Chapter 5: Spirit Child Dharma Master, Master of One Cut

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Auntie Lei... killing babies?

Picking specifically the babies she delivered?!

Li Che's hair stood on end and his pupils constricted sharply when he heard Uncle's words.

"Uncle, where did you hear this?" Li Che took a deep breath, his heart sinking as he hurriedly asked.

The old scholar puffed on his pipe, frowning deeply, "I didn't believe it at first, but seeing that Xixi wasn't delivered by Auntie Lei, I went to investigate…"

"Indeed, it's true. The families who lost their children… have already reported to the Outer City Government. The authorities have issued a wanted poster and are actively searching for Auntie Lei!"

"If you don't believe me, you can check the bulletin board at the government office. The wanted poster is hanging there."

The old scholar's voice grew much more serious.

Although he regretted that Xixi wasn't a boy, she was still a part of the Li family. Upon hearing such news, his first concern was for Xixi's safety.

"I heard that Auntie Lei… has joined that 'Spirit Child Dharma Master' and believes in the Spirit Child Cult. She's been killing… sigh, it's truly a sin. They are just children."

The old scholar's voice trembled, and he sighed deeply, puffing on his pipe non-stop.

Li Che's expression was extremely grave, his heart hanging in suspense.

For the current Li Che, Xixi was his precious daughter, his heart's darling. If anything happened to her, Li Che would feel heartache and guilt.

Protecting his daughter was a father's duty and responsibility!

"Thanks, Uncle. I'll go and investigate, so I can be prepared."

Li Che said seriously, and the old scholar nodded hastily, rubbing his hands, "Since I'm here, I might as well go and see Xixi…"

Li Che was speechless, looking at the bashful old scholar without saying anything, and led him into the house.

The old scholar's face lit up with a smile when he saw Xixi.

Although he complained that Xixi wasn't a boy, his fondness for her was genuine.

"Your sister-in-law is about to give birth too. Your aunt says the belly is pointed, so it should be a boy… hehe, I hope the little one is as cute as Xixi." Uncle smiled brightly.

His eldest son had married and was expecting a child this year.

"Wife, if I'm not at home for a while, you must keep the doors and windows locked. No matter who calls, don't open the door…"

After seeing off the old scholar, Li Che went out to work and specially reminded Zhang Ya before leaving.

Zhang Ya was taken aback but didn't ask any questions, only obediently promising to follow his instructions.

…

…

Worried all the way, Li Che arrived at the government bulletin board and indeed saw the wanted poster for Auntie Lei.

"Lei Chunlan, killed seven children, all of whom she delivered a year ago…"

"Hmm? Delivered a year ago… so, do these killed children all need to be one year old?"

Li Che, wearing a bamboo hat, stared at the poster, lost in thought.

However, he didn't dare to rely on his assumptions.

What if Lei Chunlan chose to act on a child who was just a month old?

Li Che couldn't take the risk…

He couldn't afford to.

"It seems I must become a woodcarver at the Wood Carving Shop… if I have the protection of Xu's Wood Carving Shop, at least my safety will be ensured."

Li Che took a deep breath, pressed down his hat, and headed for Xu's Wood Carving Shop.

Upon arriving at the shop, he saw Master Chen, with his white hair and beard, sitting in a chair, humming a tune and sipping from a gourd of wine.

"Little Li, you're here? I heard you're going to take the woodcarving exam. Haha, you're quite brave, only a month of self-study and you're already taking the exam." Master Chen smiled and joked when he saw Li Che.

Master Chen's full name was Chen Dabao, now sixty-eight years old, a senior master at Xu's Wood Carving Shop.

It was said that Chen Dabao had long been qualified to enter the Inner City Xu's, but he never wanted to go, preferring to stay at the Outer City Wood Carving Shop.

Not just Chen Dabao, but the other woodcarvers in the shop felt the same way.

This left Li Che very puzzled. Why not go to the Inner City?

He had heard that the living conditions and everything else in the Inner City were far better than in the Outer City.

"You, the Inner City may be good, but it's also dangerous. Nowadays, the world is in turmoil, evil spirits abound, Strange Temples are everywhere, and various sects are rising. The government's control over many cities has weakened, and each city has fallen under the control of the wealthy and noble families…"

"The noble families fight over the control of these cities and the vast interests, leading to constant conflicts. For an old man like me, entering the Inner City would be like entering a whirlpool, and I can't afford the turmoil."

"Here in the Outer City… the conditions are a bit worse, but with my Internal Energy, I can still live comfortably."

Master Chen took a satisfying sip of the old yellow wine in his gourd, smacking his lips as he spoke.

Li Che nodded, understanding Master Chen's thoughts.

When the tiger is away, the monkeys will play… simplicity is key.

Suddenly, Li Che thought of something and asked softly, "Master Chen, have you heard of the 'Spirit Child Dharma Master'?"

Master Chen paused in his drinking, frowned, and glanced at Li Che, "Are you worshipping that thing?"

Li Che hurriedly shook his head and recounted the news Uncle had told him this morning.

"My daughter was delivered by Lei Chunlan… I'm very worried." Li Che said with deep concern.

Upon hearing this, Master Chen's expression grew serious, "It seems… another one who has joined a cult and turned evil. Since the Spirit Child Cult from the Strange Temples spread to Feilei City, the number of children dying young has greatly increased…"

"That midwife probably joined the Spirit Child Dharma Master, was bewitched, and used the children she delivered to worship the spirit child."

"Delivery is like a ritual… once targeted, it's hard to shake off."

"That midwife… won't easily let your child go."

With Master Chen's confirmation, Li Che's expression became serious and grim, his fingers clenching into a fist, his breathing heavy.

"However, you mentioned that the dead children were all delivered a year ago, so they probably need to be one year old to qualify for the ritual. So, within this year, your child should be safe, but you need to be vigilant to prevent the midwife from secretly taking your child and performing the evil ritual when the time comes!"

Master Chen, who had seen many such cases, spoke with a somewhat calm tone.

All he could do was warn.

Even if he offered to help Li Che, not only might he not be able to, but their relationship wasn't close enough for that.

Li Che, after all, was just a laborer at the Wood Carving Shop, nothing more.

Li Che understood this and didn't ask for help.

If he really asked for help and Master Chen refused, their already thin relationship would be severed.

"Master Chen… if I become a woodcarver at the Wood Carving Shop, will the shop help?"

Li Che took a deep breath and asked.

Master Chen took a sip of wine and glanced at Li Che.

"If you can become a woodcarver, all problems will be solved."

"The shop will provide housing for the woodcarvers. You can move your family here and be protected by the Wood Carving Shop. If that midwife dares to show up, she will definitely be killed."

"We woodcarvers have Internal Energy. Even if the midwife has the evil powers of the Spirit Child Dharma Master… we are not afraid."

"If you really become a woodcarver, even if it's the lowest rank of a one-cut master, I'll be your neighbor. If that evil midwife dares to show up… I'll slap her to death for you!"

Master Chen wiped the wine from his beard, baring his yellow teeth in a fierce grin, showing a bit of his fierce nature.

However, he quickly reined in his ferocity, tapping his fingers lightly on the gourd, looking at Li Che with a playful expression.

"The premise is… you must become a woodcarver."

"That's hard…"

"What makes you think you can surpass the apprentices who have spent large sums of money and started learning woodcarving from a young age with just a month or two of self-study?"

(End of Chapter)