Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Fatty Fang’s final words made Zhao Shan tremble with rage, but he didn’t dare even look back. He and his three lackeys beat a hasty retreat.

As soon as they were clear of Anle Village, Zhao Shan could no longer contain his pent-up rage and unleashed it all on his three lackeys.

A torrent of curses accompanied merciless kicks and punches, beating the trio until they were sprawled in the muddy alley like dead dogs, vomiting blood, convulsing, and howling wretchedly.

As a guard for a merchant company, Zhao Shan often had to travel with caravans leaving the city. Unable to be in two places at once, he could only leave the investigation of the true culprit to these three.

But the trio had dragged their feet and done a half-hearted job. It wasn’t until this morning that they’d stammered out a report, claiming someone had seen Chen Cheng in Kuqiao Village that night.

As for evidence, there was none.

As for a witness, they said he had some last-minute business and wasn’t available.

Zhao Shan’s rage had been festering for over a month. Seeing that he would soon be leaving the city with a caravan again, he was unwilling to wait any longer, which was why he had rushed over during the midday break.

The original plan was to have Zhang Ping lure out Chen Cheng, then kidnap him directly for a detailed interrogation.

Unexpectedly, Chen Cheng was far from the weak, easily bullied person he had imagined. His first move had caught Zhao Shan completely off guard, which alerted others and led to the entire plan collapsing.

”...Chen Cheng!”

Zhao Shan ground his molars, his five fingers clenching into a fist so tight the knuckles cracked. Veins bulged on the back of his hand.

...

In front of the Dragon Mountain Martial Arts Hall.

Zhang Ping was kneeling limply on the ground, his voice choked with sobs.

”Brother Cheng, it wasn’t me! I didn’t want to harm you... Zhao Shan forced me with a knife to my throat... If I hadn’t come, he would’ve gutted me right then and there...”

”It’s fine.”

Chen Cheng said, looking completely unconcerned.

”It’s good to have lanced this boil... Otherwise, I never would have known Zhao Shan was Lai Tou’s... next of kin.”

As if granted a royal pardon, Zhang Ping scrambled to his feet and shuffled half a step closer.

”Brother Cheng, don’t you worry too much... Zhao Shan is leaving the city with a caravan first thing tomorrow morning. The next time he comes back, it’ll probably be a month or so from now.”

’Tomorrow?’

Hearing this, an almost imperceptible glint flashed in the depths of Chen Cheng’s eyes.

He didn’t say anything more. Zhang Ping didn’t dare to linger either. After a hasty bow, he stumbled away.

When Chen Cheng turned to go back inside, Fatty Fang was still waiting at the door.

”Thank you for helping me out just now, Senior Brother Fang.”

”Hah! What’s with the formalities? You think I let you call me Senior Brother for free?”

Fatty Fang grinned, the warmth in his voice clearly different from before. It now held the casual tone one uses with friends.

For the past month, he had observed with a cool eye as Chen Cheng slowly built his body back up. The kid had brains and wasn’t afraid to take action.

Although Chen Cheng’s progress in the Hidden Dragon Fist wasn’t fast, it was solid and flawless. His daily, grueling training showed that his Heart Nature was exceptionally resilient.

If he kept tempering himself like this for another four or five months, it was entirely possible for Chen Cheng to condense his Blood Qi and enter the Middle Courtyard.

If Chen Cheng really did manage to leap the Dragon Gate one day...

Shrewd as he was, Fatty Fang certainly knew that one had to invest in potential before it paid off.

By using this opportunity today, he had firmly done Chen Cheng a huge favor. It would be perfectly natural for his attitude to change from now on.

”Come on, let’s go watch the show.”

Without waiting for a reply, Fatty Fang’s fan-like palm landed on Chen Cheng’s shoulder, half-pulling, half-pushing him back into the training yard.

By now, the disciples had already moved to the edges of the training yard on their own, leaving the center completely empty.

Fatty Fang let go of Chen Cheng and walked straight into the middle of the yard.

”Today is the monthly Lower Courtyard tournament! The strongest disciple will receive one portion of Blood Refining Powder! This is a grace bestowed by the masters of the Upper Courtyard. All of you, remember this, and do not forget your masters’ kindness!”

”Yes!”

After the disciples responded in unison, Wang Han was the first to step forward.

His back was ramrod straight and his gaze was like a torch, an intense, undisguised battle intent radiating from him.

