Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 296: Chapter 163: Marriage Alliance of the Twin Belles

Jiang Botao nodded, then said, "So be it. Since Zheng Hun has reached such a level, his desire to leave Linji City actually saves me some trouble. I’ll grant him this favor.

Starting tomorrow, the City Guard Department will dispatch extra men to patrol near the Zheng Martial Arts Hall. Don’t let any petty scoundrels disturb the Zheng Family."

Mao Yong bowed respectfully. "As you command."

「...」

The Inner City, at the Shen Family residence.

The Shen Family Ancestor, Shen Zhaoyi, the Patriarch, Shen Mingyuan, and a host of Clan Elders, Shen Zhiyuan, and Shen Zhiheng, along with Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, were all gathered in the family’s council hall.

Shen Zhaoyi sat on the main seat, his expression still holding a trace of disbelief.

"To think that kid, Zheng Hun, has actually cultivated to such a Realm. It truly puts old folks like us to shame!"

When Organ Refining Realm Martial Artists clashed in the Inner City, Shen Zhaoyi had naturally sensed it immediately. He had rushed over at once and witnessed the fight between Jiang Botao and Zheng Hun not far from the City Lord’s Mansion.

With Shen Zhaoyi’s keen eye, he could tell at a glance that Zheng Hun’s true combat prowess was far superior to Jiang Botao’s.

Zheng Hun was just over fifty, which for a Martial Artist cultivating the Martial Dao, was the prime of his life. Now that he had risen, he was already unstoppable.

The martial arts landscape of Linji City had undergone an earth-shattering change.

"Father, do you really think Zheng Hun can defeat Jiang Botao?" Patriarch Shen Mingyuan asked earnestly, standing respectfully to the side.

Shen Zhaoyi said, "Although Jiang Botao’s power is formidable, he is only at the Organ Refining Realm and the Second Layer Realm.

Zheng Hun has touched upon the True Intent of Heaven and Earth. If he were merely at Bone Forging Realm Perfection, the Realm Power he could wield would be limited, and Jiang Botao might have stood a chance.

But since Zheng Hun has advanced to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, he can fully unleash his Realm Power. He could easily defeat Jiang Botao in less than fifty moves."

Shen Mingyuan was overjoyed. "Back when the Four Great Clans joined forces to suppress Zheng Hun, our Shen Family didn’t contribute much.

Furthermore, Qingshuang has studied under Zheng Hun and become his True Disciple.

Our Shen Family might just be able to further strengthen our relationship with him.

Father, how about I prepare some gifts and personally visit him tomorrow to express the Shen Family’s intention to form a friendship with Senior Zheng Hun?"

Shen Mingyuan was several years older than Zheng Hun, yet he addressed him as ’Senior,’ clearly viewing Zheng Hun as an expert on the same level as the Shen Family’s Ancestor, Shen Zhaoyi.

Although this might seem like lowering his own status, "the strong are respected" is an unwritten rule of the Martial Arts Realm, so it was perfectly understandable.

Shen Zhaoyi clearly accepted Shen Mingyuan’s form of address, nodding slightly. "That would naturally be for the best, but have you considered this? Zheng Hun causing a scene at the City Lord’s Mansion clearly has a deeper meaning."

As the Shen Family Patriarch, Shen Mingyuan naturally had a sharp mind. After a moment of thought, he said:

"You’re saying that Senior Zheng Hun’s actions were a display for the Four Great Clans of the Inner City to see?

If that’s the case, I’m afraid he intends to leave Linji City and develop his future in Su State City."

Shen Zhaoyi said, "With Zheng Hun’s current power, he could at least secure a position as an Outer Sect Steward in the Great Dao Sect.

An Outer Sect Steward of the Great Dao Sect, even if unable to hold a post in Su State City, would be sent to a Prefecture City to assume an important position on par with the Demon Suppression Department Director or the Prefecture City Lord.

It’s truly a pity that there are no such vacancies in Linji City right now. Otherwise, if Zheng Hun were to develop his career in Linji City, our Shen Family’s friendship with him would surely allow us to grow even stronger.

However, with Zheng Hun’s power being what it is, even if he goes to Su State City or another Prefecture City for a position, it would still be greatly beneficial for the Shen Family to be on good terms with him."

"Mm," Shen Mingyuan nodded, pondering. "Back when the Shen Family arranged a marriage with Zheng Hun, we just casually chose a woman from a side branch of the family. In hindsight, that seems a bit hasty."

At these words, Shen Zhaoyi fell silent.

The others in the hall also remained quiet.

The Shen Family’s marriage alliance with Zheng Hun was simply a move, like those of the other three Great Clans, to tie Zheng Hun down, wear down his ambition, and make him lose his drive, thereby solidifying the status of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.

Suddenly, Shen Mingyuan’s eyes lit up as he looked toward Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, who were standing below.

