Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”The Second Master asked me to deliver something. I need to use a cart.”

With that, Lin Fengxiao hopped onto the shaft of a horse-drawn cart, set the small wooden box beside him, and with the reins in one hand and whip in the other, drove off toward the main street.

The rumbling wheels rolled over the bluestone slate, and he soon disappeared around the alley’s corner.

The two Martial Artists guarding the warehouse remained where they were, watching the cart until it disappeared from view. Only then did they retract their gazes and exchange a look.

”He’s from the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard, after all. It’s only been half a month, and he’s already earned the Master’s trust.”

”The man’s Root Bone and Comprehension speak for themselves. His progress in half a month would take us half a year of struggle. You can’t argue with that.”

”Seeing the way the Master and Second Master treat him, it looks like they’re grooming him to be a future pillar. From now on, don’t call him Younger Brother Lin. Be more respectful. Just call him Brother Lin.”

”Sigh...”

In the distance, Chen Cheng pulled back from the dark corner he usually used for surveillance and quickly disappeared deep into the alleyways.

「Some time later.」

Lin Fengxiao drove the cart through streets and alleys, finally stopping in the Lunan District before a large residence with a shabby, old facade.

There was no plaque above the door, leaving the owner’s family name a mystery. The great gate was weather-beaten, its red lacquer peeling and splotched with mold. It was, however, thick and sealed tightly, preventing any prying eyes from seeing inside.

Lin Fengxiao hopped down from the cart, picked up the small wooden box, went up the steps, and rapped the door knocker.

A moment later, the door opened a crack. A hand reached out, took the small wooden box, and then, without a word being exchanged, the door was shut tightly once more.

Lin Fengxiao stood there, staring at the door for a few moments before returning to the cart.

Watching from a distance, Chen Cheng vaguely felt that something was off about Lin Fengxiao.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong.

After all, it wasn’t dark yet, so Chen Cheng couldn’t get too close. He could only watch from afar and get a general sense of things.

Afterward, Lin Fengxiao drove the cart to the end of the main street and entered the Inner City through a nearby gate.

Chen Cheng didn’t have a Travel Permit, so he was unable to follow. He had no choice but to head back to the large residence.

First, he circled the surrounding area to familiarize himself with the layout. He identified a few suitable spots for hiding and surveillance, and also planned out several escape routes in case anything unexpected happened.

Lately, remnants of the Red Moon Nunnery had been wreaking havoc throughout the South Outer City’s Seventy-Two Districts. Unwilling to take any risks, Chen Cheng returned to the Inner Hall before sunset.

「After dinner.」

The last sliver of ashen light lingered on the horizon, and the courtyard had already grown dark. The few lanterns hanging under the covered corridor were not yet lit; only a dim yellow glow shone from the small kitchen window in the distance.

Chen Cheng leaned against a corridor pillar, clutching a black-skinned wine gourd and idly sipping the Golden Ring Treasure Snake Medicinal Wine.

The wine was slightly spicy going down, carrying a faint medicinal aroma that melted on his tongue before sliding down his throat and into his stomach.

A cozy warmth slowly spread through him, like fluffy feathers gently tickling every sinew, muscle, and bone in his body, reaching even the deepest, untouched corners of his marrow.

”Junior Brother Chen.”

Zhu Mingyuan walked over, his training attire showing large, dark patches of sweat.

”Hiding out here drinking all by yourself?”

”Senior Brother. Care for a drink?” Chen Cheng smiled faintly and raised the gourd in his hand.

”No, thank you. I’m not much of a drinker...”

Zhu Mingyuan waved him off and sat down right next to Chen Cheng.

”Still, your wine smells quite rich, and it has a fresh herbal fragrance. It must be something special, right?”

”You have sharp senses, Senior Brother.”

Chen Cheng gave the black-skinned gourd a little shake and answered candidly.

”This is the Golden Ring Treasure Snake Medicinal Wine from the Jiuan Hunting Manor. It’s said to improve one’s Root Bone and aid in cultivation.”

”Tch... That’s the good stuff!”

Zhu Mingyuan’s eyes visibly widened.

”Golden Ring Treasure Snakes are incredibly rare, and the Jiuan Hunting Manor’s recipe is top secret. Even if what’s in your gourd isn’t aged for years, the price must be steep...”

”If it were one of the secret brews, cellared for ten or twenty years, money alone couldn’t buy it.”

Chen Cheng smiled and casually changed the subject.

”Senior Brother, you seemed to be training much harder than usual today. Did you have some new insight?”

”I had some realizations, but nothing new.”

Zhu Mingyuan said seriously.

”This morning, I went to visit Master Ye. The old master told Senior Sister Ye and me that we should both learn from you, Junior Brother... learn from your utmost diligence and unyielding tenacity... and even more, how you turn small efforts into great achievements, always advancing boldly!”

”Senior Brother, you flatter me...”

Chen Cheng nodded humbly.

”These are all Master Ye’s words. I’m merely repeating them.”

Zhu Mingyuan smiled and dropped the subject.

He tilted his head to look at Chen Cheng, then glanced at the empty courtyard.

”How are you feeling, Junior Brother? Rested up? How about we spar a bit? Just doing solo drills all day gets a little dull.”

”Sure.”

Chen Cheng placed the wine gourd by the corridor pillar, got up, dusted off his training attire, and followed Zhu Mingyuan into the center of the courtyard.

”I just had my breakthrough not long ago. Please go easy on me, Senior Brother.”

Zhu Mingyuan laughed.

”I already heard from Senior Brother Cao. Although you only just condensed the Four Pillars of Blood Qi, your Realm is exceptionally stable. Your Blood Qi is dense and powerful, and your Dark Force is pure and tyrannical. Why are you still playing the meek lamb with me?”

”You jest, Senior Brother...”

Chen Cheng said humbly.

”These meager skills of mine only give me a slight edge against opponents of the Same Tier... When facing a master of Five Pillars of Blood Qi like you, Senior Brother Zhu, I’m still far too lacking...”

”You really have a way with words, Junior Brother.”

Zhu Mingyuan’s smile deepened. He cupped his fists and rolled his shoulders, his joints letting out a soft cracking sound.

”Come at me with your full strength first. I’ll get a feel for your power, then I’ll match your force when we spar.”

”Alright.”

Chen Cheng nodded.