Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”The Middle Courtyard is full of fierce competition and a lot of crap. There are a few guys I don’t get along with, and they all have powerful backers. So, from now on, I can’t look out for you openly. If I did, I’d just be hurting you!”

Fatty Fang reminded him in a low voice.

”You need to be smart. In all things, watch and listen more; talk and get involved less. On the surface, absolutely do not act under my name. If you really run into a problem you can’t handle... come find me in the Lower Courtyard.”

”Understood.”

Chen Cheng gripped the waist token tightly, clasping his hands and bowing.

”Thank you for your advice and care, Senior Brother. I’ll be sure to repay the ten taels of silver I owe you as soon as possible.”

”Alright, alright. If you have any money, prioritize your own training expenses...”

Fatty Fang said with a frown.

”After you reach Minor Achievement in the Hidden Dragon Fist, building up your Blood Qi further won’t just rely on hard training. You’ll need to spend real silver on meat and supplements to pack it in! Don’t drag down your foundation just to pay me back that small amount. It’s not worth the loss!”

”Thank you, Sen—”

”I’m off.”

Before Chen Cheng could finish, Fatty Fang waved his hand and ambled toward the courtyard gate.

Chen Cheng composed himself, found a less crowded spot in a corner of the training grounds, and slowly assumed the starting stance of the Hidden Dragon Fist.

The moment his fists began to move, his Heart Spirit sank into a deep focus.

Over the past two days, Chen Cheng had clearly felt that since taking the Blood Nourishing Powder, the rate at which his Blood Qi grew and strengthened while practicing the Hidden Dragon Fist was about twenty percent faster than before.

At this rate, as long as he had enough Blood Nourishing Powder, he should be able to condense his second pillar of Blood Qi within the month.

The problem was, one small bottle of Blood Nourishing Powder was only enough for seven days.

After he finished the bottle from Zhao Shan, the Middle Courtyard would issue him another one. After that, he would have to find a way to earn money to buy it himself.

Furthermore, next month’s gift, the extra meat, living expenses for him and his mother for the winter, and the Government Office’s winter tax... all told, it was not a small sum.

And right now, the broken silver he had on him felt like it was less than three taels.

’I have to find a way to make money... and it can’t be a one-time deal... I need a long-term, stable income...’

Chen Cheng pondered this silently, but the sharp sound of his fists cutting through the air never paused for a moment.

「Meanwhile.」

In the distance, many gazes swept over Chen Cheng before quickly moving away.

”See that newcomer? He didn’t even make it through the Inner Hall’s doors. He must have inferior Root Bone. Master Ye couldn’t even be bothered to glance at him!”

”Someone with inferior Root Bone managed to cultivate a pillar of Blood Qi in a hellhole like the Lower Courtyard? That’s impossible, right...?”

”You never know. Maybe he stumbled upon some great opportunity? Or maybe he used some... unconventional methods?”

”But you have to admit, his Hidden Dragon Fist is truly impressive! For a moment there, I could even see a shadow of Master Ye in his movements!”

”Tsk, now that you mention it, it really is pretty good...”

「As evening approached.」

The disciples wearing white waist tokens all ended their training early and walked toward the kitchens and dining hall on the left side of the training grounds.

Fetching water, chopping firewood, washing vegetables, carrying rice, transporting meat... these were all their chores.

A small number of them were even assigned to clean the bathhouses and latrines, and to haul away the collected trash and excrement.

「About an hour later.」

The disciples wearing black waist tokens finished their practice one after another and headed to the dining hall.

Chen Cheng followed the crowd into the dining hall. The air was thick with the smell of cooking oil, sweat, and the clamor of voices.

He found an empty seat by a window and sat down.

Before long, a White Disciple brought over two large bowls and placed them gently in front of him.

One bowl was piled high with fluffy white rice, the grains plump and full. The other was a glistening stew of pork and green vegetables, also piled high.

”Thank you.”

Chen Cheng nodded politely.

But the White Disciple acted as if he hadn’t heard, lowering his head even further and quickly turning to leave.

