https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-10-Nine-Crossbow-Arrows-Mechanisms-of-Death/12831060/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-12-Daughter-at-One-Dragon-Elephant-Adamantine/12831062/
Chapter 11: The Creepy Temple
Chapter 11: The Creepy Temple
Lee Che cut a pound of braised beef and bought a bottle of aged yellow wine. His mood was slightly somber.
This was his first time killing someone, yet his emotions... didn't react as strongly as he expected. In this chaotic era, where the government is weak and strange occurrences are rampant, life is cheap, like a blade of grass.
Although the black-skinned man wasn't the midwife Lily Chunlan, he harbored ill intentions toward Sasha. Lee Che naturally didn't hesitate to take his life. He didn't want to kill in front of Old Master Chen, so he made an excuse to circle back.
After all, if he killed in front of Old Master Chen, it would give him leverage. Old Master Chen hadn't made a move to kill either, right?
What troubled Lee Che most was the black-skinned man's last words, which stuck in his throat like a fish bone...
Could it be that even Hsu Chi can't suppress the Spirit Infant Sect?!
Lee Che exhaled, walking down the long street. He paused in front of the government notice board, only to find that the wanted notice for Lily Chunlan had been torn off and replaced with a notice for a flower thief.
"Lily Chunlan's wanted notice... it's been canceled?"
"Did Lily Chunlan die, or did someone from the Spirit Infant Sect intervene to suppress the notice?"
Lee Che's brows furrowed, his expression growing darker. Killing a member of the Spirit Infant Sect hadn't eased his worries much.
"I can't relax until we move into the shop's courtyard..."
Braving the snow, he returned to the wood carving shop. Removing his hat and cloak, he was greeted by the warmth and the sound of Sasha's "yiyaya" cries. His heart softened, and he entered the workshop to see Old Master Chen holding Sasha, his face beaming with joy as he gently swayed from side to side.
"Smile for Grandpa Chen, Sasha," Old Master Chen chuckled.
Sasha cooed, her chubby little hands tugging at Old Master Chen's beard, causing him to laugh even harder. The other older masters stopped their work, gathering around to watch with smiles on their faces.
It was rare to have a little one in the shop, and Sasha's presence brought joy to the older masters.
"Ah Che is back? Go to the back courtyard, Second Manager Xu Pei-Hu is waiting for you."
"Sasha is here with me, Old Master Chen will keep her company. Don't worry, this little one and I are very close. If anyone dares to touch a hair on her head, I'll give them a good slap."
Old Master Chen caught sight of Lee Che and called out to him. Lee Che nodded, setting down the beef and wine, and went to the workshop to comfort his wife, Zhang Ya, before heading to the back courtyard.
...
...
The snow grew heavier, with large snowflakes falling from the sky.
On the training ground, several figures were already present. Chao Hsuan and Wang Cheng, the other wood carvers recruited alongside Lee Che, were already practicing skinning under Second Manager Xu Pei-Hu's orders.
Lee Che quickened his pace, bowing to the two managers.
"Second Manager, Third Manager, Lee Che is late."
Third Manager Xu Yu sat under the eaves of a house on the side of the training ground, using tongs to place winter plum blossoms into boiling water, then sprinkling in a few roasted tea leaves. Seeing Lee Che, Xu Yu nodded.
"Old Master Chen told us the reason, it's understandable."
"Your daughter... has been targeted by the Spirit Infant Sect?"
Xu Yu spoke gently, not blaming Lee Che for being late.
"The Spirit Infant Sect... they do nothing but evil. What good can come from a sect that originates from a creepy temple? So many people worship the Spirit Infant Sect's leader, offering divine power, and even many powerful families in the city secretly support them... these fools will bring about a great disaster!"
Xu Pei-Hu, with his towering frame, snorted coldly, his powerful aura shattering a snowflake that fell from the sky.
"Come and learn skinning. Strength is your capital. Otherwise, in this world... you won't even have the ability to protect your wife and daughter."
Xu Pei-Hu looked at Lee Che, his voice booming.
"Go, I've already sent someone to arrange your move. Tomorrow, you and Old Master Chen will go to look at the courtyard." Xu Yu continued as he brewed the tea.
"Even in the outer city, the Spirit Infant Sect dares not act rashly against Hsu Chi. Within Hsu Chi's shop, you are safe."
