Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Zhao Shan’s heart went cold. He could no longer be bothered with saving face and opened his mouth to scream for help.

However, Chen Cheng’s sudden advance and attack were far faster than when they had fought that evening.

Before Zhao Shan could utter a sound, a second Dragon-Splitting Drill Fist had already hammered into his vulnerable throat.

Like the fangs of a viper striking after a long wait, it was incomparably precise—a single, fatal blow!

”CRACK!”

With a sickening crunch, Zhao Shan’s windpipe was completely obliterated by the force of the punch.

The ferocious power of the fist even penetrated deeper, riddling his cervical vertebrae with fine fractures.

Zhao Shan’s eyes bulged, shot with blood. All his unvoiced roars, cries for help, and curses were crushed within his ruined throat by that single punch.

His burly body slowly slid down the earthen wall with a heavy scraping sound, finally collapsing limply onto the cold, filthy ground, his limbs twitching faintly and unconsciously.

Chen Cheng bent down and searched him, finding Zhao Shan’s Money Bag.

Then, he deliberately struck Zhao Shan’s two wounds several more times, mangling them so thoroughly that it was impossible to tell they were caused by the Hidden Dragon Fist.

...

「The next morning.」

As soon as Chen Cheng walked out of his alley, he felt that things were completely different.

Usually at this time, the neighbors he ran into would either hurry past with their heads down or, at most, give a nod and mumble something like, ’Young Cheng, heading out?’

But today, from a long way off, every single person he met would immediately plaster on a smile, their backs unconsciously bending a few degrees.

”Lord Cheng, good morning!”

An old man carrying empty manure buckets stopped and grinned, revealing a mouth full of missing teeth.

”Is Lord Cheng heading to the Martial Arts Hall? So diligent!”

A woman rinsing a chamber pot by the ditch hurriedly stepped aside to let him pass, her smile more enthusiastic than if she’d seen her own father.

Two passing grunts from the Black Wolf Gang even scurried over, bowing and scraping, asking after his well-being, calling him ’Lord Cheng’ over and over with practiced smoothness.

Chen Cheng’s expression didn’t change. He just gave a slight nod and walked away.

He arrived at the Martial Arts Hall.

The moment Chen Cheng’s foot crossed the threshold, the disciples in the courtyard, who had been practicing on their own, all seemed to pause at the same time.

Immediately after, every single gaze turned toward him in unison.

”Senior Brother! Morning!”

Their voices were ragged, but they were all filled with a certain energy, loud enough to be heard several alleys away.

Not even Wang Han, who had always considered himself the head senior brother, had ever experienced such a reception.

”Senior Brother Chen... good morning!”

Before Chen Cheng could respond to the crowd, two figures had already hurried up to flank him, one on the left and one on the right.

On the left was Ding Qiang, his face plastered with a scaldingly eager smile, a gray-feathered wild pheasant still twitching faintly in his hand.

”Senior Brother, my father waited in the mountains for days to catch this thing. Please take it home and make some soup for your family. It’s especially nourishing this time of year.”

On the right, Li He presented a pair of brand-new black cloth shoes. The soles were densely stitched, the needlework firm and solid.

”Senior Brother, my mother stayed up all night to make these shoes... She used the thick cloth our family has been saving. They’re especially durable. I figured they’d be the right size for you, Senior Brother, so I brought them.”

Chen Cheng was taken aback.

’A saying from his past life really hit the mark: when you’re successful, you’re suddenly surrounded by good people.’

Chen Cheng couldn’t help but wonder. ’I’ve only just condensed One Pillar of Blood Qi, and people’s attitudes have already changed so dramatically.’

’If I could earn Military Merit, how spectacular would their reactions be then?’

At this moment, several of the surrounding disciples who were training looked over with complicated expressions. There was envy and comprehension, but they all quickly turned their heads away, pretending not to see.

Although Ding Qiang’s family were hunters, hunting was extremely difficult this season. A single wild pheasant might be the only meat his family would have for the next ten to fifteen days.

Li He’s mother had poor eyesight; who knows how long she must have toiled, staying up all night to finish a pair of shoes.

Chen Cheng had heard Shi Lei mention these details before.

As for Ding Qiang and Li He’s intentions, it was simply that they had followed Wang Han in the past and had, to some extent, offended Chen Cheng. Fearing he would bring up old scores, they could only rush to show their sincerity, offer goodwill, and apologize.

”In that case, I won’t be polite.”

Chen Cheng didn’t refuse, reaching out to accept the pheasant and the cloth shoes.

