Chapter 38: No Justice, The Bull Demon Reappears
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A heavy snowfall blanketed the sky, freezing the ground to a depth of three feet.
The thick, white snow piled up along the entire street of the outer city. Despite the harsh conditions, the people, driven by the will to survive, braved the wind and snow to go to work and set up their stalls, all in the hope of earning a few copper coins to buy firewood and survive the deadly winter.
Li Che, dressed in a thick cotton coat and wearing a bamboo hat, walked down the long street. He noticed that many households in the city were draped in white silk, and the sounds of weeping echoed through the snow and wind.
These were families who had lost their children. In recent months, the activities of the Spirit Child Sect had become increasingly frequent.
After being driven out to the outer city, they had become like wolves among sheep, growing even more aggressive and unrestrained.
Even the large courtyard of the Yang Family, a prominent inner-city clan, had been raided, and their spirit children taken.
The entire city had become increasingly bizarre and oppressive.
Although Feilei City had an official government, the head of the outer city's police station, Zhao Chuanxiong, was a member of the Spirit Child Sect. How could ordinary people resist?
Who could seek justice for them?
No one.
The major clans in the inner city had only expelled the Spirit Child Sect, seemingly afraid to completely alienate them.
This was mainly because the Spirit Child Sect had deep roots and connections, even with the Strange Temples, and perhaps with some heavyweight figures in Feilei City.
"According to Old Xu, the Spirit Child Sect has even reached out to the spirit children of the inner city's prominent families. These children are the foundation of these families..."
"But these prominent families have only expelled the Spirit Child Sect, not declared war... Clearly, they are wary of something."
As he walked, his feet sinking into the snow, Li Che saw a woman, frozen and stiff, burning paper money at her door.
On the long street, a group of Spirit Child Sect members marched by, chanting slogans, their faces filled with fanaticism and excitement, in stark contrast to the numb and desperate woman.
"This damned world, this damned Spirit Child Sect... my child, my child..."
The woman, staring blankly at the departing sect members, suddenly burst into tears, her voice piercing and mournful.
Li Che stood still, coldly watching the fanatic sect members trample the long street.
He slowly closed his eyes.
He couldn't help but think that if he hadn't obtained the Dao Fruit, he might have been just as numb and powerless as this woman.
Reflecting on it, he felt a sense of empathy.
In this world, no one would seek justice for them.
No one.
Li Che opened his eyes, and he couldn't...
Because he had a family, a lively and adorable daughter, and many things to consider.
At some point, Li Che found himself back at the small courtyard in Rain Listening Lane.
This was his rented home in the outer city.
In the snow-covered courtyard, he moved a bamboo chair and sat down, taking out a thin wooden board and a small carving knife from his chest.
He began to carve with great care and focus, the sound of the knife scraping the wood mingling with the rustling of the snow.
A Cute Ox Mask soon took shape.
Xixi was born in the year of the Ox, so Li Che had gotten into the habit of wearing the Cute Ox Mask.
He placed the mask on his face, and his eyes, hidden behind the mask, glinted with cold and unrestrained determination.
What Li Che dared not do...
The Bull Demon could.
What Li Che could not do...
The Bull Demon could.
What Li Che dared not pursue with abandon...
The Bull Demon could!
"The members of the Spirit Child Sect... they are already on my list. Let's... start the reckoning."
The Bull Demon murmured.
The entire city had become too oppressive because of the Spirit Child Sect.
Your grandpa, the Bull Demon, is here to... relieve the pressure!
Not for justice, but for abandon!
...
...
The inner city of Feilei.
Golden Splendor Pavilion.
Curtains fluttered in the wind.
Inside the suspended terrace, a charcoal brazier burned red, warming the room to a comfortable temperature.
Si Mu Bai sipped tea, while several figures wearing children's masks sat opposite him. Despite the warmth of the brazier, the atmosphere remained cold and oppressive.
"That Bull Demon, we didn't go after him, but he has started acting again... In the past half-month, he has frequently attacked and killed several of our Spirit Child Sect members searching for children in the city!"
"He beheaded them, cut off their hands, and used our signature crossbow arrows to pin their bodies to the walls... His methods are extremely cruel!"
"Is this what he calls seeking justice? Calling himself a righteous hero? How laughable... In this world, those who dare to be heroes... will never have a good end!"
