Amidst the howling wind and swirling snow, a figure stood. Vital energy pulsated around him with an otherworldly rhythm. Against the gray and white expanse of snow, he was just another shadow. A worn saber hung at his side, its blade hidden beneath layers of cloth. His gaze, sharp and piercing, carried a faint hint of amusement.
From a distance, he spotted Li Che trudging through the snow, his arms laden with braised meat, a jar of wine, and a box of osmanthus cakes. Li Che froze in his tracks as soon as he noticed the figure. His first thought was grim: Have my crimes been exposed?
But upon closer reflection, it didn't add up. With his mastery of the Dragon Elephant Vajra technique and the meticulous alterations he'd made to his appearance, he had left no discernible trace. There was no reason for suspicion. If his crimes hadn't been discovered…
Then why is this constable from the county office, after investigating Sun Zhangbiao's death, still lingering around? And why is he standing at my courtyard gate now? What is he planning?
For a long moment, Li Che remained silent, his mind racing as he tried to decipher the situation.
"Are you Li Che, Master Li?" The man's voice broke the silence. His calloused hand, hardened from years of wielding a blade, rested casually on the hilt of his saber. Zhao Chuanxiong's smile was faint but carried an air of inscrutability as he gazed at Li Che.
Caught off guard, Li Che could only manage a symbolic gesture of greeting, his hands too full to properly clasp his fists. "Yes, that's me. Does the officer have instructions for me?" he asked cautiously.
Zhao Chuanxiong scrutinized Li Che from head to toe, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. After a moment, he shook his head ever so slightly, as though dismissing an errant thought.
From Li Che's outward appearance and aura, it was clear that his cultivation was at the skin tempering stage, barely past a recent breakthrough. He was a far cry from the ruthless, decisive murderer capable of killing Sun Zhangbiao, an adept in bone tempering. According to Liu Shi's testimony, the murderer was a towering, burly figure nearly two meters tall, with a terrifying presence. This did not align with Li Che's lean and unassuming frame.
However, Zhao Chuanxiong's purpose here wasn't solely tied to Sun Zhangbiao's death.
"Liu Shi confessed," Zhao Chuanxiong said, his faint smile never wavering as he watched Li Che intently.
Li Che's heart skipped a beat. He instantly understood what Zhao Chuanxiong was referring to.
"Did you receive a wooden carving of a Furious glaring spirit infant a few days ago? That was left outside your door by the deceased, Sun Zhangbiao." Zhao Chuanxiong's tone was calm but carried an edge. "As a follower of the Spirit Infant Cult, he had marked the spirit infant of your family as his target."
Li Che's fists clenched, his teeth grinding in fury. "I was aware!" he said, his voice tinged with rage. "My daughter, Xixi, was targeted by the Spirit Infant Cult shortly after her birth. That's why I resolved to strengthen myself, becoming a woodcarver and moving into the Xu family courtyard..."
He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. "I thought we would finally be safe. That my daughter could grow up without harm. But who could have imagined that after Xixi's first birthday banquet, the Spirit Infant Cult would return, leaving those cursed carvings in my shop…"
Speaking with deep emotion, his face flushed red with anger and frustration.
"Master Chen suspected it must have been someone within the shop. He investigated and eventually uncovered that it was Sun Zhangbiao." Li Che's voice faltered as fear crept into his expression. "Constable Zhao, I didn't kill Sun Zhangbiao. I…"
Zhao Chuanxiong raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Enough. I know. It's obvious you don't have the strength to kill someone like Sun Zhangbiao." He glanced at Li Che with a measured expression before continuing. "Since this matter tangentially involves you, I'm simply here to ask some routine questions."
As he spoke, Zhao Chuanxiong's gaze shifted past Li Che, towards the courtyard gate. "Master Li, won't you invite me in for a chat?"
His smile widened slightly. "I hear you're an exceptional woodcarver. I may need your skills for a carving in the future."
Li Che hesitated. The last thing he wanted was to let this constable into his home, but Zhao Chuanxiong's direct request left him no room to refuse. Reluctantly, he stepped forward and unlatched the courtyard gate.
Inside, under snow-laden eaves, Zhang Ya stood with a poised yet anxious demeanor. Little Xixi toddled around the courtyard in a wooden walker, her laughter a stark contrast to the tension in the air.
The moment Zhang Ya saw the constable, her face turned pale. Her voice trembled as she called out, "Husband…"
Li Che set the items he was carrying onto a nearby table and raised a reassuring hand. "This is Constable Zhao from the county office. He's here to ask a few questions. It's nothing serious," he said calmly, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed his unease.
Zhang Ya nodded after hearing those words, her previously tense heart finally relaxing. However, Zhao Chuanxiong had somehow appeared next to Xixi without anyone noticing. With a wide smile, he said, "So, this is Master Li's daughter? Truly lively and adorable, like a little porcelain doll."Li Che's heart tensed up immediately upon hearing this, his instincts sounding an alarm. "Yes, all children are like this," he replied casually, his voice steady despite the unease in his chest.