He had calculated it clearly in his mind. If he refused, the two of them would only become more anxious, thinking he held a grudge. Who knows what kind of trouble they’d cook up in the future while overthinking things.

It was better to accept the gifts and let them put their minds at ease.

Sure enough, the moment the items left their hands, Ding Qiang’s and Li He’s shoulders visibly relaxed. The forced smiles on their faces became much more natural. It was truly as if they had been granted a pardon.

”Which of you junior brothers knows how to prepare this pheasant? Take it to the kitchen and stew it. Everyone will get a taste of meat at lunch today.”

”Thank you, Senior Brother Chen... Senior Brother is so generous...”

A wave of excitement instantly erupted in the courtyard. They were all people who had grown up in the gutters of the slums; normally, they wouldn’t even dare to dream of such a meaty dish. A few of the younger ones were even drooling.

”I... I can.”

From a corner, Qiao Qiao answered softly, raising her hand.

Chen Cheng nodded, signaling for Ding Qiang to take the pheasant to her.

Then, Chen Cheng put on the new shoes right then and there. He had to admit, the size was a perfect fit. The material was sturdy, the soles had just the right balance of softness and firmness, and they felt steady on the ground—a hundred times more comfortable than his old, worn-out straw shoes.

”Junior Brother Cheng, come here for a moment.”

Fatty Fang came out of a side room, beckoning with a cheerful smile.

Chen Cheng walked over quickly. Before he could speak, Fatty Fang’s thick hand clamped onto his shoulder, half-pushing, half-inviting him into the side room.

”Sit wherever you like.”

Fatty Fang released him and turned toward a wardrobe.

Chen Cheng glanced around the room, which was exclusive to Tutors. It was bright and tidy. The table, chairs, bed, and cabinets were all made of solid redwood.

He then sat down on a chair by the window.

”This is for you.”

Fatty Fang took out a brand-new black Training Attire. The fabric was thick, and in the light filtering through the window lattice, one could faintly make out a fine, intricate pattern.

”Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Chen Cheng accepted it with both hands, his eyes full of delight.

Fatty Fang sat down on the opposite chair and asked with a cheerful laugh.

”How is it? You didn’t feel any discomfort after going back last night, did you? Is your Blood Qi circulating normally in your body?”

”Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother,” Chen Cheng said.

”Not bad... you kid.”

Fatty Fang clicked his tongue. ”I originally thought that, given your Root Bone, it would take you at least a few days to fully consolidate your Realm and tame your Blood Qi...”

”It was just a fluke,” Chen Cheng replied vaguely.

Fatty Fang suddenly furrowed his brow and lowered his voice to a whisper, ”You... you didn’t use some kind of heretical method, did you?”

”Heretical method?” Chen Cheng paused, stunned.

Fatty Fang stared into Chen Cheng’s eyes for a few breaths. Seeing that his gaze was clear and not feigned, he continued.

”It’s better that you don’t know about such things...”

Seeing that he was unwilling to elaborate, Chen Cheng tactfully changed the subject.

”Senior Brother, you said before that after entering the Middle Courtyard, I would receive a portion of Blood Nourishing Powder every month, right?”

”Correct. But the prerequisite is that you first have to spend money to terminate your Death Oath Contract, and then pay the monthly gift.”

Fatty Fang reminded him, ”But if you plan to sign the Middle Courtyard’s new Death Oath Contract instead, you won’t get the Blood Nourishing Powder for free.”

”Is the Blood Nourishing Powder expensive? How effective is it?” Chen Cheng asked again.

”If you buy it yourself from a large apothecary, the market price is five taels of silver per portion.”

Fatty Fang said, ”After taking it, it can speed up the rate at which you generate and strengthen your Blood Qi when practicing your Fist Technique... The specific increase varies from person to person.”

As Chen Cheng listened, a flash of light passed through the depths of his eyes, but his expression remained impassive.

”Senior Brother, what does the Blood Nourishing Powder look like?”

”Why do you ask?”

Fatty Fang was taken aback for a moment before answering casually.

”It’s a red powder, similar to crushed cinnabar. It smells of rust and a cloying sweetness. It melts in your mouth, with a bittersweet aftertaste.”

’It matches!’

Chen Cheng’s face was calm, but inside, he was overjoyed.

Last night, inside Zhao Shan’s Money Bag, besides over three taels of scattered silver, there had been a thumb-sized red porcelain vial. On the vial was written the character ’Ning’.

Chen Cheng had opened it at the time. The fine powder inside was exactly as Fatty Fang had just described.

The vial was full. It had clearly been bought recently, intended for use on a trade journey.