Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 56: Can’t Have It Both Ways

The Government Office Hall was abuzz with constables. Some were congratulating the few preparatory constables who had secured their promotions to official constables, while others, like Chen Cheng and his group, gathered to speculate on who would ultimately claim the final spot. This second group formed the vast majority.

Ruyi District had a population of tens of thousands, but only a little over two hundred official constables. While not a position of immense power, it meant being part of the Linji City Government Office. It was a stable position for oneself and the younger generation of one’s family, offering the possibility of further advancement.

Only a few people became official constables through external recruitment each year. Anyone who passed the series of rigorous assessments could hold their head high and bring glory to their family.

Forget about the official constables; even the preparatory constable assessment a few months prior had caused a huge stir. The two most powerful Chief Constables in the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng, had a falling out because of it, becoming a topic of gossip among the constables for quite some time.

The Ruyi Square Sub-Department had six Chief Constables and six squads. Each squad had many preparatory constables, and Chen Cheng was the strongest in Liu Yunfeng’s squad. The other squads, naturally, also had their own strongest preparatory constables.

The strongest preparatory constable from each squad received the same treatment as Chen Cheng. They were subtly surrounded by their squad mates, who were either trying to get on their good side early or offering words of encouragement. After all, having an additional official constable in one’s squad was a great source of prestige in front of the other squads.

It wasn’t just the constables who felt this way; the six Chief Constables of the Ruyi Square Sub-Department were also paying extremely close attention to the matter.

Liu Yunfeng was gathered with two other Chief Constables, and another pair of Chief Constables stood together elsewhere. The only exception was Zhao Yongfeng. Ever since that incident involving the Flying Eagle Gang, the man had become universally loathed. Even the two Chief Constables who had once been close to him now wanted little to do with him.

However, Zhao Yongfeng didn’t seem to mind. He simply stood alone in a corner, feigning rest with his eyes closed. No one knew what he was thinking.

But his face was expressionless, his lips curled slightly, and he occasionally shot a mocking glance at the other Chief Constables. He seemed to be waiting to gloat over someone’s failure.

Several constables from his squad were also gathered around a young preparatory constable in his twenties named Zhou Fang. They were congratulating and fawning over him, seemingly convinced that he was the one who would ultimately become the official constable.

This Zhou Fang was not a simple person. He was a member of the South City District’s Zhou Family and was said to be a close cousin of Zhou Xu.

He had been assigned to the Ruyi Square Sub-Department just last month. The sub-department wasn’t recruiting at the time, but a preparatory constable from a Martial Arts Hall resigned shortly after starting, which opened up a position. Zhou Xu, an Official at the South City District City Guard Headquarters, used his influence to arrange the placement.

With an official of Zhou Xu’s high rank arranging a minor preparatory constable position, no one dared to raise any objections. Even Branch Chief Constable Shen Qingshuang chose to turn a blind eye.

With such a powerful background, Zhou Fang was naturally a favorite in the upcoming official constable assessment.

It was no exaggeration to say that if it weren’t for Shen Qingshuang’s background as a member of a prominent Inner City family, coupled with her poor relationship with Zhou Xu, any other Branch Chief Constable would have likely forgone the assessment. They would have promoted Zhou Fang directly simply to give face to Zhou Xu.

Furthermore, even if Shen Qingshuang insisted on holding the assessment as usual despite her feud with Zhou Xu, any other preparatory constable with an ounce of sense wouldn’t dare compete with Zhou Fang for the spot. Doing so would mean risking the wrath of a powerful figure like Zhou Xu, the Official from the South City District City Guard Headquarters.

Zhou Fang himself had clearly long since realized this. He was in high spirits, wearing a triumphant smile, and already acting as if he had secured the final official constable position.

However, at the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, Branch Chief Constable Shen Qingshuang ultimately called the shots. She might have tolerated Zhou Fang using back channels to become a preparatory constable, but it was unlikely she would let him push his luck and get promoted to an official constable as well.

After all, Shen Qingshuang and Zhou Xu were on bad terms. They’d had a very unpleasant falling-out in the past, and she would likely clash with him head-on once more.

Regardless, Zhou Xu’s meddling had added a great deal of suspense to the upcoming official constable assessment.

The crowd’s discussion gradually shifted. They began to speculate on how Shen Qingshuang would handle the situation, and how many of the preparatory constables hoping to compete would actually have the courage to participate in the assessment.

As he learned these inside details, Chen Cheng frowned slightly, lost in thought.

The Ruyi Square Sub-Department offered one or two chances for promotion to official constable each year. However, for preparatory constables from external recruitment, the opportunity for a promotion assessment was never a guarantee.

If one was lucky, two or three spots might open up in a year. If one was unlucky, there might not be a single opening for two or three years.

If he missed this opportunity, he would have to wait at least half a year, maybe even one or two. That was time Chen Cheng truly couldn’t afford to waste. But his own power was insignificant, and he didn’t want to offend Zhou Xu.

But passing the assessment to become an official constable without offending Zhou Xu was clearly impossible. He couldn’t have it both ways.

Seeing Chen Cheng lost in thought, Liao San and the other constables from his squad gradually fell silent, waiting to see what he would decide.

It wasn’t just the constables in Liu Yunfeng’s squad; constables from the other squads were also stealing glances in Chen Cheng’s direction. He Zhiling’s expression, in particular, was the most conflicted. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He was a disciple from a Martial Arts Hall who had trained for many years. His talent for the Martial Dao was outstanding. At a young age, he had already achieved Great Success in his Saber Technique and had just entered the Skin Grinding Realm. His strength was undeniable, and he had joined the City Guard Department with the goal of becoming a Chief Constable.

Who would have thought that during the simple preparatory constable assessment, he would run into a monster like Chen Cheng and be so easily defeated? The loss left a shadow on his heart. He had just managed to rally his spirits, intending to compete with Chen Cheng once more for the official constable position, only for this untouchable Zhou Fang to appear out of nowhere. One can only imagine his pent-up frustration and resentment!

For a Martial Artist Cultivating the Martial Dao, time is the most crucial element. One’s qi and blood are most vigorous in their youth, making it the ideal time for training. But training requires resources. Only by becoming an official constable in the City Guard Department would he have the right to fight and struggle, to earn Merit in exchange for cultivation resources.

Missing this window would impact his Martial Arts Achievement for the rest of his life.

This time, He Zhiling was prepared to go all out and fight Chen Cheng to the bitter end. Even if he were to be defeated again, he would have no regrets.

But with Zhou Fang in the picture, he was afraid that even Chen Cheng would back down. This left He Zhiling trapped in a dilemma.

’With my family background, I don’t dare offend the Zhou Family. But... if even Chen Cheng dares to compete, then I suppose I’ll have to risk it all and fight for it too!’

He Zhiling grit his teeth, his decision made: he would see how Chen Cheng responded. He, He Zhiling, could accept losing to the powerful Zhou Family, but he was determined to follow Chen Cheng’s lead.

In terms of family background, Chen Cheng was far beneath him. If even someone like Chen Cheng had the courage to stand up to the Zhou Family, how could he, He Zhiling, possibly show cowardice?

In He Zhiling’s eyes, Chen Cheng’s talent for the Martial Dao far surpassed his own. If even Chen Cheng was too cowardly to accept the challenge, then he could also choose to withdraw and still be at peace with himself.