Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 34: Unwarranted Disaster

"The *Bear Skin Grinding Technique*? This is for me?"

Taking the Cultivation Technique Manual from Liu Yunfeng, Chen Cheng looked utterly astonished.

Liu Yunfeng offered a warm smile and nodded slightly.

"Chief Liu, this Secret Manual is too valuable. I can’t accept it." Chen Cheng never believed there was such a thing as a free lunch. After a moment’s thought, he spoke with a solemn expression.

As the saying goes, one shouldn’t be rewarded without merit. For Liu Yunfeng to suddenly offer such a great benefit, he would naturally expect something of equal value in return.

A Secret Manual worth at least a hundred taels of silver would undoubtedly drive countless Martial Artists to fight to the death for it on the outside. This could very well be blood money.

"Hahaha..."

Taking in Chen Cheng’s reaction, Liu Yunfeng burst out laughing. After a long moment, he clapped Chen Cheng warmly on the shoulder and chuckled. "You kid, you really are something else. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. But I was still wrong in a way. You’re not just Fierce Ah Cheng, you’re Cunning Ah Cheng."

Chen Cheng smiled and said, "Chief Liu, I have to disagree with you there. I’ve always been kind-hearted and sincere. The word ’cunning’ doesn’t apply to me at all."

Liu Yunfeng raised his eyebrows, feigning a reproachful look. "When I call you cunning, it’s a compliment. Can’t you tell, you kid?"

Chen Cheng really didn’t want such a "compliment." If it got out, rumors would surely get twisted, and he’d be stuck with the name "Cunning Ah Cheng."

"Chief Liu, your choice of compliments is a little... strange. How about we use a different phrase? Something like ’unmatched in wisdom and strategy’ sounds a bit nicer, don’t you think?"

"Whether it’s cunning or unmatched in wisdom, your mind is far beyond that of an ordinary person." Liu Yunfeng waved his hand dismissively. "Anyone else, upon receiving such a Cultivation Technique, would have been ecstatic, practically falling over themselves to thank me. But you... you actually don’t want it. That’s a real surprise."

Chen Cheng smiled, then his expression turned serious. "Chief Liu, a Cultivation Technique Manual is incredibly precious, so of course I want it. But one shouldn’t be rewarded without merit. My strength is meager; I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle the implications. I truly cannot accept it."

"’One shouldn’t be rewarded without merit.’ Well said." Liu Yunfeng praised him, then also adopted a serious tone. "Since this Cultivation Technique Manual is being given to you, just accept it with an easy heart. The great personage giving it to you isn’t asking for anything in return. Consider it an act of goodwill."

’A great personage forming a bond of goodwill? That’s just a soft way of recruiting me. Getting a top-tier Cultivation Technique Manual without having to pay anything for it... that’s a total freebie. It’d be foolish not to take it. Besides, if I refuse, I probably won’t be able to last long in the City Guard Department. I’ll take it for now. After all, the strength I’ve shown is only slightly greater than a Martial Artist who has just entered the Skin Grinding Realm. The mysterious big shot probably won’t ask me to do anything too major.’

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Chen Cheng made his decision. He cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Chief Liu."

"Mm, you can get back to your duties." Liu Yunfeng waved his hand. After Chen Cheng had left the room, he let out a long sigh. ’Each generation brings forth new talent. An Ah Cheng like this... he’s truly destined for greater things.

Perhaps only an Ah Cheng like this—with outstanding natural talent yet also unmatched in wisdom—would be valued so highly by that great personage. And perhaps only he has a chance of successfully mastering this Cultivation Technique Manual.’

...

A light snow had begun to fall again, the flakes drifting down like scattered willow catkins.

In a quiet courtyard, a woman in blue with a cold expression wielded a three-foot longsword, dancing with her blade amidst the falling snow.

As graceful as a startled swan, as supple as a swimming dragon, her form was exquisite, her sword like the biting frost!

"SHIING!"

As the sword’s afterimages fluttered, the snowflakes in the air slowly gathered, converging at the tip of the blade. The momentum it generated was deep and heavy, chillingly cold and sharp, carrying an aura of invincibility.

The longsword struck as fast as lightning, piercing a half-man-high rockery boulder. The great stone instantly shattered, turning to dust.

