Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Dinner was ready, and the mother and son chatted as they ate.

”All of that is what your third aunt bought to thank you...”

The Li Family pointed to a pile of packages, large and small, on the cabinet by the dining room window and continued:

”In there, you’ll find cured meat and pickled vegetables she made herself, some pastries she bought specially, and three pairs of cloth shoes she made by hand. The thousand-layer soles are stitched tightly—her craftsmanship is excellent.”

”I told her we don’t lack anything and that she should keep it all for herself, but she insisted on stuffing it into my hands. She said that without you, her family wouldn’t be living so well today...”

”I couldn’t refuse no matter how I tried, so I had to bring them back.”

As the Li Family spoke, her gaze toward her son was clearly filled with pride and joy.

”How have Third Uncle and Third Aunt been lately?” Chen Cheng asked casually.

”They’re doing great.”

The Li Family smiled and said:

”These days, is there anyone in the An Nan District of the Outer City who doesn’t know the name of our family’s Lord Cheng?”

”Your third uncle has now been promoted to Rice Shop Steward, and your third aunt went from being a helper in the restaurant’s back kitchen to managing it. The perks are fantastic.”

”When I saw her today, I almost didn’t recognize her. She’s put on some weight, her skin looks much better, and even her hair has a healthy shine.”

”...That’s good to hear.”

Chen Cheng nodded and said casually:

”Well, as long as people work hard and stay grounded, their lives will always get better.”

”That’s what I told your third aunt, too.”

The Li Family laughed and said:

”But she just shook her head when she heard that. She said in this world, you can’t live a good life no matter how hard you work. You have to choose the right path and follow the right person!”

Chen Cheng didn’t reply, but inwardly, his estimation of his third aunt rose. ’She’s perceptive.’

”Oh, right. Your third aunt also told me about what happened with Old Chen’s family...”

At this point, the Li Family hesitated for a moment. Seeing no reaction from Chen Cheng, she continued:

”After Chen Yong was conscripted and sent to the front lines, Old Chen fell ill. Chen Hao was also injured at the time, and they had no money for treatment...”

”Chen Hao and the Wang Family conspired and... and they actually sold the old man to a Vegetable People Shop... before he had even taken his last breath...”

The Li Family’s voice trembled. Even though she’d had the whole way home to process it, she was still shocked and appalled by the mother and son’s actions as she spoke of it now.

Chen Cheng, however, remained completely unfazed. He continued eating his Treasure Fish Soup as if he had just heard some trivial news about a stranger.

”The money from selling the old man was nowhere near enough to treat Chen Hao’s injuries...”

The Li Family composed herself and went on:

”Chen Hao held out for less than two days before giving in. He married into the family of a widow who was more than ten years his senior...”

”The widow is incredibly ugly, but her family is rich. They paid to have Chen Hao’s injuries healed, and now they’ve started funding his martial arts training again.”

Chen Cheng said nothing, just listening in silence.

He had no interest whatsoever in that family’s affairs.

However, one could never be too careful. It was always best to be aware of such intelligence.

”Mother, you should spend less time in the Outer City from now on.”

”Alright. I’ll listen to you.”

...

「Inner City, Wang Mansion.」

Wang Peng’s injuries weren’t serious. After the poison was neutralized, his wounds were wrapped in gauze, and he could already move about freely. He was sitting at a table, taking huge bites of meat and great gulps of wine.

Two other men were at the table with him: Du Wenshun and Pang Qingyuan.

Wang Chuang had been there as well, but he didn’t drink. After quickly finishing his meal, he went to the rear courtyard to train by himself.

”Chuang is getting more and more diligent.”

Du Wenshun held his cup, taking small sips, and asked, seemingly nonchalantly:

”Old Wang, have you ever thought about letting Chuang go out and make a name for himself? For instance, he could come with me to the Prefecture City to build his career.”

Wang Peng froze for a moment. He lifted his wine bowl, took a large swig, but said nothing.

”I think Old Du is right!”

Pang Qingyuan smiled and chimed in:

”Old Wang, you’re still in your prime. Even if you want Chuang to inherit the Hunting Manor, there’s no rush. Letting him go out and see the world is a good thing in the long run.”

