Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 37: Seeking Shelter

The young boss was startled. He’d been selling buns for a while and had seen his fair share of customers who deliberately tried to find fault.

Some complained the taste wasn’t authentic, others that the filling was too small, but he’d never encountered anyone who said the buns were hard enough to chip a tooth.

After all, these were fresh, steaming hot buns. How could they possibly be that hard?

The young constable in front of him was obviously looking for an excuse not to pay. But the excuse was so clumsy that even if the young boss wanted to give him the two buns for free, he wouldn’t have a good reason to do so.

If he actually went along with what the constable was saying, his bun shop’s reputation would be ruined. Who would dare buy buns from his shop in the future?

"My buns are all steamed and sold fresh. They’re piping hot and very soft. How could they possibly be hard enough to chip a tooth? Lord Officer, you must be joking.

How about this? Just take the buns. I won’t charge you."

The young boss said cautiously with a forced smile. He was just a commoner and truly didn’t dare to offend a constable from the City Guard Department. He could only choose to take a small loss to avoid trouble and keep the peace.

"What, are you suggesting I’m telling bald-faced lies just to weasel out of paying for a couple of buns?"

Chen Cheng’s face hardened, and he spoke angrily.

"Lord Officer, those are your words. I would never dare imply such a thing."

The young boss was starting to get angry himself. Even a constable from the City Guard Department couldn’t bully someone like this in broad daylight, could he?

People were coming and going on the street, and the argument between the two quickly drew a crowd. Nearby vendors also turned to look.

Chen Cheng glared, his eyes sweeping across the area before finally landing on an old peddler not far behind him.

"What are you looking at? You want to get involved too, old man?"

"No, no! I wouldn’t dare!"

The old peddler quickly turned his head away.

A man in gray clothes standing before a handcart averted his gaze, quickly lowered his head, turned, and hurried away.

Although the man wasn’t carrying a Weapon, there was a bulge at his waist, clearly hiding a sharp object. This person was no simple character. Chen Cheng noticed a flying eagle emblem on his sleeve cuff.

"I told you your buns are hard enough to chip a tooth, but you didn’t believe me. Let your daughter try for herself."

Chen Cheng shoved the other bun in his hand into the little girl’s, then turned and strode away.

Seeing that the show was over, the onlookers also dispersed.

The bun shop owner stood stunned, a look of complete confusion on his face.

’If that constable wanted to eat for free, there was no reason to give one back!’

"Daddy, this bun really is hard!"

Just then, the little girl took a bite of the bun and said in her clear, crisp voice.

"Silly girl, why are you spouting nonsense too?"

The young boss snatched the bun from his daughter’s hand, only to see that several copper coins had somehow appeared inside the filling.

"How could a perfectly good bun have copper coins inside? How strange!"

...

Chen Cheng patrolled the street, heading in the direction of his home. The man in gray was no longer following him.

These past few days, whenever he walked down the street, he always felt like someone was tailing him.

The man in gray just now had been subtly following him from before he even entered Luo’s Shop. The man kept tailing him from a distance even after he left, clearly plotting something.

Chen Cheng hadn’t been sure who was tailing him before, but after seeing the flying eagle emblem on the man’s cuff, he was certain he must be from the Flying Eagle Gang.

’Looks like that bastard Zhou Biao isn’t ready to give up! Right. I killed one of his subordinates and severely injured another. Zhou Biao must not be able to swallow this insult.’

Muttering to himself, Chen Cheng called up his panel to check it.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Skin Grinding (Small Success)

Skills: Iron Armor Skill (Small Success 223/1000), Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Small Success 28/1000)]

After his recent period of diligent cultivation, his Cultivation Progress in the Iron Armor Skill and the Wind Chasing Saber Technique had increased significantly.

Chen Cheng’s strength was now much greater than when he fought He Zhiling.

’Zhou Biao’s strength should be less than He Zhiling’s. If he dares to make a move, I’m confident I can kill him with a single strike.’