"I, Old Zhao, have always liked children. I wonder if I might hold her for a moment?" Zhao Chuanxiong asked warmly, his tone as smooth as flowing water.
"My daughter is shy around strangers; sorry, Captain Zhao," Li Che refused without a second thought, his voice firm but polite.
Yet Zhao Chuanxiong acted as though he hadn't heard him. Squatting down, he looked directly at Xixi, his eyes carrying a strange glint. "Xixi, would you let Uncle hold you for a bit?"
Xixi's large, crystal-clear eyes stared at Zhao Chuanxiong with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The next moment, she stomped her little feet on her walker and started to flee. Her chubby legs propelled the walker across the snowy courtyard with surprising determination.
Zhao Chuanxiong chuckled lightly, as though amused by the child's reaction. His hand extended toward her, his movements slow but deliberate.
Li Che's eyes narrowed as the Dragon Elephant Vajra energy within him began to stir faintly, its power itching to break free. But he quickly suppressed it, unwilling to escalate the situation in front of his daughter.
This was because Zhao Chuanxiong's extended hand was suddenly stopped by another hand, firm and unwavering, preventing him from reaching Xixi.
"Captain Zhao, if the little girl doesn't want you to hold her, what are you doing?"
The man blocking Zhao Chuanxiong was an older figure, not particularly tall, with a wine gourd strapped to his waist that gleamed with a well-worn patina. His hand rested lightly yet resolutely on Zhao Chuanxiong's outstretched one.
At that moment, it seemed as if the swirling snow in the sky froze still, suspended mid-air. Then, as though an invisible force had swept through, the snowflakes were shredded into fine powder, scattering noiselessly. Two opposing forces clashed fiercely, their invisible collision rippling through the courtyard like the meeting of two great tides.
Zhao Chuanxiong turned slightly to look at the man blocking him, his smile gradually fading. "So, it's Master Chen…" he said, his voice calm but tinged with something colder.
"If the child doesn't like you, don't force it. Don't leave children with unnecessary shadows in their hearts," the older man said indifferently, his tone as casual as it was unwavering.
"Grandpa Chen…!" At that moment, little Xixi, upon seeing Master Chen, stomped her walker over to bump against his leg. She looked up at him, her babyish voice calling out sweetly.
"Oh, my sweet little darling, come here. Grandpa will hold you," Master Chen said, his expression instantly softening. His stern demeanor melted away, replaced by a broad smile as bright as a blooming chrysanthemum. He bent down and gently lifted Xixi from her walker, cradling her in his arms.
Zhao Chuanxiong no longer crouched but stood up, his hand resting idly on the hilt of his blade. "What an adorable child," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Xixi nestle comfortably in Master Chen's embrace.
Li Che let out a subtle sigh of relief, though his guard remained raised. The air in the courtyard felt lighter, but the tension beneath the surface had yet to dissipate entirely.
"Master Li, Master Chen, I'll take my leave for now," Zhao Chuanxiong said, breaking the silence. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked off into the snowy mist, his figure disappearing as the falling snow veiled his retreating silhouette.
Master Chen, holding Xixi, gently swayed back and forth, coaxing her into laughter. Her clear giggles echoed through the yard, a sweet sound that seemed to dispel the lingering unease.
All the while, Master Chen's gaze lingered on Zhao Chuanxiong's receding figure. He let out a slow, heavy breath, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by a rare solemnity.
"Ah-Che, don't let people enter the courtyard so easily in the future, especially strangers," Master Chen said seriously, his voice low.
Li Che's expression grew serious as well. "Xixi rejecting Zhao Chuanxiong wasn't her being shy. She has a kind of sensitivity, an intuition to discern good or ill intent toward her. That Zhao Chuanxiong… is up to no good," Master Chen explained, his tone grim.
Hearing this, Li Che's face darkened. "He told me that Liu Shi confessed. He claimed it was Sun Changbiao who placed the Spirit Infant wooden carving in front of my courtyard," Li Che said.
Master Chen chuckled coldly. "From start to finish, Liu Shi only admitted that she and her husband had joined the Spirit Infant Cult. She never confessed to placing a Ling Ying carving in front of your home…"
"Moreover, the Ling Ying statue found in Sun Changbiao's home was a common three-headed, six-armed carving, with its eyes alternately open and closed." Master Chen's eyes sharpened as he spoke. "So how does Zhao Chuanxiong know that the one placed in front of your home was a Furious glaring Spirit Infant carving?"
Li Che's heart sank as he processed Master Chen's words. An ominous realization began to take root in his mind, and the courtyard that had just regained its calm felt heavy once more.