Chapter 9: The Three-Headed, Six-Armed Spirit Child Statue, and the Hidden Sleeve Crossbow

"Do you want to move into the wood carving shop?"

"Since you are now a wood carver, it's natural that you can... However, there are still some procedures to go through. I'll have someone expedite the process for you. In a couple of days, you can go and see the courtyard."

Xu You, the third manager, greatly admired Li Che's talent.

The wood carvings he created were extremely evocative, and such talent... was extremely precious and sought after by any wood carving shop.

Because of this, a wood carver had the opportunity to grow into a master wood carver!

Therefore, he naturally would not refuse Li Che's request, and even welcomed it.

Geniuses should be treated as such.

"Thank you, Third Manager." Li Che sincerely bowed.

Xu You nodded and, along with Xu Beihu, disappeared into the wind and snow.

Li Che exhaled a long breath of warm air, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face. After moving into the wood carving shop, the threat from the Spirit Child Sect would be much less.

Back at the shop, he took a bamboo hat, and collected his monthly salary as a wood carver, which was five taels of silver.

The third manager said that from now on, this day of the month would be the day for distributing the monthly salary.

Amidst the envious and respectful gazes of the apprentices, Li Che packed his belongings, preparing to go home and tell his wife and daughter the good news.

However, before leaving, he approached Master Chen with a smile.

"Master Chen, can I take some scraps back to practice?"

Chen Dabao, drinking from his gourd, frowned: "Ache, from now on, you are also a wood carver in the shop. Since we are friends, don't call me Master Chen, call me Old Chen."

"These scraps, you can take as many as you want. Even if you like, you can go to the courtyard and pick some, as long as they are not too large, you can take them back to practice."

Chen Dabao naturally saw Li Che's talent, and it was important to build a good relationship.

At his age, he was naturally a shrewd person and would not easily offend anyone.

"By the way, when you choose a courtyard, call me. I'll give it a look, and we can be neighbors." Old Chen smiled.

...

...

Joy brings a person's spirits up.

Li Che was in a very good mood. After becoming a wood carver, his salary increased, and life had something to look forward to. The dream of wealth and prosperity, and making his wife and daughter live a good life, was no longer a luxury.

Walking down the long street of Feilei's outer city, stepping on the piled snow, he arrived at the shop, bought two taels of wine, and then went to cut some pig's head meat and braised beef, heading home.

The sky was darkening, and the streetlights were sparse.

From a distance, Li Che saw the faint oil lamp light from his earthen house.

Thinking of his adorable daughter, Xixi, who was babbling, his lips couldn't help but curl up.

Reaching the earthen house, he was about to call out to his wife, Zhang Ya, to open the door.

Suddenly, Li Che's peripheral vision seemed to catch something, his breath halted, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

His neck, as if stiff, slowly turned.

His gaze fell on the lower left corner of the wooden door, where, on the thick snow, a palm-sized small wood carving was quietly placed!

A three-headed, six-armed child sat on a lotus platform, with a smile that was not quite a smile, lips slightly curled, one eye closed and one eye open.

After looking for a long time...

Li Che even heard the illusion of a child's crying and laughing in his ears!

"Master Spirit Child?!"

Li Che's face darkened, and he suddenly looked around, his eyes full of ferocity.

So... they have come?

Xixi is just a month old!

Lei Chunlan!

Where are you? Come out!

But the surroundings were quiet, only the sound of falling snow and Xixi's "ya ya" babbling from inside the house.

Reaching out to pick up the wood carving, it was just an ordinary wood carving...

But it gave Li Che a different signal, and the joy in his heart instantly withered and froze.

Just like a thief who would mark a place before stealing...

Perhaps, the other party had a similar purpose.

Li Che, with a gloomy face, thought for a moment, and threw the Spirit Child wood carving into the woodshed, planning to take it to the wood carving shop the next day to ask about the situation.

After doing everything, he restored his joyful expression.

Going home... one should report good news, not bad news.

"Dear, you're back?"

Zhang Ya opened the door, and the wind and snow rushed in. Seeing the wine and meat in Li Che's hands, her eyes instantly showed surprise.

