https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-30-Dao-Fruit-Absorbs-Divinity-Xu-s-Bone-Shattering-Spear/12831092/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-32-The-Sleeping-Dragon-and-Elephant-the-Bull-Demon-s-Eight-Trigram-Killing/12831094/
Chapter 31: Low Profile and Slaughter
Chapter 31: Low Profile and Slaughter
The howling wind and swirling snow raged outside.
Seeing the old man, his eyes red and tears streaming down his face, Li Che’s heart softened. He quickly pulled Uncle Li Liang into the warm workshop.
Pouring a cup of hot tea for Uncle Li Liang, Li Che’s expression turned serious.
“What happened? Uncle, take your time and tell me.”
Li Che asked in a grave voice.
Uncle Li Liang’s family had raised him, never mistreating him. The debt of gratitude for raising him was not something that could be easily repaid.
If there was anything he could do to help, Li Che would not stand idly by.
The old scholar was trembling all over, the snowflakes on his body gradually melting in the workshop’s warmth. His frozen red hands held the cup of hot tea, and his expression seemed to relax slightly.
The old scholar took a breath, looked at Li Che, his eyes bloodshot, and hesitantly pulled out a palm-sized wooden sculpture from his chest.
The moment Li Che saw the wooden sculpture, his eyes narrowed sharply.
“A Spirit Infant statue?”
Li Che was not unfamiliar with the wooden sculpture! Back when they hadn’t moved into the woodcarving shop, a Spirit Infant wooden sculpture had appeared in their courtyard, causing Li Che to feel uneasy and move his family into the Xu Family Woodcarving Shop.
Li Che took the wooden sculpture from the old scholar’s hands. It was different from the one that had been placed at his doorstep.
It wasn’t the three-headed, six-armed Spirit Infant statue, but a normal one with one head and two arms, with one eye closed and the other open. However, it was undoubtedly a Spirit Infant statue.
As a woodcarver, Li Che was extremely sensitive to the expressions on wooden sculptures.
“Is this a matter of priority?” Li Che murmured softly.
“Uncle, has Zhouzhou already turned one year old?”
Li Che asked, furrowing his brows.
Uncle Li Liang nodded vigorously. “Yes… in three days, it’s the scheduled first birthday celebration. I wanted to keep it simple, but now… I’m too afraid, completely afraid.”
“Over these few days, your cousin hasn’t even dared to go to work, staying at home all the time with a hatchet, fearing…”
Uncle Li Liang sighed heavily.
He knew very well that if the Spirit Infants Cult truly targeted his grandson, Li Chengzhou, what could they, ordinary people, do to resist? Fear and anxiety had completely enveloped them these past few days.
Thinking of the children who had died, the old scholar had nightmares every night.
“Your cousin and his wife haven’t slept for three consecutive days, fearing that the Spirit Infants Cult might harm Zhouzhou while they’re asleep.”
Li Che gripped the Spirit Infant wooden sculpture, his eyes narrowing.
“So, Uncle, you want your daughter-in-law to bring Zhouzhou here to seek refuge… the Xu Family still has some influence.”
The old scholar looked at Li Che with hope, as if grasping the last straw.
“Don’t worry, Uncle, it’s no problem for Zhouzhou to stay at my place. My home will be much safer.”
Li Che had no reason to refuse.
The appearance of the Spirit Infant wooden sculpture brought a sense of oppression and anxiety that was too intense. Having experienced it himself, Li Che could feel Uncle’s current fear and despair.
It was a feeling of helplessness as death drew closer to his grandson.
Ordinary people were indeed powerless against the Spirit Infants Cult, like lambs awaiting slaughter.
“Thank you, Ache… I’m grateful to you…”
The old scholar was visibly relieved and moved.
“I’ll go back and make the arrangements, and have Zhengran and Chunming bring Chengzhou to your place…” The old scholar, holding the teacup, was about to leave the shop.
Li Che quickly called out to him, “Uncle, don’t. Have your cousin and his wife protect Zhouzhou at home. Don’t go out, to prevent any accidents on the way. I’ll go and pick them up myself. I’ve been practicing martial arts recently, so it will be safer.”
“Good, good…” Uncle Li Liang nodded hastily.
“I’ll inform the shopkeeper and come over. You go back and protect Zhouzhou with your cousin and his wife.”
Li Che said.
Uncle’s face finally showed a hint of relief. He set down his teacup and hurriedly left, disappearing into the wind and snow.
Li Che sat on the chair, holding the palm-sized Spirit Infant wooden sculpture, his eyes reflecting deep thought.
“The Spirit Infants Cult…”
“A scourge.”
Li Che sighed.
