In the midst of snow and wind, a figure stood resolute.
With a rainbow-like vitality enveloping him from the outside, he was remarkably noticeable amid the vast grayness, carrying a policeman's saber, his gaze extremely sharp yet with a hint of amusement.
From afar, he saw Li Che carrying braised pork, a jar of wine, and osmanthus cakes.
Li Che paused in his steps, his first thought was... his misdeeds had been exposed.
But after careful contemplation, there was no reason for it, he, with the Dao Fruit of Dragon Elephant Vajra, had changed his physical form without leaving any clues.
If the crime had not been exposed...
Then why had the Yamen's arrest officer, after investigating the death of Sun Changbiao, not left but instead appeared in front of his courtyard? What could he possibly want?
For a moment, Li Che couldn't figure out the reason and lost his train of thought.
"Are you Li Che, Master Li?"
A hand, rough with calluses from knife training, rested on the cloth-wrapped hilt as Zhao Chuanxiong looked at Li Che approaching and asked with a smile.
Li Che's hands were full, so he could only symbolically clasp his fist in response, "Indeed, it is I. What does the Policeman wish to instruct?"
Zhao Chuanxiong watched Li Che and silently appraised him, then imperceptibly shook his head.
From the spiritual state and aura that Li Che exuded, his cultivation was just at the Great Success in Skin Refinement, nothing more. It was unlikely he was the Bone Tempering criminal who had killed Sun Changbiao with ruthless and decisive means.
According to Madame Liu's description, that criminal was nearly two meters tall, heavily muscled, and extremely terrifying.
A stark contrast to Li Che's physique.
However, Zhao Chuanxiong didn't come looking for Li Che for that reason.
"Madame Liu had confessed." Zhao Chuanxiong watched Li Che, still maintaining an almost-smiling expression.
Li Che's heart tightened instantly, realizing what Zhao Chuanxiong was referring to.
"Did you receive a Furious Spirit Infant Wood Carving two days ago? That was placed at your doorstep by the deceased Sun Changbiao..."
"As a follower of the Spirit Infant Sect, he had targeted your family's Spirit Infant."
Zhao Chuanxiong's lips curled into a slight arc, focusing on Li Che.
Upon hearing this, Li Che clenched his teeth in anger: "I am indeed aware because my daughter Xi Xi was targeted by the Spirit Infant Sect right after she was born, which is why I strove to excel and became a Wood Carver at the wood carving shop and moved into Xu's Courtyard..."
"I thought we could be carefree, and my daughter could grow up safely, but little did I expect, after Xi Xi's one-year-old birthday feast, the Spirit Infant Sect turned up in our shop again..."
As Li Che spoke with deep emotion, his face flushed with anger.
"Master Chen speculated that it was someone from the shop who placed the wood carving and asked Master Chen to help look for it. Eventually, it was confirmed to be the doing of Sun Changbiao."
At this point, Li Che's face exhibited a look of fright: "Head Constable Zhao, I did not kill Sun Changbiao, I..."
The whirling snowstorm seemed to freeze in that moment, hanging in mid-air, then silently shredded by a terrifying gale, exploding into a mist of snow.
Two conflicting auras clashed fiercely, like giant waves colliding skywards.
Zhao Chuanxiong slightly turned his head, his gaze shifting to Chen Dabao who had stopped his motion, the smile on his face gradually fading.
"So, it's Master Chen..."
"If the kid doesn't like you, don't force it. Don't leave any traumas on the child,"
Old Chen spoke indifferently.
"Grandpa Chen...hug," Xi Xi, seeing Master Chen, pedaled over to him on her walker, bumping into his legs, and called out in a babyish voice.
"Oh my, my precious baby, Grandpa will hold you, come here." Old Chen looked at Xi Xi, his aged face blooming with a smile like chrysanthemums, and picked Xi Xi up from her walker.
Zhao Chuanxiong no longer squatted down but stood up, his hand returning to rest on the handle of his knife.
"Such a lovely child,"
Zhao Chuanxiong watched as Old Chen walked away with Xi Xi, saying with a smile.
Li Che's heart relaxed slightly as well.
"Master Li, Master Chen, I shall leave first,"
Zhao Chuanxiong did not stay longer in the courtyard, waved his hand, and left the courtyard, merging into the blurry snowstorm, disappearing from sight.
Old Chen held Xi Xi, gently bouncing her as he played with her, making Xi Xi giggle continuously.
While watching Zhao Chuanxiong's retreating figure, he slowly relaxed.
"A Che, don't let people easily enter the courtyard in the future, especially strange guests..."
Old Chen said gravely.
"Xi Xi's resistance to Zhao Chuanxiong isn't because she's shy. Xi Xi is perceptive, she has the spirit to discern good from evil intent towards her, and this Zhao Chuanxiong... harbors no good intentions," Old Chen said.
Upon hearing this, Li Che's expression shifted slightly.
"He told you that Madame Liu confessed, and it was Sun Changbiao who placed the Spirit Infant Wood Carving in front of your courtyard?"
Old Chen looked at Li Che.
Li Che nodded.
Old Chen smiled slightly, his voice a bit cold, "From start to finish, Madame Liu only admitted that they, as a couple, had joined the Spirit Infant Sect, but she never confessed to placing the Spirit Infant Wood Carving at your doorstep..."
"Moreover, the Spirit Infant Statue found in Sun Changbiao's home was a common Three-Headed Six-Armed Spiritual Infant Statue, with one eye open and one closed..."
"How then did Zhao Chuanxiong know that the one placed in front of your door was the 'Furious Spirit Infant'?"