https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-5-Spirit-Infant-Master-One-Knife-Master/12983842/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-7-Four-Armed-Bodhisattva-Holding-a-Child-Statue/12983853/
Chapter 6: Passion Challenges Profession, Tang Family's Mechanisms
Chapter 6: Passion Challenges Profession, Tang Family's Mechanisms
Although Chen Dabao and Li Che were on good terms, a laborer who moved timber and finished statues every day had no hope during the master's assessment.
At least, from Chen Dabao's perspective, he couldn't see any potential in Li Che becoming an official woodcarving master.
Even if Li Che practiced carving on scrap wood from the shop after work.
But learning woodcarving wasn't that easy.
In Li Che's case, it could only be said that he had an interest in woodcarving but had never received formal training.
To challenge someone's profession and livelihood with just a hobby...was rather arrogant.
Li Che didn't explain himself or argue.
What could he say?
His eyes sparkled, and the Dao Fruit of Celestial Craft in his heart trembled slightly, as if radiating heat, illuminating the smooth path ahead of him.
He had to try...
"Li, if I were you, I would try to learn some farming techniques this year. Although you don't have the strength, at least when it comes to protecting your child, you can step up and fight."
Chen Dabao stood up, patted Li Che on the shoulder, and then entered the workshop to continue carving.
Li Che pondered for a moment and found Chen Dabao's suggestion quite reasonable...
"Farming techniques...I'd need a way to learn them. With my Dao Fruit of Celestial Craft, perhaps...I can design some mechanisms for protection."
"Although Auntie Lei only targets babies a year after they are born, what if...?"
Li Che took a deep breath, a plan forming in his mind.
Without further thought, he continued working, moving timber and statues.
Perhaps because they knew Li Che would be participating in the woodcarving assessment, many apprentices looked at him with a mix of strangeness and vigilance. Some even refused to let Li Che handle their finished carvings.
For a while, Li Che found himself with more free time in the woodcarving shop.
Except for a few master craftsmen and regular customers who still sought him out, most people didn't approach him, and Li Che enjoyed the break, starting to ponder mechanisms.
But after some thought, he had no clue where to start.
He felt that he should seek Old Chen, who might have some ideas.
"Mechanisms? You want to use mechanisms to protect your child? It's not a bad idea..."
"But setting up mechanisms is a field of study in itself. I don't understand the more complex ones either, but I do have an ancient book related to mechanisms in my collection."
Old Chen paused his carving and smiled upon hearing Li Che's question.
Li Che rubbed his hands together, his eyes lighting up.
Many in the shop knew that Master Chen had a collection of ancient books, said to contain many precious volumes.
Old Chen glanced at Li Che and held up a finger, "I can lend you the book, but I, Old Chen, never do business at a loss. This book is extremely rare and valuable...one tael of silver for a day's reading."
One tael of silver for a day? Li Che took a deep breath; it was indeed not cheap.
But Li Che nodded decisively, agreeing without hesitation.
"Well, that's a resolute decision. You're a good father, willing to risk it all for your daughter's safety. If you haggled, it wouldn't be just one tael of silver for a day."
"For your fatherly love, I won't ask for a tael, just fifty Dajing brass coins for a day is enough."
Chen Dabao stroked his beard and smiled.
Li Che was overjoyed and quickly thanked Chen Dabao. Who would refuse more money? He'd save where he could.
"I'll bring it to you tomorrow. Remember to bring enough money."
Chen Dabao said and resumed his carving.
As time passed, the sky gradually darkened.
Li Che received his daily wage, only fifteen copper coins, nearly a third less than usual.
However, he didn't mind. After collecting his pay, he carefully packed the selected wood scraps and left the shop, carrying them home.
Bringing home some scraps to carve and gain Celestial Craft experience had become Li Che's routine.
Today, he had touched a new wooden statue, which should earn him some experience.
The constant pressure of Auntie Lei's baby-killing weighed on his mind, giving Li Che a sense of urgency and a desire to improve quickly.
He hurried home and felt relieved when he saw his wife, Zhang Ya, playing with Xixi on the bed, using the various small wooden toys he had carved.
"Xixi, do you miss your daddy?" Li Che's heart softened, and he approached the bed with a bright smile, opening his arms to his daughter.
Xixi, with her delicate and adorable features, lay on the bed, smelling of milk, and babbled happily, waving her arms.
