https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-13-Little-Xixi-Peerless-in-Martial-Arts/12983873/
Chapter 12: The Daughter Turns One, Dragon Elephant Vajra
Chapter 12: The Daughter Turns One, Dragon Elephant Vajra
After finishing his work, Old Chen held Xixi in his arms and braved the wind and snow to return home alongside Li Che and Zhang Ya.
To protect Xixi from the harsh weather, Old Chen even used his inner strength to ward off the cold for the little girl, ensuring that not a single snowflake landed on her.
Upon returning to their humble earthen house, Zhang Ya and Li Che busied themselves with preparations, inviting Old Chen to stay and guard their home, naturally offering him a warm welcome.
They prepared delicious food and wine for a hearty dinner.
"Xiya's cooking skills are quite impressive. From now on, Old Chen, I'll be coming over for meals, and I'll be well-fed," Old Chen said as he ate and drank, his small eyes narrowing with joy.
Xixi sat on a wooden baby chair made by Li Che, waving her hands as if she also wanted to take a sip of Old Chen's gourd wine.
Li Che accompanied Old Chen for a few drinks but refrained from drinking more.
After all, he had to stay alert tonight, worrying about the Spirit Infants Sect's followers who would be like dogs jumping over the wall, eager to cause trouble.
After dinner, Old Chen played with Xixi while Li Che sat in a chair, using the oil lamp to illuminate the wood he had brought back from the woodcarving shop, practicing his carving and attempting to create mechanisms.
Perhaps due to their growing closeness, Old Chen, during a break from drinking, decided to waive the fee for the borrowed Tang Family Mechanism Manual, showing his goodwill.
Although Li Che, now a full-fledged woodcarver, didn't need the fifty wen, Old Chen's gesture was significant, and Li Che respectfully thanked him with a drink.
As Li Che finished crafting the sleeve crossbow, he didn't stop there. He planned to make two more pairs, one to hide in the other sleeve and the other for his wife, Zhang Ya, as a precaution.
As expected, after crafting the sleeve crossbow once, the Dao Fruit's maturity level had already been extracted, and it couldn't grow further. To increase the Dao Fruit's maturity, he would have to craft other mechanisms.
Outside, the wind and snow howled and swirled fiercely.
Inside, the oil lamp's wick danced and glowed, casting shadows on the figures within.
It was the latter half of the night.
Old Chen, who was guarding Xixi's sleep, suddenly narrowed his eyes and silently stepped out of the house, leaping onto the roof in a single bound.
His powerful blood energy roared like an angry dragon in the midst of the wind and snow.
Several nearby shadows, sensing Old Chen's aura, turned and fled without hesitation.
Old Chen's face darkened. These followers of the Spirit Infants Sect were indeed crazy, daring to attempt an assassination in the middle of the night.
"One Sinew Opening Stage, four Skin Polishing Levels... If I wasn't here tonight, Ah Che might not have been able to protect Xixi..."
Old Chen opened the gourd's stopper and took a swig of wine.
His eyes gleamed with intense ferocity.
The Spirit Infants Sect...
They had indeed turned Flying Thunder City into a place of chaos and gloom.
Returning indoors, Old Chen nodded at Li Che and then went back to Xixi's side, who was sound asleep.
Li Che clutched the carving knife, his veins bulging like coiling dragons. After a long while, he slowly exhaled and calmed himself to continue carving.
He, Li Che, would remember this favor from Old Chen.
...
...
The next day, the weather cleared, and the snow stopped falling.
Zhang Ya woke up early to pack, preparing for the move.
Although her husband hadn't said anything, her keen instincts told her that with Master Chen invited to guard their home, there was a threat to her family.
So, there was no sadness about moving, only the desire to quickly relocate to the woodcarving shop's compound.
There weren't many belongings in the earthen house, so they called for a donkey cart and headed towards Xuji Woodcarving Shop.
The neighbors, seeing this commotion, poked their heads out, each filled with envy and awe.
"They're moving... This family is about to soar to success, flying out of this remote corner of ours."
"I heard that Che Ge became a full-fledged woodcarver at Xuji Woodcarving Shop... He'll be making big money now!"
"Just look at Che Ge, you can tell he's destined for greatness! And now, as a woodcarver, his carvings can sell for ten taels of silver each!"
"It's different now, they're not from the same world anymore."
...
The neighbors whispered, envious and jealous, as the donkey cart crushed the pure white snow under its wheels, turning the corner of the alleyway.
Upon arriving at the woodcarving shop, they headed straight inside.
Li Che didn't see anyone, but a man in luxurious clothing, resembling a butler, approached him.
"Li Che, the manager asked me to wait for you and accompany you in choosing a yard," the butler smiled.
He then turned to Chen Dabao, who was holding Xixi.
"Oh, Master Chen is here too?"
