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Li Che clutched the Spirit Infant Statue, his eyes flickering with indecision.
The other party had clearly targeted him, and the eerie Spirit Infant wooden sculpture was a mark of their intent. Li Che naturally didn't dare to take any risks. If he went out to work and they broke into the Earthen Cottage to attack, he would regret it deeply.
"The safest place… must be the Wood Carving Shop!"
"I am now a wood carver with my own workshop. I can have Xixi and Xiaoya stay in my workshop…"
"Yes, it's safe and steady!"
After making this cautious decision, Li Che woke his wife, Zhang Ya.
"Husband, you were too rough last night… didn't you hold back?" Zhang Ya's face was slightly flushed, her eyes glistening as she looked at Li Che.
Li Che smiled and gently stroked his wife's disheveled hair.
"Wife, tidy up, take Xixi, and come to the Wood Carving Shop… stay with me for the next few days while I work," Li Che said.
Zhang Ya was taken aback. Go to the Wood Carving Shop to work together?
"Husband, today is your first day as a wood carver… wouldn't it be inappropriate for me and Xixi to go? The shop owner might not like it."
Li Che shook his head, "No, the workshop is a private space for the wood carver. Family members can stay there. I'll explain to the shop owner."
Zhang Ya didn't say anything more after hearing this, and began to pack their things, taking Xixi, who was playing on the bed, with her.
After wrapping Xixi up tightly, the family braved the wind and snow, heading for Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
Li Che protected his wife and daughter, the cold wind howling, and he tightened Zhang Ya's cotton coat and wrapped Xixi to shield her from the cold.
At the same time, Li Che's eyes scanned the surroundings, his heart on high alert.
Zhang Ya, seeing her husband's demeanor, felt a chill. She knew something must have happened, but since Li Che didn't say anything, she didn't ask, though worry began to gnaw at her heart.
The couple and their child braved the wind and snow, stepping onto the snow-covered cobblestone street.
"The Holy Spirit teaches, cleansing the dust, ensuring a carefree rebirth…"
"Only the wise can achieve this without guidance…"
The clanging of bells and drums echoed as the Spirit Child Sect procession, with its mesmerizing sequence, approached from the distance.
On the altar they carried, the three-headed, six-armed Spirit Infant wooden statue became even more eerie in the incense smoke.
Li Che even felt as if the Spirit Child Dharma Master's wooden statue was looking directly at his family, a vague gaze that made him feel like a thorn in his back!
"Husband…" Zhang Ya's face showed clear signs of panic as she looked at the procession.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
"Don't look, keep walking."
Li Che patted his wife, holding her slender shoulders, and walked straight towards the Wood Carving Shop.
However, Li Che felt a cold wind brush past him from behind, as if someone was following them.
The crisis was like a drop of ink in a pool, slowly spreading until the entire pool was black.
Fortunately, they soon arrived at Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
The moment they stepped into the shop, Li Che felt a sense of relief. He looked back, his eyes narrowing, and indeed saw a black figure flash past a corner.
"Lei Chunlan?"
Li Che's chest heaved, and a surge of killing intent rose within him.
"A-che?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. Chen Dabao, holding a gourd and drinking, saw Li Che and his wife, Zhang Ya, and their daughter, Xixi.
This scene… made him pause, but the old Chen, being wise, immediately understood the situation, recalling Li Che's previous mention of the Spirit Child Dharma Master targeting his daughter.
"Come in first."
The old Chen's face was stern as he let Li Che and his family into the shop.
Li Che arranged for Zhang Ya to stay in his workshop and then sought out the old Chen.
The old Chen, sipping from his gourd, glanced at Li Che, "You've been targeted?"
Li Che nodded and took out the Spirit Infant wooden statue that appeared at his doorstep last night.
The moment the old Chen saw the Spirit Infant wooden statue, his face turned serious, and he stopped drinking, "You did the right thing by bringing your wife and daughter to the Wood Carving Shop. Your house… is no longer safe."
"The Spirit Child Dharma Master, the Spirit Child Dharma Master… giving you this wooden statue means the Spirit Child Sect has evaluated your daughter… as a Spirit Infant!"
The old Chen's face was extremely grave as he took the wooden statue.
Li Che's face also changed.
"They've been watching your family. This 'three-headed, six-armed Spirit Infant Statue' appeared last night?"
"It seems they know you've become a wood carver at Xu's shop and that you would move into the Xu compound, so…"
Li Che's face darkened, "They want to strike first?"
"Yes, you were wise to bring your wife and daughter here…" The old Chen's fingers clenched, and the wooden statue instantly cracked and shattered into pieces.
"You said someone was following you? Was it the midwife who has harmed many children?"
"Possibly, but I couldn't see clearly… I can't be sure."
"In the spirit of becoming friendly neighbors… I'll take you to find out if it's the brainwashed midwife…"
The old Chen took a swig of his strong liquor, his eyes narrowing, and said, Li Che couldn't help but feel relieved.
He knew that the old Chen's change in attitude was due to his talent in wood carving, which imbued his work with profound meaning. This talent… seemed more important than he had imagined!
