Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 404: Chapter 206: Profound Brotherhood

A trip from Chen Family Gully to Moshan County Town would take two or three days, and from Moshan County Town to Linji City, another ten days to half a month.

Although Chen Ping had settled down in Linji City, he was just a Little Prison Guard, still struggling bitterly at the bottom, so he had never returned to Chen Family Gully.

He only occasionally entrusted people to send back letters, silver coins, and the like.

Entrusting someone to deliver a letter was also extremely difficult and quite expensive.

The two brothers only contacted each other once every few years.

In his memory, when Chen Ping suddenly fell ill and passed away, Chen Cheng hadn’t even sent a letter to this uncle of his.

Since Chen Cheng transmigrated, he had been constantly facing all sorts of crises and had no time to spare for familial relationships.

But that incredibly realistic dream from before, and in it, his old father Chen Ping’s words: "Ah Cheng, have you remembered it well?"

It made Chen Cheng realize that, in his heart, there was still a matter of duty and principle he urgently needed to address.

Only when his duty and principles were aligned could his thoughts become clear, and only then would his future path in the Martial Dao be smooth.

After He Xingwen made his report, he had long since departed. Chen Cheng stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the moon.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly muttered to himself, ’Perhaps the path I walk and the Literary Dao that Shen Zhiming speaks of are different paths to the same destination. Both require comprehending this Heaven and Earth Origin.

’So-called blood is thicker than water... ties of kinship might also be a part of the Heaven and Earth Origin.’

...

「The next day, at dawn.」

「In County Magistrate Shen Zhiming’s Government Office.」

"Lord Chen is going to Qingxi Town to slay demons?" Shen Zhiming was clearly a bit surprised.

Qingxi Town was located upstream on the Mo River, surrounded by deep mountain forests and home to the Qingshui Creek.

In this year of drought, the water level of Qingshui Creek had dropped, but it had not dried up completely.

Therefore, the mountain forests near Qingxi Town were far less dry than in other places, and the Demon Beasts lurking deep within were not nearly as frenzied.

The ones causing trouble now were just a few Tier Two Demon Beasts, and they all remained deep in the forests, rarely venturing into the villages to cause chaos.

Slaying demons had to be prioritized. The Shen Family’s Demon-slaying Team would obviously deal with the demon infestations in other areas before turning their attention to the one in Qingxi Town.

Shen Zhiming had arranged for Chen Cheng to help him hold down the fort in Moshan County Town, but he had no intention of letting him remain idle.

If an emergency arose, Shen Zhiming would have to personally go out and provide support, and he would take Chen Cheng with him.

In the Shen Family’s Demon-slaying Team, aside from Patriarch Shen Mingyuan and Demon Suppression Department Vice Director Xue Huai’an—the two Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artists—Shen Zhiming was the strongest.

If he personally took action with Chen Cheng, he was confident he could protect him completely.

Besides, in Shen Zhiming’s view, Chen Cheng had used the Powerful Claw Stance to capture and kill a Tier Two Tiger Demon at Evil Tiger Ridge.

The Martial Arts Power he displayed far surpassed that of an ordinary Martial Artist at Small Success in the Bone Forging Realm, making him a great asset.

Chen Cheng’s desire to go to Qingxi Town to slay demons undoubtedly disrupted Shen Zhiming’s plans, which was why he hesitated.

Chen Cheng nodded slightly and said, "While the disaster in Qingxi Town isn’t as severe as in other towns, several demon-related incidents have been reported in the nearby mountain forests.

"Those few Tier Two Demon Beasts are harming the common people. As a Purple-clothed Guard of the Demon Suppression Department, it’s not right for me to just stay in the county town. I should do my duty and leave the city to slay demons."

"Oh?" Shen Zhiming gazed at Chen Cheng and suddenly asked, "Where does Lord Chen plan to start?"

Chen Cheng walked over to the map of Moshan County hanging on the wall, pointed at it, and said:

"Starting with the Tier Two Wolf Demon near Chen Family Gully, I’ll sweep around the offshoots of the Great Wilderness Mountain Range and kill every last Tier Two Demon Beast."

"Chen Family Gully?" Shen Zhiming’s gaze shifted slightly; he already understood Chen Cheng’s intention.

This esteemed Purple-clothed Guard from the Demon Suppression Department wanted to prioritize dealing with the demon infestation where his own family was located.

This didn’t align with the way of an official, nor was it how a Literary Dao Saint, as Shen Zhiming understood them, would act.

After all, a Saint had a grand perspective and tended to focus on the bigger picture.

When faced with matters of great importance, they might pass their own home three times without ever stepping inside.

As for the demon infestation in Qingxi Town, the mountain folk near Chen Family Gully had long been prepared for it.

They had already taken refuge in caves high up on the cliffs to escape the disaster and were in no mortal danger.

Seeing Shen Zhiming’s slight hesitation, Chen Cheng added, "If Lord Shen has other arrangements, I can go slay demons elsewhere first."

"Forget it." Shen Zhiming sighed inwardly and said with a serious expression, "Since Lord Chen insists on going to Qingxi Town, I will arrange for some skilled men to accompany you."

Chen Cheng said, "There’s no need for skilled men. Just arrange for some who can endure hardship and are good on their feet.

"Also, we’ll need quite a few carts and horses. I estimate we’ll be hauling back a lot of Demon Beasts."

