https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-9-Three-Headed-Six-Armed-Spirit-Infant-Statue-and-the-Mechanical-Sleeve-Crossbow/12983858/
Chapter 10: Crossbow Salvo, A Mechanical Murder
Chapter 10: Crossbow Salvo, A Mechanical Murder
Li Che's gaze flickered as he clutched the Spirit Infant statue.
Since they had marked him with an ominous Spirit Infant woodcarving, Li Che dared not take any chances. If they were to ambush him outside, he would regret his decision forever.
"The safest place... is naturally the woodcarving shop!"
"I'm a woodcarver now, with my own workshop. I can have Xixi and Ya stay there..."
"Mhm, a stable and safe choice!"
After making this decision, Li Che woke his wife, Zhang Ya.
"Husband, you were so restless last night, you must have been holding back..." Zhang Ya's pretty face flushed slightly, and her eyes seemed to sparkle with anticipation.
Li Che smiled and ruffled his wife's loose hair.
"Wife, get ready. Take Xixi, and let's go to the woodcarving shop. You can keep me company at work these days."
Li Che said.
Zhang Ya was momentarily stunned. Go to the woodcarving shop to work?
"Husband, today is your first day as a woodcarver. Isn't it inappropriate for Xixi and me to go? Won't it upset the manager?"
Li Che shook his head, "No, the workshop is the woodcarver's private space, so it's fine for family to stay there. I'll also explain to the manager."
Hearing this, Zhang Ya stopped asking and started packing. She took Xixi, who was playing on the bed with her eyes wide open, and prepared to leave.
After bundling Xixi up warmly, the family braved the snow and headed for Xuji Woodcarving Shop.
Li Che protected his wife and daughter as the whistling wind blew, tightening the cotton-padded clothes on his wife and wrapping Xixi to shield her from the cold.
At the same time, Li Che's peripheral vision scanned the surroundings, his heart filled with vigilance.
Zhang Ya noticed her husband's alertness and knew something had happened, but since Li Che didn't mention it, she didn't ask. Still, her heart silently grew worried.
The couple, with their child, trudged through the snow-covered cobblestone street.
"Holy Spirit Doctrine, washing away the dust, Rebirth Without Woes Technique..."
"It requires Supreme Intelligence..."
The sound of clanging filled the air as the copper bells collided, drums beat, and the Spirit Infant Sect followers marched in a mesmerizing procession from a distance.
Carried above them was the Tri-headed Six-armed Spirit Infant statue, its eerie aura intensifying amidst the incense smoke.
Li Che even felt like the statue's eyes were deliberately fixed on his family, a blurry gaze constantly watching him, making him feel like he was being pierced by thorns!
"Husband..." Zhang Ya's expression betrayed her unease as she looked at the Spirit Infant Sect procession.
"I'm here." Li Che patted his wife's shoulder and guided her slender frame towards the woodcarving shop.
However, Li Che inexplicably sensed the cold wind brushing past him, as if someone was constantly following them.
The crisis was like thick ink spreading in a pool, gradually darkening until it stained the entire pool.
Fortunately, they soon arrived at Xuji Woodcarving Shop.
Stepping into the shop, Li Che finally relaxed. He turned back to look into the distance, his eyes narrowing, and indeed, he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing by the corner.
"Lea Chunlan?"
Li Che's chest heaved violently, and he struggled to suppress the surging killing intent.
"A-Che?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out. Chen Dabao, holding a gourd of wine, noticed Li Che, Zhang Ya, and Xixi.
The sight made him pause, but Old Chen, wise with age, connected this to Li Che's earlier words about the Spirit Infant Sect targeting his daughter. He understood the situation.
"Come in first."
Old Chen's expression turned solemn, and he invited Li Che and his family into the shop.
Li Che settled Zhang Ya in his workshop before seeking out Old Chen.
Old Chen took a swig from his gourd of wine and glanced at Li Che, "They've marked you?"
Li Che nodded and took out the Spirit Infant woodcarving that had appeared at his doorstep the night before.
The moment Old Chen saw the woodcarving, his expression turned grave, and he set down his wine, "You did the right thing by bringing your wife and daughter to the woodcarving shop. Your home is no longer safe."
"The Spirit Infant Dharma Master, the Spirit Infant Dharma Master... giving this statue means the Spirit Infant Sect has assessed your daughter... as a Spirit Infant!"
Old Chen took the woodcarving, his face heavy with concern.
Li Che's expression also changed.
"They've probably been watching you. Was this 'Tri-headed Six-armed Spirit Infant statue' made last night?"
"They must know you've become a woodcarver at Xuji. Knowing you'd move into Xuji Manor, they..."
Li Che's face darkened, "They want to strike first?"
"Yes, you're fortunate to be so cautious, bringing your family here..." Old Chen clenched his fist, and the woodcarving instantly cracked, shattering into pieces on the ground.
"You said someone was following you? Is it that midwife who's harmed so many children?"
"Maybe, I couldn't see clearly... can't be sure."
"For the sake of our soon-to-be harmonious neighborly relationship... I'll take you to see if it's that brainwashed midwife..."
Old Chen took a sip of the strong yellow wine, narrowing his eyes.
Hearing this, Li Che felt a surge of joy.
He knew Old Chen's attitude had changed because of his demonstrated woodcarving talent, infusing his carvings with profound essence, a talent that seemed even more impressive than he'd imagined!