Li Che arranged for his wife and daughter to stay in the workshop, warning Zhang Ya not to wander off. The old Chen asked a senior craftsman to keep an eye on them and then left the shop with Li Che.
Both wore straw hats to protect themselves from the wind and snow.
Outside the shop, the old Chen handed Li Che a cloak, wrapped himself in one, and tucked his gourd into his waist.
They arrived at the alley corner.
There, on the snow-covered ground, was a 'three-headed, six-armed Spirit Infant Statue.'
"Wow, quite bold, marking in front of Xu's shop… do they think Xu's is made of clay?"
The old Chen's eyes narrowed, and with a single step, the wooden statue exploded into pieces as his qi surged.
Rustle!
At the same time, A black figure in the distance seemed startled and quickly fled through the snow.
"Found them," the old Chen's eyes narrowed, glancing at Li Che.
"Follow slowly, be careful."
With that, the old Chen's exposed skin turned a fiery red, his body stretching, and his tendons tightening like a bowstring.
The snow under his feet instantly melted into water, and a scorching heat wave rushed out. With a single step, he shot forward like a red-hot iron, shattering the snow as he pursued the fleeing figure.
Seeing the old Chen shoot away, Li Che was impressed.
Skin Tempering and Tendon Opening, Bone Tempering and Blood Replacement… the old Chen must have reached a high level, and his inner strength was formidable.
He exhaled a breath of hot air from the wind and snow, pressed the Sleeve Crossbow hidden in his sleeve, and his face turned cold.
Fear not the thief who steals, but the thief who keeps you in mind…
Thinking of his adorable Xixi being targeted by these villains, Li Che felt a surge of intense anger.
If they want to harm my daughter, I…
Will kill them!
…
…
Li Che quickly caught up, stepping on the cobblestone path.
From a distance, he saw the old Chen leaning against a wall in the alley, sipping from his gourd.
Behind him, a black figure lay on the ground, blood staining the snow.
"Not the midwife, just a Skin Tempering practitioner who has joined the Spirit Child Sect and become a disciple."
The old Chen said calmly as Li Che approached.
Li Che's heart sank, feeling disappointed.
Not Lei Chunlan… that's a real shame.
The man's skin was dark and tough from years of exposure to the elements, but now he was weak, blood gushing from his nose and mouth, lying on the ground, panting and coughing up blood.
Clearly, he hadn't lasted long against the old Chen and was severely injured.
The old Chen, after beating him, drank his liquor with a sense of post-battle satisfaction.
Li Che stared at the man, who had buried his head in the snow, his fists clenched, his eyes cold.
"Where is Lei Chunlan?"
Li Che's voice was hoarse.
"I… I don't… know…"
The man mumbled, his head still buried.
Before he could finish, Li Che kicked him hard in the head, causing it to slam into the snow-covered cobblestone ground with a dull thud.
Li Che kicked him several more times, but the man only grunted, not crying out.
The old Chen watched with a faint smile.
After a moment, they walked down the street in silence. The old Chen strolled leisurely, hands behind his back.
Li Che, however, turned to Chen Dabao, "Old Chen, go back to the shop. I'll buy a pound of pig's head meat and two ounces of yellow wine to thank you…"
The old Chen grinned, "No need, go ahead. I prefer the braised meat from the shop in the west of the city."
Li Che smiled and agreed, then disappeared into the wind and snow.
The old Chen watched Li Che's retreating figure, smacked his lips, and took another swig from his gourd.
"This kid… is a good father."
"But, without martial arts training, killing a Skin Tempering practitioner… won't be easy."
…
…
In the alley, Snowflakes drifted, the cold penetrating to the bone.
The pungent smell of blood filled the air. The dark-skinned man, who had been severely beaten by the old Chen, struggled to his feet, leaning against the wall.
The old Chen was too strong, and he, a newly Skin Tempering practitioner, had no chance of resistance.
As for Li Che's kicks, they didn't hurt much, just a bit humiliating.
"The Spirit Infant marked by the Dharma Master… none can escape… even Xu's shop can't protect them…"
The man panted heavily.
Suddenly, His body stiffened as a shadow blocked the light at the alley entrance.
He struggled to lift his head and saw a tall figure in a straw hat blocking the alley entrance.
The figure raised an arm.
Whoosh!
A whistling sound tore through the air, piercing the snow.
Plop!
Something exploded…
The dark-skinned man felt a sharp pain in his eye as a wooden arrow, propelled by great force, pierced through his eyeball, blood instantly blurring his vision.
He screamed in agony, the pain searing his nerves!
Like an enraged tiger, he roared and lunged at the figure in the alley entrance, intent on tearing him apart!
Li Che, wearing a straw hat, watched the charging man coldly. With another whistling sound, another arrow shot out.
One after another, each arrow hit the man's eye!
Skin Tempering did make the skin tough… but could you toughen your eyeballs?
Li Che fired all nine arrows from the first batch in his Sleeve Crossbow.
The dark-skinned man finally fell to his knees, his head a pincushion of arrows, and his life extinguished.
Li Che shook his sleeve, his face expressionless, and hid the Sleeve Crossbow. He pressed his straw hat down and walked towards the braised meat shop in the west of the city.
(End of Chapter)