Chapter 6: Hobby Challenging Profession, The Tang Clan Mechanisms

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Although Chen Dabao and Li Che were good friends, a laborer who moved wood and finished statues every day had no hope of passing the master's examination.

At least, from Chen Dabao's perspective, he saw no hope for Li Che to become a formal Woodcarving Master.

Even if Li Che practiced carving with scrap wood from the shop after work.

But learning Woodcarving, how easy was that?

According to Li Che's situation, he could only be said to have an interest in Woodcarving, not having learned it formally.

And to challenge someone's profession and livelihood with a hobby... that was a bit arrogant.

Li Che didn't explain himself or argue.

What right did he have? His eyes sparkled, and the Dao Fruit [Divine Craftsmanship] in his heart pulsed slightly, as if radiating heat, illuminating his future path.

He relied on his cheat...

"Little Li, if I were you, this year... I would try to learn some Farming Skills. Although you don't have Inner Strength, at least when you need to protect your child, you can step forward and swing your fists."

Chen Dabao stood up, patted Li Che's shoulder, and entered the workshop to continue his carving.

Li Che pondered for a moment and found Chen Dabao's words quite reasonable...

"Farming Skills... I need a way to learn them. With the Dao Fruit [Divine Craftsmanship], perhaps I can design some mechanisms for prevention."

"Although Auntie Lei targets children a year after birth, what if?"

Li Che took a deep breath and made up his mind.

Without much thought, he continued his work, moving wood and statues.

Perhaps because they learned that Li Che was also participating in the Woodcarving examination, many apprentices looked at him with strange and wary eyes. Some even refused to let Li Che move the finished Woodcarvings.

For a while, Li Che found himself idle in the Woodcarving shop.

Except for a few old masters and regular customers, no one sought him out. Li Che was happy to have some free time and began to think about mechanisms.

But after thinking for a while, he had no clue.

He felt he should seek Old Chen, who might have some leads.

"Mechanisms? You want to set up some mechanisms to protect your child, that's a good idea... not impossible."

"But setting up mechanisms is a science. I don't understand the advanced ones, but I do have an ancient text related to mechanisms in my library."

Old Chen, hearing Li Che's question, stopped his carving and smiled.

Li Che rubbed his hands, his eyes brightening.

Many people in the shop knew that Old Chen had a library with many precious ancient texts.

Old Chen glanced at Li Che and raised a finger. "I can lend you the ancient text, but I never do unprofitable deals. This ancient text is rare and valuable... one tael of silver for one day of borrowing."

One tael of silver a day?

Li Che took a deep breath. It was indeed expensive.

But Li Che nodded decisively, agreeing.

"Oh, so decisive, you're a good father. For your daughter's safety, you're willing to go all out... if you had haggled, it wouldn't have been one tael a day."

"For your fatherly love, I don't need one tael. Fifty Dajing Copper Coins a day is enough."

Chen Dabao stroked his beard and smiled.

Li Che was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked Chen Dabao. Who would complain about saving money?

"I'll bring it to you tomorrow. Remember to bring enough money."

Chen Dabao said and then buried himself in his carving again.

As time passed, the sky gradually turned gray.

Li Che collected his wages for the day, only fifteen copper coins, about a third less than usual.

But he didn't mind. After collecting his wages, he carefully wrapped the scrap wood he had chosen and carried it home.

Now, he brought some scrap wood home every day to carve and gain experience, which had become a habit for Li Che.

Today, he had found a new Woodcarving, which should help him gain some more experience.

Because of Auntie Lei's threat to newborns, a sense of urgency always weighed on Li Che, pushing him to improve quickly.

He hurried home, and upon seeing his wife Zhang Ya playing with Xixi on the bed, his tense heart relaxed.

"Xixi, do you miss your old dad?" Li Che smiled warmly and opened his arms to Xixi on the bed.

Xixi, just a month old, was a delicate and adorable baby, lying on the bed and cooing, waving her little hands and feet.

Li Che laughed and picked up the little girl, walking around the small room, making her giggle nonstop.

