Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Chapter 336: Chapter 166: Weird 3

Now he had returned, an Elder of the Nine Altars Sect.

He had originally planned to return more than a month after the Zhao City Martial Selection, but after receiving two desperate pleas for aid from Wan Qianshan and Pang Shixun, he had rushed back ahead of schedule.

The scheme last night was the work of Wan Qianshan and Pang Shixun.

But the one who truly crushed their opponent with overwhelming power and delivered the final, decisive blow was none other than Xiang Han.

At that moment, the three of them were casually chatting about the great battle from the previous night.

Wan Qianshan hadn’t gone last night, so hearing the outcome now, he was naturally in high spirits, clapping his hands in delight.

“Elder Pang.”

After chatting for a while longer, Xiang Han asked, a hint of impatience in his voice:

“That Chen Cheng you want to recommend, why isn’t he here yet?”

“Well…”

Pang Shixun hesitated for a moment, then said:

“He should be here soon. He doesn’t live far. I sent someone to inform him before I left.”

Xiang Han nodded, saying nothing, but the impatience in his eyes became all the more apparent.

“Have Marquis Fang Wenhao go and hurry him along,” Wan Qianshan said.

The words had barely left his mouth when a knock came from the door.

“Hall Master, Chen… Chen Cheng is here.”

“Enter.”

Wan Qianshan replied.

The door to the inner courtyard opened, and Chen Cheng walked in quickly.

“Hall Master Wan, Elder Pang…”

Chen Cheng clasped his fists in greeting, his gaze falling on Xiang Han, unsure of how to address him.

Pang Shixun introduced him with a chuckle:

“Chen Cheng, this is Elder Xiang of the Nine Altars Sect, the one I’ve mentioned to you many times. Hurry and pay your respects.”

“Greetings, Elder Xiang.”

Chen Cheng clasped his fists and bowed, his etiquette impeccable.

Xiang Han, however, remained aloof. He neither responded nor nodded, not even giving Chen Cheng a proper glance.

Chen Cheng lowered his hands, his gaze silently turning to Pang Shixun.

In fact, Chen Cheng was not at all surprised by this situation.

Ye Yang had told him long ago that a heaven-sent opportunity like joining a Sect would never be given to an outsider for free.

The only way to obtain such an opportunity was through a tangible exchange of benefits.

For this very reason, Ye Yang had specifically left Chen Cheng an extremely rare Life-extending Treasure Medicine: a Red Heart Ganoderma.

This was also the final gift Ye Yang had left for Chen Cheng.

“Chen Cheng, come outside with me for a moment.”

Pang Shixun called out, leading Chen Cheng out of the inner courtyard.

After closing the courtyard door, Pang Shixun lowered his voice and said:

“Little Brother Chen, it’s like this. I’ve already briefly told Elder Xiang about your Root Bone situation. He… he’s not too satisfied. You… you understand what I mean, right?”

His words were already extremely direct, and he had intentionally stressed the phrase “not too.”

‘The implication is that there’s still room for negotiation.’

“…I understand.”

Chen Cheng was already prepared. He took a wooden box from his robes and handed it over.

“Inside this box is a Red Heart Ganoderma. Please accept it, Elder Pang, and please put in a few good words for me.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Pang Shixun waved his hands in refusal, but the flash of greed that flickered in his eyes did not escape Chen Cheng’s notice.

This Red Heart Ganoderma could only extend one’s life by a single year.

To Chen Cheng, it was practically useless.

But to an old man like Pang Shixun, whose progress had long been capped by the limits of Martial Arts, whose Blood Qi was constantly declining, and who was walking step by step toward death, the allure of this item was simply beyond description.

“Please, Elder Pang, you must accept it.”

Chen Cheng forcefully pushed the box into his hands. Though Pang Shixun was still verbally refusing, his hand seemed to have a mind of its own as it took the box and gripped it tightly.

“Fine, fine… Since it’s a token of Little Brother Chen’s sincerity, I will accept it!”

Pang Shixun tucked the box into his robes and said with a serious expression:

“You wait here for a moment. Allow me to go in and explain your Heart Nature, Comprehension, combat ability, and the unique aspects of your Root Bone in detail to Elder Xiang.”

“Thank you.”

Chen Cheng clasped his fists, his expression still calm, but in his heart, he couldn’t help cursing the old coot’s mother.

Before receiving the bribe, he hadn’t mentioned a single one of Chen Cheng’s strengths.

Of course, then again, the Northern Lands were chaotic and dangerous. If he could trade a Red Heart Ganoderma for a more stable opportunity, in Chen Cheng’s view, it was definitely not a bad deal.

「Soon.」

The sound of conversation drifted from the courtyard.

They had deliberately lowered their voices, and anyone else standing outside the courtyard would certainly not have been able to hear.

But Chen Cheng was different. His senses were far beyond those of an ordinary person.

“Elder Xiang, Chen Cheng actually has many strengths…”

Pang Shixun had just begun to speak when Xiang Han cut him off.

“Elder Pang, you don’t need to say any more.”

Xiang Han said indifferently:

“No matter how many strengths this Chen Cheng has, I will not bring him back to the Nine Altars Sect.”

“First, he has a potential connection to Ye Yang, and I don’t want to bring trouble upon myself.”

“Second, he humiliated my master. The fact that I didn’t cripple him on the spot was already an act of mercy.”

“…Han’Er.”

Wan Qianshan spoke up:

“Chen Cheng did not humiliate me… I was the one at fault first. His refusal to return to Dragon Mountain Hall is only natural… I hope you can give him a chance.”

“I, for one, don’t care for such ‘natural behavior.’”

Xiang Han said impassively:

“Besides, his refusal to return to Dragon Mountain Hall isn’t just a blow to your prestige, Master. If word of this gets back to the Nine Altars Sect, how am I supposed to show my face?”

“This…”

Wan Qianshan was at a loss for words.

His true intention was to mend his relationship with Chen Cheng.

But since Xiang Han had already spoken so bluntly, he really couldn’t persuade him any further.

‘He couldn’t possibly start a conflict with Xiang Han over a mere Chen Cheng, could he?’

After quite some time passed,

Pang Shixun finally came back out, closing the courtyard door behind him before speaking:

“Little Brother Chen, I’ve explained everything to Elder Xiang. He said he needs to think it over. You should go home for now. I’ll notify you the moment there’s any news.”