Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

It only highlighted how precious Chen Cheng's help was at this moment, a debt of gratitude as heavy as a mountain!

"Cheng…"

Shen Mi suppressed her astonishment and said earnestly.

"I appreciate the thought, but I've already returned the Trade Document. Taking your money now won't save the Yongsheng Store. You should take it back. Don't let this interfere with your martial arts training…"

Chen Cheng could see she wasn't just being polite, so he didn't press the issue and tucked the Money Bag back into his robes.

"Sister Mi, is there really no chance at all to save the store?" Chen Cheng pressed.

Shen Mi thought for a moment and said, "Right now, the Commerce Inspection Bureau is holding a martial arts competition for Trade Documents. If we could win one, the Yongsheng Store might still have a chance…"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go over there now," Chen Cheng said.

"It's no use."

Shen Mi sighed.

"It's not a competition just anyone can enter. You need personal approval from Lord Wu of the Commerce Inspection Bureau…"

"Wu? As in, from the Inner City's Wu Family?"

Chen Cheng's gaze sharpened. After seeing Shen Mi nod, he immediately declared,

"Let's go! We'll head over right now!"

...

A while later, the two of them arrived at the gates of the Inner City.

When Chen Cheng took out the Travel Permit issued by the Patrol Office, allowing them to pass directly without inspection or registration, only then did Shen Mi realize that he had already moved into the Inner City—and through official channels, no less.

This surprised Shen Mi even more. She also realized that the one thousand taels of silver he'd offered earlier were nowhere near his limit.

After all, living in the Inner City was something no ordinary person could afford, let alone through official channels.

After another while,

The two arrived at the South District Commerce Inspection Bureau in the Inner City's South Sixth District.

However, they had just reached the entrance when they were stopped by a guard.

"The Yongsheng Store is not on the list for the competition. You can't enter."

The guard said with a stony face, his words clipped and formal, giving off an air of incorruptible impartiality.

"Is Wu Ziyu inside?"

Chen Cheng looked at the guard and asked in a calm tone.

"Could you please pass on a message for me? Just tell her Chen Cheng is here to see her."

"...You… Sir, please wait a moment."

The moment the guard heard Wu Ziyu's name, his expression changed instantly. She wasn't just anyone; she was the precious daughter of their South District Commerce Inspection Bureau's Chief Commercial Inspector, Lord Wu.

The guard scurried off as if his feet were greased, vanishing inside in a flash.

Shen Mi didn't speak, just quietly looked at Chen Cheng's profile. The astonishment in her clear, bright eyes grew so thick it could no longer be contained.

Throughout all of South City, Inner and Outer alike, anyone in business had to deal with the South District Commerce Association, and by extension, the Wu Family.

Shen Mi had long heard of Wu Ziyu, but she had never dared to dream of associating with someone of such high standing.

Shen Mi was self-aware enough not to go looking for a humiliating rejection.

'Right now, I truly can't believe that Chen Cheng actually knows Wu Ziyu.'

'But if they are merely acquaintances, it still won't change anything…'

As she thought this, Shen Mi didn't dare to get her hopes up.

"Brother Chen!"

Wu Ziyu came jogging out from the entrance, holding up the hem of her skirt. The smile on her face was beaming, even brighter than the winter sun.

She reached Chen Cheng in a few steps, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.

The guard from before followed behind her. His gaze toward Chen Cheng had transformed from cold and stern to utterly fawning and sycophantic. He wore a wide, mushy grin and kept his back bowed, never straightening up.

At the same time, the surprise in Shen Mi's eyes instantly turned to shock.

One moment she was worried their relationship was nothing special; the next, she saw with perfect clarity that their connection was extraordinary.

And what's more, Chen Cheng was clearly the dominant one in the relationship.

To Shen Mi, this was simply unbelievable.

"Brother Chen, what brings you here so suddenly? If you had sent word beforehand, I would have gone to your home to pick you up myself!"

As Wu Ziyu spoke, her gaze naturally shifted to Shen Mi.

"And this is?"

"My sister, Shen Mi."

Chen Cheng said seriously.

"She runs a store in the Outer City and has recently run into some trouble..."

"An Outer City store? Not a problem! Leave it to me!"

Without even letting Chen Cheng finish, Wu Ziyu eagerly took charge, saying with great warmth,

"Brother Chen! Sister Shen! Come in, quickly, it's cold outside! Let's go inside, sit down, and talk it over. An Outer City store's problems are no problem at all for me!"

As she spoke, Wu Ziyu took the initiative and linked her arm with Shen Mi's.

Shen Mi was overwhelmed by the favor, looking at Wu Ziyu, then back at Chen Cheng.

Seeing the calm and gentle smile on Chen Cheng's face, Shen Mi's anxious heart finally settled.

At that moment, in the main courtyard of the Commerce Inspection Bureau, a fighting stage had already been erected.

The doors to all the surrounding private rooms were open, and charcoal braziers burned within each one. Representatives from various trading companies were seated inside.

Wu Ziyu led Shen Mi and Chen Cheng straight past the stage to the main hall in the center of the courtyard.

"Lan'an…"

Inside the private room belonging to the Wan Tong Trading Company, the Master, Gu Heng, suddenly spoke.

"How did that kid and Shen Mi manage to connect with Miss Wu?"

"Huh? It really is them!"

Gu Lan'an looked over, her brow furrowed.

"During Jiuan's Tiger Slaying Banquet, Wu Ziyu tried to recruit Chen Cheng, but he didn't agree at the time… Looks like they must have struck a deal afterward and settled on a price."

"Is that kid very strong?"

Gu Heng narrowed his eyes. There was curiosity in his tone, but it was outweighed by calculation and assessment.

"Him…"

Gu Lan'an thought for a moment and said,

"He's sixteen. He had just condensed Four Pillars of Blood Qi when he defeated a Same Tier opponent at Jiuan's Tiger Slaying Banquet who was older and had condensed his Four Pillars much earlier. He's quite impressive."

"But he's just so pretentious… I once offered him the highest Monthly Allowance on the market, but he turned it down, saying he didn't have time. In reality, wasn't he just complaining that the money was too little?"

"Since Wu Ziyu offered more, suddenly he has time! I can't stand people like that!"

"You need to fix that temper of yours!"

Gu Heng said in a deep voice.

"Which young prodigy isn't arrogant? If you want to recruit someone, you have to at least pretend to show respect for their talent!"

"Tch, it's not like I want to recruit him."

Gu Lan'an pouted, her gaze then shifting to a young man in blue robes seated beside her.

"With Brother Liu's help, I have someone worth ten Chen Chengs!"

Hearing this, the young man turned to look at Gu Lan'an. A gentle, charming smile appeared on his incredibly handsome face as he said in a flat tone,

"Four Pillars of Blood Qi? Not even worthy of polishing my shoes."

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