Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 294: Chapter 162: Elder Zheng Takes Action

They didn’t even have to leave the house to fetch water. Beneath an ancient tree by the garden was a deep well, its water clear, cool, and sweet.

After they had settled into their new home, Mr. Zheng and the First Madam came to visit, ordering people to deliver some daily necessities like White Jade Tea Cups.

Seeing that Chen Cheng had chosen the Cyan Dragon Position Courtyard to live in, Mr. Zheng couldn’t help but praise him again, saying the boy was indeed teachable.

Next, Mr. Zheng led Chen Cheng to meet his various madams and their children. He also ordered the two Instructors and all the Hospital Martial Artists of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall to come and pay their respects one by one.

Among Mr. Zheng’s madams, Chen Cheng was familiar with the Sixth Madam, Luo Yunzhi. As for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Madams, he had met them a few times before but had never really spoken with them.

These four madams were not old, all in their early thirties.

Mr. Zheng had five sons and six daughters in total. The eldest was only ten, while the youngest was just three or four years old.

The six madams didn’t interact much, but their young children were quite familiar with each other. They gathered every day to practice calligraphy with a tutor in the front courtyard of the main residence.

Mr. Zheng had personally appointed Chen Cheng as the temporary Hospital Chief Steward of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, so everyone was very polite to him.

For dinner, Chen Cheng had planned to prepare some food and wine to treat Mr. Zheng, the First Madam, and Min Wei in return.

However, Min Wei beat him to it, so Chen Cheng and Mu Xiaowan had to go over to Min Wei’s home for another meal.

Min Wei had only one wife and one concubine, but he had three sons and two daughters. The eldest were six or seven, while the youngest was still a baby in swaddling clothes.

After dinner, Chen Cheng didn’t remain idle. He meticulously patrolled the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, checking on the guard status of the Hospital Martial Artists at each post.

Mr. Zheng was going on a long journey and had made him the acting Hospital Chief Steward. Naturally, he had to take it seriously and ensure nothing went wrong.

The job of Hospital Chief Steward had many intricacies, such as how to arrange the duty roster and how to handle unexpected incidents. Everything required careful planning.

Chen Cheng had accumulated a great deal of experience managing personnel during his time as a Chief Constable in the City Guard Department. He handled the task with ease and quickly implemented new arrangements.

Previously, with Mr. Zheng presiding over the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, they naturally had no fear of petty criminals.

The focus of the guards had also been centered on Mr. Zheng. In the event of any incident, the Hospital Martial Artists would report to him immediately.

With Mr. Zheng away, the strongest individuals in the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, at least on the surface, were the two Instructors at Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection and the Sixth Madam, Luo Yunzhi, who was at Great Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm.

As for the Hospital Martial Artists, there were twenty-five in total, all of whom were Martial Artists at Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm or higher. Eight of them were even Perfect Martial Artists of the Skin Grinding Realm.

In the Outer City District, such a protective force was already on par with the Outer City’s City Guard Headquarters. However, in the Inner City District, which was teeming with experts, it was somewhat lacking.

But the Inner City Guard Headquarters was much stronger than its Outer City counterpart. Even Bone Forger Realm Martial Artists wouldn’t dare cause trouble lightly in the Inner City District.

Of course, Chen Cheng also made his own thorough arrangements, positioning himself and the two Instructors at the core of the defense. If any powerful intruder dared to trespass into the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, they would respond at the first possible moment.

In just over an hour, Chen Cheng had all the security matters properly arranged. The two Instructors and the rest of the Hospital Martial Artists were all secretly impressed and readily accepted their orders.

Making arrangements was one thing, but ensuring they were carried out was another. After finishing his planning, Chen Cheng returned to his courtyard and practiced the Deer Cutting Saber Technique for a while.

As midnight approached, he quietly went out again to check on the Hospital Martial Artists on duty at their various posts.

All the Hospital Martial Artists were diligent in their duties; no one was slacking off.

"Greetings, Master." Returning to the Double Courtyard, Chen Cheng saw Mr. Zheng strolling out from the Martial Arts Hall’s inner courtyard and quickly stepped forward to bow.

Mr. Zheng, dressed in a green robe with a calm expression, nodded slightly and smiled. "Not bad at all, kid. Swift and decisive on your very first day as Hospital Chief Steward."

"I’ve reviewed your arrangements. They’re very thorough, I can’t find any fault with them."

"It seems your reputation as the number one Chief Constable of the Lishui Sub-Department is well-deserved."

Chen Cheng said seriously, "Master, your kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. I must naturally do everything in my power to repay you."

"I am very gratified that you have such an Innocent Heart." Mr. Zheng’s gaze was profound, and his voice was quite solemn.

"I have already made my own plans for the Zheng Martial Arts Hall’s security. Just do your best; you don’t need to worry too much. Focus on cultivating the Martial Dao."

"Yes," Chen Cheng said.

