Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

The group continued on their way.

They had planned to go to the Festival Plaza in the city center to watch the ceremony.

But the farther they walked, the denser the crowds became. With the constant emergence of spontaneously organized troupes performing the Soul Loss Dance, the main street was clogged to a standstill.

They would shuffle forward a few steps, then have to stop. A few more steps, and they would have to turn sideways to let another troupe pass.

Gu Kaishen was the first to lose his enthusiasm. He stopped and said to Cao Zhao,

”Junior Brother Cao, it’s so crowded. Even if we make it there, we’ll just be staring at the backs of people’s heads. This is pointless. I’m heading out.”

Before Cao Zhao could even respond, Ye Qiluo chimed in.

”Senior Brother Gu is leaving? Perfect. I’m sick of this pushing and shoving too. I heard the Immortal Tower has a new chef from Nanyue. Why don’t we go check it out together?”

”Junior Sister, can I tag along? I happen to be hungry too.”

Zhu Mingyuan, who had just finished reporting the Middle Courtyard’s recent situation to Cao Zhao, immediately sidled up to Ye Qiluo with a wide, fawning smile.

Ye Qiluo’s brow furrowed slightly. She only wanted to be alone with Gu Kaishen; there was no room for a third person.

She was about to refuse, but Zhu Mingyuan quickly added,

”My treat, my treat!”

At this, the words on the tip of Ye Qiluo’s tongue paused. Then, with a soft hmph, she gave her tacit approval.

After the three of them left, the remaining group’s progress slowed to a crawl.

Up ahead, two Soul Loss Dance troupes were blocking the path. It seemed they had gotten into an argument, bickering loudly and refusing to yield, bringing the crowd behind them to a complete halt.

Cao Zhao was also at a loss. He spoke up sheepishly,

”Everyone, if you still want to go see the ceremony, keep inching forward with me. If not, feel free to head out now. No pressure.”

Zhou Ping and Zhou An, their enthusiasm undiminished, smiled and replied, ”We’re with Senior Brother Cao.”

Chen Cheng stopped and glanced sideways at Zhuang Zhen.

She was also looking at him.

They exchanged a look of tacit understanding.

After bidding farewell to Cao Zhao, they each left the group.

Once they had put some distance between themselves and the crowd, the two regrouped and turned a corner onto a side street.

「A while later.」

The two arrived together at the Inner City South Third District. This district was the most livable area in the South Inner City District.

When Chen Cheng had been thinking about renting a place before, he had briefly looked into this area.

It bordered the South District Patrol Office to the east, ensuring safety.

To the west, it adjoined Wanbai Academy, and most of the neighbors were senior scholars from the academy, making it very peaceful.

Heading north along Vermilion Bird Street, one could reach the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard in no time.

Furthermore, the Qingshui River flowed through the district, its banks lined with shady green trees. It was not too hot in the summer or too dry in the winter, and even the air felt fresher than elsewhere.

After his brief search, Chen Cheng had liked the South Third District the most.

Unfortunately, most of the residences in this area were owner-occupied. Very few were available for rent, and the prices for those were exorbitant.

A small, one-courtyard house with five rooms that he had personally inquired about was asking for a shocking eighty taels of silver per month. Although there was room for negotiation, the price was still hard for him to accept.

”Junior Brother, this is my home.”

Zhuang Zhen stopped in front of a residence with a wide facade, took out a key, and opened the lock.

It was an old-fashioned brass lock. The keyhole was a bit stiff; she had to put some force into her wrist before hearing a CLICK.

She slowly pushed the gate open and stepped aside.

”Please, come in.”

Chen Cheng nodded, but his steps faltered for a moment.

He had noticed this residence during his previous visit.

The red paint on the main gate and courtyard walls was heavily weathered, and tiles on the corners of the eaves were missing or broken... It had clearly been uninhabited for years, and a single glance revealed an aura of dilapidated antiquity.

But despite its disrepair, the wide gate and high walls were still impressive. In front of the entrance stood a pair of large, carved stone drums, their intricate patterns still faintly discernible.

Chen Cheng knew without even thinking that this was a large residence with at least two or three courtyards.

That was why the thought had never crossed his mind before, and he certainly hadn’t bothered to ask about it.

He never expected that this was Zhuang Zhen’s home.

Her ancestors had once been a prominent family. Even though they had fallen from grace, they were still far beyond the reach of common folk.

Chen Cheng followed her inside.

Just inside the entrance was a bluestone spirit screen. The carvings on it were long since mottled, but it seemed to depict a scene of pines and deer.

Passing around the spirit screen, the space opened up before him.

The front courtyard was vast and perfectly square, at least thirty feet across. It was paved with large bluestone slabs, worn smooth by time, with a few clumps of withered yellow grass growing from the cracks.

A Stone Lock and a wooden dummy stood in a corner of the courtyard. They had clearly not been used in years, as their surfaces were covered in moss.

Next to them was a well, its mouth and surrounding area also covered in moss.

Facing the courtyard was a row of three main rooms, flanked by side-chambers.

Passing through a moon gate on the side of the main building led to the second courtyard. It was slightly smaller than the front courtyard, but more secluded.

An old locust tree covered nearly half the sky. Beneath it were a stone table and stools, and on the table sat a teapot covered in dust and withered leaves.

The doors and windows of the east and west wing-rooms were shut tight, the window paper yellowed and torn.

The entire residence was deathly quiet, the only sound the rustling of the wind through the tops of the locust tree.

”Junior Brother, take this key.”

Zhuang Zhen took a key from her sleeve and offered it to Chen Cheng.

”In the future, when you have time to teach me the Four Gods Profound Body, you can come here...”

She spoke calmly, but her eyes held a clear apology.

Making Chen Cheng travel all the way from the Outer City to here again and again was a huge imposition. More importantly, the round trips would cut into a significant amount of his training time.

Being a thoughtful person, the more she considered it, the more she felt she owed Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng had, of course, already considered the matter of wasted time. After taking the key, he asked directly,

”Is this house always empty? Have you ever thought about selling it? Or renting it out?”