Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 74 - 68: The Zhou Family’s Reaction

"Oh, Brother Cheng, you’ve been promoted to official constable?"

Seeing Chen Cheng in a brand-new black City Guard Department uniform, a standard-issue Constable’s Saber hanging from his waist, Mu Xiaowan was overjoyed. She hurried forward to get a better look at him.

"Yeah, I just passed the assessment," Chen Cheng said with a smile, his head held high and his chest puffed out.

"Hehe, that’s great! This black uniform is so much more impressive than your old gray one."

Mu Xiaowan’s face was a radiant smile. As she looked him over, she reached out and pinched the hem of his uniform. "The fabric is much better than the gray uniform’s, too.

Brother Cheng, you look much better in this."

Chen Cheng had changed a lot over the past few months.

Initially, he had been thin and wiry, looking utterly ordinary in his gray Prison Guard uniform with the character for "guard" on the back.

Later, after he switched to the gray uniform of a City Guard Department Preparatory Constable, he slowly began to exude some Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Now, in the black uniform of an official constable, combined with the fact that he was much taller and more powerfully built, he was naturally awe-inspiring and brimming with presence.

Xi’Er, standing to the side, had stars in her eyes. "Young Master looks so impressive today," she said joyfully. "Much more impressive than the young masters from those wealthy families."

Chen Cheng knew their feelings were genuine, with no hint of flattery, and he was quite pleased.

The promotion to official constable had been a bit rocky, but the outcome was good.

Mu Xiaowan seemed to be practicing her Wind Chasing Saber Technique very diligently. Even though she was wearing simple training clothes, fine beads of sweat had already formed on her forehead.

During the day, she was accustomed to concealing her features with black ash. While she no longer smeared her entire face until it was pitch-black, she still applied a thin layer, giving her complexion a sallow, yellowish tint.

This sallow face, damp with fine beads of sweat, revealed patches of her original fair skin, making it look mottled against the darker tint.

Combined with her bright smile, which revealed teeth as white as porcelain, she looked utterly playful and adorable.

Chen Cheng’s heart stirred. He set down his package and pulled her into his arms.

"Xiaowan, you’re practicing your Saber Technique a little too hard. You’re all sweaty."

Mu Xiaowan wore no makeup, but she had a naturally faint, pleasant scent. Now that she was slightly sweaty, it was even more alluring.

Chen Cheng unconsciously lowered his head, a fierce tiger gently sniffing a rose.

But Mu Xiaowan misunderstood his intent. A little shy, she tried to wriggle out of his embrace. "Brother Cheng, do I stink of sweat? I’ll go wash up."

Chen Cheng held her waist tightly and whispered with a smile, "You don’t stink at all. You smell wonderful."

"Really?" Mu Xiaowan sniffed the air, then theatrically lifted her arm to sniff her armpit. "I think there is a little bit of a smell..."

Chen Cheng took another careful sniff. It was still that same faint, pleasant fragrance. He suddenly remembered a line he had heard somewhere and said softly, "Your sweet sweat cools your light shirt, and your cool shirt carries your sweet scent."

Mu Xiaowan tilted her head up, her eyes twinkling slyly. In the sunlight, her long lashes only served to accentuate her bright eyes and pearly teeth, making her look exceptionally charming and cute.

Seeing the trace of tenderness in Chen Cheng’s star-bright eyes, she felt overcome with shyness and quickly buried her head in his increasingly muscular chest.

"The Young Master is a poet!" Xi’Er clapped her hands and laughed, completely carefree.

Mu Xiaowan snapped back to reality and reluctantly pulled away from Chen Cheng’s embrace. "I’ll go make dinner," she said.

Chen Cheng smiled. "Alright. After we eat, we’re moving."

"Moving?"

"Yes, moving."

...

After lunch, Chen Cheng hired a horse-drawn carriage and returned.

The Chen family didn’t have many belongings—just some clothes and bedding, pots and pans, and a little food.

Once everything was packed up, it only filled half the carriage.

Just before they left, Mu Xiaowan turned to look back at the house, her eyes filled with reluctance.

The Chens’ old home was dilapidated and simple, but she had lived here with Brother Cheng for several years and had grown attached to it.

The tiny house held so many of her memories.

On those cold, snowy nights, she and Brother Cheng would huddle together in the small house. They relied on each other, and in that, they felt immense happiness.

If she had the choice, she might not have wanted a big house at all, preferring to spend her whole life with Brother Cheng in this little courtyard.

But Brother Cheng had said that the world was a dangerous place. Locust Tree Lane wasn’t safe, and they had to move to a more secure neighborhood.

"Xiaowan, let’s go," Chen Cheng said.

"Okay."

...

The Chen Family’s new residence was in Willow Lane on Shisong Street, not far from the Ruyi Square Sub-Department and only two main streets away.

This was a residential area for the wealthy. The streets and alleys were all paved with bluestone slabs, clean and tidy.

The number of City Guard Department constables patrolling day and night was also much higher.

