Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

In the front courtyard, Zhuang Zhen politely declined Mrs. Li’s invitation to eat together and stood waiting by the spirit screen.

The last rays of the setting sun slanted over the courtyard wall, falling upon her and staining her simple, serene, and pretty face a warm red.

"Senior Sister, why don’t you come inside and sit?"

Chen Cheng walked out.

"There’s no need. I just have a few words for you, then I must leave right away."

As Zhuang Zhen spoke, she took a small porcelain vial from her robes and handed it to him.

The vial wasn’t large. It was white with a blue-flower pattern and gleamed with a gentle luster in the twilight.

"These are six Three Treasures Bone-Building Pills. They are supplied exclusively by the official family—a Treasure Medicine used to improve one’s Root Bone. Take them, one every five days."

"Senior Sister? What is this?"

Chen Cheng’s gaze shifted slightly.

He didn’t immediately reach out to take it. Instead, he first looked at the vial, then back at Zhuang Zhen.

He had noticed as soon as he came out that Zhuang Zhen was wearing Red Martial Attire today. Her upper body was covered by a Crimson Half Armor, and on its two breastplates, a Dark Gold Suanni Pattern was faintly visible and incredibly lifelike.

This was the attire worn only when a registered Martial Artist of the Evil Extermination Bureau was on a mission.

In the past month, Chen Cheng had only seen Zhuang Zhen wear it once.

As for the Three Treasures Bone-Building Pills in Zhuang Zhen’s hand, Chen Cheng had heard of them as well.

They were as famous as the Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pills, a resource supplied exclusively by the official family and unavailable on the open market, even for a high price.

However, the Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pill was a Treasure Medicine that aided cultivation, making it the first choice for registered Martial Artists, who could only receive one every two months.

These Three Treasures Bone-Building Pills, on the other hand, were typically used by the official family to cultivate ’saplings.’ A proper, registered Martial Artist would never choose them.

For Zhuang Zhen to produce six of them at once meant she couldn’t have slowly accumulated them over time. Instead, she must have paid a significant price to obtain them.

He didn’t need to think to know that the price was definitely not small.

’How could I just accept these?’

"This is a gift to thank my mentor."

Zhuang Zhen pressed the vial into Chen Cheng’s hand. It was still warm from where it had been tucked in her robes.

Before Chen Cheng could refuse, she leaned in closer and whispered,

"I succeeded."

"...Congratulations."

Chen Cheng knew, of course, that she was talking about the Four Gods Profound Body.

During the first half-month after Chen Cheng moved in, she had come over every few days to attempt cultivating the Four Gods Profound Body under his guidance.

Chen Cheng had explained with extreme clarity all the difficult points of this Upper Grade Martial Arts, as well as the barriers she had been unable to comprehend or overcome.

However, understanding was one thing; being able to do it was another.

Some people could never break through that final barrier in their entire lifetime.

For the latter half of the month, Zhuang Zhen hadn’t visited at all.

Chen Cheng guessed she was in seclusion, meditating and repeatedly trying and refining everything he had explained to her.

Her hard work had finally paid off; she had succeeded at last.

Now that he had guided her through the gate, she no longer needed his instruction. She could naturally continue to temper her skills on her own.

"Alright, I have to head out on a mission now, so I can’t talk any longer."

Zhuang Zhen gave a faint smile, then looked at Mrs. Li.

"Aunt Li, I’ll be going now. Please take care of yourself. I’ll come visit again when I have time."

"Sigh..."

Mrs. Li nodded. She instinctively glanced at the sky, her lips trembling. She tried to hold back, but in the end, she couldn’t help but speak.

"Do you really have to go?"

Mrs. Li took half a step forward, as if she wanted to grab hold of Zhuang Zhen, but she didn’t dare.

"It’s getting dark... It’s... it’s dangerous..."

"..."

Zhuang Zhen froze. Her hair was lifted by the evening breeze, and it felt as if something had touched the softest part of her Heart, sending one ripple after another through it.

She had lost her mother at a young age, and her father was always occupied with endless affairs.

A simple expression of concern, like the one Mrs. Li had just offered, was an immense luxury to her.

Her lips parted slightly, but ultimately, she said nothing in response.

She simply gave Mrs. Li a polite smile, shot Chen Cheng one last glance, and then turned and disappeared behind the spirit screen.

Mrs. Li walked around it, wanting to see her off, but there was already no trace of her outside the gate.

In the twilight, the street was empty. All that could be heard was the cold wind sweeping up flurries of snow with a soft, rustling sound.

「After dinner.」

Mrs. Li cleared the table as usual, taking the dishes to the kitchen to wash.

Ever since he had moved in, she hadn’t let Chen Cheng do a single chore.

Chen Cheng had offered to help several times, and while she would agree out loud, she would always turn around and do everything herself anyway.

Of course, Chen Cheng didn’t stay idle himself.

In the time it took for his meal to digest, he would chew on some medicinal herbs and practice throwing a handful of pebbles at the slender twigs of the old tree in the courtyard.

Occasionally, when he came across a hard, sharp piece of herbal dreg, he would press it to the tip of his tongue and channel his Power into it.

Instead of spitting, he would use the tip of his tongue for Ejection.

His accuracy was no worse, but the force was much weaker. If he were to use a small iron nail, however, it would be a completely different story.

「Some time later.」

After finishing up, Mrs. Li came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She asked out of habit,

"Cheng, are you still going out tonight?"

For the past month, Chen Cheng had been regularly visiting the Fuchang Trading Company to keep watch, and would also take the opportunity to spar with Zhu Mingyuan. Afterward, he would spend the night at the Central Courtyard Inner Hall and return the next day.

Mrs. Li had gotten used to this routine. Counting the days, she knew it was about time for Chen Cheng to leave again today.

However, Chen Cheng usually left in the afternoon. Today, he had been delayed by other matters, and it was already dark out.

That was why Mrs. Li had asked.

"I have to go."

Chen Cheng tossed the remaining pebbles in his hand under the tree and dusted off his hands.

He walked over to Mrs. Li.

He pulled a handful of broken silver from his robes, along with a single Golden Blade Coin.

Altogether, it was worth twenty or so taels of silver. He pressed it all into Mrs. Li’s hands.

"Mom, take this money."

"What’s this for?"

Mrs. Li looked stunned and was about to refuse.

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