Chapter 20: Don't Force It If the Child Dislikes You

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Amidst the snowstorm, a figure stood firm.

A rainbow of vital energy intertwined outside his body, standing out in the gray and white expanse. He carried a crude knife, his eyes sharp yet playful.

From a distance, Li Che could see the man holding braised meat, a jar of wine, and osmanthus cakes.

Li Che halted, his first thought being that his misdeed had been exposed.

But upon closer reflection, there was no reason for it. He had altered his appearance using the [Dragon-Elephant Vajra] Dao fruit, leaving no trace.

If his misdeed hadn't been exposed...

Then what did this constable from the Magistrate's Office want, having just finished investigating Sun Changbiao's death and now appearing at his courtyard?

For a moment, Li Che couldn't figure it out and his thoughts went blank.

"Are you Li Che, Master Li?"

The hand calloused from years of sword practice rested on the hilt of the wrapped knife. Zhao Chuanxiong looked at the approaching Li Che and smiled.

Li Che, hands full, gave a symbolic bow. "That's me, sir. What can I do for you, Constable?"

Zhao Chuanxiong observed Li Che closely, then shook his head imperceptibly.

From Li Che's mental state and aura, it was clear that his cultivation was only at the peak of the Skin-Tempering stage. He couldn't possibly be the bone-tempered brute who had killed Sun Changbiao with ruthless and decisive means.

According to Liu's description, the culprit was nearly two meters tall, with a muscular and terrifying physique.

This was vastly different from Li Che's appearance.

However, Zhao Chuanxiong wasn't here for that reason.

"Liu confessed," Zhao Chuanxiong said, maintaining his half-smile.

Li Che's heart skipped a beat as he instantly understood what Zhao Chuanxiong was referring to.

"Did you receive a Furious Spirit Infant wooden statue the other day? That was placed at your door by the deceased Sun Changbiao..."

"As a believer in the Spirit Infant Sect, he had his eyes on your spirit infant."

Zhao Chuanxiong's lips curled into a slight smile as he stared at Li Che.

Li Che clenched his teeth. "I know. My daughter Xixi was targeted by the Spirit Infant Sect right after she was born, which is why I worked hard to become a woodcarver and moved into the Xu Compound..."

"I thought my daughter would be safe and grow up without worry, but after Xixi's first birthday banquet, the Spirit Infant Sect came to the shop again..."

Li Che's face flushed with anger and resentment as he spoke.

"Master Chen speculated that the statue was placed by someone in the shop, so he asked Master Chen to investigate. It was eventually confirmed that Sun Changbiao was the culprit."

At this point, Li Che's face showed a hint of fear. "Constable Zhao, I didn't kill Sun Changbiao, I..."

Zhao Chuanxiong, who had been watching Li Che, raised his hand to stop him.

"Enough, I know. You couldn't have killed Sun Changbiao; you don't have the strength..."

"Since it involves you, I'm just asking routine questions."

Zhao Chuanxiong turned and looked into the courtyard.

"Master Li, won't you invite me in for a chat?"

Zhao Chuanxiong smiled. "I've heard your woodcarving skills are excellent. Perhaps I'll need to ask Master Li to carve something in the future."

Li Che hesitated for a moment, reluctant to let the constable in, but since he had been so direct, he had no choice but to invite him in.

He opened the courtyard gate.

Zhang Ya stood under the eaves, covered in thick snow, while Xixi was walking around the cleared courtyard in her wooden walker.

Seeing an official enter the courtyard, Zhang Ya's face turned pale.

"Husband..."

She hurriedly called out, thinking Li Che had done something wrong.

Li Che put down his things and waved at Zhang Ya. "This is Constable Zhao from the Magistrate's Office, here to investigate something. There's nothing to worry about."

Zhang Ya nodded, her tense heart relaxing.

Zhao Chuanxiong, meanwhile, had appeared beside Xixi and said with a smile, "This is Master Li's daughter, truly lively and adorable, like a little doll."

Li Che's heart tightened at this.

"Yes, children are like that."

"Old Zhao, I really like kids. May I hold her?" Zhao Chuanxiong asked gently.

"My daughter is shy of strangers, Constable Zhao. I'm sorry," Li Che refused without hesitation.

However, Zhao Chuanxiong ignored him, crouching down to look at Xixi. "Xixi, will you let Uncle hold you?"

Xixi's clear, bright eyes stared at Zhao Chuanxiong, and then she started to move her walker away.

Zhao Chuanxiong laughed, but his hand was already reaching out.

Li Che's eyes narrowed, and the [Dragon-Elephant Vajra] Dao fruit in his heart began to pulse.

But he quickly suppressed it.

Because Zhao Chuanxiong's hand was stopped by another hand, preventing him from reaching Xixi.

"Constable Zhao, the little girl doesn't want to be held. What are you doing?"

Old Chen, not particularly tall, with a wine gourd at his waist, had extended his hand to stop Zhao Chuanxiong's.

The snowstorm seemed to pause for a moment, as if frozen in mid-air, before being torn apart by a terrifying gust, turning into a mist of snow.

Two powerful auras clashed, like waves colliding and surging.

Zhao Chuanxiong turned his head slightly to look at Chen Dabao, his smile gradually fading.

"It's Master Chen..."

"If the child doesn't like you, don't force it. Don't leave any bad impressions on the child."

Old Chen said calmly.

"Grandpa Chen... hold me." Xixi, seeing Master Chen, crashed into his legs with her walker and called out in a babyish voice.

"Oh, my little darling, Grandpa will hold you. Come here." Old Chen's face lit up with a smile as he picked up Xixi from her walker.

Zhao Chuanxiong stood up, his hand returning to the hilt of his knife.

"What a lovely child."

Zhao Chuanxiong watched as Old Chen carried Xixi away, smiling.

Li Che's heart relaxed a bit.

"Master Li, Master Chen, I'll take my leave now."

Zhao Chuanxiong didn't linger in the courtyard, waved, and disappeared into the snowstorm.

Old Chen bounced Xixi in his arms, making her giggle.

He watched Zhao Chuanxiong's retreating back and slowly exhaled.

"Ache, don't let strangers into the courtyard easily, especially unfamiliar guests..."

Old Chen said seriously.

"Xixi's rejection of Zhao Chuanxiong isn't because she's shy. Xixi has a spiritual sensitivity, the ability to sense good and evil. Zhao Chuanxiong... doesn't have good intentions." Old Chen explained.

Li Che's expression changed upon hearing this.

"He told you that Liu confessed and that Sun Changbiao placed the spirit infant statue at your door?"

Old Chen looked at Li Che.

Li Che nodded.

Old Chen smiled, but his voice was cold. "From beginning to end, Liu only admitted that she and her husband were members of the Spirit Infant Sect; she never confessed to placing the spirit infant statue at your door..."

"Moreover, the spirit infant statue found at Sun Changbiao's house was an ordinary Three-Headed Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue, with one eye open and one closed..."

"How did Zhao Chuanxiong know that the statue placed at your door was a 'Furious Spirit Infant'?"

(End of Chapter)