His six-month period was almost up. Today’s portion of Blood Refining Powder was without a doubt his last chance, and he wasn’t willing to wait a moment longer.

”Senior Brother Wang has had a steady diet of meat for the past six months, his training is far more diligent than any normal person’s, and he’s only a hair’s breadth away from reaching Minor Achievement in the Hidden Dragon Fist. With that kind of strength, who can possibly compete?”

Ding Qiang, who was usually close with Wang Han, immediately jumped out. He squinted and looked askance at the crowd, posturing like a triumphant toady.

The rest of the disciples all nodded along. How could any of them dare say otherwise?

”Senior Brother Fang, is there even a need to compete? The way I see it, you should just give the Blood Refining Powder directly to Senior Brother Wang...”

Nearby, Li He, who also followed Wang Han’s every move, immediately jeered.

But before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a silent figure stepping into the center of the yard.

Shi Lei.

He walked straight up to Wang Han and stopped three steps away. His shaved head was slightly bowed, his expression hidden, but his tightly clenched fists radiated a cold, suppressed hardness.

The side of the yard fell silent in an instant. Even Chen Cheng was taken aback.

Wang Han looked at Shi Lei, not surprised at all. Instead, a cold, mocking sneer spread across his face.

”Leizi, I know you’ve been wanting to get even for Ma Zhao, but your Root Bone was worse than mine from the very beginning, and you reached Entry Level a full two months after I did. I advise you not to go looking for trouble...”

”Cut the fucking crap!”

Shi Lei’s head snapped up, the suppressed fury in his eyes finally erupting. He kicked off the ground, his body shooting forward like a taut bowstring.

He opened with the most ferocious and direct move in the Hidden Dragon Fist, the Hidden Dragon Seal. His clawed hands aimed for Wang Han’s shoulder joints, with no probing or testing—it was a life-or-death strike.

”Remember to pull your punches!”

Fatty Fang shouted grimly, ”Anyone who severely injures a fellow disciple will have the term of their Death Oath Contract doubled!”

Shi Lei paid him no mind, not holding back his power in the slightest.

Wang Han’s expression was calm. In an instant, he sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows, using the Dragon Scale Shirt style to steadily block Shi Lei’s arms. The muscles in his shoulders and back rippled, deflecting the majority of the Power from the furious strike.

From that one exchange, any discerning eye could see that Wang Han’s strength and foundation were both superior to Shi Lei’s. Even his combat experience was more seasoned.

In a flash, the two were entangled in a fierce struggle.

Shi Lei’s fists and feet were like a violent storm, every move an attack, all of them the do-or-die offensive techniques of the Hidden Dragon Fist.

Wang Han, however, was as steady as a rock. He responded with the Entwining Style, his body moving like a Wandering Dragon, repeatedly dodging Shi Lei’s ferocious strikes by a hair’s breadth.

His occasional counterattacks were vicious, his claw-like fingers striking at joints and tendons, putting Shi Lei on the defensive and in constant peril.

”Is that all you’ve got?”

Wang Han sneered after parrying another of Shi Lei’s heavy punches, and the form of his fist abruptly changed.

A Dragon-Splitting Drill suddenly shot out from an exceptionally treacherous angle, aiming straight for the opening under Shi Lei’s ribs.

”HAAH!”

Unable to change his move in time, Shi Lei didn’t dodge or evade. He braced to take the hit, using Dragon’s Roar to activate the Hidden Strength throughout his body as his left arm swept back towards Wang Han’s neck—trading injury for injury!

”Idiot!”

Wang Han sneered. His outstretched claw changed direction mid-strike, transforming into a palm that pressed lightly on Shi Lei’s ribs. At the same time, he used the force of Shi Lei’s sweeping motion to spin bizarrely away like an eel, his elbow striking like a hammer towards Shi Lei’s lower back, which was momentarily stiff from overexertion.

Wang Han didn’t hold back on this strike either. If it landed solidly, Shi Lei’s spine would shatter in an instant.

With a muffled thud, Fatty Fang had intervened just in time, his fan-like palm shoving Wang Han back several steps.

”Enough!”

Fatty Fang reprimanded him grimly, ”Victory has been decided. To still use such a vicious blow... Wang Han, what are your intentions?”

Unflustered, Wang Han actually cracked an innocent smile.

”Senior Brother Fang, as you can see, everyone saw it. Shi Lei was fighting for his life with every move. Wasn’t I just provoked by him?”

”Provoked?”

Fatty Fang’s eyes narrowed, his voice growing even colder.

