After finishing work, Old Chen carried Xi Xi, braving the wind and snow as he followed Li Che and Zhang Ya on their way home.
To shield Xi Xi from the harsh weather, Old Chen even used his Inner Strength to dispel the cold for the little girl, ensuring not a single snowflake touched her.
Once they returned to the simple mud house, Zhang Ya and Li Che busied themselves preparing to host Old Chen, who had come to guard their home. Naturally, they sought to treat him well.
They made good drinks and dishes to share a hearty dinner together.
"Xiao Ya, your cooking is not bad! Not bad at all. It seems if Old Chen comes here to mooch meals in the future, I'll be living the good life."
Old Chen ate and drank, squinting his small eyes in carefree contentment.
Xi Xi, meanwhile, sat in the wooden baby chair handcrafted by Li Che, waving her little hands as if she wanted to have a taste of Old Chen's gourd wine.
Li Che accompanied Old Chen with a few cups but refrained from drinking too much.
After all, tonight, he still needed to keep his guard up against the desperate antics of the Spirit Infant Sect followers and maintain his vigilance.
After dinner, Old Chen played with Xi Xi, while Li Che sat by the oil lamp as usual, taking out materials he'd brought back from the wood carving shop to practice engraving and attempt mechanism crafting.
Perhaps their relationship had grown closer, for during a break in drinking, Old Chen casually declared he wouldn't charge Li Che for borrowing "Tang's Mechanism Essentials."
Though now officially a Wood Carver, Li Che wasn't particularly concerned about the fifty coins, but Old Chen's gesture still prompted him to toast in gratitude.
With the sleeve crossbow completed, Li Che didn't intend to stop there—he decided to craft two more. One would be concealed in the sleeve of his other arm, while the other was to equip his wife, Zhang Ya, as a precaution.
Sure enough, after the first sleeve crossbow mechanism was crafted, the Dao Fruit's maturation could no longer advance further from that alone. To continue developing the Dao Fruit, he had to create different mechanisms.
The wind and snow swirled densely outside, roaring through the night.
Within the room, the oil lamp flickered with an erratic glow, casting dancing shadows.
The middle of the night arrived.
While guarding the sleeping Xi Xi, Old Chen suddenly squinted his eyes sharply and silently slipped out of the house, leaping onto the rooftop in one swift movement.
His formidable Qi-Blood surged like an angry dragon, roaring amidst the stormy snow.
Several approaching figures sensed Old Chen's energy and didn't hesitate; they turned around and fled immediately.
Old Chen's expression darkened. These Spirit Infant Sect fanatics truly had no limits—they dared to act out murderous schemes in the dead of night.
"One at Sinew Transforming stage, and four at Skin Refinement stage… This lineup… If Old Chen weren't here tonight, that kid Li Che most likely wouldn't have been able to protect Xi Xi…"
Old Chen uncorked his gourd and took a swig of wine.
His gaze hardened, brimming with ferocity.
The Spirit Infant Sect…
They truly were driving Fei Lei City into utter chaos.
Returning indoors, Old Chen nodded solemnly at Li Che before quietly settling back beside the sleeping Xi Xi.
Li Che's hand clenched tightly around his engraving knife, veins bulging like writhing Qiu Longs. After a long time, he exhaled slowly and steadied his heart to resume carving.
*Today's debt of gratitude to Old Chen, Li Che would remember forever.*
...
...
The next day, the weather cleared, and the snowstorm ceased.
Zhang Ya woke up early to start packing belongings in preparation for the move.
Although her husband hadn't explained much, her perceptive nature picked up on the danger threatening their little family—especially since Master Chen had been invited to their home to stand guard.
So, there wasn't room for sentimentality about leaving their modest house; only an eager desire to move quickly into the courtyard at the wood carving shop.
There weren't many belongings in their mud house. She stacked up the household items, called a donkey cart, and loaded everything to head towards Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
Onlookers, neighbors gathered around. They peeked out from their windows, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and envy as they watched the moving commotion.
"Moving, huh… Seems like this family is about to hit the big time, flying out of this poor little corner of the world."
"I heard that Che graduated from being a laborer at Xu's Wood Carving Shop and became an official Wood Carving master… Must be on the path to making serious money now!"
"You can just tell Che is destined for success! Look at him—an official Wood Carver now! They say the carvings made by a Wood Carver can sell for ten silver pieces apiece!"
"It's not the same anymore… No longer folks from our world."
...
Their neighbors muttered enviously, their emotions running the gamut of admiration, jealousy, and wistfulness as they watched the donkey cart crunch through the snow, disappearing around the corner of the alley.
When they arrived at the wood carving shop, they went straight in.
Li Che didn't see the Third Shopkeeper but found an elderly, well-dressed man—someone resembling a steward—holding a set of keys in his hands.
"Master Li, the shopkeeper asked me to wait for you and accompany you in selecting a courtyard."
The steward smiled, then turned to glance at Chen Dabao holding Xi Xi.
"Oh, Master Chen is here too?"
Old Chen laughed lightly: "Old Sun, just take A Che to the two-courtyard residence across from my house. From now on, we'll be neighbors!"
