Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Great Success in Skin Grinding
Now that Chen Cheng was a City Guard Departnt constable and holding the IOU, Jiang Rongxuan didn’t dare to renege on the debt.
He asked mainly because he was afraid Chen Cheng still had designs on his precious daughter. He worried Chen Cheng might bring up the engagent again, and that collecting the debt was just a pretext to get close to the Jiang Family.
After all, countless people had tried to climb the social ladder by attaching themselves to the Jiang Family over the years.
In Jiang Rongxuan’s eyes, those mud-legged peasants were the most shaless of all. He had to be on guard to avoid getting entangled with them, especially with this Chen Cheng.
"He only ntioned collecting the debt and nothing else," the doorman replied.
"Fine. Take this silver and get rid of him." Jiang Rongxuan took out his Money Bag, fished out five taels of broken silver, and handed it to the doorman.
The doorman didn’t reach for it, a troubled look on his face. "Master Jiang, Chen Cheng says the debt is ten years old. With principal and interest, he wants fifteen taels."
Jiang Rongxuan instantly flew into a rage, beside himself with fury.
"What? He dares to charge interest? Demanding fifteen taels of silver right off the bat? Does he really think the Jiang Family is a pushover?"
With that, Jiang Rongxuan and the four Hospital Martial Artists on duty at the residence hurried outside.
Upon opening the courtyard gate and seeing Chen Cheng in a gray constable’s uniform, Jiang Rongxuan shot a glare at the doorman, clearly blaming him for not explaining the situation properly.
Preparatory Constable and constable—though the difference was just a single word, the gap in their status was an entire rank.
"You, boy from the Chen Family. You’re the one trying to charge
exorbitant interest?"
Jiang Rongxuan sneered, looking down on him from the elevated doorway.
’He’s clearly trying to weasel his way out of this again.’ Chen Cheng frowned and said patiently,
"Jiang Rongxuan, you’ve owed my family five taels of silver for ten years. I’m only charging ten taels in interest. That’s more than fair."
"What a joke. When I borrowed the money, there was no ntion of interest."
Jiang Rongxuan produced five taels of broken silver. "For Old Chen’s sake, I won’t argue with a junior like you. Take these five taels of silver and get lost."
At this point, words were useless. With his Long Saber in hand, Chen Cheng slowly advanced.
Jiang Rongxuan quickly retreated into the courtyard. The four Hospital Martial Artists drew their Long Sabers and ford a protective line in front of him, staring daggers at Chen Cheng.
"You want to fight, boy from the Chen Family?" Jiang Rongxuan suddenly grew bold, a mocking sneer on his face.
’A re Preparatory Constable dares to make the first move against the Jiang Family? Is he trying to get himself killed?’
Chen Cheng didn’t answer. His face was a mask as he continued his slow advance.
"Chen Cheng is trespassing on private property! Beat him and throw him out!" A vicious glint flashed in Jiang Rongxuan’s eyes as he roared.
The four Hospital Martial Artists, upon receiving the order, charged ferociously at Chen Cheng with their sabers drawn.
But Chen Cheng was faster. He moved like the wind, his Long Saber flashing. In the blink of an eye, four dull thuds echoed.
All four Hospital Martial Artists were knocked to the ground by the flat of his blade. Not a single one of them could withstand even one of his moves. They couldn’t even fight back, because Chen Cheng was simply too fast—so fast they had no ti to react.
And that was only because Chen Cheng had held back, not wanting to take a life. Otherwise, those four Hospital Martial Artists would already be corpses.
Jiang Rongxuan’s face turned ashen with terror. He wanted to turn and flee, but his legs felt as if they were shackled by hundred-pound weights, refusing to move.
"Chen... Chen Cheng, what... what are you going to do?"
Chen Cheng sheathed his Long Saber, walked slowly up to him, and let out a soft sigh.
"Pay up."
He didn’t want to waste another word on a deadbeat dog like Jiang Rongxuan.
To have made a fortune in business, with a net worth of at least several thousand taels of silver, yet still welsh on a five-tael debt for over ten years... A man like that was utterly disgusting.
"I’ll... I’ll pay." Jiang Rongxuan stamred, hurriedly pulling his Money Bag from his robes and shoving the entire thing at Chen Cheng.
You had to admit, the man really had so money on him.
