Although Chen Dabao got on well with Li Che, as a carrier who moved timber and completed statues every day, he saw no hope in the master's assessment.
At least, from Chen Dabao's perspective, he couldn't see any hope for Li Che to become a formal wood carving master.
Even if Li Che picked up scraps of wood from the shop to practice carving after finishing work and returning home.
But learning wood carving, how could that be easy?
According to Li Che's situation, one could only say he had an interest in wood carving and hadn't learned it formally.
And using one's interest to challenge another's profession and livelihood...that was somewhat arrogant.
Li Che didn't offer any explanation for himself, nor did he argue about anything.
What did he have to argue with?
In his eyes, light flickered, and the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit in his heart throbbed slightly, seeming to radiate heat, casting light on his straightforward future.
He did have something to rely on...
"Little Li, if I were you, I'd try to learn some basic martial arts techniques this year. Even if you lack the physical strength, you could at least step up to protect the child and throw a punch when necessary,"
Chen Dabao stood up, patted Li Che's shoulder, and then went back into the workshop to continue carving wood.
Li Che pondered for a moment and actually found Chen Dabao's advice quite sensible...
"Basic martial arts techniques... to learn them I would need a way, but with the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, maybe... I could design some mechanical traps to serve as a precaution."
"Although that Grandma Lei usually targets children one year after birth, what if something happens unexpectedly?"
Li Che took a deep breath, his mind filled with plans.
Without overthinking, he continued with his work, moving timber and statues.
Perhaps because others had learned that Li Che would also take part in the wood carving assessment, many apprentices cast strange and wary looks his way, with quite a few even refusing to let Li Che move their carved woodworks.
For a time, Li Che actually found himself with less to do in the wood carving shop.
Except for a few old masters and regular customers still looking for him, most people basically ignored him. Li Che was happy to be unoccupied and began to ponder over mechanical traps.
But after brooding for a while, he was clueless.
He felt that he needed to seek out Old Chen, who likely had a way.
"Mechanical traps? You want to rig up some traps to protect your kid? That's an idea... not unfeasible,"
"But setting up mechanical traps is a matter of learning, and I myself don't understand the more complex ones. However, there is an ancient record about mechanisms in my home's library,"
Old Chen stopped his carving and said with a smile when Li Che asked his question.
Li Che rubbed his hands together, eyes lighting up.
The matter of Master Chen having a library at home was known to many in the shop. It was said to contain many precious ancient books.
Old Chen glanced at Li Che and raised a finger, "You can borrow the ancient record, but I, Old Chen, never engage in a loss-making trade. This ancient book is extremely rare and quite precious... one tael of silver for one day's loan."
One tael of silver a day?
Li Che took in a deep breath; it certainly wasn't cheap.
But Li Che quickly nodded decisively and agreed.
"Oh, so decisive. You are a good father indeed, willing to go all out for the safety of your daughter. If you tried to haggle with me, it wouldn't be one tael a day,"
"For the sake of your fatherly love, you don't need to pay a tael; just give this old man fifty Great Vista cast copper coins for a day."
Chen Dabao stroked his beard and smiled.
When Li Che heard that, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and quickly thanked Chen Dabao—who could complain about having too much money? It was best to save where one could.
"Bring it tomorrow and remember to bring enough money,"
Chen Dabao said and then went back to his carving.
As time passed, the sky gradually darkened.
Li Che collected his wages for the day, just fifteen copper coins, about a third less than usual.
Yet, it didn't bother him. After taking the money, he carefully packed up the wood scraps he had picked out and carried them away from the shop.
Now, taking home some wood waste to carve for Immortal Craft experience had become a habit for Li Che every day.
He had touched a new wood carving today, which should help him gain some more experience.
Because of Grandma Lei's threat to kill newborn babies, a cloud hung over his head like an unshakable shadow, giving Li Che a sense of urgency to improve himself quickly.
He hastened home, and seeing his wife Zhang Ya playing with their daughter Xi Xi on the bed with various small wooden toys he had carved, his anxious heart finally relaxed.
"Xi Xi, did you miss Daddy?" Li Che's heart settled, and he approached the bed with open arms and a radiant smile.
The month-old Xi Xi was carved from jade, her tender whiteness enchanting, her entire being scented with the fragrance of milk. Lying on the bed, she continuously babbled "yah yah" and waved her hands and feet about.