However, the Spirit Infants Cult was a colossal force, and it had connections with the prominent families in Feilei City…
“Moreover, the government is also involved with the Spirit Infants Cult. That constable, Zhao Chuanxiong, is a member of the cult…”
…
…
Li Che didn’t take leave. As a woodcarver, he had the right to enter and leave the woodcarving shop freely, as long as he delivered the goods on time.
He changed into a sturdy outfit, picked up a thin piece of wood, put on a hood, and left the woodcarving shop, venturing into the wind and snow.
Having grown up in Uncle’s home, Li Che naturally knew the way to Uncle’s house.
However, Li Che didn’t head there immediately. Instead, he chose to play it safe.
"Could this be a trap set by the Spirit Infant Sect, deliberately luring me there?"
"If I were to be killed, losing my identity as a woodcarver, the Xu Family Compound would no longer be a safe place for us. Xiaoya and Xixi would have to move out..."
"Once they leave the Xu Family Compound, the Spirit Infant Sect could easily target Xixi."
"An orphan and a widow would be at their mercy!"
Pressing his hood down, Li Che pondered. This possibility wasn’t out of the question. However, it wasn’t certain either. After all, he had often left the Xu Family Compound in recent days. If they wanted to make a move, they could have done so already...
There was no need for such a convoluted plan to trap him.
"Still, I can’t let my guard down..."
As Li Che thought, he walked down the long street. At the bulletin board, a new wanted poster had been posted. He paused, seeing his Minotaur identity prominently displayed, with a bounty of 500 taels...
"500 taels... That’s five gold leaves!"
"That’s the price for a nine-headed Guanyin statue I carve."
Li Che muttered to himself.
However, 500 taels would be enough to make many people take risks.
"It seems I need to be a bit more low-key for a while."
Li Che smiled, pressed his hood down, and braced against the raging snowstorm. He first went to the rented courtyard he had outside.
He took a black robe from a vat in the courtyard, his inner strength surging as he shook it, generating steam that dried the garment.
This was an extremely elastic robe, crafted by his own hands. The Dao Fruit of Master Artisan had enhanced not just his woodcarving skills but any craft he undertook.
With this robe, he wouldn’t have to worry about it bursting when he activated the Adamantine Transformation.
He changed into the robe with ease, put on the young bull mask, and wearing his hood, he slipped out of the courtyard.
...
...
In Thunder City, Anping Alley.
A courtyard surrounded by a wall of yellow earth, with the door tightly shut.
Inside the house.
Old Scholar Li Liang puffed on his pipe, drawing in and exhaling smoke.
Li Zhengran clutched an axe, his eyes bloodshot, pacing back and forth, carefully listening to the sounds outside.
Liu Chunming held her son, Li Chengzhou, her hair disheveled and unkempt, clearly not having the time to tend to herself.
"Father, has Ah Che not arrived yet?"
"Could he have... just told you to come back to reassure you?"
Liu Chunming, holding her baby, was approached by her sister-in-law. Her eyes were red, her voice hoarse as she spoke.
A woman, under the constant threat of losing her child, was on the brink of collapse.
"No, Ah Che wouldn’t deceive me. If he said he could help, he definitely can..."
"He’s a respected woodcarver now. He’s just helping us by letting us stay in his courtyard to avoid disaster. He wouldn’t lie to us."
Old Scholar Li Liang puffed on his pipe, shaking his head.
He trusted Li Che and understood his character!
"Don’t say such things. Ah Che will come!"
Li Zhengran also spoke in a deep voice.
The room fell into a deathly silence, with only heavy breathing breaking the quiet.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from outside.
The three inside instantly tensed up.
Li Zhengran gripped his axe, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He moved to the door, peering through the crack, and saw the figure outside.
Outside.
The wind and snow raged, the sky dark.
A tall figure stood there, carrying a Bagua staff and wearing a little girl’s mask. The figure squatted down, placing a Spirit Infant woodcarving on the ground, moving it back and forth until it was positioned directly in front of the closed door.
The howling wind sounded like wailing ghosts.
Seeming to know Li Zhengran was watching through the door, the figure suddenly lifted its head, the little girl’s mask showing a face that was both crying and laughing, eyes filled with mockery.
It was that nightmare-inducing face again!
Li Zhengran couldn’t help but tremble all over, his hand gripping the axe shaking uncontrollably...
Suddenly.
Li Zhengran’s pupils constricted as he froze, staring through the door crack.
Because...
Behind the figure wearing the little girl’s mask, squatting in the snow, a towering, mountain-like figure suddenly appeared in the storm, almost as if by magic. The black robe clung to his body, perfectly outlining the chiseled muscles.
Wearing a hood and a young bull mask, his eyes gleaming with sharp light.
He raised a hand.
Bang!
The figure with the Bagua staff, wearing the little girl’s mask, just started to react, leaping up, and was slammed by a palm that sent it flying...
Trailing a spray of blood.
(End of Chapter)
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