"When your daughter grows up, she can move to the inner city and train with the Hsu Chi descendants, laying a solid foundation..."
Lee Che paused, considering the idea of moving to the inner city to train with the Hsu Chi descendants.
Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
Li Che didn’t dwell on it. After bowing, he stepped into the courtyard.
Xu Beihu patted Li Che’s body, his brows relaxing. "Your bones and constitution are decent, though you’re a bit old. It’s not impossible to train, but you’ll have to work hard. With enough effort, you still have a chance to reach the Bone Tempering stage."
"Skin Tempering is actually the initial step in the method of qi and blood circulation."
"Qi is generated within the body, moving from inside to outside and vice versa, complementing and stimulating each other. Use blood to temper the skin, and qi to refine the muscles!"
Xu Beihu then began teaching Li Che the method of Skin Tempering.
Li Che listened intently, not daring to relax for a moment.
Today, he had killed, but it was through the use of ingenious mechanisms. If he could be as strong as Old Chen, relying on personal martial prowess...
Hmm, if mechanisms could kill...
Using mechanisms to kill was more comfortable.
...
...
Snowflakes fell, and the cold was biting.
But Li Che was drenched in sweat, steam rising from his body, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
After a day of intense training, Li Che felt his skin burning. Although he hadn’t yet mastered Skin Tempering, he had a good grasp of the method.
"Skin Tempering has been taught to you. From now on, you must train diligently without slacking. Martial arts require constant effort, regardless of the weather, to make progress and achieve results."
"Once you complete Skin Tempering, I will teach you the Tendon Opening method."
"However, it will take you at least two years to complete Skin Tempering... Work hard. From now on, come to the training ground in the morning to practice Skin Tempering, and spend the afternoon in the workshop carving. Every six months, we will assess your progress in Skin Tempering."
Xu Beihu spoke with a stern voice, his tiger-like eyes casting a formidable gaze over the three of them.
Li Che and the others immediately bowed in acknowledgment.
...
...
Returning from the training ground, the sky had already grown dark.
Li Che’s skin was sore, but his mood was exceptionally pleasant. Finally, he had officially started martial training.
Old Chen was cradling Xi Xi, proudly showing her off to the other master craftsmen, as if introducing her to everyone.
Li Che could sense that Old Chen genuinely cared for Xi Xi.
He had heard that Old Chen was a solitary man, with no wife or children, dedicating his entire life to the Xu Family Carving Shop.
Unlike the other master craftsmen, who had large families and numerous children.
A master woodcarver could support an entire family. Even if they weren’t masters, their carvings were highly sought after, making a decent living relatively easy.
For example, Old Chen had earned 150 taels for carving a “Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus” last time!
"Finished training? Started Skin Tempering, I suppose?" Old Chen noticed Li Che and walked over with a smile, holding Xi Xi.
Xi Xi reached out to Li Che as soon as she saw him.
"Oh, you ungrateful little one, I’ve been holding you all day, and you don’t even miss me!" Old Chen pouted childishly, feeling a bit hurt.
Li Che laughed and took Xi Xi, who was now more plump and adorable, with bright, large eyes and long lashes, blinking like a little elf.
"Old Chen, there’s one more thing... I need to ask a favor of you."
Old Chen, while playing with Xi Xi, waved his hand.
"I know what you want to say. You want me to keep watch over Xi Xi tonight, right? You can’t put your mind at ease until we move into the shop’s courtyard."
Old Chen chuckled.
Li Che wasn’t embarrassed. In these troubled times, being afraid of death wasn’t something to be ashamed of.
Besides, he genuinely had such concerns.
"Don’t worry, Xi Xi and I have a special bond. I’ll keep watch, and I’ll accompany her to check out the courtyard tomorrow." Old Chen took Xi Xi back from Li Che. "Alright, you’ve held her long enough. Xi Xi, come to Grandpa Chen~"
Li Che laughed, wondering how long he had really held her. It had only been a moment.
Back in the workshop, he saw his wife, Zhang Ya, had cleaned everything spotlessly. His face lit up with a smile.
A wife, a child, and a warm hearth...
This was what he aspired to, hoping for his wife and daughter to live in peace.
He just wanted to watch his daughter grow up...
So, Spirit Infants Sect, don’t push him!
If they did...
He had killed one person today, and he wouldn’t hesitate to...
One day, he might even wipe out the entire Spirit Infants Sect!
(End of Chapter)
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