Chapter 18: with translation of chapter title

Chen Dabao stood with his hands behind his back, watching Xiao Liu leave; snowflakes fluttered in the sky, landing on the whitened tips of his hair.

His eyes held a hint of wandering and complexity.

Sun Changbiao had died, but what Old Chen felt and cared about was naturally not Sun Changbiao's death; in this era, a person dying was nothing out of the ordinary.

Yet what Old Chen cared about was Li Che's decisiveness.

Having just discovered that the one harboring designs on Xixi was Sun Changbiao, a follower of the Lingying Sect, the moment work ended… Li Che hurried over and killed Sun Changbiao.

Resolute, ruthless, swift in action!

Was it really Li Che who did it?

Where did he get the strength to kill Sun Changbiao?

Even Old Chen felt a bit dazed and doubtful.

What had been a leisurely stroll changed; he walked on, took a turn, and headed to Sun Changbiao's courtyard.

As he neared the courtyard, he heard earth-shaking wails.

Outside the courtyard, a crowd packed in; he also saw the steward, Old Sun, his old face turning ashen, his whole body trembling, clutching his fists, furious and grief-stricken.

"Who? Who on earth killed my son?"

"My son was honest and kind, good to others—who could be so vicious?"

Steward Sun wept uncontrollably, the pain of losing his son piercing his heart.

Beside him, Lady Liu was helped to sit in a chair, tears streaming down, sobbing incessantly.

Old Chen squeezed in, inquired for a moment, and suddenly felt a strange sensation in his chest.

"He was tall and stout like a small hill, palms like palm-leaf fans, one kick burst the door, kicked Sun Changbiao…"

"It must have been a Bone-Tempering realm martial artist who struck… It doesn't seem like Li Che, after all, Li Che has only just achieved minor success in Skin Tempering; facing Sun Changbiao he'd only be beaten to death."

"How strange, what a coincidence!"

Old Chen also clicked his tongue in amazement.

Looking at Sun Changbiao's corpse—head severed, bones kicked apart, viscera shattered—he shook his head; the death was rather gruesome.

He turned his head and saw Sun Changbiao's four daughters standing in the corner, timid and fearful; the eldest daughter looked at her father's corpse, her eyes holding no sorrow, but rather…

…a sense of satisfaction.

……

……

The news of Sun Changbiao being blasted to death by villains spread like a storm through the Xu family estate in an instant.

It immediately caused a great uproar.

The third manager had left the city and wasn't in the shop, yet this incident occurred, causing a huge impact.

The next day, the Xu family in the inner city sent people to investigate, accompanied by constables from the outer city government office.

Xu Beihu wore a great fox fur cloak; upon his sturdy body, threads of solid blood energy surged like arcs of electricity as he gazed at Sun Changbiao's corpse lying in the coffin, a flash of unusual color crossing his eyes.

Possessing strength of thousands of catties, a kick shattered his five viscera and six bowels; in the exchange of blows, he also broke Sun Changbiao's arm bone, displaying an overwhelming crushing force—without doubt, the attacker… was surely a domineering Bone-Tempering martial artist; as for the final method of cleaving the skull, the wound was so smooth it indicated an extremely sharp weapon… yet it resembled the work of a blade.

Beside Xu Beihu, the outer city government's constable chief Zhao Chuanxiong, equally sturdy, wore a wide-blade saber at his waist, narrowed his eyes and analyzed.

"Constable Zhao, this matter falls to you; I never imagined that my Xu family, which has enjoyed peace for so many years, would have villains boldly enter our shop to commit murder."

Xu Beihu clasped his fists.

Zhao Chuanxiong smiled and waved his hand: "Perhaps it was another family's doing, wanting to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, deliberately disgusting your Xu family; yet there is something odd… why target Sun Changbiao? And why him?"

Xu Beihu was also puzzled; after much thought he could reach no conclusion.

Zhao Chuanxiong smiled, raised his hand and gave a light wave.

"Let's search, see if we can find any clues."

As his words fell, the several constables Zhao Chuanxiong brought set out to search Sun Changbiao's manor.

The Lady Liu, sitting in the chair and weeping, saw the constables searching; a flash of panic crossed her eyes, then turned to despair.

Moments later, a constable shouted: "Found it!"

Immediately, he returned carrying a "three-headed, six-armed Lingying idol."

"The Lingying Sect?!"

Xu Beihu's eyes flared with anger, his hair flying, he turned to Lady Liu and shouted: "You worship the Lingying Sect?!"

Zhao Chuanxiong narrowed his eyes, lightly clapped: "So it's the Lingying Sect; then we basically have a lead…"

He glanced at the four girls standing in the corner; the youngest looked only two or three, head tilted, hair disheveled, a blank expression on her face.

Xu Beihu's face darkened; although the Lingying Sect had infiltrated the shop, something he had long anticipated, its sudden exposure left the Xu family somewhat embarrassed.

