Chapter 18: A Father's Love Worthy of Song and Tears, the Nine-Headed Avalokiteshvara Weeping Ghost Suppressing Statue

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Chen Dabao stood with his hands behind his back, watching Little Liu leave. Snowflakes floated down from the sky, settling on his graying hair.

His eyes carried a hint of wandering and complexity.

Sun Changbiao was dead. Old Chen was not particularly saddened by Sun Changbiao's death; in this era, death was an everyday occurrence.

What Old Chen was concerned about was Li Che's decisiveness.

They had just discovered that the person who coveted Xixi was Sun Changbiao, a disciple of the Spirit Child Sect. And just after work, Li Che had rushed off to kill Sun Changbiao.

Decisive, ruthless, and swift!

Was it really Li Che who did it?

Where did he get the strength to kill Sun Changbiao?

Even Old Chen felt a bit puzzled and doubtful.

His leisurely stroll turned into a purposeful walk as he changed direction and headed for Sun Changbiao's courtyard.

As he approached the courtyard, he heard thunderous cries.

Outside the courtyard, a crowd had gathered. He saw the steward, Old Sun, his face pale and trembling, his fists clenched, filled with anger and sorrow.

"Who? Who killed my son?"

"My son was kind and good to everyone. Who could be so cruel?"

Steward Sun wept bitterly, the pain of losing his son piercing his heart.

Lady Liu, supported by others, sat on a chair, tears streaming down her face, sobbing uncontrollably.

Old Chen pushed his way through the crowd and listened for a while, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.

"A towering figure like a small mountain, hands like fans, kicked the door open and stomped Sun Changbiao..."

"A Bone Tempering Realm warrior did this... It couldn't have been Li Che, who just completed Skin Grinding. He would have been killed by Sun Changbiao."

"What a coincidence!"

Old Chen was genuinely amazed.

Looking at Sun Changbiao's decapitated and broken body, he shook his head. The death was truly tragic.

He turned his gaze to Sun Changbiao's four daughters, standing timidly in the corner. The eldest daughter, looking at her father's body, did not show sorrow but rather... satisfaction.

...

...

The news of Sun Changbiao's brutal murder spread like a storm through Xu's Compound.

It caused a huge stir.

Third Manager had left the city and was not at the shop when this incident occurred, which had a significant impact.

The next day, Xu's inner city branch sent people to investigate, accompanied by constables from the Outer City Government Office.

Xu Beihu, wrapped in a fox fur cloak, his massive body radiating a solid aura of blood qi like electric arcs, looked at Sun Changbiao's body in the coffin, his eyes flashing with a strange light.

"A force of a thousand pounds, one kick shattered his internal organs, and another punch broke his arm bones, overwhelming him. Without a doubt, the attacker was a domineering Bone Tempering Warrior. The clean cut on his head indicates a sharp weapon, likely a sword."

Beside Xu Beihu, the Outer City Government Office's head constable, Zhao Chuanxiong, was equally massive, with a broad-bladed saber at his waist. He squinted his eyes and analyzed.

"Constable Zhao, I'll leave this to you. I never thought that after so many years of peace, such a heinous crime would occur in Xu's shop."

Xu Beihu clasped his fists in respect.

Zhao Chuanxiong waved his hand with a smile. "Perhaps it was the work of another family, trying to send a message. But it's strange... why choose Sun Changbiao? Why him?"

Xu Beihu was also puzzled and could not come to a conclusion.

Zhao Chuanxiong smiled and raised his hand.

"Search the place, see if you can find any clues."

With that, the constables he brought began to search Sun Changbiao's house.

Lady Liu, who had been crying on the chair, saw the constables searching and her eyes flashed with panic, followed by despair.

A moment later, a constable shouted, "Found it!"

He then ran back with a "Three-Headed Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue."

"Spirit Child Sect?!"

Xu Beihu's eyes widened in anger, his hair flying. He turned to Lady Liu and roared, "You worship the Spirit Child Sect?!"

Zhao Chuanxiong squinted his eyes and clapped softly. "So it's the Spirit Child Sect. That makes things clearer..."

He glanced at the four girls standing in the corner, the youngest no more than two or three years old, with messy hair and a look of confusion.

Xu Beihu's face darkened. Although the infiltration of the Spirit Child Sect into the shop was expected, the sudden exposure was embarrassing for Xu's shop.

