the stuff off and leave. Don’t you dare say too much!”

Chen An nodded and silently quickened his pace.

Outside the low-slung shack, which was drafty on all sides with a crooked, dilapidated door.

Old Chen was slumped in a damp patch of shadow at the base of the wall, like a pile of boneless mud. His hair and beard were a mess, his eyes were vacant, and his face was a waxy, ashen yellow. He seemed to have aged a great deal in an instant.

Inside the shack.

Chen Hao was slumped against the bed, panting heavily. The pillow, bedding, medicine bowl, oil lamp... anything within his reach had been smashed onto the floor.

Extreme rage and humiliation had turned his face a deep, purplish-red.

His shoulder and chest injuries, left untreated for lack of money for medicine, showed no signs of improving. Waves of heart-piercing pain contorted his features, making him look as ferocious as a demon in the dim light.

”Hao, please stop this...”

Mrs. Wang had a tear-streaked face, her eyes red-rimmed. She repeatedly slapped her own thighs, her voice choked with sobs as she pleaded.

”Yes, Mother knows... Landlord Wang’s daughter, her looks are... a bit lacking... and her age, well, she is indeed a little older than you...”

”A little older?!”

Before Mrs. Wang could finish, Chen Hao cut her off with an even more shrill roar. He gripped the filthy straw mat beneath him, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

”That face of hers would give ghosts nightmares! She’s a full thirteen years older than me! Thirteen years! And that’s not even all... Who on the street doesn’t know she’s already been the death of two husbands?! The grass on their graves is probably knee-high by now!”

Chen Hao gasped for breath, his voice trembling with agitation and pain. He glared at Mrs. Wang, his bloodshot eyes filled with the incredulous, grief-stricken fury of being betrayed by his own family.

”Mother... have you lost your mind? You actually want me to marry into that woman’s family? Or do you just want me dead?”

”If so, just say it! Right now... I’ll crawl my way to that old well at the east end and throw myself in to end it all! Better than living... to suffer this humiliation that’s worse than death!”

The more Chen Hao spoke, the more agitated he became. Tears mixed with the sweat and grime on his face, dripping down.

He was, after all, a proud Martial Artist, and extremely conscious of his reputation. Back when he first condensed his Blood Qi, he had once boasted that he would only marry a lady from the Inner City.

To have fallen to this state now, in his own eyes, couldn’t even be described as mere humiliation. It was as if all his pride, dignity, and honor were being thrown into a cesspit, trampled, and ground to dust.

”Hao! Have you caused enough trouble?!”

Chen Yong finally exploded. His eyes were also red and bloodshot, but his voice contained not grief and indignation, but the sharp, desperate ferocity of someone forced to the edge of a cliff with no retreat.

”This family can’t even afford to eat anymore! Your aunt stole money from her own meat shop’s capital just to help us scrape together the peace coins...”

”Because of that, your uncle is raising hell and threatening to divorce her! From now on, we can’t expect a single cent of help from your aunt’s side!”

”The winter tax is about to go up again, and if we can’t pay it... do you have any idea what the consequences will be!?”

—