Knowing that her husband must have some good news to share.

When she learned that Li Che had become a wood carver at Xu's Wood Carving Shop, she couldn't help but cheer like a young girl, hugging Li Che's waist and bouncing up and down, rubbing against Li Che... making him feel aroused.

"Dear, we must celebrate tonight!"

Zhang Ya raised her smooth chin, smiling brightly.

Li Che held her, a mischievous smile appearing on his lips: "How does my wife plan to celebrate?"

Seeing Li Che's smile, Zhang Ya immediately understood his mischievous thoughts, and her face blushed.

Li Che then took out the five taels of monthly salary he had received and told Zhang Ya about the plan to move into the wood carving shop.

Zhang Ya was stunned. Although she was curious about the move, she didn't ask much.

Wherever her husband went, she and her daughter would naturally follow.

Moreover, Zhang Ya also understood that the wood carving shop was definitely much safer...

After dinner, Zhang Ya put Xixi to sleep early, and the couple then engaged in a passionate activity.

On the bed, Zhang Ya's black hair was scattered, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Li Che, however, was refreshed and sat in front of the lit oil lamp, taking out the "Tang's Mechanism Notes" he had borrowed from Old Chen.

The Dao Fruit [Immortal Artisan] trembled again.

Li Che's eyes shone brightly as he began to read and study carefully.

It recorded various ingenious mechanisms, and even many with great destructive power...

As Li Che read, the understanding brought by the Dao Fruit instantly made him immerse himself in it, completely conquered by the ingenious design and creative ideas.

However, the book only recorded twelve mechanisms, nine of which required internal strength and divine power to create.

For the current Li Che, this was not an option.

He chose the remaining three mechanisms that could be created without internal strength and divine power, named "Sleeve Crossbow," "Guanyin Blood Lotus," and "Thousand Silk Spider."

Taking out the wood scraps from the shop, Li Che decided to make the sleeve crossbow.

Mainly, this was somewhat similar to his original crossbow design, so... he could start making it directly.

The carving knife cut through the wood, the sound of tearing wood fibers continued throughout the night...

When the first light of dawn broke through the gloom, covering the snow-covered earth.

Li Che finally completed the small and exquisite sleeve crossbow!

[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (Lv2, 19%)]

At the moment of completion, a large amount of information about the sleeve crossbow's usage techniques and descriptions flooded into Li Che's mind, and a prompt appeared before his eyes.

Li Che's eyes instantly brightened, his spirit greatly invigorated. He didn't expect that making the sleeve crossbow would give him 10% Dao Fruit maturity!

Li Che referred to the percentage in the suffix as the Dao Fruit maturity, as it would increase when full, similar to the ripening of a fruit.

"Is it based on the difficulty of the mechanism?" Li Che couldn't help but wonder.

Originally, the Dao Fruit's growth had slowed, causing Li Che some anxiety.

But now, it seemed he had found another way to enhance the Dao Fruit.

However, the number of mechanisms was a bit limited, and Li Che quickly calmed down, feeling a bit regretful.

"But, the Mechanism Notes detailed twelve mechanisms. If I make them all, it will be enough to upgrade Immortal Artisan to Lv3!" Li Che's eyes shone, his heart surging.

There was still a chance!

Because he had made the sleeve crossbow, Li Che simultaneously mastered its usage techniques. He was eager to try it out, and if he mastered internal strength and qi, the sleeve crossbow's power would be even greater!

But, looking at his sleeping wife and daughter, he restrained his impulse.

Stretching, his bones cracked.

Perhaps due to the Dao Fruit, he was still refreshed after staying up all night.

Hiding the sleeve crossbow in his sleeve, the wooden body and arrows he made were not very durable, but the sharp wooden arrows were powerful and light, and he could make them at any time.

In the kitchen, Li Che prepared breakfast.

His gaze, however, involuntarily fell on the Spirit Child wood carving he had placed in the woodshed.

His brows furrowed, thinking for a moment, he shook his head.

"No, I can't leave Xixi and her mother in the earthen house... it's not safe anymore."

(End of Chapter)