Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

In contrast, if he could live in the Inner City, he wouldn’t have to worry about such things anymore.

Unfortunately, the housing prices in the Inner City were ridiculously expensive, far beyond what Chen Cheng could currently afford.

Even renting was not cheap.

The one hundred and five taels of silver from the Changfeng Escort Agency were only enough for half a year’s rent, and that was for a place in the worst part of the Inner City.

It was right next to the brothels, casinos, and opium dens; you didn’t have to think hard to guess what kind of people rented there.

With that kind of money, it would be better to spend it where it truly counted—on his training.

Some time later.

Two riders, one in front of the other, passed through the massive gate of the Outer City.

The yellow dirt road was frozen solid, and the horse’s hooves made dull thuds as they passed over it.

Withered grass lay flat on both sides of the road, and the fields were desolate. A great expanse of grayish-yellow stretched to the foot of the distant mountains. The wind poured in from the open wilderness with nothing to block it, striking them directly.

Chen Cheng wrapped his fur coat tighter, its collar rubbing against his chin. But it couldn’t block the cold wind, which carried the scent of dry grass and frozen earth, from seeping through his nostrils and into his lungs.

Seven li from the city, along the official road, there was a relatively gentle slope.

A vast expanse of ruins stood on the slope. Scorched, broken walls jutted messily toward the gray-white sky. From a distance, they looked like tombstones sprouting from the earth.

Those were the ruins of the Red Moon Nunnery.

After the last purge by the authorities, a great fire had burned for three days and three nights, leaving only this scene behind.

And this was as far as Chen Cheng’s knowledge of the outside world extended.

When he was a child, following his father or third uncle out of the city, the farthest he had ever gone was the woods east of Seven Miles Slope. They would gather dry branches and dig for wild vegetables, and they had to head back as soon as the sun began to set.

Any farther out was completely beyond his experience.

It was said that in the distant mountain forests, there were fierce bandits, wild beasts, the private soldiers of various manors and garrison fortresses, and even Demon Fiends and monsters...

He had never seen them himself, but he never doubted they were real.

In these chaotic times, the city itself wasn’t safe; how could one expect any peace outside its walls?

After the two riders passed Seven Miles Slope, Wang Chuang clearly slowed down. He constantly scanned his surroundings, occasionally glancing back at Chen Cheng as if afraid he would fall behind.

After galloping for several more li, the official road gradually became indistinct.

The fields on either side had long since vanished, replaced by dense mountain forests. Dead trees grew haphazardly, and the path was rugged, at times disappearing altogether.

The faint roar of a beast echoed in the distance, startling a flock of birds from the forest. With a great FLUTTER of wings, they rose into the air, a dark mass sweeping across the sky.

”Whoa—”

Wang Chuang suddenly reined his horse to a halt.

After Chen Cheng came up beside him, he also reined in his horse and followed Wang Chuang’s gaze.

Ahead on the mountain path, a troop of riders was galloping across their way.

The sound of their hooves was like a sudden downpour, kicking up clouds of dust.

The three riders at the head of the group were the most conspicuous.

The man in the center, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, had an imposing air. It was none other than the genius from the Cloud Platform Hall’s Upper Courtyard whom he had seen once at the Immortal Tower: Han Tianqi.

The snow-white steed beneath him, its mane fluttering in the wind, only served to make him appear all the more flamboyant.

To his right was a portly, middle-aged man wrapped in a thick, luxurious fur cloak, looking like a pampered man of wealth. In truth, his Riding Skill was superb; he steered his horse with one hand and held a bow in the other, his gaze searching for prey like a falcon’s.

Chen Cheng’s gaze narrowed.

This man was actually Sun Dingjiang, the sworn brother of Fu Yunchen, the Master of Fuchang Trading Company.

At Fuchang Trading Company, everyone respectfully called him Second Master.

To Han Tianqi’s left was a young man with a bow on his back and a saber at his side. His Hunting Bow was inlaid with pure gold animal patterns, and his Curved Saber was studded with jewels. One glance was enough to tell that he came from no ordinary background.

”These people are all heading to the Bai Family’s Cangying Hunting Manor for the Tiger Slaying Banquet... That kid with the golden bow and Treasure Saber is the Young Manor Master of Cangying Hunting Manor, Bai Fangshuo.”

Wang Chuang explained in a low voice.

”The Bai Family is also one of the Inner City’s Eight Great Races, and they’ve never been on good terms with my Wang Family... However, we haven’t reached the point of open hostility, so we won’t come to blows out in the open.”

Chen Cheng listened silently, his gaze shifting to the dozen or so riders behind the main group. Aside from a few guests, the rest were private soldiers of the Hunting Manor, carrying bows and sabers. All of them had white crane embroidery on their cuffs.

”You’ve got sharp eyes.”

Wang Chuang noticed where Chen Cheng was looking.

”That white crane embroidery is the emblem of the Cangying Hunting Manor. If you run into it in the future, be smart about it.”

