Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill
Chapter 302 - 166: Yama of Death
His features were handsome, his figure tall and straight. His personality was calm and steady. Even when compared to the young prodigies of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City, he was by no means inferior—in fact, he might even be superior.
After all, Chen Cheng was only nineteen, yet he had already reached Small Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm. Furthermore, he was the closed-door disciple of Mr. Zheng, the supreme expert of Linji City. His future Martial Arts Achievements were limitless.
He only needed a little more time to ride the winds and soar ninety thousand li, becoming a True Dragon among men, flying through the nine heavens!
Even Wang Xiongzhang, whom she had always admired, seemed to fall slightly short when compared to Chen Cheng.
’If I had known earlier just how outstanding Chen Cheng was, would I have fallen for him at first sight?’ This was a lingering question deep in Shen Qingxuan’s heart.
Of course, it was too late for her to be considering this now. Even if she wanted to fall for Chen Cheng, she couldn’t possibly compete with Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, the peerless twin beauties of Linji City.
Wang Xiongzhang’s thoughts were also complicated. He lamented internally how vastly different people’s fortunes could be!
’How did that bastard Chen Cheng get so damn lucky? How did he manage to become Mr. Zheng’s closed-door disciple?’
Wang Xiongzhang considered himself superior to Chen Cheng and had always intended to recruit him as a subordinate. But now, the situation had changed too quickly, and such an idea was naturally unrealistic.
"Brother Chen, long time no see." Wang Xiongzhang wore a hearty smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
Calling him "Younger Brother Chen" now would be inappropriate.
In any case, when it came to bearing, Wang Xiongzhang considered himself peerless among the younger generation of Linji City.
But if Wang Xiongzhang knew that Chen Cheng’s Martial Arts Power had already reached a level he could never hope to attain, he probably wouldn’t be able to maintain such a refined bearing.
Although Chen Cheng felt that Wang Xiongzhang was a bit naive, the man always maintained a graceful and dashing demeanor, which truly showed his good upbringing.
As for whether Wang Xiongzhang’s appearance matched his true character, Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to guess.
"Brother Wang, a pleasure to meet you." Chen Cheng also smiled and cupped his hands, preparing to leave.
As the saying goes, when people don’t click, even half a sentence is too much. He and this group of eight were ultimately on different paths, so there was no need for excessive contact.
However, Wang Xiongzhang had no intention of letting this chance to show off slip by. He smiled and asked, "Brother Chen, are you here to accept a demon-slaying mission?"
Chen Cheng shook his head. "Not at the moment."
"Oh." Wang Xiongzhang said, then put on an emotional expression and continued,
"Slaying demons outside the city is indeed too dangerous. You could end up in a Demon Beast’s belly at any moment. It’s much safer to stay in the city.
To be honest, a few of us just returned from a demon-slaying trip.
Although we killed three Tier Two Demon Beasts and earned quite a bit of Merit from the Demon Suppression Department, two of our brothers still suffered minor injuries. They’ll need a few days of rest before they can go out again.
Brother Chen, you might not know this, but among the three Demon Beasts we killed, one was a Triangular Kui Bull whose strength was already approaching that of a Tier Three Demon Beast..."
Chen Cheng had no time to listen to him brag. He cupped his hands again and said, "My wife is waiting for me at home for dinner. We can catch up another time."
With that, he used the excuse of dinner to turn and leave.
He had only taken a few steps when a woman’s voice came from behind him.
"Young Master Chen, please wait."
Chen Cheng had no choice but to stop and turn around again.
The speaker was the other woman who was with Wang Xiongzhang.
Her eyes seemed to flow with emotion, her gaze full of affection, and her face held a mix of flirtatious charm and shyness.
Chen Cheng suddenly recalled her name.
Jiang Ling, a young lady from the main line of the Jiang Family. Her Martial Arts Talent was average, and she wasn’t highly valued by her family, which was why she hung out with Wang Xiongzhang’s group.
"Is there something I can help you with, Miss Jiang?" Chen Cheng asked, his expression calm.
Jiang Ling’s face flushed slightly. She fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, twisting her snake-like waist coquettishly as she began, "Tonight..."
"Apologies, I just remembered I have some urgent business to attend to tonight. Miss Jiang, I’ll take my leave first."
But Chen Cheng didn’t wait for her to finish, feigning urgency as he made a hasty escape.
Only after he was far away from the Demon Suppression Department did Chen Cheng slow his pace. He shook his head slightly and muttered, "The favor of a beautiful woman is the hardest to repay. Sometimes, being too attractive to the opposite sex is a real headache!"
