Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Becoming bandits or joining an Evil Cult are the lesser evils. I heard small rebel armies have already formed up north, and they’re in a life-or-death struggle against the Government Office.”

Qian Baolu added after a pause.

”Bringing it back to Zhao City, bandit trouble could break out anywhere... except for the fortress-like Inner City.”

”Not long ago, right here in An Nan District, a minor leader from Grass Head Mountain was killed... To this day, the case remains unsolved.”

”Last month, bandits from Erjiao Mountain snuck into the South Outer City and kidnapped a rich man’s daughter. They collected the ransom and sent her back... but her body was so mutilated they couldn’t even piece it back together.”

”And before that, there was the time the second-in-command of Grass Head Mountain led his men to slaughter three wealthy families in Lunan District in a single night... And that’s not all...”

Chen Cheng listened in silence, his expression growing more complex.

He was, of course, well aware of how chaotic and dangerous the Outer City was. It was just that one’s station in life determined the kind of disasters one saw and the hardships one had to endure.

For instance, the major bandit attacks Qian Baolu was describing would never happen in the slums.

Everyone suffers in this life; they just suffer differently...

After leaving Qian Baolu’s room, Chen Cheng immediately departed from the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard.

...

「Funan District, Fuchang Trading Company.」

The sun was sinking in the west, its last rays slanting across the main street. Steam rose from food stalls as a woman carrying a vegetable basket hurried by. A group of half-grown children chased each other, their laughter and shouts mingling in the air.

At the mouth of an unremarkable dark alley, Chen Cheng’s figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

His hair was a mess, his face was smeared with dirt, and he had changed into his old, ragged clothes. On his feet was a pair of tattered old straw shoes.

He had three such outfits stashed outside in corners of the slums where no one ever went. They were unlikely to be found, and even if someone did steal them, they weren’t worth more than a few coins.

The only problem was that he had grown significantly.

While his muscles were leaner and more condensed rather than overtly bulging, his frame had undeniably filled out, broadening considerably. A single glance at his shoulders revealed they were much wider and thicker than before.

Now, when he put on these old clothes, the cuffs were far too short and the pant legs hung high above his ankles. Everything felt uncomfortably tight.

He had been wanting to replace them all for a while now but hadn’t found the time to go rummaging through the second-hand clothing market.

Today was no different. As soon as his business at the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard was finished, he had changed his clothes and rushed straight over without a moment’s rest.

Of course, strictly speaking, this issue didn’t hinder his movements.

How many of the poorest people in the Outer City wore clothes that actually fit?

In families with many children, weren’t clothes just handed down from the eldest to the second, and from the second to the youngest? They were covered in patches on top of patches, their colors faded from countless washings.

In more extreme cases, a whole family might share just one or two pairs of pants that weren’t ripped at the rear—whoever went out got to wear them.

A proper fit was a luxury only common folk could afford to consider.

Chen Cheng tugged at his sleeves, but they wouldn’t budge. He gave up and decided to ignore it.

Let them ride up. To any onlookers, it would only make him look more the part.

Chen Cheng emerged from the alley, blended into the crowd, and walked unhurriedly toward the Fuchang Trading Company.

He hadn’t been here to conduct surveillance for four days, busy preparing for the Inner Hall assessment.

He had just heard Lin Fengxiao mention that the Fuchang Trading Company was planning to make a move soon.

If he didn’t come check on things, he doubted he would be able to eat or sleep in peace.

”The Master isn’t coming back tonight?”

”Is that even a question? He recruited a Tributor Martial Artist from the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard. Of course he’s gone to Lunan District to throw a celebratory banquet.”

”Heh, with the Master gone, we can actually have a quiet night.”

”Quiet? He could sneak back at any time, catch you slacking, and kick you out. Then he’d replace you with that new star pupil from Dragon Mountain Hall to work shifts with me.”

”...”

Behind the main courtyard of the Fuchang Trading Company was the warehouse, which was also where the Master usually parked his carriage.

Chen Cheng had already cased the area thoroughly. From his current position in the shadows of an alley corner, he could not only see the situation clearly but also overhear the conversation between the two Martial Artist guards.

As for where they would be holding the banquet, Chen Cheng already had a good idea. He had tailed them several times before, and it was always the same place.

”Li Zhong, come here a moment.”

Just then, a deep, familiar voice called out from the back gate of the courtyard.

