Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Next to Zhao Hai stood an elderly man with white hair and a beard. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he seemed at ease, but when his half-closed eyes occasionally opened a sliver, they revealed an intimidating aura that sent a chill down one’s spine. Most of the time, even Zhao Hai dared not meet his gaze.

And this man was Elder Wen, the true anchor of the Yongsheng Trading Company.

At that moment, the veins on the back of Elder Wen’s hand bulged slightly. His fingers were wrapped firmly around a box, about a foot square, that was securely bound in thick oilcloth and hemp rope. It looked like something incredibly important.

”Elder Wen! Boss Zhao! Thank you both for your hard work on this journey!”

Shen Mi strode over from the cargo hold, a perfectly measured smile on her face.

”Master, may I have a word in private?”

Elder Wen lowered his voice, guiding Shen Mi to a corner away from the crowd before holding out the box in his hands.

”What is this?”

Shen Mi was a little puzzled and didn’t immediately reach for it.

Elder Wen said in a low voice, ”The north... has grown even more chaotic. My son, the one in the army, pulled this from a pile of bodies in a massacred city... It’s a fully matured Treasure Medicine.”

”You saw Qingzhi?”

Shen Mi’s first reaction was concern, and her brow furrowed slightly.

”I saw him.”

Elder Wen said slowly.

”He’s guarding a checkpoint on the post road now. It’s far from the front lines, but... who can say? An order could come down today, and tomorrow he could be filling a trench...”

Elder Wen sighed.

”I’d like to ask you, Master, to accept this Treasure Medicine... so I can use the silver to pull some strings... I don’t dare hope to have him transferred back, I just pray he isn’t sent to the front lines to die... I... he’s my only son...”

”Alright. I’ll take this Treasure Medicine. Name your price.”

Elder Wen’s head snapped up, as if he hadn’t expected Shen Mi to agree so readily.

”Master, you should inspect it first...”

”There’s no need. Whatever you ask, I’ll pay,” Shen Mi said decisively.

”...”

Elder Wen’s lips trembled. As he looked at Shen Mi’s frank expression, a thin mist suddenly welled up in his eyes—eyes that had weathered countless storms and had long since grown as hard as iron.

”Three... three hundred taels...”

This was no small sum, and the price was clearly inflated. The words came out with great difficulty for Elder Wen, his tone filled with shame.

”Done. Once the cargo is unloaded, go to the accounts office. I will have Chen Honored Elder give you the silver.”

”Chen... the Tributor?”

Elder Wen was stunned for a moment. His gaze immediately shifted to the young man in the distance, the one who handled all manner of complicated tasks with the ease of a leisurely stroll.

”Yes. That’s him.”

The corners of Shen Mi’s lips curved up slightly.

”His name is Chen Cheng, my newly hired accountant and guardian Tributor. Don’t be fooled by his age. In truth, he has already condensed his second wisp of Blood Qi. He is a rare talent!”

”Oh?”

Elder Wen’s interest was instantly piqued.

”From the looks of him, he’s only sixteen or seventeen? To have accomplished so much already... Truly, a hero in the making. The younger generation is formidable!”

”I have high hopes for him.”

Shen Mi’s tone grew more serious, carrying a clear note of entrustment.

”In the future, for my sake, if he has any questions for you regarding the path of Martial Arts, I hope you won’t hesitate to offer him some guidance.”

”Of course!”

Elder Wen nodded emphatically. Though he said little, he had already made up his mind. ’I’ll repay my financial debt to Shen Mi with a debt of gratitude. I will be sure to treat Chen Cheng well.’

Back at the cargo hold, Chen Cheng’s efficiency far surpassed Zhang Gu’s, saving a great deal of time.

The caravan members were all travel-worn and utterly exhausted. Able to return to their rest sooner, they were naturally full of praise for Chen Cheng, thoroughly impressed and won over.

「Back at the accounts office.」

As instructed by Shen Mi, Chen Cheng counted out three Official Silver Notes, each with a face value of one hundred taels, from the Silver Cabinet and handed them to Elder Wen.

