Li Che had never intended to let Lei Chunlan go. Encountering her was rare—if he didn't kill her, *his heart would remain uneasy.*
He twisted his neck slightly, the muscles in his back stretching tightly, emitting tense vibrations.
The Xu Clan's Nine Meridians; Li Che had already unlocked all nine major meridians. His cultivation had now reached the pinnacle of Complete Meridian Opening, just one step away from Bone Tempering.
In just one month, *his transformation had been monumental.* With [Dragon Elephant Dao Fruit]'s Vajra Transformation activated now, he was confident he could kill Zhao Chuanxiong and the latter's Bagua Staff-wielding comrade!
The original plan was to settle this matter, then seek Zhao Chuanxiong and eliminate the threat.
But unexpectedly, during his journey through the Inner City, he saw Lei Chunlan.
Hiding in the Inner City—it was no wonder that despite Li Che disguising himself and searching for her all this time, his efforts had come to nothing.
He flicked his sleeves. Hidden within them, the Sleeve Crossbow and Thousand Spider Threads had been prepared. Beneath his mask, his eyes flashed coldly with a murderous glint.
He stomped the ground, sending his body shooting out of the narrow alley.
…
…
The curtains fluttered lightly.
They rose and fell, swaying gently as if mirroring the rhythm of human breath.
Xu Beihu sat in the chair. A water boiler bubbled furiously, hot steam surged, and the gurgling sound was incessant. He brewed tea unhurriedly, letting the rich aroma fill the room.
Si Mubai stood before the "Nine-headed Guanyin Angry Cry Town Ghost Statue" carved by Li Che. The wood carving was utterly transformed now—its original form was unrecognizable, as if ravaged by years of wind and frost.
Upon closer inspection, one could see there were countless tiny holes left beneath the carving, like the remnants of destruction wrought by woodworms chewing through it.
After a long while, Si Mubai suddenly shivered and stepped back, tears streaming down his face. *His expression contorted between anguish and glee.* He slapped the corrupted wooden statue with his hand, causing the entire statue to shatter into mere residue with a loud "boom."
"Not bad—this flavor is truly remarkable," he said as he extended his tongue to lick his lips.
"Although it cannot compare to a master wood carver's statue imbued with divinity, failing to capture the roaming divinity across heaven and earth, it is still quite good. Gathered three or four times like this, it might yield a trace of divinity, which would be of significant help for my [Angry Cry Town Ghost]."
Si Mubai sat back down in the yellow rosewood Taishi Chair and accepted the fine Pu'er tea Xu Beihu handed over.
"Your Xu's Wood Carving Shop certainly hit the jackpot. This one is undoubtedly a master-to-be. If you're willing to invest, he could absolutely become the next Woodcarving Master," Si Mubai said enviously.
On Xu Beihu's rugged face, his laughter bloomed like a flower: "It's far from a done deal. Becoming a Woodcarving Master isn't so easy, and loyalty is another factor. Across our Xu Clan's two-hundred-year history, countless wood carvers have been trained, but only a few ever made it to the level of Master."
"If you don't want him, let me take him for the Si Family then," Si Mubai said with a teasing smile as he sipped his tea.
"That old hag, is she one of your Si Family's works? She seems to be affiliated with the Spirit Infant Sect. You're entangled with them—doesn't the Si Family care?" Xu Beihu's smile abruptly faded, and his tone turned indifferent.
Si Mubai set down his teacup. "You shouldn't resist the Spirit Infant Sect so much. Not everything that emerges from the Mysterious Temple is evil. The Imperial Court's Ghost-suppressing approach, the Divine Sect's mountain-plundering and temple-destroying—aren't these all because there are good things in the Mysterious Temple?"
"Divinity, Divine Methods, Martial Techniques, Martial Arts... All sorts of legacies come out of the Mysterious Temple. Why resist them unnecessarily?" Si Mubai said with a casual smile as he drank his tea.
"The Imperial Court instructed us to recruit Spirit Children with Divinity and cultivate them—not because they couldn't spare the manpower themselves to explore those temples, but to have us do it on their behalf. I've heard from friends in the Capital City that those Great Deity Court Officials are laser-focused on exploring the newly emerged 'Three Pure Ones' Mysterious Temple just outside the Capital."
"If the court itself is embracing exploration and integration, why should we resist?" Si Mubai shook his head.
Xu Beihu's face remained stern. "Mysterious Temple is Mysterious Temple; Spirit Infant Sect is Spirit Infant Sect. Don't confuse the two."
"Let's not talk about it anymore. I know where the boundaries lie. Fei Lei City is governed jointly by us, the noble families and clans; how could I possibly neglect these matters?"
Si Mubai waved his hand dismissively, showing no concern.
