Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Brother Liu, you seem to hold some... hostility toward Chen Cheng?”

Gu Lan’an’s gaze shifted, keenly sensing the emotional fluctuations from the young man in the blue robe.

The young man’s name was Liu Yufeng. He was an affiliated Martial Artist whom Gu Lan’an had paid a hefty sum to recruit just last month.

After interacting with him for over a month, Gu Lan’an had a general grasp of Liu Yufeng’s personality.

He was cold and arrogant. Though he looked down on the weak in his heart, he would never express it as openly as he was now.

”Hostility? He’s not even worthy of my hostility.”

Liu Yufeng’s tone was dismissive. He wouldn’t admit it, but his hostility was still palpable.

Even Gu Heng noticed, frowning slightly.

However, since Liu Yufeng was unwilling to admit it, neither Gu Heng nor Gu Lan’an pressed the issue.

In the eyes of the father and daughter, Chen Cheng was nothing more than a minor character.

Regardless of any past grievances between Liu Yufeng and Chen Cheng, Chen Cheng would be the only one to suffer in the end.

It had no bearing on the Gu Family, so naturally, there was no need to delve deeper.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Wu Ziyu had already introduced Chen Cheng and Shen Mi to her father: Wu Zhan, the Chief Commercial Inspector of the South District Commerce Inspection Bureau.

”Ah, so you’re Little Brother Chen. Ziyu has been mentioning you constantly. Come, have a seat!”

With a grand wave of his hand, Wu Zhan had Chen Cheng sit beside him. Shen Mi sat down right next to Chen Cheng.

Once they were all seated, Wu Zhan continued.

”Last night at dinner, Ziyu was telling us how you helped her secure Ten-Mile Swamp, Little Brother Chen. As she recounted the exciting parts, she even had the old master of our family beaming with joy.”

Chen Cheng gave a slight nod, not interrupting.

Wu Ziyu, however, cut in, ”Father, we can talk about that later. Brother Chen is here today for something important.”

”It’s about the Yongsheng Store, isn’t it?”

Wu Zhan had long since taken notice of Shen Mi.

Most people who open a trading company beg the Commerce Inspection Bureau to issue a Trade Document. Shen Mi was the only one who came to return one.

Although Wu Zhan hadn’t met her personally at the time, she had left a deep impression on him.

”Your insight is sharp, Lord Wu.”

Chen Cheng offered a fist-and-palm salute and said solemnly.

”Though my sister returned the North Road Trade Document, she wants to continue running her trading company. Therefore, we’ve come to boldly ask for your help, Lord Wu.”

”That might be difficult...”

Wu Zhan said gravely.

”The process for issuing a new Trade Document is very slow, and the regulations from above are extremely strict. Even with my intervention, there’s no guarantee it would go through smoothly.”

”As for the existing Trade Documents, every slot is filled. It’s been the rule for hundreds of years... If you want to win a position, the only way is through a duel.”

”I am willing to duel!”

Chen Cheng didn’t hesitate in the slightest.

From the beginning, Chen Cheng knew that the Yongsheng Store would have to win a Trade Document through a duel.

It was just that his strength was still lacking at first, so he hadn’t given the matter serious thought.

But after solidifying his Fifth Pillar of Blood Qi, he had started paying attention. He’d even learned some of the specific details from Qian Baolu and Wang Chuang.

The vast majority of Zhao City’s Trade Documents were held by the Eight Great Races.

The trading caravans under the Eight Great Races employed affiliated Martial Artists who were, at a minimum, at the level of Six Pillars of Blood Qi.

They had a tacit agreement not to compete with one another. United under the Commerce Association, they were a monolithic, impenetrable bloc.

Smaller trading companies could never hope to get a piece of their lucrative trade routes.

For this very reason, duels for Trade Documents were mostly concentrated among the small trading companies of the Outer City and some of the medium-sized ones from the Inner City.

And the best fighters among these trading companies were usually Martial Artists on the Same Tier as Elder Wen.

Namely, Five Pillars of Blood Qi.

Armed with this information beforehand, Chen Cheng was not the least bit intimidated.

The only question now was whether Wu Zhan could arrange a last-minute match.

After all, the roster for the Trade Document duels had been finalized long ago. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to make a last-minute revision.

If it truly couldn’t be changed, the next round of duels for the Trade Documents wouldn’t be for at least another year.

Chen Cheng could wait, but Shen Mi couldn’t. The third branch of the Shen Family, even less so.

”The competition is about to begin, and the participants for each duel have already been decided... Even if I were to force the Yongsheng Store onto the roster, I’m afraid no one would accept the challenge... unless...”

Wu Zhan paused before continuing in a grave voice.

”Unless you can put up a stake of sufficient value—the deed to the Yongsheng Trading Company, for instance... or something else of equal worth. Only then would it be worth another family’s time to accept a last-minute challenge.”

”Furthermore, if you wish to compete for a more lucrative Trade Document, you’ll need to offer an even greater stake. After all, no one wants to take a loss. Matched stakes are the bare minimum.”

”No problem!”

Shen Mi had absolute faith in Chen Cheng. She answered almost without a second thought.

”The deed to the Yongsheng Store, the deed to the warehouse, and the deed to a two-courtyard estate in the An Nan District—I’m willing to stake them all!”

”Are you serious?”

Wu Zhan was taken aback for a moment. He hadn’t expected Shen Mi to make such a decision so quickly.

Chen Cheng was also taken aback. Others might not realize it, but he knew this was a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble from Shen Mi. She was pinning all her hopes on him.

”I mean every word. I can draw up the contract right now!”

Shen Mi replied with unwavering resolve.

Wu Zhan wasted no more time on pleasantries. He beckoned, and a Scribe brought over a brush and paper.

As Shen Mi wrote out the contract, Wu Zhan rose and went into the courtyard. After a few brief, formal remarks, he announced the official start of the competition.

Eight trading companies had come today, set for a total of four duels.

The rules were nothing out of the ordinary.

There was only one difference: before entering the ring, both duelists had to sign a Life and Death Contract.

When the official family conducted business, they valued having things in black and white—upright and transparent.

Once the Life and Death Contract was signed, the duel would officially begin.

The first three matches were fought conventionally, with no remarkable highlights.

Chen Cheng remained in his seat, only occasionally glancing up at the fighting ring. He spent most of his time looking over the manual for the Thunder Treading Skill that Elder Wen had left for him.