Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 46: Principal and Interest

Hurrying away from the alley, Chen Cheng finally slowed his pace and continued toward the one where the Jiang Family resided.

Although he had only taken a quick glance, Chen Cheng could tell that the men in black weren’t very strong. They had merely achieved Great Success in their Saber Technique. In terms of both strength and speed, they were about on par with ordinary Jianghu Martial Artists, not those of the Skin Grinding Realm. They were at the level of a common Hospital Martial Artist.

Among the group, it was actually Jiang Yun who was stronger. She seemed to have cultivated to the Beginner Level of the Skin Grinding Realm.

With his current strength, Chen Cheng was confident he could easily take them all down.

Chen Cheng did not go to her rescue. His first instinct was to get away from the scene of the conflict. This wasn’t because he disliked Jiang Yun and was deliberately leaving her to her fate; he wasn’t that petty.

He chose to stay away because of a conditioned reflex developed over his several months of service in the City Guard Department.

A proper constable of the City Guard Department was expected to turn a blind eye to the fights and killings among Jianghu figures.

Only when a Jianghu Martial Artist used their strength to bully ordinary civilians would a constable from the City Guard Department assess the situation and either call for backup or intervene directly.

As for shouting to get her some help, that would be even more pointless. He figured Jiang Yun had probably already screamed herself hoarse, yet no one had come. Presumably, everyone else had the same idea: don’t get involved in things that don’t concern you.

In such chaotic times, the price of meddling was extremely high. It could easily cost you your life, and who didn’t cherish theirs?

Tales of righting wrongs for strangers or heroes saving damsels in distress only existed in storybooks!

In a truly chaotic world, people only concerned themselves with protecting their own lives and those of their family and friends. That was the reality of it!

And as far as Chen Cheng was concerned, Jiang Yun was a complete stranger—and a Jianghu figure who was Cultivating the Martial Dao at that. By choosing to ignore the situation, Chen Cheng was simply adhering to the principles of a City Guard Department constable. There was nothing wrong with his decision.

As he was walking, a tall man dressed like a Martial Artist and carrying a saber hurried over from the direction of the Jiang Family’s residence.

"Brother, what’s happening over there?"

When a City Guard Department constable was on duty, everyone addressed them as Lord Officer. Yet this man had the gall to just call him "Brother." Chen Cheng frowned, but since he had official business to attend to, he decided not to make an issue of it. He replied casually, "It looks like some people are fighting. I’m not sure of the details."

"Not sure?" The man stopped short, demanding angrily, "You’re a constable of the City Guard Department, and you’re not going to do anything about a fight?"

The man’s temples were bulging, and his gaze was fierce and sharp—he was clearly no good-natured fellow. But Chen Cheng was a constable of the City Guard Department; he was no pushover himself.

"What, are you trying to tell the City Guard Department how to do its job?" Chen Cheng’s gaze hardened.

"Hmph!" The man shot Chen Cheng a vicious glare, then turned and strode quickly toward the fight.

"A measly Preparatory Constable, nothing but a dog on the City Guard Department’s leash. If I, Bao, weren’t in a hurry, I’d teach you a lesson!"

Though not spoken to his face, the words carried clearly to Chen Cheng’s ears. The man had obviously intended for him to hear.

As the saying goes, men fight for pride just as Buddhas vie for incense. Once a Jianghu Martial Artist achieved some success in Cultivating the Martial Dao, they often grew arrogant, believing their strength made them superior. Their tempers would become eccentric and violent.

Some constantly sought to prove their strength, while others used their skills to break the law.

Often, Jianghu Martial Artists would come to blows over a single disagreement, simply because they didn’t like the look of one another or felt their pride had been wounded.

Clearly, this man was one of them.

Chen Cheng stopped, watching the man’s retreating back. He sighed softly. ’I’m still too soft-hearted.’

The Jiang Family residence was located deep within the alley. It had vermilion-lacquered gates and high courtyard walls, appearing to be a large, three-courtyard mansion that could house dozens of people. Even in a neighborhood packed with the wealthy, it was considered a major household.

