https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-30-Devouring-Divinity-Xu-Ji-s-Bone-Shattering-Spear/12983892/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-32-Sleeping-Dragon-Elephant-Ox-Demon-Kills-the-Bagua-Stick-Warrior/12983894/
Chapter 31: Low-key and Explosive Killings
Chapter 31: Low-key and Explosive Killings
Amid the howling blizzard, snowflakes danced in the raging winds.
Looking at the old man before him, with a weary spirit, bloodshot eyes, and tears streaming down his face, Li Che's heart softened, and he hurriedly pulled his uncle into the warm workshop.
Pouring a cup of hot tea for his uncle, Li Liang, Li Che's expression turned serious.
"What happened? Uncle, take your time and tell me," Li Che asked in a deep voice.
His uncle had raised him since he was young, and he had never deceived him. Just this act of raising him was a debt of gratitude that couldn't be easily repaid.
If there was anything he could help with, Li Che wouldn't stand idly by.
The old scholar was shivering all over, and the snowflakes that had settled on him were gradually melting in the warmth of the workshop. His hands, red from the cold, held the cup of hot tea, and his expression seemed to relax a little.
The old scholar took a deep breath, looked at Li Che, and his eyes were filled with bloodshot lines. After thinking for a moment, he tremblingly took out a palm-sized wooden carving from his pocket.
But the moment Li Che saw the wooden statue, his eyes narrowed sharply.
"A Spirit Infant statue?"
Li Che was no stranger to this wooden statue. Before moving into the Xuji Woodcarving Shop, a Spirit Infant statue had appeared in their courtyard, causing Li Che to feel anxious and forcing them to move into the Xuji Woodcarving Shop.
Li Che took the wooden statue from the old scholar's hand, and it was slightly different from the one that had been placed at their doorstep.
It wasn't the tri-headed six-armed Spirit Infant statue, but a normal one-headed two-armed statue with eyes that opened and closed. However, it was undeniable that this was also a Spirit Infant statue.
As a woodcarver, Li Che was highly sensitive to the expressions of wooden statues.
"A priority distinction?" Li Che muttered softly.
"Uncle, is Zhou Zhou already one year old?"
Li Che asked, furrowing his brows.
The old scholar nodded repeatedly, "Yes... In three days, it's his first birthday banquet. We wanted to keep it simple, but now... sigh, we dare not, we absolutely dare not."
"These past few days, your cousin hasn't dared to go to work. He's been staying at home, holding an ax, afraid that..."
The old scholar sighed and lamented.
The old scholar was well aware that if the Spirit Infants Sect had truly set their sights on his grandson, Li Chengzhou, how could they possibly resist with their ordinary strength? These past few days had been filled with fear and anxiety.
Thinking of the children who had died tragically, the old scholar had been having nightmares every night.
"Your cousin and his wife haven't dared to sleep for three consecutive days... afraid that if they fall asleep, the Spirit Infants Sect will harm Zhou Zhou."
Li Che clutched the Spirit Infant statue, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So, Uncle, do you think your cousin and his wife can bring Zhou Zhou to my place to hide for a while... Xuji, Xuji Woodcarving Shop still has some deterrence."
The old scholar clung to this idea like a last-ditch effort, looking at Li Che with hope.
"Uncle, rest assured. It's no problem for Zhou Zhou to stay at my place. My home will be much safer."
Li Che, of course, had no intention of refusing.
The appearance of the Spirit Infant statue brought an overwhelming sense of oppression and anxiety. Li Che, having experienced it himself, could sense the terror and despair in his uncle's heart.
It was a feeling of helplessness, as if death was drawing closer and closer to his grandson.
Ordinary people indeed felt powerless against the Spirit Infants Sect, just like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
"Okay, okay, Ah Che... Thank you, Uncle, thank you..."
The old scholar was overwhelmed with gratitude, and his expression relaxed.
"I'll go back and make arrangements. I'll have Li Zhengran take Zhou Zhou to your place..." The old scholar held the teacup and was about to head out of the shop.
Li Che hurriedly stopped him, "Uncle, no, let your cousin and his wife stay at home and protect Zhou Zhou. Don't go out, to avoid any accidents on the road. I'll go and pick them up. I've been practicing martial arts, so it'll be safer."
"Okay, okay..." The old scholar, Li Liang, nodded hurriedly.
"I'll go and inform the manager, and you go back and protect Zhou Zhou with your cousin and his wife."
Li Che said.
A smile finally appeared on the old scholar's face, and he belatedly put down the teacup before bidding farewell and rushing out into the blizzard.
Li Che sat in the chair, holding the palm-sized Spirit Infant statue, and a hint of contemplation flashed in his eyes.
"The Spirit Infants Sect..."
"..."
Li Che exhaled.
However, the Spirit Infants Sect was a formidable force to Li Che, not to mention their connections with the powerful families of Thunderstrike City.