Of course, Chen Cheng had always been cautious. He only ever took main streets, never cutting through desolate alleyways just to take a shortcut.

Even if Zhou Biao wanted to make a move, it would be difficult for him to find an opportunity.

After all, Chen Cheng was a registered Preparatory Constable of the City Guard Department. Zhou Biao wouldn’t dare to act so brazenly on a main street.

As for sending someone to break into a residence at night to commit murder, like before, he would dare even less now.

Chen Cheng’s status was no longer what it once was. Daring to break into a constable’s home at night would be a major case. Since Locust Tree Lane was the Flying Eagle Gang’s territory, the City Guard Department would come looking for the Flying Eagle Gang first.

However, since Zhou Biao had sent his subordinates to tail him, he was definitely anxious to find an opportunity to strike.

’Should I create an opportunity for them, then counter-kill them? Or should I just go straight to their doorstep and eliminate the problem for good?’

The moment these thoughts arose, Chen Cheng dismissed them.

Creating an opportunity for the enemy just to counter-kill them was somewhat risky and not advisable.

As for proactively storming their base, that wasn’t very appropriate either. Zhou Biao was, after all, an Incense Master of the Flying Eagle Gang, and was held in high regard by their Gang Leader.

Once Chen Cheng went to his door and killed him, considering their previous conflict, the Flying Eagle Gang would inevitably suspect him. That would set off a chain reaction; if Chen Cheng could go to their door and kill, the Flying Eagle Gang’s Gang Leader, Cao Fei, would very likely come to his.

’When you are weak, you must not take even the slightest risk. I have to find a more reliable solution.’

’That’s right, I’m a constable of the City Guard Department now, Liu Yunfeng’s subordinate. When in doubt, why not ask him for help?

After all, my original intention for joining the City Guard Department was to seek shelter. Sometimes, the wise move is to use the power of your faction to protect yourself.’

「The next day.」

During a break from his patrol, Chen Cheng found Liu Yunfeng.

Regarding the Bear Skin Grinding Technique, Liu Yunfeng had essentially dangled a huge carrot in front of Chen Cheng, only for it to come to nothing. It felt a bit like he’d scammed an honest kid, so he had felt guilty for a few days.

After all, Chen Cheng was a subordinate he valued highly. If he was feeling a bit down, he would naturally need some placating.

But later, when Chen Cheng never brought it up, Liu Yunfeng decided to let it lie as well.

"Ah Cheng, you’ve come to see me. Are you having some trouble with your Martial Arts Cultivation?" Liu Yunfeng asked with a warm smile, already calculating in his head how best to phrase his words if Chen Cheng were to ask about the Bear Skin Grinding Technique.

Chen Cheng had long since put the matter of the Bear Skin Grinding Technique out of his mind. But since Liu Yunfeng brought it up, he figured he might as well ask a question or two.

"Mr. Liu, I’ve asked around. The Herbal Decoction required for cultivating the Bear Skin Grinding Technique is extremely expensive. I can’t even afford a single portion, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to practice it," Chen Cheng said honestly.

Liu Yunfeng’s eyelid twitched slightly. He thought to himself, ’What’s coming has finally come.’

"Well... Martial Arts Cultivation isn’t something that can be achieved overnight. It requires slow and steady progress. You don’t need to be anxious. Just slowly save up some silver coins and then you can start your cultivation," Liu Yunfeng said with a chuckle.

To be honest, there wasn’t much he could do. After all, Shen Qingshuang had only given him a single Cultivation Technique Manual. He couldn’t possibly pay out of his own pocket to buy Chen Cheng the Medicinal Materials for his cultivation.

Even if he had the heart to do so, he didn’t have the financial means.

"Alright then." Chen Cheng read the situation and saw that Liu Yunfeng seemed to have some unspoken difficulties, so it wasn’t appropriate to press further. Instead, he stated the real purpose of his visit.

"Mr. Liu, someone has been following me recently. It seems they wish me harm."