Li Che settled his wife and daughter in the workshop, warning Zhang Ya not to wander off. Old Chen asked a master carver to keep an eye on them, then led Li Che out of the shop.
Two figures, both wearing conical hats, walked through the snow with their hats open to the wind and snow.
After leaving the shop, Old Chen tossed his cloak to Li Che, and he too wrapped himself up, securing the gourd at his waist.
They arrived at the corner of an alleyway.
There, in the corner of the alley, a "Three-Headed Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue" was placed upon the snow.
"Wow, quite the bold move, marking their territory right in front of Xu's shop... They really think Xu's is made of clay." Old Chen narrowed his eyes, stomping his foot as his blood surged, and the Spirit Infant Woodcarving instantly shattered into pieces.
Crash!
At that moment, a distant shadow seemed startled and quickly scampered away, treading on the snow.
"Found him," Old Chen said, glancing at Li Che.
"You follow at your own pace, and be careful."
As he spoke, Old Chen's exposed skin turned bright red as if on fire. His body relaxed, and the taut tendons stretched tight, emitting a sound like a drawn bowstring.
The snow beneath his feet instantly melted into water, and a scorching wave of heat washed over him. With a single step, he propelled himself forward, like a red-hot branding iron thrown with force, shattering the flying snow and chasing after the fleeing shadow.
Watching Old Chen shoot away, Li Che's heart was slightly shaken.
Skin Grinding and Sinew Opening, Bone Tempering and Blood Replacement... Old Chen had reached an unknown realm, and his Inner Strength was exceptional.
Exhaling a breath of hot air in the snowy wind, Li Che suppressed the sleeve crossbow hidden in his sleeve, his face as cold as ice.
"It's not the midwife, just a Skin-grinding Martial Artist. She joined the Spirit Infant Sect and became a disciple."
Old Chen saw Li Che approaching and spoke calmly.
Li Che's heart sank, feeling a bit disappointed.
It wasn't Lea Chunlan... What a pity.
The man's skin was dark, with a ruggedness from the wind and sun, but at this moment, he seemed utterly listless. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth as he lay on the ground, panting heavily and spraying hot air, coughing up blood.
Apparently, he had only lasted a few moves against Old Chen before being beaten severely.
After the beating, Old Chen drank his wine, enjoying the satisfaction of a job well done.
Li Che stared at the man with his head buried in the snow, his fists clenched, his eyes cold and indifferent.
"Where's Lea Chunlan?" Li Che's voice was hoarse.
"I... I don't... know..." The man mumbled with his head buried.
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Che viciously kicked him in the head, knocking his head against the green stone pavement covered in snow, making a dull thud.
Li Che kicked him repeatedly, but the man only gritted his teeth and grunted, never crying out in pain.
Old Chen watched calmly, a hint of a smile on his face.
After a moment, the two walked silently on the long street, Old Chen with his hands behind his back, relaxed and carefree.
Li Che, by his side, turned to Chen Dabao, "Old Chen, you go back to the shop. I'll buy some pig head meat and a couple of measures of yellow wine to thank you..."
H
Li Che smiled and agreed, then disappeared into the snowy wind.
Old Chen watched Li Che's disappearing figure, smacked his lips, picked up the gourd, removed the strainer, and took a gulp.
"This kid... he's a good father."
"However, without martial arts training, killing a Skin-grinding Warrior... isn't easy."
The alleyway was filled with flying snow, sparse and scattered, chilling to the bone.
The air was thick with a pungent bloody smell. The black-skinned man, who had been beaten by Old Chen, staggered to his feet, leaning against the wall for support...
Old Chen was too strong, and the man, who had just undergone Skin Grinding, had no power to resist.
As for the kicks Li Che had delivered, they were insignificant to a Skin-grinding Warrior, causing no pain or discomfort, only a bit of humiliation.
"A Spirit Infant marked by the Dharma Master... not one can escape... Even Xu's shop can't protect them..." The man panted heavily.
The black-skinned man grunted and breathed heavily.
Suddenly, he stiffened as he saw a figure blocking the alley entrance, wearing a conical hat.
With difficulty, he lifted his head, only to see a tall figure with a conical hat blocking the alley entrance.
The figure with the conical hat raised an arm.
Swish! Accompanied by a sound that tore through the air, a whistling sound pierced the flying snow.
Boom! Something seemed to explode...
The black-skinned man felt a sharp pain in his eyes as a wooden crossbow bolt, imbued with immense power, pierced his eyeball. Blood instantly blurred his vision.
He screamed in agony, the pain instantly burning his nerves.
Like an enraged tiger, he roared, ready to pounce on the figure in the alley entrance who had shot the crossbow bolt. Li Che, wearing a conical hat, watched the black-skinned man approaching, his eyes cold and indifferent, as another crossbow bolt burst forth with a whistling sound.
Arrow after arrow, each finding its mark. Skin Grinding indeed toughens the skin and thickens the flesh... but can you grind your eyeballs too?
The first wave of nine crossbow bolts from the sleeve crossbow was spent.
Until the black-skinned man knelt on the ground, his head pierced like a porcupine, he stopped moving, and his breath left him.
Li Che shook his sleeve, expressionless, and put away the sleeve crossbow, then adjusted his conical hat.
H
(End of Chapter)
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