Some families even had specialized Hospital Martial Artists patrolling the streets and alleys around their residences, so security was much better.

The Chen Family Residence was a two-courtyard compound. The main gate was large and stately, and the sturdy stone walls were over ten feet high.

Chen Cheng took out the key, opened the gate, unloaded their things from the carriage, and placed them in the courtyard.

After sending the carriage driver away, he finally had time to look around their new home.

Previously, Luo’s Shop had specially arranged for servants to take care of the courtyard, so it was clean everywhere.

Servants and maids were of slave status and could be bought at the market for a few taels of silver. Moreover, most didn’t need to be given example money; room and board were sufficient.

Chen Cheng had always preferred peace and quiet, so he had no intention of buying servants.

The front courtyard was paved with bluestone slabs. There was a small garden by the wall, and the main hall was quite spacious. On either side were two side rooms, one being the kitchen and the other the gatekeeper’s quarters.

Next to the garden was a corridor leading to the rear courtyard.

The rear courtyard was even larger than the front. The main residence was quite spacious, with the outer room serving as a main hall and the inner room as a large bedroom.

There were two side rooms on each side of the main residence, as well as an even larger garden. Next to the garden’s rockery was a deep well, so they didn’t even have to go out to fetch water.

A residence like this would be spacious even for a family of over ten people. With only the three of them from the Chens living there, it seemed a bit empty and desolate.

However, it was clear that Mu Xiaowan and Xi’Er didn’t find it desolate. After putting away their belongings, Mu Xiaowan took Xi’Er to explore the place. The two of them were laughing and talking, appearing extremely excited.

Chen Cheng briefly looked around and then began to focus on cultivating his Wind Chasing Saber Technique.

He had killed Zhou Fang today. Shen Qingshuang and Liu Yunfeng had both made arrangements, so the Zhou Family probably wouldn’t make a move.

Relying on others for protection wasn’t realistic. Chen Cheng still needed to prepare. Increasing his Martial Arts Power as quickly as possible was the only sure way.

「At nightfall.」

In the spacious bedroom of the main residence, Mu Xiaowan snuggled in Chen Cheng’s arms, listening to him recount the day’s events.

When she heard that Zhou Fang was actually a Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist and had even used a Hidden Weapon like a Sleeve Arrow, she couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear for Chen Cheng.

And upon learning that Chen Cheng had made an enemy of the Zhou Family, Mu Xiaowan felt deeply worried.

She was sharp-witted and knew that Chen Cheng wouldn’t tell her these things without a reason.

"Brother Cheng, I want to go to the Luo Martial Arts Hall in the Inner City to be Cultivating Martial Dao," Mu Xiaowan said softly.

Lately, when Chen Cheng wasn’t home, she had been diligently practicing the Wind Chasing Saber Technique. In truth, she wanted to become stronger so that Chen Cheng wouldn’t have to worry about her.

If she could achieve something in her Martial Dao cultivation and be of some help to Chen Cheng, that would be even better.

"Xiaowan, Martial Arts Cultivation must be done step by step. You can’t train too hard; it’s not good to injure your body," Chen Cheng advised.

Mu Xiaowan poked Chen Cheng’s chin with her finger and said with a sly smile, "Brother Cheng, that sounds like what I used to tell you all the time.

But you, every day it’s nothing but cultivating the Martial Dao, then more cultivating the Martial Dao. No amount of persuasion ever worked."

Chen Cheng caught her small hand and said seriously, "I’m different. I’m a man, and you’re a young woman. Besides, you’re still growing, so you can’t cultivate too much."

"Okay, I understand."

...

「The next day.」

After breakfast, Chen Cheng took a half-day leave from the City Guard Department and headed to Luo’s Shop.

"Master Chen." Seeing Chen Cheng arrive, the greeting attendant quickly bowed in welcome.

Having become a Tributor for Luo’s Shop, Qian Bin had already introduced Chen Cheng to everyone at the shop.

"Is Steward Qian in?" Chen Cheng asked.

The attendant smiled and said, "He is. Steward Qian has given instructions that if Master Chen comes by, you should go right in to see him."

"Alright," Chen Cheng said, and walked straight into the shop.

Qian Bin was introducing a Cultivation Technique Manual to two customers. When he saw Chen Cheng, he had another attendant take care of the customers and led Chen Cheng into a back room.

"Younger Brother Chen, you moved into your new home yesterday, and I haven’t had a chance to come by and congratulate you yet. Please forgive me."

Chen Cheng smiled and said, "Brother Qian, no need to be so formal. By the way, is Shopkeeper Luo in?"

"Shopkeeper Luo sent a message. Young Master Zheng has been throwing a tantrum lately, so I’m afraid she won’t be coming by for the next few days."

Qian Bin shook his head, then, reading Chen Cheng’s expression, said, "Shopkeeper Luo gave instructions. If this is about your young lady joining the Luo Martial Arts Hall, Younger Brother Chen should go directly to the Inner City Zheng Martial Arts Hall to find her."