Chen Cheng knocked on the gate. A middle-aged doorman in servant’s attire opened it, peeking out through the crack. Seeing that Chen Cheng was alone, he asked politely, "Lord Officer, may I ask what business brings you to our home?"

"I’m looking for Jiang Rongxuan," Chen Cheng stated plainly.

For most large households in the South City District, the Hospital Martial Artists were no more than Great Success Blade Masters, or at best, at the Beginner Level of the Skin Grinding Realm. Such strength was nothing to Chen Cheng. And having just gotten a sense of the Jiang Family’s guards, he was even less concerned.

Paying one’s debts was only natural, and Chen Cheng was entirely in the right. If Jiang Rongxuan dared to avoid him or tried to weasel out of paying, Chen Cheng wouldn’t mind forcing his way in to teach the Jiang Family a lesson.

"And what business might the Lord Officer have with our master?" the middle-aged doorman asked, his eyes darting about.

It seemed the Jiang Family had some standing, as even the doorman put on airs. He clearly had no intention of inviting Chen Cheng inside, carrying an attitude that suggested the master of the Jiang Family was not someone just anyone could see.

"My name is Chen Cheng. Tell Jiang Rongxuan that he owes the Chens five taels of silver, and it’s time to pay up. I have the original IOU as proof." Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. He waved the IOU in his hand and stated his purpose directly.

Startled to hear Chen Cheng was there to collect a debt, the doorman hurriedly said, "Lord Officer, please wait a moment. I’ll go inform the master at once."

Seeing the doorman about to close the gate to go back inside, Chen Cheng added, "Wait. This debt is more than ten years old. With principal and interest... let’s call it fifteen taels of silver. I’ll leave as soon as I have the money."

For a shameless person like Jiang Rongxuan, Chen Cheng naturally had to charge some interest. Otherwise, the trip would have been for nothing.

Charging only fifteen taels of silver, principal and interest included, for a loan of five taels from over a decade ago was letting him off easy.

...

Jiang Rongxuan was in the back garden, teasing a white-eye bird that was kept in an exquisite mahogany cage hanging from the branch of an osmanthus tree.

The bird’s feathers were a brilliant, emerald green, and its belly was snow-white. It hopped back and forth in its cage, letting out clear, pleasant chirps from time to time.

"This bird is truly a treasure. Well worth the money!" Jiang Rongxuan exclaimed in admiration. The white-eye was the most favored bird among the wealthy masters of Linji City, and he had spent a full twenty taels of silver to acquire this one. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

His mood had been especially good lately. His daughter had achieved Great Success in her Swordsmanship and had also reached the Beginner Level of the Skin Grinding Realm, becoming a true Martial Artist.

Not only that, but the Jiang Family had also hired a new Hospital Martial Artist who had reached Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm, greatly bolstering their strength.

His various restaurant businesses were all flourishing. It truly felt like blessings were arriving one after another.

Just then, the doorman came rushing over.

The white-eye in the cage seemed to have been startled, flapping its wings frantically as its chirping ceased.

Jiang Rongxuan’s expression darkened. "What are you doing in such a panic?" he snapped. "You’ve disturbed my bird!"

Knowing Jiang Rongxuan’s famously unpredictable temper, the doorman quickly lowered his head.

"There’s a constable from the City Guard Department at the gate. He says he’s here to collect a debt from you, Master."

"Collect a debt? What debt? Since when does a mere constable have the right to collect a debt from the Jiang Family?"

Jiang Rongxuan simply assumed it was a constable from the City Guard Department looking for a handout. He waved his hand impatiently. "Isn’t Steward Bao out there? Have him send the man away."

The doorman replied, "Master Bao heard fighting in the distance and went to check on it."

"The constable at the gate is named Chen Cheng. He says you owe him five taels of silver and has come specifically to collect. He brought the IOU with him."

’Chen Cheng? And he brought an IOU?’ It took Jiang Rongxuan a moment, but then he remembered. This was the son of Old Chen, the family with whom his own had arranged a childhood betrothal.

’I do seem to recall borrowing silver from Old Chen back then, and I think I even wrote an IOU.’

’But when did that kid become a constable for the City Guard Department?’

"He only mentioned the debt? Nothing else?"