”This wilderness is nothing like the Inner City. They have the numbers and the power. If they decide to cause trouble, they could kill the two of us and dump our bodies in a ditch, and no one would ever find them. It’s better to avoid them when we have to.”

”Understood.”

Chen Cheng nodded.

As he silently filed away the useful information, his thoughts turned more toward the appearance of Sun Dingjiang.

’How could the second-in-command of an ordinary Outer City trading company be riding side-by-side with the likes of Han Tianqi and Bai Fangshuo?’

’The waters at Fuchang Trading Company ran deeper and deeper.’

...

About half an hour later, the path ahead on the mountainside suddenly opened up. Deep within the thicket of trees, the silhouette of the Jiuan Hunting Manor was faintly visible.

The manor was backed by a steep cliff, flanked by deep ravines. It was surrounded by high walls built from gray stone blocks, topped with arrow towers. Manor Soldiers carrying Longbows could occasionally be seen patrolling back and forth. A single stone staircase provided the only path up.

At the foot of the mountain, in a cleared, flat area, dozens of carriages and over a hundred fine horses were already parked.

Manor hands moved among them, carrying buckets and feeding the horses fodder.

”We leave the horses here and walk up.”

Wang Chuang swung himself off his horse and handed the reins to a manor hand who came forward to greet them. Chen Cheng nodded and did the same.

The two walked up the stone staircase. At every interval, there was a guard post, some in plain sight and some hidden, each manned by well-trained Manor Soldiers.

Following Wang Chuang, they were able to pass through unimpeded. Anyone else would likely have been stopped and questioned at every post.

At the top of the stone staircase was the main gate of the Jiuan Hunting Manor. The plaque above it was imposing, and high courtyard walls flanked it. Rows of black flags, embroidered with the pattern of a tiger descending a mountain, were planted along the top of the walls.

Stepping over the threshold, the scene changed abruptly.

The ground beneath their feet was made of flat bluestone. To the left was a row of large, green-brick buildings from which wafted the strong aroma of medicinal herbs. To the right was an area resembling a prison, with massive iron cages lined up in a row. Most contained ferocious beasts that had not yet been tamed; they snarled and let out low roars whenever someone passed by.

Farther in was a wide, open plaza.

Several large vats, each taller than a man, were placed around the plaza. Charcoal fires burned brightly within them, dispelling the mountain chill.

Round tables were arranged around these vats, covered with white cloths and set with bowls and chopsticks.

Well-dressed guests sat at the tables with their acquaintances. Some spoke in low voices while others laughed heartily. Maidservants occasionally weaved between them, serving tea, snacks, and fruit.

”Chuang! Cheng! Over here!”

At a distant round table, Wang Hengyu stood up and waved vigorously.

Wang Chuang and Chen Cheng first went to briefly pay their respects to the Manor Master, Wang Peng, before walking over and sitting down at Wang Hengyu’s table.

The three had met often over the past half-month and were already well-acquainted.

Wang Chuang casually explained the customs of the Tiger Slaying Banquet. To Chen Cheng, it sounded a lot like the pig-slaughtering feasts from the rural villages of his past life.

The difference was that the Tiger Slaying Banquet was held at noon, allowing the guests to return to the city before dark.

It was almost noon now, and most of the guests had arrived.

Chen Cheng’s gaze slowly swept over the round tables, and he saw quite a few familiar faces.

At the third table to the left, Song Che was talking with a handsome young man. Beside him sat a young woman in a snow-white fox-fur cloak. Her features bore a slight resemblance to Song Che’s; she must be the cousin Fatty Fang had mentioned, Song Yingzhi.

At the second table to the right, Gu Lan’an and Wu Ziyu were huddled together. The two young women were sitting close, whispering about something. Their eyes swept over Chen Cheng in unison, the corners of their mouths twitching into a cold sneer before they quickly composed themselves.

At the first table to the left, Cao Zhao and Ji Hongshan were chatting with several young men whose extraordinary status was obvious from their clothing and bearing. Perhaps Cao Zhao had specifically pointed him out, because the young men would occasionally glance toward Chen Cheng, their gazes appraising and calculating.

At high noon, the banquet began on time.

A few more people joined Chen Cheng’s table, bringing the total to ten, and only then did the servants begin to bring out the dishes.

The main course of the Tiger Slaying Banquet was, naturally, tiger. The meat, sinews, marrow, heart, liver, intestines, and even the penis were each prepared as a separate dish, accompanied by various mountain delicacies.

All in all, there were over a dozen dishes. They looked rustic in style, but the flavors were excellent. Paired with a bottomless supply of various Medicinal Wines, every guest—save for a few delicate young ladies—ate and drank to their heart’s content.

After several rounds of wine, the atmosphere was reaching its peak.

The Manor Master, Wang Peng, stood up and announced in a clear, loud voice,

”Everyone, thank you for gracing this banquet with your presence! As is tradition, it is now time for the younger generation to come forward and spar to liven up the festivities!”

—