The other party wore an adorable cow-themed mask, but beneath it, the eyes carried no trace of cuteness.
In just an instant of meeting his gaze, Sun Changbiao felt the chill of death. A killing intent so intense it was like a raging, flooding river threatened to crush his mental defenses.
"This is the Xu Woodcarving Shop! You… you dare commit murder here?!"
Suppressing the excruciating pain in his abdomen, Sun Changbiao roared in desperation against the terror of death. His blood surged wildly within, his tendons humming with tension. In his palms, inner Energy snaked like a serpent. As a practitioner at the level of Tendon-Muscle Strengthening, he was ready to fight back.
Sun Changbiao knew full well that this was one of Xu Family's courtyard, home to many senior woodcarvers. If he could buy himself some time, perhaps help might arrive. At the very least, his elder brother and father lived in a nearby courtyard. If they heard the commotion, they would rush over immediately.
Li Che gazed indifferently at Sun Changbiao. The man's desperate, hoarse cries bore no resemblance to his usual gentle and elegant demeanor. In truth, Li Che could hardly believe that someone who seemed so outwardly kind could treat his own daughter with such cruelty and malice.
It was one thing to order the girl to cook and work, but even slight dissatisfaction would result in whipping her with a cane. Truly, one could never know the heart behind a face.
Of course, none of this mattered anymore. What mattered was that Li Che had heard Sun Changbiao's words. It confirmed that Sun Changbiao harbored ill will toward Xixi. This was the very man who had placed the Furious-eyed Spirit Infant carving last night, intending to offer Xixi as a sacrifice to the Cult lord in exchange for having a son.
That alone was cause enough for death.
At this thought, Li Che's heart surged with a cold fury, his killing intent roiling.
Bang!
Driven by the instinct to survive, Sun Changbiao roared and slammed his arms into the ground, propelling himself upward. His spine stretched taut like a drawn bowstring as he lunged at Li Che with two thunderous punches. All his Tendon-Muscle Strengthening and inner Energy erupted in full power.
However…
The tall, burly figure in the cow mask merely raised a hand, clenching his fan-like fist and pushing forward with a single strike. In an instant, it was as if the roar of a dragon and the trumpeting of an elephant filled the air. A terrifying soundwave, accompanied by a powerful shock, rippled through the room.
As fists collided, the sound of bones cracking rang out.
Sun Changbiao let out a blood-curdling scream, his eyes wide with terror.
"Bone quenching?! A Bone quenching martial artist!"
Such overwhelming strength could only belong to a Bone quenching practitioner. But why? Why would such a figure show up here in the Xu Family courtyard to kill him?!
With one punch, Li Che had shattered Sun Changbiao's arm bones. Behind the mask, his eyes remained cold and emotionless. From beneath his sleeve, a finger subtly flicked. A hidden mechanical contraption known as the Thousand Spider Threads activated with a slight tremor.
Invisible silver threads seemed to rip through the air, as if spun by a spider or drawn like the sharpest of swords. They danced wildly, stirring up gusts of wind. A mechanical weapon: the Thousand Spider Threads.
Amidst faint snapping and slicing sounds, Li Che's five fingers clenched, and the threads retracted swiftly, vanishing back into his wide sleeves. The tall figure adjusted his Bamboo hat, shook his sleeve, and took a few quick strides, disappearing.
Unlocking the courtyard door from within, he walked straight out, vanishing into the wind and snow.
Sun Changbiao stared blankly at the retreating figure. A thin red line appeared on his neck, slowly seeping drops of blood. Behind him, the overturned dining table stood in silence, its edges cleanly sliced. Also severed was Sun Changbiao's head.
With a dull thud, his head tilted to the side and fell from his neck, accompanied by a spray of hot, crimson blood. The room was drenched in gore.
Liu Shi, who had been lying paralyzed on the ground, was already scared out of her wits. Trembling violently like a leaf, she could barely form coherent thoughts. It wasn't until the gusting wind and snow poured in through the shattered door that she finally let out an ear-piercing scream of terror from deep within her throat.
"M-murder! Murder!"
...
Li Che withdrew the power of the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, his body returning to normal. He dressed quickly, taking off the mask. With a single clench of his fingers, the mask shattered into fragments of wood, scattering onto the snowy ground.Adjusting his Bamboo hat, Li Che stood still for a moment, listening to the faint sound of sobbing carried by the wind and snow. His expression remained calm, almost indifferent.
