Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Fu Yunchen was genuinely panicking.

His patron’s influence was considerable; they had even helped him smooth over a grave crime like colluding with the bandits of Grass Head Mountain.

But any association with the Red Moon Nunnery was the greatest taboo in all of Zhao City.

His current stress-induced reaction made it clear that even a patron as powerful as his couldn’t handle matters involving the Red Moon Nunnery.

How could he not be frantic?

”The entrance…”

The guard said hastily.

”The carriage at the Commerce Association’s entrance—it’s been surrounded by the Captain’s Mansion’s Armored Warriors… They didn’t say what was happening, just that they fired a signal arrow…”

”A carriage?”

Fu Yunchen immediately shot a sideways glance at the Han father and son, his voice turning abruptly cold.

”What do you have in that carriage? What could possibly have alerted the Captain’s Mansion’s Armored Warriors and even made them fire a signal arrow?”

”N-nothing…”

The father and son exchanged a look. The astonishment on their faces didn’t seem feigned.

”Brother Han!”

Fu Yunchen said grimly.

”That carriage belongs to your family. Regardless of what’s happening, you need to come with me and clear this up!”

”Of course.”

Han Chuo nodded, but he was thinking ahead. He said in a low voice,

”Tianqi, didn’t you say you were meeting a friend to listen to music tonight? You should go out the back. Your Uncle Fu and I are enough to handle this.”

”That’s right, I am meeting a friend.”

Han Tianqi was quick on the uptake and immediately took the opportunity to excuse himself to Fu Yunchen.

Fu Yunchen had no time to argue with Han Tianqi. He waved his hand dismissively, ordering a guard to escort him to the back door.

In front of the Commerce Association, the Han Family’s carriage was already surrounded by Lin Fengxiao and his Armored Warriors from the Captain’s Mansion. They had already searched it thoroughly, inside and out.

Meanwhile, people began to arrive on the main street from all directions.

Most were Armored Warriors from the Captain’s Mansion on patrol nearby. They arrived in squad after squad, their torches forming long, fiery dragons as they surged forward.

Each squad of Armored Warriors was led by a Dark Force Martial Artist who had condensed at least Six Pillars of Blood Qi. Gathered together, their combined combat strength was not to be underestimated.

Additionally, three Martial Artists from the Evil Extermination Bureau, clad in Red Armor, were also rushing over.

Their strength was at least Seven Pillars of Blood Qi; they had already generated Transforming Force. They bounded across the rooftops as if in flight, arriving in front of the carriage in just a few leaps.

In moments, the main street in front of the Fuchang Trading Company was completely sealed off.

”This?!”

Fu Yunchen and Han Chuo emerged one after the other.

As soon as Fu Yunchen saw the scene, his expression changed instantly.

His mental fortitude was impressive, however. He quickly composed himself, then approached Lin Fengxiao with a broad, fawning smile.

”Greetings, Lord Lin…”

Fu Yunchen clasped his hands in a salute, the smile plastered on his face growing more earnest. His mustache bobbed up and down in the torchlight.

”May I ask what’s going on? Why all the commotion?”

”Cut the crap.”

Lin Fengxiao was expressionless. His voice, colder than the snowy night, bit out each word.

”Whose carriage is this?”

”It’s mine.”

Han Chuo stepped forward, his voice neither servile nor overbearing.

”What of it?”

He hadn’t done anything to feel guilty about, so he stood with his back ramrod straight, his demeanor far from the fawning humility of Fu Yunchen.

”Seize him.”

Lin Fengxiao gave a casual wave of his hand.

The Armored Warriors behind him immediately closed in on Han Chuo.

”Insolent! Who gave you the authority to arrest someone without cause!?”

Han Chuo’s face flushed with anger, his voice rising sharply.

”Open your damn eyes and take a good look! I am Han Chuo! Master of the Middle Courtyard of Cloud Platform Hall! My father is Han—”

BANG—

Before Han Chuo could finish, a Transforming Force Martial Artist from the Evil Extermination Bureau appeared in front of him.

No one saw how the Martial Artist struck.

There was only a dull THUD.

The next instant, Han Chuo collapsed limply into the snow.

His eyes bulged, shot through with blood.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as a strange gurgling sound escaped his throat.

He convulsed violently a few times, then retched, spewing a large mouthful of fresh blood.

It was as if his spine had been ripped out; he couldn’t get back up.

”Seize him!”

Lin Fengxiao ordered again.

Several Armored Warriors swarmed forward and effortlessly twisted Han Chuo’s arms behind his back. With a CLANG and a RATTLE of iron chains, they had him tightly bound in moments.

In truth, that single blow had all but destroyed Han Chuo’s Dantian and shattered his spine.

Even without the chains, he could only lie in the snow like a dead dog, unable to even think of crawling.

”Congratulations, Younger Brother Lin, on another great achievement!”

The middle-aged Evil Slayer Guard who had just struck shot Lin Fengxiao a smile, but a barely perceptible, probing look flashed in his eyes.

”I appreciate the kind words, Lord Pang, but how could I dare claim such a great achievement for myself?”

Lin Fengxiao gave a slight nod, then walked to a wider part of the street. He stopped, his voice suddenly booming as he announced loudly:

”The greater part of this achievement is still unaccounted for!”

As he spoke, Lin Fengxiao suddenly raised his right hand high.

Several Armored Warriors moved their torches closer, brightly illuminating the object in his hand.

It was a book…

No, to be precise, it was half of a red-covered booklet.

The pages were yellowed, the script bizarre.

Every word was written in blood.

”This is the Red Moon Original Vow Scripture, found in the Han Family’s carriage! The other half is still missing!”

”And I suspect it’s right here, inside the Fuchang Trading Company!”

Lin Fengxiao paused. The surrounding torchlight danced, casting flickering shadows across his face.

”As for this half of the achievement… I, Lin, will not compete for it!”

The moment he said this, the crowd around him erupted.

The three Evil Slayer Guards in their Red Armor moved almost simultaneously.

Without a word of discussion or a signal, they leaped into the air, vaulted over the courtyard wall, and disappeared into the Fuchang Trading Company.

The rest of the Captain’s Mansion’s Armored Warriors, along with the other contracted Martial Artists who had rushed here with their teams, all scrambled to be the first to pour into the Fuchang Trading Company.