”That’s something you’ll have to ask him.”

Wang Peng took another gulp of wine, his brow furrowing as if in irritation.

”I’ve already asked him. He’s willing.”

Du Wenshun laughed and said:

”Old Wang, don’t look so stern. We all know you can’t bear to part with Chuang. After all, you raised him from the time he was a baby...”

”If you miss him, you can come to the Prefecture City anytime. You think I don’t have a spare room for you? Or that I’d let you go without wine and meat?”

Wang Peng collected himself, seeming to take the words to heart. He slowly set down his wine bowl and asked in a low voice:

”When are you leaving?”

”In a few days, once I’ve settled my business.”

Du Wenshun said:

”It just so happens that Old Pang and his men from the Evil Extermination Bureau will be heading out of the city on an assignment around then, so they can escort me for a while. No need to worry about safety.”

Wang Peng nodded, then looked at Pang Qingyuan and asked in a hushed voice:

”Going to take another bite out of Cangying Hunting Manor?”

”Yes.”

Pang Qingyuan also lowered his voice to a whisper:

”The higher-ups are serious this time. They’re determined to take down Cangying Hunting Manor, no matter the cost.”

”You couldn’t take it down before, what makes you think you can this time?”

Wang Peng thought for a moment, then frowned and said:

”Cangying Hunting Manor is protected by an old ancestor from the Bai Family. To take it by force, you’d need... have the higher-ups managed to persuade an ancestor from another family?”

”Dragon Mountain, Flame Wind, Cloud Platform...”

Pang Qingyuan’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz:

”All three have explicitly agreed. To get them on board, the higher-ups really paid a fortune this time.”

”This is excellent news!”

Wang Peng’s eyes lit up as he said:

”The Bai Family is colluding with the Immortal Bone Sect. If they aren’t eliminated soon, once they make it through this winter, I fear they’ll immediately become a major threat to the official family!”

”The higher-ups know that, which is why they’re so determined this time.”

Pang Qingyuan paused for a moment before sighing and adding:

”However, something even harder to crack than Cangying Hunting Manor is the Cangying Fishing Village... That village is located deep within Black Cloud Lake. To attack them, we’d have to pass through the territory of the Black Cloud Stronghold...”

”The higher-ups sent people to negotiate with the Black Cloud Water Stronghold, but they explicitly refused to grant passage to the official family’s fleet. It’s obvious they’re protecting the Cangying Fishing Village.”

”...If the Black Cloud Water Stronghold gets involved, things will get really difficult.”

Wang Peng’s brow furrowed deeply as he said:

”Those Water Bandits are far stronger than the ones on Grass Head Mountain and Erjiao Mountain... And if they also collude with the Immortal Bone Sect...”

Pang Qingyuan didn’t reply, just let out a long sigh. He had obviously already considered this possibility; the top brass was even more keenly aware of it.

This was indeed an extremely thorny problem, one that was nearly impossible to solve.

...

「Inner City.」

In the private study of a large mansion’s inner courtyard, a candle flame flickered faintly. A dead silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft sound of an inkstone being ground, which slipped through the crack of the door.

A night breeze swept by, and a figure suddenly appeared at the door, wearing a conical hat and wrapped in black cloth.

The door was pushed open a little wider, and the figure slipped inside in a flash.

The candlelight wavered, then steadied.

Behind the desk.

A young man immediately rose and prostrated himself on the floor.

The brocade robe he wore was made of Nanyue Flowing Cloud Brocade, a fabric as valuable as gold. The dark patterns on his cuffs seemed to shift in the candlelight, and a fine Jade Belt was tied around his waist.

An outfit like this could not be acquired for less than several hundred taels of silver. Yet at this moment, it was crumpled beneath him.

His knees were pressed hard against the cold, green floor tiles, his forehead likewise pressed firmly to the ground. His back was bent in a humble arc.

”Greetings, Lord Moon Envoy.”

His voice was extremely low, the final syllables trembling as if he were holding a piece of ice in his throat.