Elder Wen accepted them, his hands trembling slightly as he meticulously folded the Silver Notes and tucked them away securely against his body.

He was, of course, endlessly grateful to Shen Mi. This gratitude extended to Chen Cheng, and he found himself developing a genuine fondness for the efficient, composed young Tributor, whom he also thanked solemnly.

After Elder Wen had gone, Chen Cheng allowed the curiosity befitting a young man to show on his face.

”Master, forgive my ignorance... but what exactly is that Treasure Medicine? Is it truly worth such a high price?”

Chen Cheng now possessed over one hundred taels of silver himself—a true fortune compared to his previous circumstances. Yet, next to the value of this Treasure Medicine, his wealth paled in comparison.

Shen Mi nodded and began to explain seriously.

”A so-called Treasure Medicine is an exceedingly rare marvel. It is born when, among countless ordinary herbs, one by a stroke of cosmic luck manages to capture the very essence of creation.”

”Most Treasure Medicines are immensely beneficial to a Martial Artist’s training. Some can bolster Blood Qi, others can increase cultivation efficiency, and some can even improve one’s Root Bone. There are even those that, upon consumption, can allow a Martial Artist to directly break through to the next Realm!”

She paused, her lovely eyes fixed on Chen Cheng.

”For this reason, any Martial Artist with the slightest bit of knowledge desperately covets them... especially those that can help one achieve a breakthrough. Without exception, they command astronomical prices!”

”However...”

Her tone shifted, suddenly becoming grave.

”Treasure Medicines only grow in the most perilous and inaccessible places—veritable lands of death. They are either guarded by sentient and exceptionally ferocious Demon Beasts, or they are shrouded year-round in toxic miasmas that can corrode bone and rot flesh.”

”In other places, it is said that Yin and Yang are in turmoil, giving rise to all sorts of strange phenomena. If one with a weak will draws near, they will at best be driven mad; at worst, their flesh and blood will wither away, becoming nutrients for the Treasure Medicine itself.”

”The dangers are truly innumerable. So much so, that for every Treasure Medicine that makes its way into the world, there’s no telling how many lives were lost to obtain it...”

”Therefore,” Shen Mi concluded.

”A Treasure Medicine is precious for its heaven-defying effects, but it is even more precious because of the price that must be paid to acquire it.”

”...So that’s how it is.”

Chen Cheng listened in silence, his curiosity growing. He asked, ”Then what are the specific effects of Elder Wen’s Treasure Medicine?”

”Let’s take a look together.”

Shen Mi placed the box on the table, undid the hemp rope and oilcloth, and slowly lifted the lid.

Inside, nestled on a red silk lining, a few silk threads held in place a withered plant shaped like a Dragon Claw. Its surface had clear, scale-like patterns, and the tips of its five forked branches shimmered with a faint golden light.

Even a complete novice could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary item.

”It’s Dragon Claw Grass! And of the Five-Clawed Golden Radiance grade, no less!”

Shen Mi’s lovely eyes lit up, but her expression remained calm and her tone was even as she spoke.

”This type of Treasure Medicine greatly enhances cultivation efficiency. Its effects are three to five times stronger than ordinary Blood Nourishing Powder, and the medicinal potency lasts much longer.”

”Only... three to five times?”

Chen Cheng was taken aback.

’A bottle of Blood Nourishing Powder costs a mere five taels of silver. Even if this Dragon Claw Grass was equivalent to twenty or thirty bottles, its value wouldn’t even come close to two hundred taels.’

’Did the Master take a huge loss?’

’No!’

’Chen Cheng quickly realized what was happening. Elder Wen must be desperate for the silver. The three hundred taels Shen Mi offered was half for the medicine and half out of compassion.’

’A Treasure Medicine has a price, but goodwill can’t be measured in silver coins.’

At this thought, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but look at Shen Mi with even greater respect.

At that exact moment, Shen Mi looked back at him, and her clear, deep eyes seemed to hold a different light than usual.

”Master? Why... why are you looking at me like that?”

—