"Additionally, even the government is connected to the Spirit Infants Sect. That marshal, Zhao Chuanxiong, is also a member of the Spirit Infants Sect..."
...
...
Li Che didn't take a leave of absence. As a woodcarving master, he had the freedom to come and go from the shop as long as he could deliver the carvings within the specified timeframe.
Changing into his martial arts attire and picking up a thin piece of wood, Li Che put on a conical hat and stepped out into the blizzard.
Having grown up in his uncle's home, Li Che naturally knew the way.
However, Li Che didn't head there immediately. Instead, he chose to steady himself first.
"Could it be a trap set by the Spirit Infants Sect? Luring me intentionally?"
"If I were to be harmed, without my identity as a woodcarver, Xu Family Compound would become uninhabitable. Little Ya and Xixi would have no choice but to move out..."
"After leaving the Xu Family Compound, the Spirit Infants Sect could easily take action against Xixi."
"An orphan and widow would be at their mercy!"
Li Che adjusted his conical hat, pondering the possibility of this being a trap.
But it wasn't certain, after all, he had been frequently leaving the Xu Family Compound during these days. If they wanted to take action, they could have done so long ago...
There was no need to go through all this trouble, just to lure him into a trap.
"However, one can't be too careful..."
Li Che thought as he strolled down the long street. At the notice board, he noticed a new wanted poster, and paused for a moment. He saw his Bull Demon identity prominently displayed, with a reward of five hundred taels...
"Five hundred taels... five gold leaves!"
"That's the price of carving a Nine-Headed Guanyin statue."
Li Che muttered to himself.
However, this five hundred taels... was enough to tempt many to take risks.
"Looks like I'll need to keep a low profile for a while."
Li Che smiled, adjusted his hat, and headed into the fierce wind and snow. He first went to the rented courtyard he had outside the city.
In the courtyard, he took out a black garment from a barrel of water, and with his inner strength, he shook off the moisture. The garment steamed with heat, drying it.
This was an extremely elastic garment, a product of his own craftsmanship, enhanced by the Immortal Artistry's techniques. It wasn't just his woodcarving skills, but any craft he applied himself to, he could master.
With this garment, he no longer had to worry about his clothes tearing when transforming into Vajra.
Quickly changing into the garment, he put on the Cute Bull Mask, and with his conical hat, Li Che darted out of the courtyard.
...
...
Fei Lei City, Peaceful Alley.
A courtyard surrounded by a wall of yellow soil, with its doors tightly shut.
Inside the house.
The old scholar sat smoking a pipe, the sound of his puffs filling the air.
Li Zhengran gripped a firewood knife, his eyes bloodshot, as he paced back and forth, listening intently to the sounds outside.
Liu Chunming held her son, Li Chengzhou, her eyes red and voice hoarse as she spoke.
"Father, hasn't Ah Che come yet?"
"Do you think he's... tricking you to come back early?"
Liu Chunming held her child, her mother-in-law by her side. She was on the verge of collapse, constantly under the pressure of losing her son.
"He won't, Ah Che won't trick me. If he says he can, he definitely can..."
"He's a woodcarver now, a respected identity. He's just helping us out, letting us hide in his courtyard to avoid disaster. He won't deceive us."
The old scholar puffed on his pipe, shaking his head.
He believed in Li Che, and knew his cousin's character well!
"Don't talk nonsense, Ah Che will come!"
Li Zhengran spoke in a low voice.
The house fell into a deathly silence, only broken by heavy breathing.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from outside.
The three inside tensed up.
Li Zhengran held the firewood knife, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He approached the door, peering through the crack, and saw a figure outside.
Outside.
The wind howled, the sky darkening.
A tall and slender figure, carrying a Bagua staff, wearing a Girl Mask, crouched on the ground, holding a Spirit Infant Woodcarving, and pressing it against the ground. The figure moved the carving left and right, positioning it directly in front of the closed door.
The wind howled like a ghostly cry.
As if aware that Li Zhengran was watching through the crack, the figure suddenly lifted its face, a Girl Mask with eyes that seemed to mock and laugh.
Again, that face, like a nightmare, appeared before them.
Li Zhengran's entire body trembled, his grip on the firewood knife shaking uncontrollably.
Suddenly.
Li Zhengran, who had been watching through the crack, his pupils constricted, and he froze in shock.
Because...
Behind the figure wearing the Girl Mask, crouching in the snow...
A towering figure appeared, almost instantly, like a mountain in the wind and snow. A black garment hugged his muscular body, perfectly outlining his chiseled physique.
Wearing a conical hat, and a Cute Bull Mask, his eyes shone with a fierce light.
He raised his palm.
A loud bang...
The figure, carrying the Bagua staff and wearing the Girl Mask, reacted and leaped up, only to be smashed by a fan-like punch, sending him flying...
A cloud of blood mist rose.
pS: Good news, the PK has advanced to the second round! Bad news, the second round is even more intense, please continue supporting the book!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