"Speaking of Li Che, he's quite pragmatic and steady. I heard Lei Chunlan targeted his daughter, and yet he held back from taking any immediate action... Truly a timid man." Si Mubai commented.
"That's calculated restraint. While he might have the Xu Family's support, he can't guarantee they'll fully stand behind him. He surely loathes Lei Chunlan, but he's clear-headed enough to recognize your Si Family is shielding her. Given his lack of strength, causing trouble would lead to an unresolvable scene. Neither family would look good, so he had no choice but to step back in search of temporary stability," Xu Beihu remarked plainly.
"To sum him up: cautious, submissive, and not worth worrying about."
…
…
Golden Splendor Pavilion.
Li Che turned into a shadow and crept closer. Activating [Dragon Elephant Vajra], his power now reached the level of Bone Tempering Completion, capable of exerting explosive force equivalent to ten thousand pounds.
In reality, however, his cultivation was only at the pinnacle of Complete Meridian Opening.
[Dragon Elephant Vajra] granted him the ability to unleash power from an entirely higher realm.
The muscles across his back tightened; the energy discharged caused the snow-covered ground to scatter silently as Li Che's figure moved smoothly and swiftly.
Sticking close against the wall, he darted into Golden Splendor Pavilion's interior. Having entered once before, he maneuvered easily through its passages.
The pavilion's interior was vast, expansive like a noble family's mansion, with intersecting alleys crisscrossing the area.
Patrolling guards wandered this labyrinth—a force formidable enough, many of them possessing Complete Meridian Opening cultivation on their own.
Hidden in the shadows, Li Che observed coldly and indifferently.
Golden Splendor Pavilion was backed by several noble families and clans, making it a cooperative enterprise. As such, few dared to cause trouble here. While defenses were present, the guards appeared somewhat sluggish in their vigilance.
Li Che easily worked around the patrols, recalling the route Lei Chunlan took when she descended earlier.
His body rose and fell in fluid motion; the strength associated with Bone Tempering Completion granted him incredible speed—ordinary people wouldn't even be able to catch a glimpse of his shadow.
Li Che knew nothing of Si Mubai's connection to Lei Chunlan. Nor did he care about any dealings between the Si Family and the Spirit Infant Sect...
*Why bother with their schemes?*
Lei Chunlan sought to harm his daughter, Xi Xi, and so Li Che had only one goal.
Kill her!
…
…
A luxurious courtyard.
Artificial mountains loomed, and foliage shadowed the area in veiled half-light.
Lei Chunlan had changed into clean silken robes. Leaning against the railing, she glanced at a Si Family guard stationed at her courtyard. Her wrinkled face broke into a smile as she took in the scenery of the yard.
"No wonder they call Golden Splendor Pavilion the most luxurious and opulent place in the Inner City—what a treat this place is. I, this old woman, have suffered my whole life, and now I finally get to live like this."
"This is how life is meant to be."
Lei Chunlan's radiant smile resembled a weathered chrysanthemum finally in bloom.
The Spirit Infant Sect had given her something she'd never experienced before.
"As long as the Si Family agrees to the transaction with the Dharma Master, old Lady Lei will truly become their VIP guest... Honored and endlessly wealthy."
*Excitement coursed through her, making her frail frame tremble.*
She ushered those Spirit Babies into this world; surely, it was fair for her to exchange them for her wealth and fortune?
"What a pity. That Li Che is absurdly measured—knowing my association with the Spirit Infant Sect, he's gone and holed up in Xu's Wood Carving Shop… Just sheer luck, that laborer somehow became one of their wood carvers."
"What a waste of that Spirit Baby, so rich in Divinity... If I could offer it to the Dharma Master, I might even receive his Divine Method inheritance! From then on, I'd be elevated to heights above others!"
Lei Chunlan clenched her fists, her old eyes wide with frustration.
"Still, it doesn't matter. Now that I have the Si Family's backing, I'll get that Spirit Baby sooner or later..."
"A mere wood carver at Xu's Wood Carving Shop stands no chance against a giant like the Si Family."
Whoosh—
The temporarily calm sky seemed to feel the chill of the world's mercilessness and sent down heavy snow.
The snowflakes danced downward, obscuring the view.
Lei Chunlan rubbed her hands together and breathed into them: "What terrible weather."
She turned and began stoking the fire, adding coal to the furnace.
Suddenly, her movements stuttered; her neck stiffened as she slowly looked up.
She caught sight of a figure standing atop one of the artificial mountains in the courtyard.
A towering form, clad in a bamboo hat and masked with the Cute Bull Mask, stood there—hulking and solid as though prepared to pierce through the heavens like a mighty halberd amidst billowing wind and snow.
The figure's sharp eyes stared directly at her, exuding a deathly coldness, as if belonging to a Yin God dragging souls from Hell itself.