Li Che returned to Xu's Courtyard with his uncle's family, making do in their own courtyard for one night before seeking out Steward Sun the next day.
Thanks to Xu You's promise, Steward Sun did not make things difficult, although his attitude towards Li Che had cooled considerably since the loss of his son. Upon reflection, it was Sun Changbiao who had initially intended to sacrifice Xi Xi in order to have a son.
The fault lay with his son, not with Li Che's family who were meant to be the victims.
After successfully resolving his uncle's housing issue, Li Che breathed a sigh of relief.
Recalling the oppressive feeling brought about by the Followers of the Spiritual Infant Sect parading on the street, Li Che could not help but frown slightly.
The entire Spirit Infant Sect... none of them seemed to be good people at first glance.
A disaster waiting to happen.
Inside the workshop, Li Che put down the carving knife in his hand, his black hair dusted with wood shavings, and gazed at the snowflakes drifting in the courtyard, mentally adding the entire Spirit Infant Sect to his little notebook marked for death.
Of course, at the very top was the Spirit Infant Master, marked with a circle for special attention!
Days went by, one after another.
Ever since the reward for the Bull Demon was increased to five hundred taels, Li Che had remained low-key and had not taken action again, except for once when he assisted his uncle's family.
Of course, during this time, he had also looked for the arrest officer Zhao Chuanxiong, sadly to no avail. Zhao Chuanxiong seemed to sense that Li Che was out to kill him and became cautious and sleazy.
He never appeared alone, always accompanied by several arrest officers even when he went out, and he didn't return home at night, hiding who knows where.
Li Che, unable to find the right opportunity, chose to give up.
Perhaps due to the death of the Bone Tempering Realm martial artist wielding the Bagua Staff, Feilei Outer City seemed to be at peace for a while, but slowly, news of children being harmed began to spread again.
Where there are people, evil will never cease.
Time slipped through the fingers like sand, marking the turning of spring to summer.
Before he knew it, half a year had passed in the blink of an eye.
Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
Li Che took a deep breath, blew the dust off the wood carving, and amidst the flurry, a "Nine Sons Embracing Lotus Statue" vividly appeared before him.
Grandpa Chen had also carved a Nine Sons Embracing Lotus wood carving before, but now, the one Li Che carved seemed even more vivid and imbued with a unique essence, as if the nine children carved into it had come to life, frolicking and romping as if right next to one's ear.
This was due to the enhanced essence brought about by the upgrade of the "Immortal Artisan" Dao Fruit to lv3.
"A Che, your craftsmanship has greatly improved! In next month's assessment, you are likely to be ranked as a Four-Knife Wood Carver," Xu You, dressed in a silk white robe, leaned against the door frame with a jar of wine, and said with a gentle smile.
"A Four-Knife Wood Carver can move freely between the Inner City and the Outer City, A Che... have you ever thought about moving your family into the Inner City?" Xu You asked.
Upon hearing this, Li Che thought of the numerous masters in the Inner City and heard that the true foundation of the powerful within the Spirit Infant Sect was within the Inner City. Moving there involved too much risk.
Just as Old Chen had said, although the living conditions in the Outer City were somewhat poor, being far from the center of turbulence and devoid of so much strife made it a happier and more comfortable place to live.
Seeing that Li Che had not responded for a long time, Xu You waved his hand, "Never mind, let's not talk about this. If you were to move into the Inner City, it would be more troublesome to find you for a drink."
Being part of the family but not favored, and having lost the chance to compete for the position of Family Head, staying in the Outer City was equivalent to being exiled; he was too lazy to return to the Inner City.
Since Xu You's return from eradicating evil in the Mysterious Temple in the Outer City, he seemed to have taken a liking to Li Che, often seeking him out for drinks. At first, it might have been with thoughts of currying favor, but as time went on, he truly began to consider Li Che a friend.
His visits to Li Che's courtyard for meals became increasingly familiar.
After finishing work, Li Che returned to the courtyard with Xu You.
The loquat tree in the courtyard was thriving, full of lush greenery.
Little Xi Xi was underneath the loquat tree, clutching a wooden stick, laughing merrily.
"In front of such a colossus as the Divine Sect, the Spirit Infant Sect... is pitifully weak."
"Therefore, it's likely that the Spirit Infant Sect will go on a rampage before the arrival of the Divine Sect's disciples."
Li Che nodded, filled his own cup, and then offered a bowl to Xu You.
"The matter concerning Xi Xi... I'll have to trouble you, Old Xu."
Xu You rolled his eyes but raised his bowl in response.
"Don't mention it. Xi Xi and I are close."
...
...
Li Che was very receptive to Xu You's advice and did not wander around with Xi Xi.
He also specifically noticed that the Outer City had indeed become much more chaotic. The activities of the Spirit Infant Sect's followers became more frequent, and even outside Xu's Wood Carving Shop late at night, martial artists would often lurk and covet incessantly.
However, the guard squad organized by Xu You with numerous martial wood carvers enhanced patrolling. And after Xu You personally killed an intruder who had achieved Completion in Transformed Sinews, the Spirit Infant Sect started to restrain themselves a bit.
Yet, the activities of the Spirit Infant Sect were still intense elsewhere.
Over half a year, Feilei Outer City fell into a chorus of mournful cries. Many parents who had lost their children lodged complaints with the Yamen.
The arrest officers from the Yamen organized patrols, but to little effect. The evil followers of the Spirit Infant Sect seemed to always get wind of the officers' movements ahead of time.
In such chaos, half a year passed by. But far from improving, the turmoil only became worse.
Cold winds blew, and early winter quietly arrived.
Another half year slipped away unnoticed.
Xi Xi turned two years old.
Outer City, Ting Yu Alley.
Inside a rented courtyard of Li Che's.
Li Che sat cross-legged, and the snowflakes falling from the sky, when nearing him, were met by a surge of inner strength reminiscent of a Jiaoshe serpent, violently exploding into a mist of snow upon ejection.
Slowly opening his eyes, the strength receded inward, all converging into the Dao Fruit of the Dragon Elephant Vajra.
"Si Snake Inner Strength... has reached the Three Heavens. This inner strength technique has reached its limit."
"To make a breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of Inner Strength, I need to get my hands on a Superior Internal Strength Technique."
Li Che exhaled, the breath rushing out of his mouth like a sharp arrow.
Suddenly, the Dao Fruits of Immortal Artisan and Dragon Elephant Vajra in his chest began to flutter slightly!
Familiar scenes appeared before him.
On the vast earth, a towering treasure tree rose into the clouds, its numerous leaves shimmering as they fluttered. On the tree, a multicolored fruit slowly formed, gleaming brightly, reflecting the various stages of Xi Xi's growth over the past year.
With his black hair cascading over his shoulders, Li Che's eyes gleamed brightly.
Another year of anticipation finally blossomed at this moment.
Two years old, Xi Xi's third Dao Fruit...
Had arrived!
...
[Your daughter is two years old, safe and sound, without illness or disaster. You have obtained a Dao Fruit, "Pure Heart."]