In the dining hall, the Black Disciples sat scattered about. Some chatted and joked as they ate, while others focused on wolfing down their food. After finishing quickly, they spent extra money to order more meat and continue feasting.

Meanwhile, the White Disciples constantly wove between the tables and chairs, delivering food, clearing plates, and wiping tables... never resting for a moment.

Chen Cheng watched in silence. These White Disciples, bound by the Middle Courtyard’s Death Oath Contracts, weren’t just doing the dirty, tiring work of servants, were they? They were clearly slaves of a lower class!

They would have to live like this for the next three years. Even if they eventually earned Military Merit, they would still be tightly bound by the shackles of the Death Oath Contract...

At this thought, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

’Thank goodness I have the Vertical Eye Mark. I was able to successfully cultivate a pillar of Blood Qi, which earned me Fatty Fang’s appreciation and help. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have ended up just like them?’

’This world...’

”Excuse me, is this seat taken?”

Just then, a young man with a slightly baby-faced look walked up to Chen Cheng’s side.

Chen Cheng glanced up. There were clearly many other empty seats around. It seemed this person had come specifically for him.

”No one,” Chen Cheng said, shaking his head. He waited to see what would happen.

”Thanks.”

The young man plopped down into the seat, his smile widening, and familiarly cupped his hands in greeting.

”My name is Qian Baolu. And you are, Junior Brother?”

”Chen Cheng.”

”Junior Brother Chen, a pleasure to meet you.”

Qian Baolu said.

”While you were training this afternoon, I watched you practice your fist forms from a distance... your posture, your spirit, it was like a high mountain and flowing water, a Wandering Dragon in the distant sky. Truly a feast for the eyes...”

”...Senior Brother Qian.”

Chen Cheng put down his chopsticks and looked up at him.

”If you have something to say, just say it.”

”Heh, you’re a straightforward man, Junior Brother! In that case, I’ll be direct.”

Qian Baolu said with a grin.

”Junior Brother, you just came from the Lower Courtyard, so you probably haven’t taken on a side job outside yet, have you? I imagine... you’re not exactly rolling in it?”

He raised his right hand and rubbed his thumb against his index and middle fingers.

”I happen to know a few good opportunities. If you’re interested, Junior Brother, you just have to give me half of your first salary silver... I’m playing matchmaker, after all. You can’t expect me to do it empty-handed, right?”

”What you say makes sense, Senior Brother. But I wonder, what sort of opportunities are there?” Chen Cheng asked.

Seeing that Chen Cheng was interested, Qian Baolu immediately began counting on his fingers as if listing family treasures.

”An Inspector on the Tea and Horse Trade Dao. You check for contraband, fight mountain bandits—the perks are incredible!”

”A Messenger for the Fushun Escort Agency in the South Outer City. You follow the convoys, and the farther you go, the more salary silver you get.”

”Then there’s being a Tribute Hard Hand for the various gangs. As long as you’re willing to risk your life, it’s the fastest way to make money.”

”There’s also the Patrol Guard Bureau’s Mountain Search Team. You go into the mountains to search for rare treasures and Exotic Beasts. You might not score for half a year, but one score will feed you for half a year...”

Qian Baolu rambled on, listing more than ten opportunities, but Chen Cheng looked completely uninterested the whole time.

”All these opportunities... and none of them catch your eye, Junior Brother?”

”...Senior Brother, all these jobs you’ve mentioned inevitably involve fighting with people, even risking one’s life... That’s... not quite suitable for me.”

Chen Cheng shook his head, politely declining.

Hearing this, the corner of Qian Baolu’s mouth twitched, and his smile vanished completely.

”In this world, you want to make big money safely? You’d have to be born into the right family for that! For people like us from ordinary families, what do we have to trade for money besides our strength and the courage to fight?”

He paused, his tone growing more serious.

”As they say, fortune is found in peril. Without high risk, where’s the high reward? And they also say that scholars can be poor, but martial artists must be rich. Climbing the path of Martial Arts is harder than ascending to heaven. If you don’t risk your life, where will you get the resources to climb?”