Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

With Mr. Mu teaching him so diligently, Chen Cheng was not stingy in return. He would occasionally treat him to a good meal and drinks, and secretly give him some silver coins.

Mr. Mu always happily accepted the invitations for drinks but never the silver coins, only asking that Chen Cheng look after the younger generation of the Mu Family.

Mr. Mu’s grandson, Mu Chuan, served under Su Chenglin alongside Chen Cheng. His talent was quite good; at twenty-two, he had already reached Small Success in the Skin Grinding Realm and achieved Great Success in Saber Technique. He had been one of the candidates Su Chenglin was personally grooming to succeed him as Chief Constable.

However, given Mu Chuan’s Martial Arts Power, he would likely need another three to five years of Cultivation to have a chance at being promoted to Chief Constable.

Then Chen Cheng came out of nowhere, becoming the most promising candidate for the next Chief Constable. Since Su Chenglin was also considering retirement, he had decided to invite Chen Cheng to work under him.

Both Mr. Mu and Su Chenglin intended to pave the way for the younger members of their families.

By showing Chen Cheng favor now, they ensured he would owe them a debt of gratitude. In the future, he would be expected to look after the younger members of their families. This was a mutually beneficial arrangement, part of the unspoken social rules that had always governed the City Guard Office.

...

The jurisdiction Chen Cheng was now assigned to was in the center of Ruyi District. The local gang was the Beidou Gang, which mainly operated businesses like gambling dens, brothels, and brokerage houses, all while keeping a very low profile.

After all, with the Ruyi Square Sub-Office watching over the area, the Beidou Gang had no choice but to keep a low profile.

In terms of public safety, the area was home to wealthy households, most of which employed Hospital Martial Artists for protection. Ordinary thieves dared not operate here, so it was quite peaceful.

Chen Cheng’s daily duties were much easier than before. It was little more than making a round through the various streets and alleys at the appointed hour, just going through the motions.

However, while this area seemed safe, for a City Guard Department constable, it was far more dangerous than other jurisdictions. This was because anyone who dared to commit a crime here was inevitably a desperate fugitive from the Jianghu, accomplished in their Martial Arts Cultivation.

These people, relying on their martial prowess to break the law, didn’t care if you were a City Guard Department Official; they would strike without mercy.

For this reason, the number of casualties among City Guard Department constables in this jurisdiction had always been the highest in the entire Ruyi Square Sub-Department.

Chen Cheng didn’t dare let his guard down in the slightest. He remained constantly cautious, and as a result, had stayed out of trouble.

On his day off, Chen Cheng found himself missing Mu Xiaowan. After breakfast, he hurried to the Inner City Zheng Martial Arts Hall.

After his arrival was announced, the same one-eyed man as before led him through the main gate of the Martial Arts Hall. They crossed a garden path beside the main square and entered the Double Courtyard.

Passing through another corridor, they arrived at the inner courtyard of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall.

The inner courtyard of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall was even more spacious than the two outer ones. It featured gardens and rockeries, small bridges over flowing streams, and layer upon layer of residences with red walls and blue-green tiles, all arranged in neat, dense rows. Chen Cheng was secretly astonished by the sight.

The one-eyed man led Chen Cheng to the gate of a residence in the northeast corner, then went straight inside to announce his arrival.

Before long, Mu Xiaowan came hurrying out from the courtyard.

She was dressed in a set of form-fitting green martial attire, with a black Short Sword hanging from her waist. Her skin was like cream, her eyes were bright and her teeth were pearly, and she wore a dazzling, charming smile.

"Xiaowan." Chen Cheng smiled slightly, marveling to himself. ’It’s only been a few days, but Mu Xiaowan already has the air of a Martial Artist.’

With light steps, Mu Xiaowan came to stand before Chen Cheng, her face full of joy.

"Brother Cheng."

"Xiaowan, are you getting used to living at the Zheng Martial Arts Hall?" Chen Cheng asked with a smile, gently taking her hand.

Mu Xiaowan nodded. "I’m doing well. I eat well and sleep well here, and my master has even started teaching me Swordsmanship..."

Though they had only been apart for a few days, they missed each other dearly. Their reunion felt sweeter than a honeymoon for newlyweds, and as they shared all their thoughts and feelings, it seemed they had an endless supply of things to say.

An unknown amount of time passed before a soft cough suddenly sounded from the courtyard gate.

The pair quickly turned to look and saw Gongsun Rou standing there, her expression stern.

Mu Xiaowan’s pretty face flushed slightly as she quickly pulled her hand from Chen Cheng’s grasp. "Master."

Gongsun Rou said coolly, "Xiaowan, your Martial Arts Talent is exceptional. You must cherish it and apply yourself to your Cultivation. You cannot be distracted all day by matters of the heart."

"Yes," Mu Xiaowan replied, then turned and secretly winked at Chen Cheng.

She had just been telling him that her master was wonderful in every way, except that she was incredibly strict when it came to Martial Arts Cultivation.

"Alright, you’ve seen him now. Hurry back and practice your Swordsmanship," Gongsun Rou said, waving her hand dismissively.

"Yes." Mu Xiaowan walked back toward the courtyard, looking back reluctantly.

Gongsun Rou looked at Chen Cheng and said flatly, "You should go back, too. From now on, don’t come and disturb Xiaowan’s Cultivation for no reason."

’A strict teacher makes for a brilliant student,’ Chen Cheng thought. This woman was teaching with all her heart, so her intentions were good. He quickly cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Madam. I’ll come back in half a month."

Gongsun Rou frowned. "You want to come every half a month? Won’t that just delay Xiaowan’s Cultivation?"

"Then how about I come back in a month?" Chen Cheng offered.

"Aren’t you trying to join the Zheng Martial Arts Hall? Become the Master’s True Disciple first, and then we’ll talk," Gongsun Rou said coolly before leading Mu Xiaowan away.

...

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, a month had gone by.

One afternoon, the sky was a vast, cloudless blue. The Chen Family’s backyard was quiet and serene, bathed in a gentle, warm breeze.

Chen Cheng climbed out of the sandpit, his skin ground to its absolute limit. His bruises had turned a deep purple, and the gentle breeze sent a fiery, stinging pain across his body.

This was the fourth time Chen Cheng had cultivated the Bear Skin Grinding Technique this month.

With his physique, the injuries to his skin from cultivating the Bear Skin Grinding Technique would heal completely in just seven or eight days. The potency of the Herbal Decoction would also be fully absorbed. His Cultivation Progress was absurdly fast.

As he progressed in the Bear Skin Grinding Technique, each session of Skin Grinding became more thorough, and the pain that came after pushing himself to the limit grew more intense every time.