The steward, known as Old Sun, grinned widely: "That's great news! Follow me this way."
The group walked through the grand courtyard of the shop, navigating narrow alleys lined with tall walls. Soon, they arrived at the residential area, where courtyards were neatly arranged along either side of the lane.
Xu's Wood Carving Shop was exceedingly large, spanning great expanses!
After all, Xu Ji was wealthy and influential, adept in martial arts, possessing Inner Strength, and had flourished in Fei Lei City for over two hundred years, with deep roots.
The shop owned more land than many great landlords; naturally, they had acquired plenty of property.
Old Sun unlocked the courtyard gate, pushing it open. Snow stacked on the roof shook loose, revealing a spacious courtyard blanketed thickly with more snow.
"Master Li, take a look around. If you're dissatisfied, we can look at other courtyards."
Old Sun's attitude toward Li Che was warm and respectful.
To have risen from a laborer to an official Wood Carver—such talent in the craft! As Xu's steward, he understood the importance of good judgment and would never make the foolish mistake of offending someone needlessly.
Li Che took Zhang Ya's hand and entered the courtyard, observing carefully. Finally, after an extended period of tension, he relaxed.
The corners of his lips curved upward into a smile: "It's good, really good."
Zhang Ya's gaze shimmered with amazement and disbelief as she looked around the spacious and luxurious courtyard. Compared to their cramped mud house, this was a significant upgrade!
"We should invite Uncle and his family over for a housewarming meal in a couple of days now that we're settled."
After surveying the courtyard, Zhang Ya leaned against Li Che, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
Her husband had promised her a good life, and now… it was finally becoming a reality.
*Life was slowly but surely getting better!*
"You two take your time tidying up the courtyard and moving in. I'll take Little Xi Xi to my house to play. Once you've finished, come over for dinner—I'll have someone book a table at the Spring Breeze Building right across the street."
Chen Dabao, hugging Xi Xi, hollered a few words and headed off to his courtyard.
So close were the courtyards that the faint sounds of Xi Xi's giggles while playing with Chen Dabao drifted over.
Li Che chuckled: "I didn't expect Old Chen to get along so well with Xi Xi…"
"Master Chen is truly a kind man. With Xi Xi staying with him, we can confidently focus on setting things up," Zhang Ya replied with a smile.
The couple exchanged a glance and got to work energetically tidying the courtyard.
...
...
*Time flowed relentlessly, like wood shavings flicked away by an engraving knife, scattering unnoticed across the ground.*
Xi Xi turned one year old.
In the courtyard.
The autumn chill had just receded, and thick winter snow was already falling, accumulating in the courtyard like layers of soft white cotton.
Li Che and Old Chen sat by the brazier, on which pots of Old Huang specialty wine simmered gently. On the table were sliced braised beef and pig ears mixed with cilantro and garlic paste—a flavorful and fragrant spread.
In the courtyard, Xi Xi, now one year old, dashed about gleefully, chasing the snowflakes in the wooden walker Li Che had crafted for her.
Old Chen watched Xi Xi with affectionate eyes, unable to tear his gaze away: "Ah, Little Stinky Xi, it's snowing outside, cold and chilly—come back inside now."
"Uncle Chen, no need. Let her go crazy for a while. If she tires herself out playing, it'll be easier to get her to sleep tonight. Otherwise, her restless energy will have her staring big-eyed like copper bells all night long."
From the kitchen, Zhang Ya brought out a steaming dish of stir-fried soybeans and laughed as she spoke.
"Hey, Xi Xi's one year old now, and you guys didn't even plan to throw a banquet for her? This old man insists Xi Xi deserves a grand celebration to receive gifts! I've already invited the surrounding elders—you have to do a few tables at the very least!"
Old Chen grabbed a handful of soybeans, munching noisily as he grinned.
Initially, Li Che didn't want to hold a birthday banquet; though they had been living in the courtyard of the shop for almost a year and the Spirit Infant Sect had gone quiet, Li Che remained ever vigilant.
*And the closer it got to Xi Xi's birthday, the more cautious Li Che became…*
*After all, didn't Lei Chunlan specifically target one-year-old infants before?*
However, after discussing it with Zhang Ya, the couple ultimately decided to hold Xi Xi's first birthday banquet. The courtyard was spacious enough, so hosting it at home could ensure safety.
With the Old Huang wine warmed, Li Che poured a cup for Old Chen.
He poured himself a cup too, sipping carefully, letting the fragrant liquor spread warmth through him and dispel the winter chill.
Then, Li Che's heart stirred faintly.
In his mind's eye, a vision unfolded.
The vast earth stretched endlessly, and a towering sacred tree with lush, sprawling leaves stood beneath the heavens. Slowly, a radiant, seven-colored fruit emerged on its branches, shimmering with divine light and reflecting scenes from Xi Xi's growth over the past year.
Li Che's eyes lit up immediately.
*A long-anticipated hope finally blossomed in this very moment.*
*Xi Xi turned one, and the second Dao Fruit…*
*Had arrived.*
...
*[Your daughter has turned one year old, safe and sound, and you have obtained a Dao Fruit titled "Dragon Elephant Vajra."]*
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