’Could this Purple-clothed Guard from the Demon Suppression Department truly intend to wipe out the entire demon infestation in Qingxi Town in one go?’ Shen Zhiming was momentarily stunned, then said gravely:

"Regarding the Qingxi Town infestation, although only Tier Two Demon Beasts have been reported, it’s very likely that a Tier Three Demon Beast is hiding among them.

"Lord Chen should still bring more experts, just in case. I will assign two hundred soldiers from the County Yamen’s garrison to you. They wear Armor and can form a Battle Array. Their power is not to be underestimated.

"They can hold their own even if they encounter one or two Tier Three Demon Beasts."

Chen Cheng smiled and said, "There’s really no need to trouble the garrison soldiers.

"Besides, I’ll be back from Qingxi Town in three to five days. Bringing garrison soldiers would make traveling inconvenient and waste too much time."

The biggest headache for soldiers in Armor is travel. Their marching speed is often slower than that of able-bodied laborers with good stamina.

"Three to five days?" Shen Zhiming was taken aback again.

At the speed of a Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist, it would take more than a day to reach Chen Family Gully in Qingxi Town at the fastest.

Even for an ordinary laborer, no matter how good their stamina, it would take two days.

’A round trip in three to five days? Doesn’t that just mean getting there, resting for a day, and then coming right back?’

’What kind of person slays demons that quickly?’

’It seems this esteemed Purple-clothed Guard is ultimately just planning to sweep the snow from his own doorstep—kill the Tier Two Wolf Demon in the forests near Chen Family Gully and then return.’

’Since he’s only going to kill a Tier Two Wolf Demon, with his ability to easily slay a Tier Two Tiger Demon, there’s naturally no danger.’

At this thought, Shen Zhiming nodded and said, "Alright, then I’ll arrange for thir... three hundred laborers, plus fifty horse-drawn carts."

In truth, Shen Zhiming had been about to say thirty laborers and five carts, but he changed his mind just as the words were leaving his mouth.

After all, Chen Cheng was a major figure highly valued by both the Shen Family’s Ancestor and its Patriarch, and he was the future son-in-law of the Shen Family’s main line.

To the Shen Family, his status was of utmost importance.

Even if he wanted to be a bit willful and make some bold claims to keep up appearances, Shen Zhiming could only let him have his way.

...

With Shen Zhiming holding down the fort in Moshan County Town, all sorts of emergency personnel had long been arranged.

Just a quarter of an hour later, the Demon-slaying Team bound for Qingxi Town had finished assembling in the main courtyard of the County Yamen.

Shen Zhiming was still somewhat worried, so he sent a few skilled men to accompany them.

Among them were Zhang Yan, the Chief Constable of the Moshan County Yamen, who was at Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection, and two Chief Constables at Skin Grinding Realm Perfection.

One of these Chief Constables was none other than He Xingwen’s cousin, He Xingyao.

This fellow, however, was completely different from He Xingwen. He was a tall, imposing man in his thirties with a square face, large ears, a ruddy complexion, and a full, bushy beard.

As an aide assigned to Chen Cheng by Shen Zhiming, He Xingwen naturally went along as well.

The whole group left the County Yamen and headed for the South City Gate in a great procession.

The two He cousins, Xingwen and Xingyao, stuck close to Chen Cheng’s side. Xingwen clearly hadn’t forgotten to look out for his cousin, giving him plenty of opportunities to make a good impression on Lord Chen.

He Xingyao knew how to play his part, introducing the situation in Qingxi Town to Chen Cheng as they walked.

The fellow reeked of alcohol, clearly having had quite a lot to drink the previous night.

This made Chen Cheng wonder if what He Xingwen had said last night—that He Xingyao had been in such a rush to report the news that he hadn’t even had time for dinner—was actually true.

Seeing the group leave the city to slay demons, the refugees who had fled to the city from along the route all cheered in excitement.

This was especially true when they learned the Demon-slaying Team was heading to Qingxi Town.

Many of the refugees who had escaped from Qingxi Town, holding bowls of the thin porridge they had just received, began to follow behind the procession.

Most of them were poor folk who usually foraged for herbs and hunted in the mountain forests to make a living.

They had only been forced to flee because the Demon Beasts were wreaking havoc in the forests.

If the great lords from the Government Office killed the Demon Beasts, they could naturally go back and live peaceful lives again. Why would they want to wander around aimlessly?

"Chief He."

As they passed through a street, a scar-faced man in his thirties, dressed in a coarse cloth short shirt, approached them.

"Chen Ergou, you’re just in time. Quickly, tell Lord Chen about the situation in Chen Family Gully."

He Xingyao recognized the man and called out to him in his usual boisterous manner.

Chen Ergou bowed respectfully to Chen Cheng. "This humble one, Chen Ergou, pays his respects to Lord Chen."

Noticing his flushed face and the reek of alcohol on him as well, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but ask curiously:

"You were drinking last night, too?"

In front of the esteemed Purple-clothed Guard from the Demon Suppression Department, how could Chen Ergou dare to lie? He answered honestly:

"Yes, sir. Yesterday afternoon, thanks to Chief He’s generosity, this humble one had a lot to drink at the tavern."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands in a salute toward He Xingyao, flashing an ingratiating smile.

He Xingyao just chuckled foolishly, but beside him, the fair and handsome face of He Xingwen, who was dressed in a scholar’s robe, suddenly turned the color of pig’s liver.

What a fine red-faced Scholar!

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