"That’s right! Previously, Qingshuang nurtured a young man. He’s said to have outstanding martial arts talent, and he even studied under Zheng Hun and earned his favor. I think his name was Chen... right, Chen Cheng.

This young man has now joined the Demon Suppression Department and went with Qingyao to the Cold Crow Village Black Market to help her eliminate the Shadow Eighteen Bandits."

"You mean the Shen Family should focus on cultivating this Chen Cheng?" Shen Zhaoyi asked.

Shen Mingyuan replied, "Exactly."

Shen Zhaoyi nodded slightly. "Cultivating a young man is easy enough. If we could take it a step further and have him marry into our Shen Family, our relationship with Zheng Hun would become even more secure."

As he spoke, Shen Zhaoyi’s gaze roamed back and forth between the two sisters, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, as if considering which of them would be more suitable to bring in a husband.

Now that Zheng Hun’s power was a world apart from what it used to be, if they wanted to have his prized disciple marry into the family, the Shen Family naturally had to show sincerity. The candidate had to be one of the Shen Family’s peerless twin beauties.

"Logically, since Chen Cheng was nurtured by Qingshuang, it would be more suitable for Qingshuang to be the one to marry him into the family. However, Chen Cheng is now in the Demon Suppression Department and is closer to Qingyao, so it would also be suitable for Qingyao."

Shen Mingyuan could naturally see what his old father was thinking. He was much more direct, turning to Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang to ask:

"Qingyao, Qingshuang, which of you is willing to have Chen Cheng marry into the family?"

Neither Shen Qingyao nor Shen Qingshuang could have anticipated such a turn of events. They looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

This was especially true for Shen Qingyao. Having gone to the Cold Crow Village Black Market with Chen Cheng, visited a brothel together, and experienced a life-and-death battle alongside him, an indescribable feeling had long since begun to sprout in her heart.

It was just that she had always been proud and refused to let her thoughts drift in that direction.

At this moment, the image of Chen Cheng’s handsome face, his tall figure, and the calm yet imposing aura he had when slaying the Shadow Eighteen Bandits surfaced in her mind.

She couldn’t help but blush, her heart racing as she lost her composure.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingshuang’s heart was also in turmoil. Compared to Shen Qingyao, she had known Chen Cheng for much longer.

Ever since Chen Cheng was just a Little Prison Guard competing to become a Preparatory Constable, she had sensed that he was extraordinary.

At the time, perhaps it was merely a superior’s appreciation for a subordinate.

But as Chen Cheng killed Zhou Fang, then the South City Thirteen Thieves, and distinguished himself time and again, growing from a humble Preparatory Constable into the Demon Suppression Department’s Purple-clothed Guard he was today.

His Martial Arts Power had advanced by leaps and bounds, already reaching the Muscle Strengthening Realm.

Such a young prodigy was someone the likes of whom Shen Qingshuang had never seen in her life.

She too had never considered Chen Cheng in a romantic light, but thinking about it now, among all the talented young men she knew, only Chen Cheng could stir her heart.

Perhaps it was because of this faint stirring in her heart that she treated Chen Cheng so much better than others, even agreeing to let him take a Shen woman as a concubine.

However, Shen Qingshuang also knew that it was absolutely impossible for the Shen Family to have Chen Cheng marry into the clan.

Before, they might have been able to use the Shen Family’s power to pressure Chen Cheng into submission.

But now, even she and Shen Qingyao were being used as bargaining chips for the Shen Family to curry favor with her master, Mr. Zheng.

’With his pride, how could Chen Cheng possibly agree to marry into the Shen Family?’

"Ancestor, Grandfather, today my master has accepted Chen Cheng as a True Disciple, and a Closed-door Disciple at that," Shen Qingshuang reported truthfully.

Hearing this, Shen Zhaoyi and Shen Mingyuan were both overjoyed.

Shen Zhaoyi nodded repeatedly, a smile filling his face. "I never imagined the person you nurtured would be so highly regarded by Zheng Hun. Excellent, truly excellent."

Shen Mingyuan was also beaming, praising him repeatedly. "For this young man to become Senior Zheng Hun’s True Inheritor, his martial arts talent must be extraordinary.

His future Martial Arts Achievement, even if not as astonishingly brilliant as Senior Zheng Hun’s, will surely outshine all others of his generation.

For our Shen Family, this is simply wonderful news."

However, Shen Qingshuang’s next words caused the smiles on their faces to freeze.

"Ancestor, Grandfather, I’ve spoken to Chen Cheng about a marriage alliance with the Shen Family before.

However, Chen Cheng has a bone-deep pride and isn’t one to compromise easily. Although he agreed to a marriage alliance with the Shen Family, he is already married. He would only agree to take a Shen woman as a concubine, and only if she is a woman he fancies."