Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 77 - 70: The First Constable

"Little girl, are you willing to take me as your master now?" Gongsun Rou asked.

The moment she spoke, the dozen or so young disciples present stared wide-eyed in shock, their gazes on Mu Xiaowan a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Mu Xiaowan felt the other disciples’ strange looks. Being perceptive, how could she not understand? The Eldest Madam before her had to be a peerless expert of the Martial Dao.

’If I can become her disciple, I’ll be able to cultivate profound Martial Arts Skills in the future. Even if I only master a tenth of her abilities, I’ll still be very powerful.’

However, a decision as important as taking a master had to be discussed with Brother Cheng first. Mu Xiaowan turned to Chen Cheng, a questioning look in her eyes.

Seeing this, Gongsun Rou sighed softly to herself again. ’This boy’s luck is just too good,’ she thought, ’having such an exceptionally talented fiancée. Even I’m a little envious.’

In her eyes, with Mu Xiaowan’s aptitude, she would surely become a lofty prodigy in the Martial Arts Realm under her careful tutelage.

Once a raw gem like her made her debut, the line of young, brilliant suitors would probably stretch to the heavens. Yet for now, this minor constable from the City Guard Department was getting the steal of a lifetime.

Of course, Gongsun Rou didn’t think there was anything wrong with Mu Xiaowan’s deference. In fact, her pure and kind-hearted nature was all the more precious for it.

’I wonder how many lifetimes of good karma it took for this Chen Cheng boy to land a future wife like Mu Xiaowan,’ Gongsun Rou mused. ’The Chen Family is probably destined for greatness.’

Chen Cheng could tell that Gongsun Rou was an absolute powerhouse. If Mu Xiaowan could become her disciple, it would be infinitely better than joining the Luo Martial Arts Hall. An opportunity this great was not to be missed.

Chen Cheng nodded slightly and smiled. "Xiaowan, what are you waiting for? Thank the Eldest Madam."

Mu Xiaowan took the hint and immediately knelt, bowing low before Gongsun Rou.

"Mu Xiaowan pays her respects to Master."

Gongsun Rou helped her up, her beautiful eyes filled with delight.

"Excellent. From now on, you are my disciple. I never thought I, Gongsun Rou, would find a student with such aptitude. This is wonderful!"

Just then, Luo Yunzhi rushed over from a nearby corridor with a small child of about four or five. She was very surprised by the scene.

"Eldest Sister, what’s going on?"

"This is Mu Xiaowan, my new disciple," Gongsun Rou said simply. Her gaze then fell upon the child hiding behind Luo Yunzhi, his eyes darting about as if lost in thought. She addressed him, a hint of annoyance in her voice, "Zheng Zhilong, from now on, your Auntie won’t have the time to teach you martial arts."

At these words, Zheng Zhilong’s large, dewy eyes lit up. He peeked out from behind Luo Yunzhi and chirped, "Auntie, you really won’t force me to practice martial arts anymore?"

Normally, his greatest fear was Cultivating the Martial Dao with his aunt. Her lessons were not only strict, but she would also occasionally spank him.

"As if I care to bother with you!" Gongsun Rou rolled her eyes at him before turning to Mu Xiaowan. "My good disciple, from now on you will follow me to pursue the Martial Dao. Come, Master will take you inside."

Mu Xiaowan glanced back at Chen Cheng, who gave her an encouraging smile and a nod. Only then did she reluctantly follow Gongsun Rou toward the inner courtyard.

"Young Master Chen, was that your fiancée?"

Luo Yunzhi asked, watching the two of them depart.

"Yes," Chen Cheng replied, then asked, "Shopkeeper Luo, what realm has the Eldest Madam reached in her Martial Arts Cultivation?"

With a somewhat complicated expression, Luo Yunzhi said slowly, "Bone Forging Realm Perfection."

Chen Cheng had already suspected the Eldest Madam might be a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist, but he never imagined she had reached the level of Bone Forging Realm Perfection. He was truly shocked.

"And what is your current strength, Shopkeeper Luo?" Chen Cheng couldn’t resist asking.

Luo Yunzhi looked much like any other noblewoman, with a gentle and graceful disposition. However, Chen Cheng could sense that her vital energy was powerful, far beyond that of a Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist.

Luo Yunzhi sighed. "My aptitude is only average. I have merely reached Great Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm."

Luo Yunzhi was only in her thirties. To have reached Great Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm and still call her aptitude "average" was clearly a statement made in comparison to Gongsun Rou.

After all, Gongsun Rou didn’t look much older than her.

Both Gongsun Rou and Luo Yunzhi could be considered powerhouses in Linji City.

’The Eldest Madam and the Sixth Madam are both this formidable,’ he thought. ’I can’t even imagine how terrifying the legendary Mr. Zheng must be.’

"Mama, you promised to take me to the streets to buy candied fruit skewers," Zheng Zhilong whined, tugging on Luo Yunzhi’s dress. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Alright... Mama will take you to buy some right now."

After agreeing, she turned to Chen Cheng. "Young Master Chen, it is far better for Mu Xiaowan to become Eldest Sister Gongsun’s disciple than to join the Luo Martial Arts Hall. You can rest assured."

...

After leaving the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, Chen Cheng exited the Inner City and hired another horse-drawn carriage to take him to the Ruyi District.

His mind raced as he sat in the carriage.

Chen Cheng had also learned a few things about the Zheng Martial Arts Hall from Luo Yunzhi.

This Mr. Zheng actually had six wives.

Besides the Eldest Madam, Gongsun Rou, and the Sixth Madam, Luo Yunzhi, the other four came from the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.

It seemed the Zheng Martial Arts Hall’s ability to establish a foothold in the Inner City District was tied to these marriage alliances with the Four Great Clans.

Mr. Zheng had married one woman from each clan, a clear statement that he favored none of them over the others. It was a delicate political arrangement.

Luo Yunzhi didn’t know much about the Eldest Madam, Gongsun Rou, only that she was a remarkable woman who had known Mr. Zheng for a very long time.

Gongsun Rou’s standards were notoriously high; she had never taken a disciple before. Even Mr. Zheng’s own True Disciples had failed to meet her approval. Taking Mu Xiaowan as a student was utterly unprecedented.