A female child's mask, with a smiling face, emitted a cold voice, like a bone scraper on a white wall, grating and unpleasant.
Si Mu Bai looked at the masked figures, hiding various demons and devils, and sighed softly.
"Rest assured, this Bull Demon... will surely die."
"I have also called you here because... this matter requires your assistance."
With that, Si Mu Bai waved his hand toward one side.
His assistant, Blood Change Warrior Guo Zhan, immediately lowered his body and approached.
"Go, have Zhao Chuanxiong take action..."
"My [Soul Nurturing Carving] is only missing one high-quality spirit child. I can't delay any longer..."
...
...
In the small courtyard of Rain Listening Lane.
The Bull Demon, having just killed a member of the Spirit Child Sect, returned using the "Sleeping Dragon Elephant" technique to conceal his presence.
After tidying up, Li Che sat cross-legged and began his daily divine energy cultivation.
The [Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit] pulsed gently, like a heart contracting and expanding, and the pure, spotless divine energy in the world seemed to be drawn in like a stream, flowing into his body and gathering in the [Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit].
[Dao Fruit: Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit (LV1, 3%)]
Li Che opened his eyes, furrowing his brow and exhaling slowly.
"The [Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit] can draw divine energy from the world, but ultimately, due to the lack of a divine energy cultivation method, my efficiency in absorbing divine energy is extremely low..."
"It has only just pushed the Dao Fruit's maturity to 3%... and the speed is getting slower and slower."
"I really need to obtain a divine energy cultivation method to study."
Li Che pondered.
This thought had been on his mind for a long time, and it was becoming increasingly intense.
Unfortunately, divine energy cultivation methods were not available for purchase in the market, and there were no channels to obtain them.
Such methods were considered valuable treasures even among the prominent families in the inner city.
Even becoming a master woodcarver and gaining recognition from a prominent family would require passing multiple trust assessments before being granted a lower-tier divine energy cultivation method.
"So, to obtain a divine energy cultivation method, I still need to think of a way through the prominent families..."
Putting aside the divine energy cultivation method for now, Li Che's gaze sharpened.
[Dao Fruit: Dragon-Elephant Vajra (LV1, 90%)]
Li Che stared at the [Dragon-Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit, which had climbed from 70% to 90% maturity in just half a month.
"Fighting... killing... can also increase maturity?"
Li Che murmured.
In the past half-month, since the Bull Demon's return, Li Che had used the "Sleeping Dragon Elephant" and "Vajra Transformation" abilities of the Dao Fruit to kill many of the Spirit Child Sect's thugs.
Most of these battles were overwhelming, and even Bone Tempering Realm thugs couldn't last more than a few rounds against him.
Unexpectedly, these actions had accelerated the Dao Fruit's maturity.
Li Che couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
Due to the increase in Dao Fruit maturity, Li Che's Bone Tempering cultivation had also reached its peak.
"Bone Tempering is complete... for external cultivation, I now need a Blood Transformation Method. Additionally, my Inner Strength has been at the third level for quite some time, but without a high-tier Inner Strength cultivation method, it's difficult to break through to the fourth level..."
"Divine energy cultivation method, Blood Transformation Method, high-tier Inner Strength cultivation method... sigh, where can I find these?"
Li Che rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache.
As the master woodcarver of Xu's Wood Carving Shop, his wealth was considerable.
But having money didn't mean he could buy everything he wanted.
After tidying up, Li Che braved the wind and snow, heading toward Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
His mind was preoccupied with how to obtain a divine energy cultivation method and a Blood Transformation Method.
As he walked, Just as he reached the entrance of Xu's Wood Carving Shop, Li Che sensed something was amiss.
At the entrance, two groups of constables, dressed in red and black uniforms and carrying swords at their waists, stood guard.
And from inside the shop, The head of the police station, Zhao Chuanxiong, who was on Li Che's list, was leading someone out.
Seeing the figure being escorted by Zhao Chuanxiong, Li Che's face darkened immediately.
"Old Chen?"
PS: Tuesday is a crucial day for the PK, which determines the second round of recommendations. Please follow and read! Just a light tap to the last chapter to see your reading rank, and I, Old Li, will be grateful!
(End of Chapter)