"Mm, it’s getting late. You should get some rest too." After speaking, Mr. Zheng slowly walked toward the outer courtyard.

Chen Cheng watched Mr. Zheng pass through the corridor. A long moment passed before he turned and walked toward the Martial Arts Hall’s inner courtyard.

Returning to his own courtyard, Mu Xiaowan, dressed in a loose sleeping robe, greeted him with a blossoming smile. "Brother Cheng, I’ve prepared hot water in the side room. You should take a bath and rest."

"No rush. Let’s go up and see the view." Chen Cheng smiled faintly. With a sweep of his large hand, he wrapped his arm around Mu Xiaowan’s soft, slender waist and, with a few leaps, carried her to the highest point of the roof.

"Ah... Brother Cheng, what are we doing on the roof so late at night?" Mu Xiaowan’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, overcome with shyness.

’He’s probably planning to do something naughty on the roof!’ she thought.

’Even though it’s dark and no one can see us, it still feels strange.’

Although Chen Cheng’s hand was still being mischievous, his expression was very calm. He gazed into the distance toward the north and murmured, "Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night."

"Ah?" Hearing this, Mu Xiaowan’s heart began to pound even more fiercely. Fortunately, Chen Cheng just kept looking north and made no further moves.

The two of them stood there quietly. After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a deafening, massive roar suddenly echoed from the northern part of the Inner City District.

Immediately after, several more roars, like cracking thunder, rang out.

"Huh..." A trace of surprise flashed in Mu Xiaowan’s beautiful eyes. "It’s a clear night, why is there suddenly thunder? Is it going to rain?

"No, that’s not right. Usually, thunder sounds like it’s high up in the sky. But this time, it seems to be coming from the northern part of the Inner City District... That’s the direction of the City Lord’s Mansion."

...

The City Lord’s Mansion was brightly lit.

Above its tallest building, however, only the faint afterglow of the lights could be seen.

Two figures could be vaguely seen facing each other from a distance, standing on thin air as wind and thunder swirled beneath their feet.

"To think you would finally take this step!"

The speaker, holding a broad, ancient-looking Longsword, had a solemn expression. It was none other than the City Lord of Linji City, Jiang Botao.

The figure opposite him was tall and burly, his face calm. It was Mr. Zheng. He said nothing, simply raising his hand and swiping it gently forward.

A heavy, solidified pressure suddenly materialized. Wrapped in a monstrous wave of air, it surged violently toward Jiang Botao.

"Hmph. If this is all you have, you’re far too ignorant to think you can challenge me!"

Jiang Botao snorted coldly. His hair and beard moved without wind as the qi and blood in his body surged violently. Then, the qi and blood transformed into Primordial Gang, and the Primordial Gang True Force frantically poured into the Longsword in his hand.

BUZZ...

The Longsword immediately began to tremble violently, emitting a hum that seemed to tear the air apart.

At the same time, ripples spread through the surrounding void. An incomparably sharp and tyrannical aura, which seemed to want to rip everything apart, materialized out of thin air and condensed into a giant sword. It was filled with a metallic sharpness and looked like a mountain peak.

"Go!"

With a soft shout from Jiang Botao, the Longsword in his hand, filled with biting Primordial Gang True Force, shot from his grasp. It flew into the giant sword, merging with it to become one.

Instantly, the giant sword shuddered. Like a thunderbolt from the nine heavens tearing through the air, it shot out as fast as lightning.

RUMBLE!

The giant sword slashed through, and the ferocious wave of air exploded.

Its momentum unbroken, the giant sword carried on, wrapped in boundless power, and slashed toward the tall figure.

"Combining Primordial Gang with the Geng Metal Mountain-breaking Saber... You still haven’t improved!"

Mr. Zheng finally spoke.

As his words fell, a dragon-shaped phantom suddenly appeared around Mr. Zheng, enveloping his entire body.

Mr. Zheng’s tall figure began to move slowly, and the dragon-shaped phantom abruptly opened its mouth.

"ROAR!"

The earth-shattering dragon’s cry seemed powerful enough to shatter the very heavens and earth!

The dragon-shaped phantom also solidified abruptly, filled with a tyrannical aura that could dominate heaven and earth. Its claw swiped forward, striking heavily against the tip of the giant sword.

RUMBLE!

The incomparably sharp giant sword, capable of cleaving through anything, was forcefully shattered, turning into dust!

The void cracked apart, and the earth-shaking explosion made the buildings below tremble faintly!

The Longsword that had merged with the giant sword was also sent flying. Jiang Botao’s figure flashed as he reached out to catch it.

He didn’t expect the Longsword to still carry an incomparably immense force.

All the Primordial Gang around Jiang Botao’s body erupted, and only with great difficulty did he manage to stabilize himself, preventing the immense force from sending him flying.

"True Intent of Heaven and Earth!" Jiang Botao was horrified. He turned to look, only to see a tall figure flitting rapidly south, disappearing into the dark night in an instant.