"Now it's clear. Sun Changbiao worshiped the Spirit Child Sect, and his daughter was targeted by them to be sacrificed. Sun Changbiao refused and tried to protect his daughter, which led to his death."

"Tsk, tsk, truly a father's love worthy of song and tears..."

"Lady Liu, is this true?"

Lady Liu, still crying on the chair, froze.

Li Che, hidden in the crowd, heard the constable's analysis and couldn't help but twitch his lips.

Sun Changbiao did die for his daughter, but it was Li Che's fatherly love...

Li Che didn't stay to watch any longer and went to the training ground to practice.

...

...

The training ground was bustling with activity.

The new woodcarvers recruited this year, who had just received the Skin Grinding cultivation method, were all enthusiastic, lifting stone locks and practicing diligently.

Zhao Xuan, with her long, straight legs, was guiding the newcomers. Seeing Li Che arrive, she greeted him with a warm smile. "Master Li is here?"

Li Che smiled gently and nodded in response.

Wang Zheng, drenched in sweat, also stopped his training. "Master Li, have you heard? Master Sun died a terrible death, his bones crushed and his head cut off. It was horrifying."

Li Che's lips twitched. The story was getting more exaggerated... He wasn't that brutal.

However, Li Che still joined the conversation with a sigh.

The elders were chatting, and the newcomers didn't dare to join in. After a while, Li Che began his practice.

He had already reached the Great Success stage of Skin Grinding, which many admired.

Li Che practiced every day, as the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Dao fruit required daily cultivation to mature.

While practicing, Li Che pondered the Sinew Opening Technique and Internal Energy Technique.

Just as he was thinking, Xu Beihu arrived at the training ground.

"Second Manager."

Everyone stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

Xu Beihu's expression softened. "I came to investigate Sun Changbiao's death today and can also offer some guidance on your cultivation."

His gaze fell on Li Che, and he nodded in approval. "You achieved Great Success in Skin Grinding in just one year. Your body refinement talent is excellent. Keep up your efforts, don't slack off, and let me know if you have any needs."

Li Che clasped his fists. "Second Manager... Now that I have achieved Great Success in Skin Grinding, may I request a Sinew Opening Technique and an Internal Energy Technique?"

"I passed by Master Sun's courtyard today and saw his tragic state. I am still shaken. I heard that Master Sun was a father who loved his daughter deeply and died protecting her. I... am afraid."

Li Che's words were filled with sincerity and concern.

Xu Beihu fell silent. He knew about Li Che's background.

Li Che had joined Xu's shop to seek protection from the Spirit Child Sect. Now that this incident had occurred, Xu's reputation was damaged, a sign of declining prestige.

However, Xu's rules could not be broken. Xu Beihu shook his head, his face showing regret. "Xu's rules state that you must reach the Perfection stage of Skin Grinding before we can teach you the Sinew Opening Technique and Internal Energy Technique..."

"You need a solid foundation to build on. Otherwise, it's like a tall building that can easily collapse. If we teach you too soon, you might be tempted to practice prematurely and harm your body. This is for your own good."

Li Che's face showed disappointment.

Xu Beihu hesitated for a moment, then produced a porcelain bottle and handed it to Li Che. "Here... This contains 'Skin Grinding Pills,' a total of six. Consider it a reward for your achievement in Skin Grinding."

"Take one pill every five days. With your talent, you should reach the Perfection stage of Skin Grinding in about a month."

"Then, you can come to me for the Sinew Opening Technique and Internal Energy Technique."

Li Che felt a bit disappointed but showed a smile and accepted the pills. He had already decided to visit the market to see if he could buy an Internal Energy Technique.

Old Chen had said that since they were not part of the Xu family, the meridian-opening techniques and Internal Energy Techniques they could learn were not advanced, similar to those available in the market.

Seeing Li Che accept the pills, Xu Beihu's rugged face broke into a smile.

"Li Che, I have a job for you."

"I know your woodcarvings are full of meaning. The young master of the Si family in the inner city has approached me, wanting you to carve a piece. The reward is five gold leaves."

Li Che was taken aback.

Five gold leaves?!

Five hundred taels!

A big client!

But it also meant that the requirements would not be simple, and the job would be extremely difficult.

Li Che's face turned serious, and he clasped his fists. "What does the young master of the Si family want me to carve?"

Xu Beihu smiled at Li Che's serious expression.

"A Nine-Headed Avalokiteshvara Weeping Ghost Suppressing Statue."

(End of Chapter 18)