Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

The Lishui Sub-Department had two main Government Office Hall buildings, both courtyard-style structures with surrounding corridors. The Chief Constable’s Government Office Hall was on the Third Floor of the left building. Ji Jingbei’s office was spacious and bright, with a large terrace on the northeast side that commanded a wide view. From inside the room, the terrace offered an unobstructed view of Jishui Lake.

When Chen Cheng entered, Ji Jingbei was standing ramrod straight before the terrace, gazing out toward Jishui Lake.

He was tall and burly, dressed in a blue, cloud-patterned uniform with a Long Saber at his waist. Even from behind, he cut an imposing figure.

Chen Cheng followed his gaze out from the terrace. The lake was vast and its waters a deep blue. A few towered pleasure boats and painted barges floated not far from the shore. Further out, merchant ships and fishing boats of all sizes plied back and forth, creating a bustling scene.

When the man turned around, Chen Cheng got a clear look at his face. His temples were graying and his features were weathered, but his eyes were cold, serious, and uncompromising, giving him an air of stern authority.

Ji Jingbei was forty-five years old and had reached Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection. He had mastered Saber Momentum, and his power was no less than Shen Qingshuang’s. In fact, the sharp aura he subtly emanated far surpassed hers.

"You must be Chen Cheng?" Sizing him up, a glint appeared in Ji Jingbei’s eyes, and his expression shifted slightly. This refined-looking youth before him, with his calm and composed demeanor, was vastly different from the other young Celestial Prides he had seen from the great families.

Chen Cheng nodded slightly. "I am."

Ji Jingbei walked to his desk, picked up a prepared booklet, and said solemnly, "This is the roster of the constables under your command, along with information on your jurisdiction.

I don’t care what you did at the Ruyi Square Sub-Department or what powers you have backing you. Now that you are in the Lishui Sub-Department, you will follow my orders, enforce the law impartially, and maintain peace and order in your jurisdiction.

The Lishui Sub-Department conducts an annual review. If you fail to pass, I will report to my superiors and have you transferred. The review regulations are in the Chief Constable’s office; you can look them over yourself."

...

After leaving Ji Jingbei’s Government Office Hall, Chen Cheng briefly met with the constables on duty under his command and made a tour of his assigned jurisdiction before finally returning to his office on the second floor of the right main Government Office Hall.

The room was a large, loft-style open space, much more spacious than his office at the Ruyi Square Sub-Department. It was uniquely decorated and fully equipped with all necessary office and daily-use items. The outer area was for work, while the inner room had a bed for resting.

Chen Cheng sat at his desk, reading the Chief Constable review regulations Ji Jingbei had mentioned, and was soon lost in thought.

These Chief Constable review regulations were identical to those of other City Guard Department Sub-Departments. Chen Cheng had already seen them back at the Ruyi Square Sub-Department. The content was nothing more than rules about reporting for duty on time, maintaining peace in the jurisdiction, handling major cases, not colluding with Jianghu Gangs, and not accepting bribes.

Failure to pass the review would result in minor penalties like a docked salary or reassignment, or severe consequences such as direct dismissal from office, or even imprisonment and prosecution.

Currently, the bureaucracy of the Great Yu was corrupt, so the Chief Constable review regulations were a mere formality. Most Sub-Departments turned a blind eye and didn’t enforce them strictly; some didn’t even conduct reviews at all.

Ji Jingbei’s specific reminder about the review meant he obviously intended to enforce the regulations strictly.

Chen Cheng noticed that the Linshui Sub-Office was indeed different from other Sub-Departments. The three shifts of government officials each attended to their duties with great rigor.

From the Chief Constables down to the constables, almost no one was slacking off.

When he had returned earlier, the doors to the other three Chief Constables’ rooms on the same floor were all shut tight, suggesting they were out on duty.

Lishui District was a large district with several piers connecting to the Jishui River. With so many Jianghu figures coming and going, it was normal for the City Guard Department’s rules to be a bit stricter.

The jurisdiction assigned to Chen Cheng was near the southernmost edge and also had a pier, named Qingshui Pier. The nearby streets and alleys were home to three or four small Jianghu Gangs, and public order was quite chaotic.

Furthermore, five li south of Qingshui Pier was a place called Cold Crow Village, said to be a stronghold for the South City District’s Black Market.

To get to the Cold Crow Village Black Market, one had to pass through Qingshui Pier, whether by land or water. This made the nearby streets and alleys even more dangerous. After nightfall, murders occurred one after another.

As a City Guard Department Chief Constable responsible for the Qingshui Pier area, Chen Cheng’s job would not be an easy one.

Of course, it wasn’t all bad news. At least the Jianghu Gangs active in the Qingshui Pier area weren’t very strong. The most powerful Gang Leader was only a Perfect Martial Artist of the Skin Grinding Realm, whom Chen Cheng could easily suppress with his own strength.

There were plenty of Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artists among the Jianghu figures who frequented the Black Market, but that was a matter for after dark. ’I can just turn a blind eye.’

As for the Chief Constable review, Chen Cheng didn’t pay it much mind. ’I can’t put myself in danger just for the sake of a review, after all.’

Just then, a knock came from the door. Chen Cheng opened it to find a tall, slender man with a handsome face, dressed in a black, cloud-patterned uniform. It was Yan Jian.

Yan Jian had taken office two days earlier than Chen Cheng. His office was on the same floor.

"Mr.... Mr. Chen!" Yan Jian had been about to call him Brother Chen out of habit, but seeing Chen Cheng’s indifferent expression, he changed his address at the last moment.

In his view, Chen Cheng’s Martial Arts Power was low, but he had somehow managed to become a Chief Constable with dozens of constables under him. ’In case of an emergency, he could be of some help. He deserves a bit of respect.’

Chen Cheng said, "Mr. Yan. Is there something you need?"

Yan Jian smiled faintly. "Mr. Chen, we both serve under Miss Shen. We should be closer.

It’s almost time to eat. Why don’t we find a place to sit down together? My treat."

"Alright." Chen Cheng agreed readily after a moment’s thought.

’Although Yan Jian’s character is questionable,’ he thought, ’I’m new to Lishui District and all alone. There’s no harm in building a relationship with him.’

Having come to an agreement, the two of them went to a tavern not far from the Lishui Sub-Department.