He sliced one jin of braised beef and poured some old yellow wine.
Li Che's mood was somewhat somber.
This was his first time killing someone, but his emotional response… wasn't particularly strong.
Born in a dwindling Imperial Court and an era rife with bizarreness, life was as cheap as dirt.
Although the burly man wasn't Lei Chunlan, the midwife, since he harbored ill intentions towards Xi Xi, Li Che naturally showed no mercy.
He didn't want to kill someone in front of Grandpa Chen, so he intentionally found an excuse to circle back.
After all, killing someone in front of Grandpa Chen… would have given away too much.
Haven't Grandpa Chen also refrained from killing?
Most importantly, the words of the burly man just before his death stuck in Li Che's throat…
Xu's Wood Carving Shop, could it really not suppress the Spirit Infant Sect?!
Li Che exhaled deeply and walked on foot along the long street, pausing his steps as he passed by the government office's notice board and looked over.
He discovered that the wanted poster for Lei Chunlan which hung on the notice board had been torn off at some unknown time and replaced with a poster for a flower thief.
"Lei Chunlan's wanted poster… has it been canceled already?"
"Is Lei Chunlan already dead, or… has someone from the Spirit Infant Sect intervened to suppress the wanted notice?"
Li Che's brows furrowed, his expression growing even darker.
Killing a man from the Spirit Infant Sect had not lessened his worries by much.
"We can't relax until we move into the shop's courtyard..."
Braving the wind and snow, he returned to the wood carving shop, removed his hat and cloak as warmth engulfed him, along with the continuous sound of Xi Xi's cooing.
Suddenly feeling tender, Li Che entered the workshop only to see Grandpa Chen holding Xi Xi, his face beaming with a radiant smile as he playfully swayed from side to side.
"Chu chu chu, give Grandpa Chen a smile, Xi Xi," Grandpa Chen chuckled warmly.
Xi Xi cooed and grabbed onto Grandpa Chen's beard with her chubby little hands, yanking with force which made Grandpa Chen's laughter grow louder.
Some of the senior craftsmen also stopped their work to gather around, watching with smiles all over their faces.
The shop rarely had a little child around, which made the craftsmen blissfully happy.
"Ah Che, you're back? Go to the backyard, the Second Shopkeeper is waiting for you."
"Xi Xi is here, I'll play with her, Grandpa Chen," he assured. "No worries, the little girl and I are close. If anyone dares to lay a finger on her, I'll slap them to death."
Upon seeing Li Che, Grandpa Chen quickly called out.
Li Che nodded, put down the beef and old yellow wine, and spoke a few comforting words to his waiting wife, Zhang Ya, before heading to the backyard.
…
…
The snowfall grew heavier, large flakes swirling midair.
On the training ground, several figures were already present.
The Wood Carvers, Zhao Xuan and Wang Zhengpin, who were recruited along with Li Che, were already practicing the Skin Refinement Technique under the orders of Second Shopkeeper Xu Beihu.
Li Che hurried his steps, seeing the two shopkeepers, he greeted them with a clasped fist bow.
"Second Shopkeeper, Third Shopkeeper, Li Che has arrived late."
Third Shopkeeper Xu You sat under the eaves of a hut by the training ground, using tongs to place winter plums into boiling water and sprinkling in some roasted tea leaves.
Upon seeing Li Che, Xu You nodded.
"Grandpa Chen told us, there's a reason for everything, we understand."
"Your daughter… was targeted by the Spirit Infant Sect?"
Xu You said gently, showing no blame for Li Che's late arrival.
"The Spirit Infant Sect… always involved in inhuman deeds. What good things can come from that Mysterious Temple? And yet so many people worship the Spirit Infant Master, offering up divinity, even many powerful families in the city secretly support… These fools, they will eventually bring about a disaster!"
Xu Beihu, a towering figure, snorted coldly at this, his vigorous vitality blasting the falling snow into powder.
"Come and learn Skin Refinement. Being powerful is the real asset, otherwise, in these times… you won't even have the power to protect your wife and daughter."
Xu Beihu looked towards Li Che, his voice booming.
"Go ahead, I have already arranged for your move. Tomorrow, you and old Chen go check the house," Xu You continued boiling tea as he spoke.
"Even if it's in the Outer City, the Spirit Infant Sect wouldn't dare make trouble in Xu's shop, it's safe."
"When your daughter grows up, she can come to Xu's Courtyard in the Inner City and train with the Xu descendants to build a solid foundation…"
Upon hearing this, Li Che paused. Training in the Inner City with Xu's descendants, was that a good or bad thing?
