Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

It was a Small Gilded Bronze Bottle, about the size of a thumb knuckle.

The lid was sealed tight, its body was slightly bulbous, and the entire surface was chased with intricate, auspicious multicolored patterns. It looked so exquisite it could have been a delicate art piece meant for admiration.

”Brother Chen, inside this bottle is a Small Returning Pill.”

Yun Shuanglin paused, her tone growing even more solemn:

”This pill can neutralize all manner of poisons and cure a great many illnesses. If taken when one’s life is in grave danger, it can sustain you for several hours...

Because they are exceptionally rare, this is the only one I have. I hope you’ll accept it, Brother Chen.”

”In that case, it would be rude to refuse.”

Chen Cheng didn’t bother with false modesty and reached out to take it directly.

Though they hadn’t known each other long, Chen Cheng had a good grasp of her character. She despised false pleasantries. To accept her gift openly and frankly was the straightforward manner befitting those of the Jianghu.

Besides, this was a genuine life-saving trump card.

It was something Chen Cheng desperately wanted. Securing it in his own hand was the only thing that mattered.

”Cheng!”

Wang Chuang’s eyes filled with envy at the sight, but his tone was quite serious:

”That’s an incredibly rare treasure! You have to keep it safe. Even if you never use it yourself, you can pass it down as a family heirloom. Whatever you do, don’t just use it recklessly!”

Chen Cheng was touched. He nodded but didn’t say anything more.

”Brother Chen.”

Yun Shuanglin changed the subject with a smile, as if the matter of the Small Returning Pill was closed and not worth mentioning again:

”My identity... you still don’t know, do you?”

”...I don’t.”

Chen Cheng shook his head, his expression unreadable.

Three days ago, the situation had been urgent, and Wang Peng had mentioned Yun Shuanglin’s identity out of necessity, but without her permission.

For Wang Peng’s sake, Chen Cheng could only feign ignorance.

”It’s better that you don’t. Knowing some things just leads to trouble...”

Yun Shuanglin didn’t seem to suspect anything. She asked in a serious tone:

”Brother Chen, are you interested in joining a Martial Arts Sect?”

”Of course.”

Chen Cheng nodded without hesitation, a subtle, unreadable glint flashing in his eyes.

”In that case, I have another gift for you, Brother Chen.”

Yun Shuanglin paused, then said gravely:

”My journey north will be fraught with danger. If I can return safely in three months, I am willing to personally recommend you to the Northern Border Mountain and Sea Sect, Brother Chen... But if I don’t return...”

Her eyes dimmed for a moment, but she offered a faint smile, as if not to worry Chen Cheng:

”If I don’t return, it means the Northern Territory has fallen into utter chaos, and the Mountain and Sea Sect will no longer be a safe haven. In that case, you wouldn’t want to join anyway, Brother Chen. So just treat this promise as a joke.”

”You are a good person, Miss Yun. Fate will surely be on your side. You will overcome any danger and return safely.”

Chen Cheng offered a simple word of comfort and said no more.

Chen Cheng could tell she wasn’t being falsely modest, nor was she testing him.

She genuinely believed she might not come back.

She made this promise in advance to let Chen Cheng know that she intended to repay the debt of saving her life in full.

In three months, she would either fulfill her promise or the debt would be wiped clean by her death. Either way, her conscience would be clear.

Straightforward and open-hearted. It was just like her.

However, Chen Cheng already had his own plans.

The chaos in the Northern Territory involved war, the rebel army, and an Evil Cult. Any one of those things was a force powerful enough to engulf the entire realm.

No matter what, Chen Cheng wanted no part in it.

His current foundation might seem solid, but if he were swept into a vortex like that, he wouldn’t even make a splash before being swallowed whole in the blink of an eye.

Of course, strictly speaking, Zhao City was also part of the Northern Territory. It was just at its southernmost edge, and for now, had not been swept up in that overwhelming tide of chaos.

If in three months the Northern Territory truly fell into utter chaos as Yun Shuanglin predicted, he would not hesitate to leave Zhao City and head south, toward safer lands.

There was only one situation in which Chen Cheng might consider going against the tide and heading north.

And that was if his father, Chen Shi, was still alive.

The chances of that, however, were infinitesimally small, practically zero.

Originally, Chen Cheng had long given up all hope, but Elder Wen’s resolute journey north had truly stirred something within him.

’As long as I’m alive, how can I be the one to extinguish all my own hope?’

In the words of his past life, if a person has no dreams, what’s the difference between them and a salted fish?

”Oh right, Brother Chen, I have one more thing.”

Yun Shuanglin composed herself, first listening carefully to ensure the walls didn’t have ears, then lowered her voice and said:

”The Captain’s Mansion has officially condemned the Bai Family for treason, a crime punishable by death. For the past two days, they’ve been carefully planning to wipe them out in one fell swoop.”

”It’s what they deserve.”

Chen Cheng’s expression remained impassive.

’They reaped what they sowed. This was only right.’

”The problem now is...”

Yun Shuanglin continued, her brow furrowed slightly:

”From what I hear from Xu Linyuan, it won’t be difficult to take down the Bai Family’s people in the Inner City. But outside the city, they also have a Hunting Manor, a Fishing Village, and several mines...”

”Those places have been built up like fortresses, and in total, they support a considerable number of private soldiers. They even have Transforming Force experts overseeing them. Eradicating them completely will not be easy...”

Chen Cheng’s heart tightened upon hearing this.

This was the strength of an old, established power in Zhao City. The foundation they had built over generations was so deeply rooted that even an entity as mighty as the Captain’s Mansion couldn’t take them on directly.

Chen Cheng even suspected that the Bai Family’s true pillar of support was likely an expert above the Transforming Force realm.

If Xu Linyuan really wanted to crush them, the Captain’s Mansion alone wouldn’t be enough.

He would have to call for backup.

Sure enough, just as the thought crossed Chen Cheng’s mind, Yun Shuanglin continued:

”Xu Linyuan’s plan is to recruit experts from the populace to help annihilate the Bai Family. Any spoils from the fighting will belong to the individual, and those who perform exceptionally will receive additional rewards based on their merit...”