To be honest, Jiang Ling was quite attractive. Although not on the level of Mu Xiaowan, Shen Qingyao, or Shen Qingshuang, she was far more glamorous than Shen Qingxuan. Among that group of eight, she was highly admired by the other young masters.
This Miss Jiang, in particular, seemed to possess a natural, soft charm. She was a water-like woman, and Chen Cheng feared that if he exchanged just a few more words with her, he would get entangled.
Although Linji Prefecture had suffered a drought, the Inner City District of Linji City hadn’t changed much. It was still prosperous and lively.
Chen Cheng strolled leisurely down the street. He appeared casual, but was in fact highly vigilant, secretly observing the various people he passed.
Recently, whenever he went out, he had faintly smelled a trace of danger.
When one’s Martial Arts Cultivation reached a certain level, their senses became extremely sharp. There were even legends of a precognitive ability, like a cicada sensing the autumn wind before it blows.
Chen Cheng’s current Martial Arts Power was naturally far from that level of precognition. However, after he fused with the Qingfeng Saber Intent and gained a deeper understanding of its Realm, his Perception had greatly increased. This vague sense of danger was growing stronger.
’Now that my master, Mr. Zheng, has reappeared out of nowhere, I, as his closed-door disciple, have surely attracted a lot of attention.
At the same time, there must be even more people who don’t want me to mature and become a second Mr. Zheng.
Therefore, I’m afraid someone is already plotting to take my life!’
Thinking this to himself, Chen Cheng suddenly quickened his pace. But after walking some distance, he still hadn’t found anything.
The Inner City District was, after all, guarded by soldiers from the City Guard Department. In broad daylight, no one would dare act rashly.
Even if someone was watching him, they would only dare to do so furtively.
Recalling the states of the pedestrians he had just passed, Chen Cheng suddenly stopped and glanced behind him.
In the distance, a hunched-over old peddler was pushing a wheelbarrow, slowly heading in another direction. As he walked, he let out a listless cry.
’That old peddler... although his aura seems weak and his steps unsteady, he was clearly heading in the same direction as me just now.’
Chen Cheng gave it only a fleeting glance before paying it no more mind and striding toward the Zheng Martial Arts Hall.
At a distant street corner, the old peddler leaned his wheelbarrow against the wall, looking out of breath. He took a cloth towel hanging from the handle and wiped his forehead.
His movements were extremely natural, without a single flaw. However, if anyone knew his identity, they would be horrified.
Bing Cui, the Bing-rank assassin from the Wind and Rain Tower, also known as the Yama of Death!
All who knew this name were already dead by his blade!
Bing Cui was nearly fifty. In his younger years, his Martial Arts Power had reached the Bone Forging Realm, and with his Life-taking Scissors, he had killed many Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists.
Now, although his vitality had decayed and his strength was no longer a match for a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist, killing anyone below the Bone Forging Realm was as easy as taking something out of his own pocket.
Bing Cui leaned against the wheelbarrow’s handle, seemingly resting, but in his heart, he was mocking himself:
’Yama decrees you die at the third watch; he won’t let you live until the fifth! To think that I, Bing Cui, not yet fifty, have already lost all my drive. I accepted this mission over half a month ago and still haven’t found a chance to strike!
Sigh... This kid with the surname Chen is no simple character! He truly is worthy of being Zheng Hun’s closed-door disciple. Even I, Bing Cui, might not be able to kill him!
After I kill this Chen kid, this old man should find a place to live out my golden years.
There will be no more Yama of Death in this world!
This one last time, let Bing Cui be the Yama of Death again!
It’s just a pity about this fine young man. So vigilant at such a young age. If he had entered the Killing Dao, he would surely have become famous throughout the world.
But I, Bing Cui, have never failed in my entire life. I cannot make an exception for this Chen kid, because this is my Killing Dao.
I can only be ruthless and slay this Celestial Pride...’
Bing Cui shook his head slightly and once again pushed his wheelbarrow slowly forward.
...
When Chen Cheng returned to the Zheng Martial Arts Hall and stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw Sixth Madam Luo Yunzhi having servants take stock of a pile of gift boxes of all sizes.
The old servant Shi Fangdong stood respectfully beside Luo Yunzhi.
"Ah Cheng, you’re back!"
Seeing Chen Cheng return, Luo Yunzhi called out with a smile.
"Yes." Chen Cheng nodded slightly and bowed.
"You’re just in time. Many more people sent gifts today, and a good number of them are for you."
Luo Yunzhi said this with a knowing, aunt-like smile. "There are also some calling cards. These are all from the young ladies of the great households of the Inner City."