Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Conceding!?

Wu Ziyu spoke that single word crisply and decisively, without a hint of hesitation, as if it were some trivial matter.

But to the members of the Wu Family gathered around, it was like a clap of thunder.

Zhang Dun froze on the spot, his mouth hanging slightly open. Li Kuangyi was even more dumbfounded; his neck was still drawn back, but his eyes were filled with utter disbelief.

'How could the young miss, who just moments ago refused to yield an inch, say something like that in the blink of an eye?'

The workers on the boats stopped what they were doing, and a steward's pen dropped onto his ledger. On the high walls of the Fishing Village, the Manor Soldiers who had their bows half-drawn suddenly lost their strength.

Even the people on the wharf, who had been busy with their own tasks, seemed drawn by some unseen force. They all stopped and looked toward the fleet of boats.

No one spoke.

The entire wharf fell silent, leaving only the sound of the wind and the lapping of waves.

Outsiders might not have understood, but to the people of the Wu Family, the situation was as clear as day.

The Ten-Mile Swamp was the most productive body of water for Wu's Fishing Village's Treasure Fish, historically known as their "Treasure Basin." The yield from that area alone could support half of Wu's Fishing Village.

Back in the day, the Wu Family had paid a heavy price in lives to secure control over that very area.

Yet now, for Chen Cheng's sake, Wu Ziyu was about to give up the Ten-Mile Swamp without a moment's hesitation!

'Even if they sent Chen Cheng to fight, he would most likely lose anyway.'

'But to give up without even trying...'

This version of Wu Ziyu felt completely alien to everyone present.

"Young Miss, I'm afraid a decision like this will be difficult to explain when we get back..."

Zhang Dun said in a low voice.

"I've followed you for three or four years now. I can't just stand by and watch you make such a muddle-headed mistake..."

Wu Ziyu didn't reply, but a nearly imperceptible coldness flashed in the depths of her eyes.

'She was disgusted by Zhang Dun's attitude—unwilling to lift a finger to help, yet putting on a show of advising her for her own good.'

'What put her on higher alert was the suspicion that Zhang Dun's actions might hide a darker motive: to push Chen Cheng out to his death.'

'Of course, given her background and the fact that her family trusted her with public affairs, she was by no means lacking in cunning.'

'She wouldn't argue or confront Zhang Dun to his face.'

'But afterward, she would definitely find an opportunity to settle the score. And when she did, she would make sure Zhang Dun never even knew it was her doing.'

"Elder Zhang, you don't need to persuade me. My mind is made... Brother Chen?"

As Wu Ziyu was speaking, Chen Cheng had already walked back to her side. His gaze crossed the water, landing squarely on his opponent.

Of course, Chen Cheng wasn't going to take a risk.

'He just wanted to see for himself who this formidable character on the other side was.'

'Know yourself, know your enemy. It was a good habit he had adhered to from the very beginning.'

'Regardless of whether he would help Wu Ziyu fight later, there was no harm in first gauging his opponent's depth.'

Anyone who could defeat Li Kuangyi in two moves was worthy of his full attention.

"Senior Brother Zhou!?"

"Junior Brother Chen!?"

The moment Chen Cheng looked over, he and the young man on the other side recognized each other.

The young man opposite him was none other than Zhou... Zhou...

'Chen Cheng really couldn't tell them apart.'

'Oh, well.'

'He's a Senior Brother either way. The standard greeting should be fine.'

Chen Cheng cupped his fist in a salute and asked.

"Senior Brother, is the other Senior Brother Zhou not with you?"

"My older brother is naturally afraid of water. He gets seasick and throws up on boats, so he never gets involved in the Fishing Village's affairs."

Zhou An smiled.

A flicker of understanding passed through Chen Cheng's mind. He had finally figured out who he was talking to. Composing himself, he asked again.

"Senior Brother, is there any room for negotiation regarding today's matter?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

Zhou An let out a hearty laugh, intentionally raising his voice so everyone could hear him clearly.

"Junior Brother Chen, you're a genius of the Upper Courtyard handpicked by Master Cao himself! Senior Brother Cao Zhao and Senior Brother Marquis Fang Wenhao both treat you like their own flesh and blood. Even the Hall Master has praised you publicly!"

"And then there's the number one genius of the Upper Courtyard, Senior Sister Zhuang Zhen, who achieved Transforming Force at just twenty-three... Although she's never said it outright, everyone can see that your relationship with her is anything but ordinary!"

Zhou An paused, then raised his voice even higher.

"Making things difficult for you, Junior Brother Chen, is like making an enemy of half the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard! If I didn't side with you today, how could I ever show my face in the Upper Courtyard again?"

After speaking, Zhou An tilted his head slightly. Without moving his lips, he lowered his voice to a whisper only Zhou Yonglu beside him could hear.

"Young Master, you've really picked the wrong fight today... I'm not about to be the one to stick my neck out! Just take the loss. Listen to me!"

"This..."

Zhou Yonglu opened his mouth, but for a long moment, he was utterly speechless.

Over on the Wu Family's side, Wu Ziyu stood frozen in place. Her beautiful eyes were wide and her red lips were parted, as if her very soul had left her body.

She didn't know Zhou An.

But she knew the weight and influence of every single person Zhou An had just listed.

'What she couldn't have imagined was that so many heavyweights were all centered around Chen Cheng.'

Especially Zhuang Zhen.

'She, Wu Ziyu, had once tried to recruit her, but she simply couldn't attract her, much less afford to support her.'

'The number one genius of the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard! A Transforming Force expert at twenty-three! A registered member of the Evil Extermination Bureau! Her uncle is an Imperial Guard Official in the Inner City! And even the Dragon Mountain Hall Master was interested in taking her on as a direct disciple...'

'The Dragon Mountain Hall Master... he was a god-like figure!'

'In all of Zhao City, he was one of the top-ranked, supreme experts!'

Wu Ziyu had investigated all of this long ago.

She had completely given up on the idea of recruiting Zhuang Zhen a long, long time ago.

'She, Wu Ziyu, at least had that much self-awareness.'

But what she never, ever expected was that Chen Cheng actually had such an unusual relationship with Zhuang Zhen.

'And every single person Zhou An mentioned, including Zhuang Zhen, was part of Chen Cheng's network!'

At this thought, Wu Ziyu's heart trembled violently.

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