The cold wind rustled fiercely, swirling with the madness of winter as the snow drifted aimlessly.
Snowflakes landing on the dark tiles atop the long corridor emitted a gentle scraping noise.
The lifted winter breeze, ceaselessly fluttered the white curtains that hung as if suspended in mid-air above the pavilions.
Li Che stopped in his tracks, his facial expression as if frozen by the bitter winter in a flash, eyes locked straight ahead like two unsheathed swords, piercing through the harsh cold and settling on the old woman who was bowing beside the man in white.
"Lei Chunlan!"
A deep voice emanated from Li Che's throat.
Xu Beihu was clearly aware of Li Che's movements and the shift in his emotions, briefly taken aback.
"What's wrong?" Xu Beihu frowned and asked.
Li Che's thoughts surged and fluctuated; he would not forget that face.
Lei Chunlan, the midwife who had delivered Xi Xi, was also a wicked woman who had caused the death of many children she had personally helped to birth.
Now, she appeared here, a place Li Che had never imagined she would be.
In that moment, Li Che's heart turned exceedingly grim.
In his mind, a myriad of thoughts circulated.
Lei Chunlan... What was her relationship with Young Master Si?
It was said that Lei Chunlan was entangled with the Spirit Infant Sect; could it be that there was also a connection to the Si Family?
The background of Lei Chunlan appeared to be stronger than he had imagined, which explained why the Outer City's bounty notice for her was taken down after a few days, whereas his "Bull Demon" warrant was still prominently displayed on the notice board.
"Encountered an acquaintance," Li Che suppressed his emotions, speaking calmly.
Though Xu Beihu was burly, his sensitivity to emotions was sharp, and he noticed that Li Che's gaze toward the old woman was unusual.
"Understand the grudges first and then make plans," Xu Beihu said.
Li Che nodded, and the two of them stepped into the pavilion box.
The servant of the Golden Splendor Pavilion delicately placed the wood carving, covered with black cloth, onto the table that had been prepared in advance within the pavilion.
"Brother Mubai, the genius wood carving master from my Xu Family has arrived. Let's see his craftsmanship," Xu Beihu declared with a hearty laugh as he stepped into the pavilion.
The man in white clothes, sitting on a rosewood Taishi Chair, suddenly cast his gaze over, and Li Che got a clear view of the man's face.
There was a sort of eerie beauty to the handsome features, his eyes carried a melancholic hue, and a tear mole at the corner of an eye; his charm held an immensely infectious sorrow, teetering on the edge of breaking into tears, with a single strand of hair falling across his cheek, gently swaying in the breeze.
"North Tiger, you've truly done me a great favor," Si Mubai rose to his feet, his voice almost sounding tearful.
He fist-bumped Xu Beihu, then his gaze fell on Li Che.
"This must be Master Li? Though you have not entered the Inner City, your wood carvings have indeed caused a sensation there; such profound meaning in your works, it's precious to find below a Woodcarving Master..."
Si Mubai smiled, but his attempt at smiling was more pained than crying.
Li Che nodded slightly, however, his eyes still lingered on Lei Chunlan.
Taking a step back, Li Che's gaze flickered with astonishment.
"Si Mubai is cultivating divinity. You were affected by the spilled divinity. I've suppressed it for you, so it's fine now," Xu Beihu said with a smile.
Though he wasn't completely satisfied with Li Che's disposition, Xu Beihu recognized that Li Che's talent was evident to all and still worth drawing in and befriending.
Li Che thanked him with a fist salute.
"Your cultivation has only just reached Skin Refinement Completion. If you were affected by the 'Angry Cry' divinity for too long, I'm afraid it would damage your spirit..."
"Take the Gold Leaf and leave. The carriage is outside, you can go back by yourself. If you want to stroll around the Inner City, that's fine too. Just make sure you leave the city before it gets dark," Xu Beihu said, chuckling lightly.
Li Che received five Gold Leaves, tucked them away carefully, and took his leave with a fist salute.
He cast a deep glance at Si Mubai, who was still holding the wood carving and voraciously absorbing from it—as the wood carving seemed to wither like a frostbitten eggplant, no longer resembling the image of Guanyin...
Li Che licked his lips.
His hand... seemed a bit itchy.
He resisted the urge to use his prototypical divine power, "Thousand Analyzing Hands," to siphon the divinity from Si Mubai.
Li Che exited the Golden Splendor Pavilion.
Back on the carriage, Li Che sat upright in the luxurious carriage, his fingers gently, rhythmically tapping on the tea table inside, his gaze slightly focused.
"Old man, stop the carriage for a moment. It's rare for me to come to the Inner City, and I plan to buy some osmanthus cakes for my wife. I'll bring back some good food too, just wait for me," Li Che said with a smile.
Although the charioteer was from the Xu Family in the Inner City, he was quite courteous to Li Che, responding with a smile.
"Master Li, go ahead, and I'll wait for you here. As long as you leave the Inner City before dark, there will be no issue," the charioteer said.
Li Che thanked him warmly with a fist salute.
The Inner City was bustling, with no fewer people or less activity than the Outer City.
Once he was out of the charioteer's line of sight, Li Che's face instantly turned ice-cold.
He first went to a silk shop and bought some black cloth, turned it into a loose black robe, bought a bamboo hat, then took out a carving knife and thin wood from his bosom, and with his current skills, he made a Cute Bull Mask in just a few breaths time.
He found an empty alley.
Putting on the bamboo hat, he first hid his clothing, then donned the black robe, the bamboo hat, and covered his face with the Cute Bull Mask.
In an instant!
The shadows cast on the alley walls by the light began to twist violently, wriggle, and elongate!
It was as if divine dragons were murmuring and demonic elephants were bellowing!
Endurance? Stability? Yielding?
I'm just going to switch posture... to kill you!
"Lei Chunlan..."
"Your Bull Demon master has arrived!"