The woman sheathed her sword and stood still, her face as pale as frost, exuding a cold and aloof pride.

"Miss, your Sword Momentum is becoming even more formidable!"

The maid in green robes stepped forward slowly, her voice full of pleasant surprise.

This woman was none other than Shen Qingshuang. The small courtyard had originally been the Government Office Hall for the Branch Chief Constable of the Ruyi Square Sub-Department of the City Guard Department. However, she was obsessed with the Martial Dao and rarely handled official business, so the Branch Chief Constable’s office was gradually moved to an adjacent building.

Shen Qingshuang had a cold and arrogant personality and disliked being disturbed. As a result, very few people ever came to this courtyard.

Only after returning the longsword to its Jade Sword Scabbard and hanging it back on her waist did Shen Qingshuang turn around.

Her maid, Xiaoxing, quickly handed over the dossier she was holding.

"Miss, this is the dossier on Chen Cheng."

Shen Qingshuang took the dossier, opened it, and read through it carefully. Her elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly as she fell into thought.

The dossier contained Chen Cheng’s detailed information: his age, family situation, past experiences, the people he had interacted with while working as a Prison Guard in the South City District, the things he had done, and so on.

According to the file, Chen Cheng’s background was no different from that of any ordinary commoner’s son; there was nothing remarkable about it.

The only point worthy of attention was his nickname from his time in the Prison: Fierce Ah Cheng.

And the origin of this title was connected to one person: Master Xiu Chen.

’Could it be that this fellow, Chen Cheng, is Pan Dageng’s disciple?

No, that’s not right. If he were Pan Dageng’s disciple, why would he have tortured Pan Dageng time and again? That doesn’t make sense.

Could it be that Chen Cheng, like Pan Dageng, stumbled upon and successfully cultivated the Iron Armor Skill by accident?

That’s impossible. Master once said that the version of the Iron Armor Skill that Pan Dageng obtained was severely incomplete. Anyone who cultivated it rashly would be crippled, if not killed.

Although Pan Dageng didn’t die, his Cultivation went awry, causing his Realm to drop, and also...’

Thinking of the rumors about Pan Dageng, Shen Qingshuang’s face flushed red, and she didn’t dare to let her thoughts continue.

"This Chen Cheng is probably connected to Pan Dageng," Shen Qingshuang said. "It’s best to have as little contact with him as possible."

"Miss, are you saying that Chen Cheng and Pan Dageng might be friends?" Noticing Shen Qingshuang’s unusual reaction, Xiaoxing asked cautiously.

"We can’t rule out that possibility," Shen Qingshuang said. "This matter requires further investigation before we can draw any conclusions."

"Ah? ...You mean Master Xiu Chen, Miss?" As if she had thought of something, Xiaoxing’s face also turned red unconsciously.

"Miss, Chief Liu is waiting in the adjacent building. Do you want to see him?" Xiaoxing quickly changed the subject.

Shen Qingshuang said, "I won’t see him!"

"Yes." Xiaoxing acknowledged the order. Just as she was about to go and relay the message, she heard Shen Qingshuang add, "Tell Liu Yunfeng not to mention Chen Cheng’s name in my presence ever again."

Arriving at the Government Office Hall in the adjacent building, Xiaoxing said flatly to Liu Yunfeng, "Chief Liu, the Miss doesn’t want to see you right now."

"Why is that?" Liu Yunfeng read her expression. Seeing that Xiaoxing looked quite displeased, he wondered to himself what had happened.

Shen Qingshuang was the one who had provided the *Bear Skin Grinding Technique* Secret Manual. She had even specifically instructed him to report back after delivering it.

Liu Yunfeng had a bellyful of praises for Chen Cheng ready to share, hoping to persuade this young lady of the Shen Family to properly cultivate the promising young man. How could her attitude have changed in less than half a day?

"The Miss said she won’t see you, so she won’t see you," Xiaoxing said irritably.

As Shen Qingshuang’s personal maid, she held a superior status in front of the chief constables of the Ruyi Square Sub-Department.

"Understood," Liu Yunfeng replied in a gruff, muffled voice.

"Also, the Miss instructed that you are not to mention Chen Cheng’s name in her presence again," Xiaoxing added coolly, then walked straight away.

Liu Yunfeng stared at the snowflakes drifting through the sky, utterly bewildered.