Without dwelling on it, Li Che thanked them with a bow and then proceeded to the courtyard.
Xu Beihu stretched out his hand and patted Li Che's body, his eyebrows relaxing, "His foundation is decent, though he's a bit older, it's not impossible to train him. With more hard work, there's still hope to step into Bone Tempering."
"Skin Refinement is actually the initial method of stimulating the blood and energy."
"Energy is generated from within the body, from the inside out, and from the outside in, complementing and stimulating each other, using blood to grind the skin, using energy to refine the muscles!"
Following that, Xu Beihu began to teach Li Che the cultivation method for Skin Refinement.
Li Che listened extremely attentively, daring not to slacken in the slightest.
Today, he had killed a man, but that was through the use of mechanisms and clever tricks. If only he could be as formidable in personal martial force as Old Chen...
Well, if mechanisms can kill...
It's still more comfortable to kill with mechanisms.
...
...
Heavy snow fluttered about, the chill biting.
Yet, Li Che was drenched in a heavy sweat, steaming in the cold air, large beads of sweat constantly rolling off his forehead.
After a day of rigorous training, Li Che felt his skin burning hot. Although he had not yet mastered Skin Refinement, he had grasped the method of cultivation.
"I have already taught you the Skin Refinement Technique. From now on, diligently cultivate and avoid negligence. The Martial Path demands perseverance in practice regardless of seasons to achieve growth and gains,"
"Once you have completed Skin Refinement, I will teach you the Tendon Activation Technique."
"However, to complete Skin Refinement will take at least two years... Strive hard. From now on, practice Skin Refinement in the morning at the training ground and carve in the workshop in the afternoon. Every six months, I will evaluate your progress in Skin Refinement," Xu Beihu said gravely.
His tiger-like eyes bearing an immense pressure, he surveyed the three men.
Instantly, Li Che and the other two clasped their fists in response.
...
...
Upon returning from the training ground, the sky had already darkened.
Li Che's skin was painfully hot, but his mood was incredibly exhilarated. At last, he had officially begun his martial training.
Old Chen, cradling Xi Xi, boasted as he strolled through the workshops of various masters, seemingly familiarizing Xi Xi with everyone.
Li Che could feel Old Chen's genuine affection for Xi Xi.
He heard Old Chen was a loner with neither wife nor children... his entire life devoted to Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
Unlike other master wood carvers who had families full of wives and children.
A single wood carver could support a whole family indeed. Although they were not grandmasters, their wood carvings were highly marketable, making money wasn't hard.
Like Old Chen, who recently carved a "Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus" and directly earned one hundred and fifty taels!
"Finished training? Started on Skin Refinement, right?" Old Chen, holding Xi Xi with a beaming smile, approached Li Che.
Seeing Li Che, Xi Xi stretched out her arms wanting to be hugged.
"Oh you ungrateful little one, your Grandpa Chen held you all day without you wanting to leave!" Old Chen, seeing how easily Xi Xi abandoned him, playfully pouted his lips.
Li Che smiled and took Xi Xi from him. The full moon-faced Xi Xi was increasingly chubby and fair, beautiful with large, bright eyes, and long eyelashes which fluttered like a sprite's.
"Old Chen, there's something... I'd like to ask of you."
Old Chen, while playing with Xi Xi, waved his hand.
"I know what you're about to say, you want me to watch over Xi Xi tonight, don't you? Until you move to the shop's courtyard, you really can't be at ease," Old Chen laughed.
Li Che wasn't embarrassed; in these chaotic times, fearing death wasn't something to be embarrassed about.
Moreover, he indeed had such concerns.
"Rest assured, Xi Xi and I get along very well. Indeed, I need to keep watch, and it's just right that tomorrow I will take her to see the courtyard with me," Old Chen took Xi Xi back from Li Che's arms: "Alright, you've held her long enough, come here, let Grandpa Chen hold you~"
Li Che was left laughing wryly; how long did he even hold her? He had just passed her from his hands a moment ago?
Back inside the workshop, seeing his wife Zhang Ya had cleaned everything spotlessly, his face instantly beamed with a smile.
Wife and children warm by the hearth...
This was what he sought, only hoping that his wife and daughter were safe and sound.
Only wishing to watch his daughter grow up slowly...
Thus, Spirit Infant Sect, do not force him!
If pushed to the brink...
Today he killed one man; one day...
He might dare to slaughter the entire Spirit Infant Sect!