”Your strength is clearly a cut above his. You have complete control over your moves and Power. You were just toying with him! He could provoke you? Do you take me for a blind man?”

Wang Han’s smile faded slightly, and he stopped trying to argue.

’In his eyes, as long as he got the Blood Refining Powder today, condensing his Blood Qi is a sure thing. Once he enters the Middle Courtyard, he can take his time settling the score with Fatty Fang.’

”Still not good enough...? But I already...”

Shi Lei sat collapsed on the ground, as if his soul had left his body, muttering to himself.

Seeing this, the disciples led by Ding Qiang and Li He all flocked around Wang Han, unleashing a tide of flattery and endless fawning smiles.

Only Chen Cheng moved silently through the crowd to help Shi Lei up and support him to the side.

”Does anyone else wish to challenge Wang Han?”

Fatty Fang suppressed his anger and asked the question as a matter of routine.

Seeing Qiao Qiao about to step forward, he quickly shot her a look, telling the young girl to stand down.

’He knew perfectly well that although Qiao Qiao’s progress was astonishingly fast, she hadn’t been training long enough. There was still a gap between her and Wang Han, and there was no need for her to jump out now and stand in Wang Han’s way. Making an enemy of him for no good reason would be detrimental to Qiao Qiao’s long-term development.’

”Senior Brother Fang, you didn’t even need to ask... In this entire courtyard, which blind fool would dare to cross Senior Brother Wang?”

Ding Qiang squinted, his eyes once again sweeping disdainfully over the crowd.

”Who? Let me see, who else is there?”

The surrounding disciples just smiled weakly and shook their heads, none daring to respond.

”Now, let’s not say that. Our Dragon Mountain Lower Courtyard is full of hidden talents. Who knows, maybe someone is nursing a defiant spirit and wants to take a gamble like Leizi did!”

Wang Han’s chin lifted slightly as he spoke in a mocking tone.

”I have to give people a chance, leave them with a little hope, right? What if there really is a Junior Brother who’s been hiding his strength and wants to give everyone a surprise?”

’Shit!’

’That son of a bitch is showing off again!’

Shi Lei felt a wave of fury rush to his head. He slammed his fist into the rough brick wall beside him, splitting the skin on his knuckles, but he paid it no mind.

He recalled that night... the tragic sight of Ma Zhao lying in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open in death. And he remembered the culprit, Wang Han, with that nonchalant, even faintly smug look on his face afterward...

Shi Lei’s brow furrowed like a canyon, and his molars ground together with a scraping sound.

He wanted to land a few more furious punches to vent, but he was suddenly startled to find that the person beside him was gone.

He snapped his head up.

And saw that familiar figure, walking unhurriedly into the empty space in the center of the yard, right where everyone’s gazes were focused.

”Chen Cheng?”

Wang Han was taken aback for a moment, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes.

Chen Cheng’s face still held that same calm expression that betrayed no emotion. ”Senior Brother Fang, I wish to challenge Senior Brother Wang.”

”You?”

The fat on Fatty Fang’s face quivered. He quickly shook his head and shot Chen Cheng a look. ’This kid is usually so level-headed, why is he being so reckless now?’

Shi Lei rushed over. ”Cheng! You’re no match for him! There’s no need to...”

”Leizi, what’s the rush?”

Wang Han cut him off with a sneer.

”When I spar with Junior Brother Chen, of course I’ll pull my punches. It’s just for fun. It’s not like he’ll lose a limb.”

Shi Lei was choked speechless. He looked at Chen Cheng’s calm profile, knew he couldn’t talk him out of it, and retreated to the side with a heavy sigh.

Not far away, Qiao Qiao nervously clenched her small fists. Her bright, dark eyes were fixed on Chen Cheng, her lips pressed so tightly they turned white.

She wanted to step forward but was pinned in place by Fatty Fang’s stern gaze.

Ding Qiang, Li He, and the others were stunned at first, but then they exchanged mocking glances and let out undisguised sneers.

”An idiot who doesn’t know his own limits...”

”He probably saw how pathetically Shi Lei lost and got hot-headed.”

”...”

The disciples on the sidelines began to whisper amongst themselves, their expressions a mixture of curiosity, doubt, and schadenfreude.

Fatty Fang saw that Chen Cheng’s gaze was calm and not impulsive. Though he had his doubts, he didn’t try to stop him any longer.

”Very well... The tournament continues! Chen Cheng challenges Wang Han!”