"You want to move into the wood carving workshop?" Xu You, the third manager, asked with a warm smile. "Now that you're a wood carving master, of course, you can. However, there are still some formalities to complete. I'll arrange for someone to expedite the process. In two days, you can inspect the courtyard."
Xu You greatly admired Li Che's talent. The carvings Li Che produced carried immense artistic depth—an exceptionally rare gift. It was the kind of talent any wood carving workshop would fight to nurture. A craftsman of such skill was not just a valuable asset; they were the kind of genius who could one day become a true wood carving master.
Naturally, Xu You was more than willing to accommodate Li Che's request. A genius deserved to be treated like one.
"Thank you, Third Manager," Li Che said earnestly, clasping his fists in gratitude.
Xu You nodded, his expression satisfied. Together with Xu Beihu, he turned and disappeared into the swirling snow.
Li Che let out a long breath, his face breaking into a relieved smile. Once he moved into the wood carving workshop, the threat posed by the Spirit Infant Cult would diminish significantly. The workshop's protection would shield him and his family from most external dangers.
Returning to the workshop, Li Che retrieved his straw hat and collected his monthly wage as a newly appointed wood carving master—a generous five taels of silver. He could still feel the weight of the third manager's words: this day would henceforth be the monthly payday for all masters.
As he packed his belongings, the envious yet respectful gazes of the apprentices followed him. Among them were whispers of admiration and awe. Li Che ignored the murmurs, focused on the thought of heading home to share the good news with his wife and daughter.
Before leaving, however, he approached Chen Dabao, the workshop's senior master. With a hopeful expression, he asked, "Master Chen, may I take some leftover materials home to practice with?"
Chen Dabao, who was sipping wine from his gourd, frowned slightly before breaking into a grin. "Ah Che, from now on, you're also a wood carving master here. No need to call me Master Chen anymore—just call me Old Chen."
Li Che nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and respect.
"As for those materials," Chen Dabao continued, "take as much as you like. You can even pick from the courtyard if you want, as long as it's not too large. Take whatever you need for practice." He chuckled warmly, patting Li Che's shoulder.
"By the way," Old Chen added, his eyes gleaming with interest, "when you pick your courtyard, call me over to have a look. Who knows? We might end up as neighbors."
Li Che bowed slightly, expressing his thanks before heading off.
Joy fills the heart like sunlight breaking through winter clouds.
Li Che was in high spirits. With his promotion to wood carving master, his wages had significantly increased, and his family's future seemed brighter than ever. Prosperity was no longer an unreachable dream; it was now within his grasp. For the first time in a long while, he felt confident about providing a better life for his wife and their infant daughter.
Walking along the snowy streets of Fei Lei's outer city, Li Che made a stop at a provisions shop. He bought two taels of wine, some pig head meat, and braised beef before heading home. As he walked, the sky dimmed, and the streets grew quieter, lit only by the faint glow of sporadic oil lamps.
From a distance, Li Che spotted the warm, flickering light of an oil lamp glowing through the window of his modest earthen house. The thought of his one-month-old daughter, Xixi, babbling as she learned to talk, brought a tender smile to his lips. His steps quickened.
Standing at the front door, he reached out to call for his wife, Zhang Ya, to open it. But just as he was about to speak, his breath froze. Something in the corner of his vision caught his attention, and the air around him seemed to turn frigid.
His neck stiffened as he slowly turned his head.
There, in the lower left corner of the wooden door, atop the thick layer of snow, sat a small wooden sculpture the size of a palm.
It depicted a three-headed, six-armed child seated on a lotus platform. Its expression was unnerving—somewhere between a smile and a smirk, its lips slightly curved. One eye was open, while the other remained eerily closed.
The longer he stared, the more unsettling it became. Phantom cries and laughter of a child seemed to echo faintly in his ears, as though they came from some unseen distance.
"Spirit Infant cult?!"
Li Che's face darkened, his heart sinking like a stone. He scanned his surroundings, his sharp gaze filled with fury. Was he already being targeted?
His mind raced. Xixi had just turned one month old! This was no coincidence. The Spirit Infant Cult operated with such precision, their schemes as insidious as the winter frost.
Lei Chunlan, where are you?! Get out here!
But the world around him remained silent, broken only by the sound of falling snow and the faint babbling of Xixi from within the house.
Gritting his teeth, Li Che reached down and picked up the wooden carving. It was ordinary in its craftsmanship—just a wooden figure. Yet it carried a chilling message, freezing the joy in his heart. It was like a thief marking a house before a heist. The intent was clear.
Resolving to address the matter later, Li Che tossed the carving into the woodshed. Tomorrow, he would take it to the wood carving workshop for a closer inspection.
Composing himself, he forced a smile. Tonight was for sharing good news, not bad.
"Husband, you're back?" Zhang Ya greeted him warmly, opening the door. The wind and snow swirled in briefly before the door closed behind him. Her eyes lit up with joy when she saw the wine and meat in his hands.