Chen Cheng glanced sideways. It was his old acquaintance, Zhang Gu.

”Mr. Zhang, what are your orders?”

The young Martial Artist named Li Zhong hurried over, his attitude very respectful.

From his previous surveillance sessions, Chen Cheng had already noticed that since switching sides, Zhang Gu was indeed treated with great courtesy by the Master.

The old codger had even attended two important banquets. Even if he hadn’t earned the complete trust of the Fuchang Trading Company’s Master, he at least had one foot in the inner circle.

’He’s doing pretty well for himself.’

”Take this. Deliver it to the usual place and give it to Lord Xing.”

As Zhang Gu spoke, he handed over an object wrapped tightly in black cloth.

The object was about two palms wide and half an arm in length. Judging by its sharp edges, it was probably a flat wooden box with a protrusion at each end, like two small locks.

”What’s this?”

Li Zhong took the box, weighed it in his hand, and looked curious. Previously, all his deliveries had been Silver Notes that he could just tuck into his robes before leaving. This was the first time he had seen a box like this.

”What’s this?”

Zhang Gu’s expression turned cold as he sneered.

”If you’re so eager to know, why don’t you go inside and ask the Second Master? See if he’ll tell you.”

”I...”

Li Zhong swallowed hard, his pupils visibly shrinking for a moment.

”No, no, no, I just spoke out of turn... I don’t want to know! I don’t!”

”Get going, and be quick about it!”

Zhang Gu sneered, watching Li Zhong walk away. Only after his figure had rounded the corner of the alley did Zhang Gu spit a thick wad of phlegm on the ground and mutter a curse.

”A good-for-nothing whose potential caps out at One Pillar of Blood Qi. You think you’re worthy of asking about things even *I* don’t know? Pah!”

”Elder Zhang.”

Just then, a hoarse, deep voice came from the trading company’s back courtyard.

”Go to the accounts office now and withdraw some silver. Then you’re coming with me.”

”Right away, Second Master!”

Zhang Gu’s face immediately broke into a smile as he turned and trotted back.

”How much do you need to withdraw?”

”Five hundred taels.”

”Right away! Please wait a moment!”

”...”

In the distant shadows, Chen Cheng mulled it over for a moment before turning and disappearing into the darkness.

...

Li Zhong was fast on his feet. As he moved through the streets and alleys, his steps were rapid and short. He moved on the balls of his feet, his landings light and his takeoffs swift, as if treading on an invisible wire.

Chen Cheng tailed him from a perfect distance. It was easy to see that Li Zhong had practiced some kind of Body Technique Martial Arts, as he was about twenty percent faster than an ordinary Martial Artist with One Pillar of Blood Qi.

Unfortunately, his foundation was weak and his stamina poor. He could only use the Body Technique for a short while before having to stop, reverting to a normal fast walk to regulate his breathing. Only then could he use the technique to accelerate again.

The crucial part was that the guy seemed to have only learned a half-baked version. Chen Cheng had been watching him the whole way, and his Vertical Eye Mark hadn’t reacted at all.

This meant that the Body Technique he was using was either incomplete or flawed.

If he could just perform it completely and without error one time, Chen Cheng would be able to perfectly master it to the Entry Level thanks to his Vertical Eye Mark.

’That old codger Zhang Gu wasn’t wrong. This Li Zhong really is useless. No wonder his standing in the Fuchang Trading Company is so low.’

By the time he had crossed seven large districts and arrived at Suanzao Village, on the border between the South Outer City and the West Outer City, the sky was pitch-black.

This place was on the edge of the slums, so the environment wasn’t too terrible. The alleys were lined with small, mud-brick courtyards. Most of them could afford to light lamps, and the faint aroma of cooked food wafted over the courtyard walls.

Occasionally, people could be heard talking in the courtyards, their voices too muffled to make out. Somewhere a dog barked twice before being shushed by its owner.

Li Zhong knew the way well and soon stopped outside a small courtyard with an unassuming entrance.

The courtyard wall was a head shorter than its neighbors, with withered vines clinging to the mud bricks. The wooden door was old and weather-beaten, and a sliver of dim yellow light seeped through the crack at the bottom.

Li Zhong raised his hand and knocked on the door three times.

Two short, one long.

A moment later, the door was pulled open a crack from the inside. Li Zhong bowed his head respectfully, called out, ”Lord Xing,” and then shoved the flat, black-cloth-wrapped wooden box through the gap.

—