Li Che laughed as he picked up the little girl, strolling through the confines of the room, drawing constant giggles of delight from her.
After entertaining Xi Xi for a while, Zhang Ya also had dinner ready.
After dinner, Li Che, by the light of an oil lamp, took out some scrap wood and began to engage in the wood carving for the day.
In fact, the wood carving shop had just so many types, and as Li Che touched each one, now it might take several days to find a new skill from the wood carving master.
Because his Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit had reached lv2, he carved each wood carving much faster now.
[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (lv2, 9%)]
The experience had risen a little bit more.
The corners of Li Che's lips lifted, and immediately his eyes became focused, planning to try his hand at creating a mechanism.
However, having no concept of mechanisms, he thought of the highly deadly crossbow arrow and began to scribble on paper, making a design drawing.
...
...
Dawn's light emerged faintly, the east exhibiting a pale glow.
In the dark mountainside beyond, the clouds churned, and a vast expanse of snow drifted down unsteadily, dressing the whole Fei Lei City in a layer of white.
Li Che got up early and, after washing up, started to prepare breakfast. When Zhang Ya got up to help, Li Che gently pushed her back to bed.
"The child was fussing all night, you had to comfort her to sleep. You should get some more rest, mistress. You can eat when you wake up."
Li Che tenderly patted Zhang Ya's disheveled black hair, her face still hazy with sleep, and Zhang Ya pressed her lips together in a nod before lying back down.
After Li Che finished everything, he put the breakfast in the still-warm pot to heat.
Then he left the mud-brick house, stepping on the thick snow as he headed toward the wood carving shop.
Walking on the cobbled streets, the wind and snow howled but could not drown out the chimes and clangs, the horns and suonas playing loudly…
"The Holy Spirit teaches us, to cleanse the mortal dust; the reincarnation without worries technique, for only the wise, is naturally mastered…"
The chanting came drifting down the long street, accompanied by the continuous footsteps crunching on the snowy cobblestones.
Li Che squinted his eyes, standing by the side of the road, he pulled down his hat brim and glanced at the long procession of followers carrying a vermillion shrine.
In the shrine sat a strange, lifelike statue of a three-headed, six-armed child, whose eyes were bright. It was clearly the work of a master.
Observing the procession and the group of white-clad believers following behind—men and women, old and young—all their faces withered and carrying a mad fervor.
"Spirit Infant Sect…" Li Che took a deep breath, a flicker of ferocity in his eyes.
No matter who this Spirit Infant Master was, his daughter Xi Xi was his treasure, his everything. The warm bed with his wife and child was what he wanted to protect.
If they dared to harm Xi Xi, it meant they wanted his family destroyed, his home gone. Even if it meant his death, Li Che would rip a chunk of flesh from them.
Clenching his fist, Li Che braved the wind and the snow, heading straight for Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
In this moment, the desire to become a formal wood carver at the wood carving shop surged intensely within Li Che.
Not merely because becoming a wood carver would mean getting a house and the shop's protection, but also because it would qualify him to learn the internal strength techniques and martial arts taught by the shop…
The Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, although it had given Li Che a considerable boost, was ultimately just an enhancement of his talent in crafts.
It wasn't much help in terms of personal martial strength.
Upon arriving at the shop, the atmosphere was tense. Many apprentices hadn't started working yet, each preserving his energy for something.
Li Che instantly understood that the wood carving assessment was likely to take place today.
Chen Dabao was drinking from a gourd filled with old yellow wine, sitting on a bench in the distance with his legs crossed, humming to himself joyfully.
"Little Li, come here."
When Old Chen saw Li Che, he waved him over.
Li Che's eyes lit up, sweeping away the gloom brought on by sighting the Spirit Baby procession, and he quickly walked over. Old Chen pulled out a yellowed, well-worn book from his bosom.
"This 'Tang's Mechanism Essentials' is one of my collectible ancient books. I haven't studied it much, but there are many secret techniques for mechanisms inside. They require quite a bit of skill with your hands, and some even need internal strength and martial arts to assist. Of course, you could try the simple mechanisms, which are mostly manageable even for those without martial strength."
"Thank you, Old Chen," Li Che said, his face flushed with excitement. After handing over fifty copper coins to Chen Dabao, he took the book.
And the moment his fingertips touched the ancient tome...
Within his chest, the Dao Fruit[Immortal Artisan]...
Began to beat with vitality!
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