If Sun Changbiao had lived, he would have remained a significant threat to Xixi. Li Che feared that if he ever failed to protect her, the one crying would be himself.
In this world, there was no place for kindness in one's heart or softness in one's hand. Such luxuries were reserved for those who could afford them, and Li Che knew he was not among them. He no longer saw himself as a good person. Killing was no stranger to him. From the dark-skinned man before to Sun Changbiao now, his hands were irrevocably stained with blood.
But he had no regrets. Everything he did was for Xixi.
Everything he did was his duty as a father.
"I'm still too weak. If only I could… eradicate the Spirit Infant Sect, Xixi's safety would no longer be threatened."
He glanced at his palm, the faint calluses and traces of power visible in the dim light. His voice was barely above a whisper as he made his vow.
Lifting his head, his resolve firm, Li Che puffed out his chest and strode purposefully out of the alleyway, his figure vanishing into the storm of snow.
When Li Che returned to the courtyard, he was greeted by the sight of Old Chen playing with Xixi. Despite the biting cold, Old Chen had extravagantly used his inner Energy to melt all the snow in the courtyard, leaving a dry and safe surface for the little girl to stagger around in her walker. The scene was both heartwarming and absurdly amusing.
"Daddy!" Xixi's face lit up when she saw Li Che. Her tiny legs wobbled as she pushed her walker toward him.
Li Che's expression softened, and a rare smile graced his face. "Did my little stinky Xixi miss Daddy?"
Scooping her up in his arms, he gently teased her tiny nose, eliciting a giggle from the child.
Nearby, Old Chen sighed dramatically, his hands on his hips. "A father's bond, huh? I spent the whole day with her, yet the moment Daddy shows up, Grandpa Chen is forgotten." His voice dripped with mock jealousy.
Li Che couldn't help but laugh. "Grandpa Chen, your inner Energy seems to have a limit when it comes to competing for Xixi's affection." He gestured at the older man, his tone lighthearted.
Snowflakes began to fall again, lazily drifting down to cover the courtyard. Old Chen, ever the dramatist, refused to clear them this time, muttering about ungrateful children.
From the kitchen, Zhang Ya emerged, balancing a tray laden with hot dishes. The aroma of her cooking immediately filled the air, adding warmth to the chilly evening.
"Uncle Chen, husband, it's time to eat," she called, her voice warm and inviting. She set the dishes on the table, revealing a lavish spread of meat, fish, and vegetables.
She scooped out a small bowl of fish congee and began feeding Xixi, who was seated in her baby chair, banging a wooden spoon against her bowl with glee.
Li Che and Old Chen sat down at the table, their conversation flowing naturally as they ate and drank. The two men shared stories and laughter over Zhang Ya's exceptional cooking. It was a rare moment of peace and joy, something Li Che cherished deeply.
Old Chen, ever the opportunist, shamelessly indulged in the meal. The cost of feeding him was a small price for Li Che, especially considering how much Old Chen had helped him. The older man frequently referred clients from his woodcarving business to Li Che, ensuring a steady stream of lucrative work. His presence had become an invaluable part of their little family.
After the meal, Old Chen hummed a tune as he strolled out of the courtyard, his hands clasped behind his back and his mood visibly cheerful. But his good spirits didn't last long.
As he turned a corner, hurried footsteps approached. A young man with a panicked expression almost collided with him.
"Xiao Liu? Where are you rushing off to?" Old Chen asked, recognizing the youngest son of Old Liu, a renowned master woodcarver.
The young man paused, his face pale. "Master Chen! Something terrible has happened… my sister…" His voice cracked as he struggled to speak.
Old Chen's expression grew serious. "Your sister? Isn't she Sun Changbiao's wife?"
Xiao Liu nodded grimly. "Yes. It's terrible. Someone… some villain barged into my brother-in-law's residence and… and killed him. Brutally." He swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Father sent me to inform the shopkeeper."
He barely finished his explanation before rushing off, leaving Old Chen standing in the snow. The wind howled around him, sharp and biting. For a moment, the world felt unnaturally quiet, the gravity of Xiao Liu's words hanging heavily in the air.