After playing with Xixi for a while, Zhang Ya had prepared dinner.

After dinner, Li Che took out the scrap wood and began carving under the oil lamp.

In fact, the variety of Woodcarvings in the shop was limited. As Li Che touched each piece, it now took him several days to find a new technique from a Woodcarving Master.

Because the Dao Fruit [Divine Craftsmanship] had already reached level 2, he could now carve a Woodcarving much faster.

[Dao Fruit: Divine Craftsmanship (lv2, 9%)]

His experience had increased a little.

Li Che's lips curved, and his gaze focused, deciding to try making a mechanism.

However, he had no concept of mechanisms, so he thought of highly lethal crossbows and began drawing designs on paper.

...

...

The sky was just beginning to lighten, the east turning a pale white.

Beyond the misty mountains, clouds rolled and snowflakes drifted down, covering the entire Feilei City in a white blanket.

Li Che got up early, washed up, and started preparing breakfast. Zhang Ya tried to help but was gently pushed back by Li Che.

"The baby cries a lot at night, you need to comfort her. You should get some more sleep, and you can eat when you wake up."

Li Che gently patted Zhang Ya, who was still half-asleep, and she nodded, lying back down.

After finishing everything, Li Che placed the breakfast in the still warm pot.

Then he left the earthen house, stepping through the thick snow, heading towards the Woodcarving shop.

Walking on the long street paved with blue stones, the wind and snow howled, but the sounds of hammers and trumpets echoed through the air.

"The Holy Spirit teaches, cleansing the dust, the Rebirth Without Worry method, attainable by the wise without teaching..."

The chanting drifted down the street, accompanied by the continuous sound of footsteps on the snow-covered blue stones.

Li Che squinted, standing by the roadside, lowering his hat, and glanced at the red shrine carried by the crowd in the long procession.

Inside the shrine was a lifelike statue of a three-headed, six-armed child, clearly the work of a master.

Behind the procession, a group of believers dressed in white, both men and women, old and young, their faces gaunt but frenzied.

"Spirit Child Sect..." Li Che took a deep breath, a fierce look flashing in his eyes.

No matter what Spirit Child Dharma Master, his daughter Xixi was his treasure, his everything. Wife and child, a warm bed, were what he wanted to protect.

If they tried to harm Xixi, they would destroy his family. Li Che, even if he died, would take a bite out of them.

Clenching his fists, Li Che braved the wind and snow, heading straight for the Xu Family Woodcarving Shop.

At this moment, his desire to become a formal Woodcarving Master in the shop became very strong.

Not only because becoming a Woodcarving Master meant getting a house and the shop's protection, but also because he would be eligible to learn the Internal Energy Technique and Martial Arts taught by the shop...

The Dao Fruit [Divine Craftsmanship] had given Li Che a significant boost, but it ultimately only improved his talent in craftsmanship.

In terms of personal combat, it didn't help much.

Arriving at the shop, the atmosphere was tense. Many apprentices were not working, conserving their energy.

Li Che immediately understood that the Woodcarving examination would likely take place today.

Chen Dabao, sipping old yellow wine from a gourd, sat on a bench in the distance, legs crossed, humming happily.

"Little Li, come here."

Old Chen, seeing Li Che, waved him over.

Li Che's eyes lit up, the gloom from seeing the Spirit Child Sect procession lifted, and he quickly walked over. Old Chen pulled out a yellowed book from his chest.

"This 'Tang Clan Mechanism Notes' is one of my treasured ancient texts. I haven't studied it much, but it contains many secret techniques for mechanisms, though it requires skillful hands. Some even need Inner Strength and martial arts, but you can try the simpler ones. They should be enough to deal with non-Internal Strength martial artists."

"Thank you, Old Chen." Li Che, excited, took out fifty copper coins and handed them to Chen Dabao, then took the book.

The moment his fingers touched the ancient text...

The Dao Fruit [Divine Craftsmanship] in his chest...

Throbbed!

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(End of Chapter)