Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Brother Chuanzi, what did you want to talk about?”

Chen Cheng looked slightly surprised.

Ever since he’d become close with Wang Chuang, he had rarely seen such a serious expression on his friend’s face.

Clearly, this was no simple matter.

”Recently, men from our Jiuan Hunting Manor discovered traces of a Mutant Tiger over at Huangxiazi Ridge. We’ve basically confirmed its range of activity.”

Wang Chuang said in a low voice.

”My uncle plans to set out in five days to hunt that Mutant Tiger...”

”I wanted to ask if you’re in? Give me an answer today so I can prepare your mountain gear in advance.”

’A Mutant Tiger?’

Chen Cheng’s interest was piqued.

He was running low on the Exotic Tiger Dried Meat he had on hand.

This kind of nourishing resource had an excellent effect, but unfortunately, it was too rare. It was something money couldn’t buy.

That was why he was so interested in Wang Chuang’s offer.

’But how much would he stand to gain?’

Wang Chuang seemed to have guessed Chen Cheng’s hesitation and continued in a serious tone.

”When hunting a Mutant Tiger, there are only two outcomes. If the hunt fails, there’s no reward, just ten taels of silver for you as travel expenses.”

”If the hunt is successful, every registered Martial Artist will receive one jin of Exotic Tiger Essence Meat, or an equivalent amount of tiger bones, hide, tendons, or organs...”

”But that doesn’t include the tiger penis, kidneys, or gallbladder. Those premium parts have already been reserved by someone for a high price.”

Wang Chuang paused, then added.

”Of course, if you don’t want the Exotic Tiger Essence Meat, you can exchange it for silver. One jin can be exchanged for a hundred taels.”

”Understood. I’m in.”

Having listened quietly, Chen Cheng gave a decisive answer, then immediately looked toward Cao Zhao, who hadn’t spoken a word.

”I can’t go...”

Cao Zhao shook his head helplessly.

”The Red Moon Remnants have been causing too much trouble recently. I’m registered with the Captain’s Mansion and have to patrol almost every day. I just can’t get away.”

At these words, it was Zheng Songtao who spoke up, asking with a probing expression.

”Brother Cao, what on earth happened last night?”

Zheng Songtao said, his voice laced with lingering fear.

”The Han Mansion next to my house was surrounded overnight by the Captain’s Mansion’s elite. They searched it inside and out several times, like they were confiscating everything. The commotion didn’t die down until almost dawn...”

”And that old master of the Han Family, he was a Military Officer with real power back in the day. His rank wasn’t that high, and he retired a few years ago, but his Military Merit was the real deal...”

”But in the end, just for resisting the search and getting ready to fight, he was seriously injured on the spot by a Deputy Captain and thrown into the Captain’s Mansion’s death row... And, and no one is allowed to visit him.”

After Zheng Songtao finished speaking, even Wang Chuang’s face showed shock and unease.

Seeing this, Chen Cheng had no choice but to also show a fitting amount of surprise and curiosity.

”Brother Zheng, you’re certainly well-informed.”

Cao Zhao composed himself, his tone much more serious than before.

”The situation is more or less as you’ve heard. As for the reason... the Han Family was colluding with the Red Moon Nunnery. And they were caught red-handed!”

”Red-handed... They really found something from the Red Moon Nunnery in the Han Mansion?”

Cao Zhao nodded.

”Two pages of the Blood Scripture were found. It’s been confirmed that they belong to the Red Moon Nunnery. The Han Family is completely finished.”

”This...”

Zheng Songtao sucked in a sharp breath, his expression changing several times in an instant.

He shot to his feet and cupped his fist to the others.

”Gentlemen, please excuse me. My mother has always been on good terms with Lady Han. I must rush back at once and tell her to cut all ties with the Han Family! Farewell! Farewell...”

With that, Zheng Songtao strode quickly out the door.

Chen Cheng stood up, saw him out of the courtyard gate, and then returned to his seat in the main hall.

”What a mess...”

Wang Chuang let out a long sigh and couldn’t help but curse.

”What the hell do those Red Moon Remnants want? Endless killing and trouble-making, it’s like they’re fucking crazy! Have they got nothing better to do?”

”They’re looking for something.”

Cao Zhao lowered his voice and leaned back in his chair. His ears twitched slightly. After confirming no one was around, he continued.

”There are no outsiders here, so I’ll just tell you two... From now on, when you’re out, be extra careful.”

”The item is called ’Moon Marrow.’ It’s a Sacred Object of the ’Red Moon Sect’!”

”The Red Moon Nunnery is just a branch of the Red Moon Sect. Because of some Evil Cult ritual, the Moon Marrow was temporarily placed in the Red Moon Nunnery... It was subsequently lost during the official purge, and its whereabouts remain a mystery to this day.”

Cao Zhao paused for a moment before continuing.

”From the looks of it, the Red Moon Nunnery will absolutely not stop until they find the Moon Marrow! The vicious incidents in the Outer City will only become more frequent and more uncontrollable.”

”Fortunately, the Inner City is still very safe for now. As long as you stay in the Inner City after dark, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

”However...”

Cao Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly as his tone shifted.

”From this incident with the Han Family, we can deduce that during that purge, many other spoils seized from the Red Moon Nunnery were secretly hidden within the Inner City...”

”If the Moon Marrow is also among them, the Red Moon Nunnery’s butcher’s knife will sooner or later reach into the Inner City. And if things go wrong... the Red Moon Sect behind them might make a move too.”

Chen Cheng listened in silence, his brow furrowing ever deeper.

This time, he wasn’t pretending. He was genuinely worried about the future of the Inner City.

Hadn’t he moved into the Inner City with his mother for the sake of safety and stability?

If the Inner City really descended into chaos in the future, he truly didn’t know where else he could find a safe place to live.

”Hah, it’s too early to be thinking about all this stuff!”

Wang Chuang waved his hand dismissively, his voice booming again.

”I’m telling you guys right now, if the Inner City really does fall into chaos one day, you can all just move into the Hunting Manor. I guarantee it’ll be the safest place!”