Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Inside the main hall of the inner courtyard.

Zhuang Zhen took out a small porcelain bottle and placed it on the table.

"Junior Brother, these are nine Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pills. Please take them."

She said,

"The three Blood Robes you killed last night were all credited to my name. Although I’ve already received the reward, it means it can’t be recorded as official merit."

"But the Hundred Guards commander praised me personally, which has raised my status in the squad a bit. So I guess I have you to thank for that, Junior Brother."

"Thank you for collecting them for me, Senior Sister," Chen Cheng said with a smile, putting the porcelain bottle away.

’These nine Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pills will last me twenty-seven days. They should give my strength another major boost.’

"Don’t be so formal with me."

Zhuang Zhen waved her hand. "I just had a big bowl of your Treasure Fish Soup. All this thanking back and forth just makes things awkward, don’t you think?"

"You’ve got a point."

Chen Cheng smiled and didn’t say anything more.

"Speaking of last night, a strange story came out of Seven Miles Slope."

Zhuang Zhen said casually, making small talk,

"They say some handsome youth in white robes killed a Six Blood-Clad Demon with a single slap. The news spread this morning, and now everyone in the Evil Extermination Bureau is talking about it."

"The four Hundred Guards commanders are even trying everything they can to find out the youth’s identity. They all want to recruit him and invest all their resources into training him."

"...White robes?"

Chen Cheng’s heart skipped a beat.

’Could it be that besides me, someone else also slapped a Cloth-Wrapped Demon to death last night?’

’Or did Wang Peng just make it up as a cover story?’

’Whatever, it’s not important.’

’In any case, I can’t admit to it.’

The tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

The Red Moon Remnants would naturally hear the news from last night, and that handsome youth in white would sooner or later face their revenge.

Judging from last night’s situation, Zhao City has long been infiltrated by the Red Moon Demon People, riddled with them like a sieve. They could be hiding in any of the three hundred and sixty trades.

The three Chen Cheng killed last night were a singer, a blacksmith, and a beggar, respectively.

They normally lay low among ordinary people, only to emerge and cause chaos after receiving orders from their leaders.

Once they target you, there’s no telling when they might jump out and take a bite. It’s impossible to guard against.

As the saying goes, a thief can steal for a thousand days, but you can’t guard against a thief for a thousand days.

Since you can’t guard against them, the best solution is to not let the thieves target you in the first place.

"Some people are guessing that the handsome youth in white is Qin Zhao, a new genius who’s emerged from Cloud Platform Hall this year."

Zhuang Zhen said,

"He just turned eighteen this year. His Root Bone and Comprehension were originally considered only slightly above average, but by a stroke of luck, he gained entry to the Qin Family’s Secret Techniques. Since then, his progress has been divinely aided."

"He went from a minor, collateral branch of the Qin Family to being adopted into the main, direct lineage, and he also entered the Cloud Platform Upper Courtyard."

"If he can perform exceptionally at the upcoming Young Qilin Association gathering, he’ll likely become a direct disciple of the Cloud Platform Hall Master."

"Add to that the upcoming Martial Selection and the high regard of the Evil Extermination Bureau, and he’s truly poised to soar to the heavens."

Chen Cheng listened silently, making no comment, but inwardly he was already plotting to buy a set of white robes to have on hand.

If this Qin Zhao was really brave enough to take the heat, Chen Cheng wouldn’t mind using his "white-robed" identity to stir up some trouble.

"Speaking of the Martial Selection, it’s likely going to be held early this time."

Zhuang Zhen continued in her conversational tone, but her eyes clearly dimmed.

"The war in the north is getting intense, and all the Northern Cities have to conscript soldiers ahead of schedule. The Martial Selection will be held before the draft, and I heard they’re even offering more official military positions than in previous years for those who will march north with the army..."

"Which means those who rank high in the Martial Selection can choose to stay behind and serve as Military Officers, while those who rank lower, along with those filling the newly added slots, must go to the front lines."

Chen Cheng noticed the change in her expression and asked seriously,

"Senior Sister, it seems like you don’t have much confidence in yourself."

"...You can drop the ’it seems like.’"

Zhuang Zhen gave a bitter smile.

"The top few spots in the Martial Selection every year are always taken by Transforming Force Martial Artists from the great clans who have Secret Techniques. The military factions’ monopoly has never been just an empty saying."

"What I’m worried about is that the policies will get worse and worse in the coming years. If I participate in the Martial Selection this year, I’ll probably have to go to the front lines. But if I don’t, I’m afraid next year’s situation will be even worse..."

Hearing this, Chen Cheng’s heart sank.

It was indeed a major choice they had to face. The key was that no matter what they chose, they would have to pay a corresponding price and bear the consequences.

Only by securing one of the top spots in the Martial Selection could one avoid such worries.

But in that case, the lack of Secret Techniques became an insurmountable chasm.

"Senior Sister, have you never considered obtaining Secret Techniques through... unconventional means?"

Chen Cheng said,

"I saw Senior Brother Cao this morning. He’s going to marry into the Pang Family’s Direct Lineage... Given your qualifications, Senior Sister, surely there have been great clans proposing marriage?"

"There have been. I rejected them all."

Zhuang Zhen’s tone was calm, yet it held an unquestionable firmness.

"I don’t like that kind of transaction. Compared to that, I’d rather go to the front lines and exchange Military Merit for Secret Techniques."

"I was thinking the exact same thing, Senior Sister."

Chen Cheng said with a serious expression,

"On my way back, I thought this through completely. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you learn someone’s Secret Techniques, how can you not pay a price?"

"Your freedom, your life, or your entire family held hostage, or something else... Ultimately, you have to be completely bound to that family, almost to the point of losing yourself."

"That’s a transaction I would absolutely never make!"

Chen Cheng paused, then asked,

"What about the Martial Arts Sects? Have you ever considered joining one, Senior Sister?"

"I have."

Zhuang Zhen said,

"My uncle has been trying to find a way in for me, but unfortunately, that kind of opportunity isn’t easy to come by."

"...True."

Chen Cheng nodded. He said nothing more, but his mind was already quietly calculating.