The Money Bag was filled with broken silver, gold coins, and silver notes. All told, it added up to more than one hundred taels of silver.
Chen Cheng took one gold coin and five taels of broken silver, then left the Money Bag and the IOU behind, turned, and strode away.
A gold coin was worth ten taels of silver, making for a total of fifteen taels—not a cent more, not a cent less.
He left the alley and hadn’t gone far before he ca face to face with Jiang Yun, who was slowly approaching with three Hospital Martial Artists.
Jiang Yun looked disheveled, but she didn’t appear to be injured.
The two Hospital Martial Artists with her, however, were covered in blood, having suffered several severe saber wounds.
One of them had a deep gash on his left thigh. Despite a simple bandage, fresh blood soaked his entire left leg crimson. He could barely walk and was being supported by a fellow Martial Artist.
The other Hospital Martial Artist, his face grim and murderous, walked beside Jiang Yun. It was the sa man Chen Cheng had encountered earlier. His clothes were soaked in blood, and his body was covered in cuts, large and small, but he was the least injured of the three.
These Hospital Martial Artists had clearly just been through a bitter fight.
Jiang Yun looked dispirited, likely still shaken from being ambushed. When she saw Chen Cheng, she didn’t speak, rely shooting him a venomous glare, as if blaming him for not saving her earlier.
Chen Cheng had never been one to stir up trouble. Having collected his debt, he couldn’t be bothered to deal with them.
When he reached the alley where the previous fight had occurred, several City Guard Departnt constables were busy removing the bodies from the ground.
’Not a single constable was around during the fight, yet they show up this quickly now? There must be sothing shady going on here.’
Chen Cheng shook his head, paid them no mind, and continued on his way ho.
...
"Yun’Er, what happened?"
Still shaken after being scared half to death by Chen Cheng, Jiang Rongxuan was horrified to see Jiang Yun return. His Hospital Martial Artists were severely wounded, and even his Hospital Chief Steward, Bao Yansong—a Martial Artist who had reached Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm—was injured.
"On my way back, I was ambushed by several n in black... Thankfully, Steward Bao arrived just in ti and killed most of them," Jiang Yun explained briefly, still trembling with fear.
The Jiang Family’s Hospital Chief Steward, Bao Yansong, was indeed the man Chen Cheng had crossed paths with earlier.
Jiang Rongxuan hurriedly cupped his fists in a salute to Bao Yansong, thanking him profusely.
"Thank you, Steward Bao. If it weren’t for you, the Jiang Family would have suffered a great disaster."
"Master Jiang, there’s no need to be so formal. As the Jiang Family’s Hospital Chief Steward, it is my duty to ensure the safety of the Jiang Family," Bao Yansong said with a slight smile, then glanced at the four Hospital Martial Artists who had remained at the residence.
All four were injured. Though the wounds weren’t life-threatening, they were not minor.
Jiang Rongxuan quickly recounted the story of Chen Cheng coming to collect the debt and injuring the Hospital Martial Artists.
"That Chen Cheng is actually so powerful now!" Jiang Yun exclaid in shock.
Jiang Rongxuan sighed. "Alas... who could have imagined..."
Just then, Bao Yansong suddenly spoke up. "Master Jiang, I’ve killed most of the bandits who attacked the young lady. I doubt they’ll dare to make a move against the Jiang Family again."
"The City Guard Departnt Officials will likely be here soon to ask questions. I have a criminal record from my younger days, so it would be... inconvenient for
to et them."
Jiang Rongxuan said quickly, "Why don’t you hide in the rear courtyard? I’ll send them away."
"Good." Bao Yansong nodded, then added, "I have a private matter to attend to. I’ll be back shortly."
Jiang Rongxuan naturally agreed.
Bao Yansong went to a room in the rear courtyard and changed into a set of black martial attire. He wiped the blood from his Long Saber, slipped out the back door of the Jiang estate, and took a detour to chase after Chen Cheng.
’A re Preparatory Constable from the City Guard Departnt... An ant like you dares to act so arrogantly before , Master Bao? Today, I’ll teach you the price for provoking a Martial Artist at the Great Success of the Skin Grinding Realm. It’s a price you cannot afford to pay!’
A vicious glint flickered in Bao Yansong’s eyes, his killing intent surging to an absolute peak.
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