Old Chen smiled, "Old Sun, just take Ah Che to the house opposite mine, we'll be neighbors from now on!"
The butler, Old Sun, smiled, "Then let's go this way."
The group walked through the narrow alleys between the high walls of the compound, quickly reaching the residential area, where yards lined both sides of the alleyways.
Xu Ji's woodcarving shop is vast, occupying an extensive area!
After all, Xu Ji is wealthy and influential, and with their martial arts cultivation and mastery of Inner Strength, they have developed in Flying Thunder City for over two hundred years, accumulating deep roots.
Compared to the large landowners, they naturally acquired a significant amount of land.
Master Sun, the steward, unlocked the door with a key and pushed it open, causing the pure snow piled on the roof to fall, revealing the spacious courtyard covered in thick snow.
"Master Li, take a look. If you're not satisfied, you can check out other courtyards," Master Sun said with a gentle and respectful attitude.
To become a formal woodcarving master from a laborer, one must possess exceptional talent. Being the steward of Xu Ji's woodcarving shop, he certainly has the necessary discernment and wouldn't easily offend others.
Li Che, holding Zhang Ya's hand, entered the courtyard, and after carefully examining it, his tense mood finally relaxed.
A smile curved his lips, "Good, very good."
Zhang Ya, feeling both amazed and incredulous, gazed at the bright and luxurious courtyard. Compared to their previous cramped little hut, this was indeed a significant improvement!
"In a couple of days, let's invite Elder Brother's family over for a housewarming meal. We can finally settle down," Zhang Ya suggested, leaning against Li Che's chest. Her eyes sparkled with a glimmer of light.
The husband had promised her a wonderful life, and now... it was finally coming true.
Life was gradually getting better!
"You two, tidy up the courtyard and move in. Bring Old Man Xixi to our house to play. Once you're done, come over for a meal. I'll send someone to Spring Wind Tower to order a table for you in the courtyard across from yours," Chen Dabao said, holding Xixi. After shouting a couple of times, he returned to his own courtyard.
With the proximity, they could even hear Xixi's giggles as she played with Chen Dabao.
Li Che smiled in understanding, "I didn't expect Old Chen and Xixi to get along so well..."
"Master Chen is a good man. With Xixi by his side, we can focus on settling in," Zhang Ya said with a smile, her lips pressed together.
The couple exchanged a glance and began tidying up the courtyard with great enthusiasm.
...
Time marches on, and seasons flow like a stream.
Days pass like wood shavings under a chisel, unnoticed, scattering across the ground.
Xixi turned one year old.
In the courtyard.
As the autumn chill departed, a pure white snow began to flutter and sprinkle, covering the courtyard like cotton.
Li Che and Old Chen sat around a warm fire pit, with a pot of old yellow wine warming on it. On the table, there was braised beef and pig ears, mixed with celery and garlic paste, emitting a mouth-watering aroma.
In the courtyard, one-year-old Xixi ran around happily in a wooden baby walker made by Li Che, chasing the falling snowflakes from the sky.
Old Chen watched Xixi with adoration, his eyes never leaving her, "Oh dear, little stinker Xixi, it's snowing outside, it's cold. Come back inside and play."
"Uncle Chen, it's fine. Let her play. She'll tire herself out, and it'll be easier to put her to sleep later. Otherwise, with her high energy, she'll keep us up all night with her wide-open eyes like copper bells," Zhang Ya said, bringing out a dish of steaming hot edamame from the kitchen.
"Hey, Xixi is one year old, and you two weren't even thinking of celebrating? I'll make sure Xixi gets a grand celebration... I've invited all the old men around, so you better prepare a few tables!" Old Chen grabbed some edamame and ate with a chuckle.
Li Che, despite moving into the courtyard of the woodcarving shop nearly a year ago and the lack of activity from the Spirit Infant Sect, still maintained vigilance deep within.
As Xixi's first birthday approached, Li Che's vigilance intensified.
After all, Lei Chunlan specifically targeted one-year-old infants! However, after discussing with his wife, they ultimately decided to hold a birthday celebration, mainly because the courtyard was spacious, and hosting it at home was considered safe.
The old yellow wine was warmed, and Li Che poured a cup for Old Chen.
Li Che poured himself a cup as well, taking a sip, the wine's aroma dispersing the winter chill.
Suddenly, Li Che's heart trembled slightly.
A vision appeared before his eyes.
On the vast land, a tall tree reached into the clouds, its branches and leaves lush. On the tree, a seven-colored fruit slowly formed, radiating with vibrant light, as if reflecting Xixi's growth over the past year.
Li Che's eyes lit up in an instant.
The long-awaited anticipation finally blossomed at this moment.
Xixi turned one, and the second Dao Fruit...
...
[Your daughter is one year old, safe and sound. You obtain a Dao Fruit.]
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(End of Chapter)
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