Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 423: Chapter 214: Secret Skill: Concealment

「Three days later.」

Moshan County, Pipa District.

Moshan City had a population of over 300,000, and the city proper was divided into twelve districts.

Pipa District was located near Moshan District, home of the County Yamen, and was one of the major districts in the city’s center. Its terrain resembled the shape of a pipa, a type of Chinese lute, and it was encircled by the meandering Mo River, earning it the name Pipa Island.

In the southeastern corner of Pipa Island, separated from the County Yamen by the river, lay Koi Carp Avenue, a bustling and prosperous street lined with shops.

Deep within Koi Carp Avenue was Fish Dragon Lane, home to many officials, gentry, and prominent families whose estates were all grand and spacious.

One such residence, a large, three-courtyard estate right next to the Mo River, was the very one Chen Cheng had recently purchased.

The estate was exceptionally large. The front and middle courtyards each had a main hall and over ten side rooms.

The rear courtyard contained a large garden with two separate smaller courtyards, each with several of its own rooms.

Even with fifty or sixty family members, young and old, living there, it still felt quite spacious.

Purchasing this estate had cost Chen Cheng a full three thousand taels of silver.

Of course, it wasn’t for him, but for his uncle Chen An and his family.

Chen An had initially been reluctant to leave Chen Family Gully. In his own words, the Chens had lived there for generations. They were used to it and wouldn’t feel comfortable living anywhere else.

However, after some persuasion from Chen Cheng, he ultimately agreed to move to Moshan City.

Moshan City wasn’t far from Chen Family Gully, so it would be easy for him to go back if he ever felt homesick.

As for why Chen Cheng had his uncle move, one reason was that Moshan City was safer than Chen Family Gully.

Another concern was that now that the Chens had come into wealth, living among the other villagers was bound to cause problems.

When Chen An was thriving in Chen Family Gully on his own merits, there had been no issues.

Back then, even if the Chens were better off than the other villagers, it wasn’t by much.

But after Chen Cheng returned home in glory, everything changed.

The Chens’ family fortune had reached a level the other villagers could only gaze up at in awe.

With Chen Cheng’s presence as a deterrent, the villagers naturally wouldn’t dare to harbor any ill intentions. Furthermore, during this visit, Chen Cheng had provided them with a great deal of money and grain, making them even less likely to cause trouble.

But once Chen Cheng returned to Linji City, it would be difficult for Chen An and his sons to protect that fortune with their own capabilities.

Over time, they would inevitably attract envy and resentment, which would lead to trouble.

By moving his whole family to Moshan City, Chen An would actually avoid a lot of trouble. And on the rare occasions they returned to Chen Family Gully, they would be treated with respect by the villagers.

The two brothers, Chen Chong, age twenty-five, and Chen Rui, age twenty-two, had never cultivated the Martial Dao.

The skills they possessed were all learned from their father, Chen An, and consisted mostly of things like farming and hunting.

Now that they had moved to Moshan County Town, they clearly lacked a way to make a living.

Fortunately, although they were a bit old and had missed the prime age for cultivating the Martial Dao, they were still physically strong, and their innate aptitude wasn’t bad.

Chen Cheng arranged for them to begin cultivating the Martial Dao. After two or three years, once they had gained some strength, they could secure positions as constables or something similar at the County Yamen.

Chen Cheng only had to mention these matters to County Magistrate Shen Zhiming, who readily agreed. There was no need for Chen Cheng to worry about it further.

Chen Cheng had paved the way for his two cousins; how they would fare in the future was now up to their own abilities.

Chen Cheng had also considered bringing his two cousins to Linji City to build their futures.

However, the various factions in Linji City were tangled and complex, making it less peaceful than it appeared on the surface. In contrast, the Shen Family’s sole dominance over Moshan City made it a much more stable place.

Additionally, Chen Cheng had brought Chen Chong’s brother-in-law, Li Chunlei, out of the village. This was, of course, because his uncle Chen An had made the request.

Li Chunlei was twenty-six years old, literate, and considered an honest man. He had one son and two daughters. His eldest daughter was eight and his son was five; both were quite clever.

His youngest daughter was only a year and a half old, still a babe in arms, but one glance was all it took for Chen Cheng to sense something extraordinary about her.

He couldn’t say exactly what it was, but he had a feeling she was special.

His decision to bring Li Chunlei along was partly due to this feeling about the man’s youngest daughter.

As for Li Chunlei’s job, Chen Cheng had been upfront: he would be a servant, tasked with running errands and managing minor affairs.

Even so, the Li family was profusely grateful.

After all, Li Chunlei’s family was going to follow an important figure like Chen Cheng to a major Prefecture City like Linji City.

For a mountain villager to be able to go to a major Prefecture City, the Li Family considered themselves blessed by their ancestors.

In a secluded courtyard, Chen Cheng’s cultivation of the Qingfeng Saber Intent was progressing smoothly.

The Demon Beast Heart and Soul was several times more effective at replenishing his qi and blood than medicinal materials or Demon Beast Meat. Each time he consumed it, his qi and blood would be fully restored in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

The only drawback was that a Demon Beast Heart and Soul was extremely difficult to preserve. In just three to five days, it would dissolve into Demon Beast Essence Blood.

Even when frozen and stored in a Jade Box, it would last for a month at most.

After returning to Moshan City, Chen Cheng spent most of his time cultivating the Qingfeng Saber Intent, and his progress was gratifying.

A single day of cultivation was now equivalent to three to five days of practice before.

[Qingfeng Saber Intent Cultivation Progress has increased.]

...

With a plentiful supply to replenish his qi and blood, Chen Cheng could cultivate without restraint, pushing his Qingfeng Saber Intent nearly to its limit.

Gusts of wind swept through the courtyard as the Saber Intent raged wildly.

If anyone were to enter the courtyard and feel the might of this sharp and ferocious Saber Intent, their blood would likely run cold with terror.

The breeze stopped abruptly. Chen Cheng stood tall, looking toward the courtyard gate.

Li Chunlei spoke from the other side of the gate. "Master, Lord Shen the County Magistrate has arrived. He is waiting in the main hall."

"Mm, I know."

Chen Cheng replied calmly, then opened the gate and walked out of the courtyard.

"Master Chen An is with Lord Shen now," Li Chunlei added, standing respectfully outside the gate. He had clearly settled into his new role.

"You may return to your duties," Chen Cheng said with a slight nod, then headed for the main hall of the middle courtyard.

When he reached the main hall, he saw Chen An conversing with Shen Zhiming, a deferential smile on his face.

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