Li Che smiled gently, stepping inside to greet his family.
Zhang Ya could tell that her husband had good news to share. The sparkle in Li Che's eyes and the slight upward curve of his lips made her heart flutter with anticipation. When she finally learned that he had become a woodcarving master at the Xu family's prestigious workshop, she couldn't contain her excitement. She cheered like a young girl, throwing her arms around Li Che's waist and bouncing up and down in joy.
Her uninhibited happiness made Li Che momentarily distracted, though he quickly regained his composure. "Husband, we must celebrate properly tonight!" Zhang Ya declared, tilting her smooth chin upwards, her face radiant with delight.
Li Che couldn't resist her infectious energy and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And how does my clever wife plan to celebrate?" he teased.
Zhang Ya immediately caught the playful glint in his eyes, and her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink. She lightly swatted his arm but couldn't hide her shy smile.
As their laughter subsided, Li Che reached into his robe and pulled out five taels of silver—the monthly wage he had received for his new position. He told Zhang Ya about his plan to move their family into the Xu family's woodcarving workshop quarters.
The news caught Zhang Ya off guard, and she hesitated briefly. She had grown accustomed to their current home, humble as it was. Yet she understood her husband's reasoning. Wherever he chose to go, she and their daughter, Xixi, would follow without question. Moreover, the workshop promised better security, which was not a small consideration in these troubled times.
After dinner, Zhang Ya put Xixi to bed earlier than usual. With their daughter soundly asleep, she and Li Che carefully indulged in a quiet, intimate celebration of their good fortune. On the bed, Zhang Ya's jet-black hair spilled like a waterfall across the pillow. Exhausted yet content, she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Li Che, however, felt invigorated. Sitting under the warm glow of an oil lamp, he pulled out the Ancient Manual of Mechanisms, a treasured book he had borrowed from Old Chen, the workshop's senior craftsman. The Dao Fruit of Immortal Craft within him trembled faintly, as though urging him onward.
His eyes gleamed as he flipped through the aged pages, studying the intricate diagrams and instructions. The manual described a variety of ingenious mechanisms, some with the potential for remarkable destruction. Yet as Li Che delved deeper into the text, he realized that nine of the twelve mechanisms required inner energy and divine essence—resources he currently lacked.
Undeterred, he focused on the three remaining mechanisms, all of which could be crafted with ordinary materials and his current skills. These were the Sleeve Crossbow, the Guanyin Blood Lotus, and the Thousand Silk Spider.
Li Che decided to start with the Sleeve Crossbow. Its design bore similarities to a previous project he had attempted, allowing him to jump straight into the crafting process. He retrieved scraps of wood he had brought home from the workshop and began his work.
The carving knife moved with precision, slicing through the wood with a soft, rhythmic sound. The aroma of freshly shaven wood filled the room as Li Che immersed himself completely in his task. Time seemed to blur, and the quiet night became his cocoon of focus.
By the time the first rays of dawn pierced through the frost-laden windows, the compact and exquisitely crafted Sleeve Crossbow was complete.
[Dao Fruit: Immortal Craft (Level 2, 19%)]
As he held the finished piece in his hands, a sudden surge of knowledge about the crossbow's use and mechanics flooded his mind. Along with it came a satisfying notification—crafting the Sleeve Crossbow had increased the Dao Fruit Maturity Level by an impressive 10%.
Li Che's heart swelled with elation. Until now, his progress with the Dao Fruit had been frustratingly slow. The realization that crafting these mechanisms could significantly accelerate his advancement filled him with hope.
"Does the maturity gain depend on the mechanism's complexity?" he mused aloud, his curiosity piqued.
Still, his excitement was tempered by the knowledge that the manual contained only twelve mechanisms in total. If he crafted them all, it would likely push his Immortal Craft Dao Fruit to Level 3—but after that? The thought of running out of resources made him frown slightly.
"No matter," he murmured, his resolve hardening. "One step at a time."
His fingers ran along the crossbow's polished surface. Though it was made entirely of wood and lacked the durability of metal, its bolts were sharp and deadly enough for emergencies. Best of all, the design was lightweight and simple, allowing him to craft replacements with ease.
As much as he wanted to test the weapon's power, his gaze softened when it fell upon Zhang Ya and Xixi, still peacefully asleep. Smiling to himself, he set the crossbow aside and stretched. The cracking of his joints echoed in the quiet room, a reminder of the long night he had spent at work. Yet, he felt no fatigue—perhaps a benefit of the Dao Fruit within him.
Li Che headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, his movements light and deliberate. As he worked, his thoughts strayed to the Spirit Infant wood carving he had left in the woodshed. His brows furrowed as a sense of unease crept into his mind.
After a moment, he shook his head decisively.
"No," he muttered. "I can't leave Xixi and her mother in this earthen house any longer. It's no longer safe."
The decision to move to the workshop quarters now felt more urgent than ever.