Li Che smiled and picked up Yatou, strolling around the cramped room, tickling the little girl until she burst into peals of laughter.
After playing with Xixi for a while, Zhang Ya also prepared dinner.
After dinner, Li Che, with the aid of an oil lamp, took out some scrap wood and began his daily wood carving.
In fact, the variety of wood carvings in the shop was limited, and as Li Che touched each piece, it might take several days to find a new design by a woodcarver.
With his Celestial Craft Dao Fruit having reached level 2, his carving speed had significantly increased.
[Dao Fruit: Celestial Craft (lv2, 9%)]
His experience had increased slightly.
Li Che's lips curled up, and his eyes narrowed as he decided to try his hand at crafting mechanisms.
However, he had little knowledge of mechanisms, but he thought of the highly lethal crossbow arrows. He began sketching and designing on paper.
...
...
The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the eastern horizon glowed with a pale light.
Beyond the dark mountains, clouds surged, and large snowflakes drifted down, enveloping the entire Flying Thunder City in a white blanket.
Li Che woke up early, and after washing up, he started preparing breakfast. Zhang Ya got up to help, but Li Che gently pushed her back to bed.
"Yatou cried and fussed all night. You should get some rest, my dear. You can get up and eat later."
Li Che gently patted Zhang Ya's loose black hair, her face still drowsy from sleep, and she nodded slightly before lying down again.
After finishing his preparations, Li Che placed the breakfast in the still-warm pot to keep it warm.
He then left the earthen house, stepping on the thick snow, and headed towards the woodcarving shop.
Walking on the cobblestone street, the howling wind and snow couldn't drown out the tinkling sounds from the street, where trumpets and suonas played...
"Holy Spirit Doctrine, washing away the dust, Rebirth Without Woes Technique, requires Supreme Intelligence to achieve..."
The chanting voices drifted down the street, accompanied by the continuous sound of footsteps trampling on the snow-covered cobblestones.
Li Che narrowed his eyes, standing by the roadside, and glanced at the long procession, where a group of followers carried a vermillion shrine.
Inside the shrine was a strange statue of a three-headed six-armed child, lifelike and radiant, clearly the work of a master craftsman.
Following the procession was a group of white-clad believers, both men and women, young and old, their faces gaunt and wild-eyed.
"Spirit Infant Sect..." Li Che took a deep breath, and a flash of determination appeared in his eyes.
Whether it was the Spirit Infant Master or not, Xixi was his treasure, his everything. His wife and child were his world, and he was determined to protect them.
If they dared to harm Xixi, they would bring destruction upon themselves. Even if it meant his death, he would take a piece of them with him.
Clenching his fists, Li Che braved the wind and snow, heading straight towards Xu's Woodcarving Shop.
At this moment, Li Che's desire to become an official woodcarver at the shop intensified.
It wasn't just about getting a house and the shop's protection; it was also about gaining access to the Inner Strength Technique and martial arts taught by the shop...
The Celestial Craft Dao Fruit had indeed brought Li Che significant benefits, but it only enhanced his natural talent for craftsmanship.
In terms of personal martial prowess, it wasn't much help.
Arriving at the shop, Li Che noticed the tense atmosphere. Many apprentices hadn't started working, each one seemed to be conserving their energy.
Li Che immediately understood that the woodcarving assessment was likely to take place today.
Old Chen sat on a distant bench, drinking old yellow wine from a gourd, his legs crossed casually, humming happily.
"Little Li, come here."
Old Chen waved at Li Che when he saw him.
Li Che's eyes lit up, and the gloom from seeing the Spirit Infant procession vanished. He quickly walked over, and Old Chen took out a yellowed ancient book from his bosom.
"This Tang Family Mechanism Manual is one of my treasured ancient books, though I haven't studied it much. It contains many mechanism secrets, but it also emphasizes hand combat skills, some even requiring Inner Strength and martial arts. Of course, you can try some of the simpler mechanisms, as long as you're not an Inner Strength warrior, you should be able to handle it."
"Thank you, Old Chen," Li Che said excitedly, taking out fifty copper coins and giving them to Chen Dabao before accepting the book.
As his fingertips touched the ancient book, the Celestial Craft Dao Fruit in his chest...
Throbbed!
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(End of Chapter)
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