"Now this matter is roughly clear: Sun Changbiao followed the Lingying Sect; his daughters must have caught the sect's eye, intending to take them for sacrifice, but Sun Changbiao refused, wanting to protect his daughters' lives, so he intervened—and was killed by the villains."

"Tsk tsk, truly a moving paternal love…"

"Lady Liu, do you say it is or isn't?"

Lady Liu, still weeping in her chair, suddenly froze.

Amid the crowd, Li Che, hearing the constable chief's analysis, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Sun Changbiao indeed died from paternal love, but that paternal love was Li Che's…

Without further watching, Li Che went to the training ground to practice.

……

……

The training ground buzzed with fervent energy.

This year the shop recruited new woodcarvers who had just obtained the Skin Tempering refinement method; each was high-spirited, shouldering stone locks, continually training.

Zhao Xuan, with long straight legs, was instructing the newcomers; upon seeing Li Che appear, she immediately greeted him with a beaming smile: "Li Shifu, you're here?"

Li Che gave a gentle smile and nodded in response.

Wang Zhengpin beside him was drenched in sweat, also stopping his training: "Li Shifu, have you heard? Master Sun died a horrible death—evildoers crushed all his bones, tortured him to death, and finally cut off his head, a sight too gruesome to behold."

Li Che's mouth twitched; the rumors grew more exaggerated…… How could he be that vicious?

Nevertheless, Li Che joined the conversation with a face full of regret.

A few elders chatted, while the newcomers dared not interrupt; moments later, Li Che began his cultivation.

The cultivation he now displays externally is Skin-Tempering Perfected, already arousing envy in many.

He never neglects daily training, for the【Dragon Elephant Golden Strength】Dao fruit can be ripened through effort; daily practice is indispensable.

But while training, Li Che began to ponder the Open Meridians Method and the Internal Strength Method.

Just as he was pondering, Xu Beihu arrived at the training ground.

"Second Steward."

Everyone promptly stopped their movements, clasped fists and bowed in salute.

Xu Beihu's expression softened a bit: "I came to Wai Cheng today to investigate the cause of Sun Changbiao's death, and incidentally I can offer you some guidance on your cultivation."

His gaze fell on Li Che, showing satisfaction: "In one year you've achieved Skin-Tempering Perfection—your body-tempering talent is not bad; keep training diligently, do not slack. If you have any requests, feel free to voice them."

Upon hearing this, Li Che clasped his fists and said: "Second Steward... now that I have achieved Skin-Tempering Perfection, may I request the Open Meridians Method and the Internal Strength Method?"

"I just passed Master Sun's residence and saw his gruesome state; my heart still trembles. I heard Master Sun loved his daughter like a mountain, dying horribly to protect her... I... am afraid."

Li Che's words were full of sincerity and worry.

Upon hearing this, Xu Beihu fell silent; he had indeed heard of Li Che's affairs.

Li Che had originally joined Xu Ji seeking refuge due to his worries about the Spirit Infant Sect; but now, with this incident, Xu Ji has indeed lost some face—a sign of declining prestige.

However, Xu Ji's rules cannot be broken; Xu Beihu shook his head, face showing regret: "Xu Ji's regulations state… you must reach Skin-Tempering Completion before we can transmit the Open Meridians Method and Internal Strength Method to you."

"Only when the foundation is solid can you continue advancing; otherwise a tall building may easily collapse. If we passed it on early, you might succumb to temptation and practice prematurely, harming your body—this is for your own good."

Upon hearing this, Li Che showed a look of regret.

Seeing his expression, Xu Beihu hesitated a moment, then produced a porcelain bottle and handed it to Li Che: "This… contains 'Skin-Tempering Pills,' six in total… considered a reward for your achieving Skin-Tempering Perfection."

"Take one pill every five days; with your talent, this way you should reach Skin-Tempering Completion in a little over a month."

"Then you may come to me for the Open Meridians Method and Internal Strength Method."

Hearing this, Li Che felt a slight regret but his face lit up with joy; he accepted the "Skin-Tempering Pill," and in his heart he had already decided to go to the market to see if he could purchase the Internal Strength Method.

Chen Lao had said before, they are not members of the Xu Ji Xu family, so the Meridian Opening Method and Internal Strength Method they are qualified to practice are actually not profound, not much different from the high-grade Internal Strength Methods available for purchase in the outside market.

Seeing Li Che receive the pill, Xu Beihu's rugged face instantly broke into a smile.

"Li Che, I have a task I came specially to find you for."

"I know your woodcarving is full of artistic conception; the Young Master of the Si Family in Nei Cheng sought me out, wishing to commission you to carve a wooden piece, with a payment of five gold leaves."

Upon hearing this, Li Che's heart jolted.

Five gold leaves?!

Five hundred taels!

A major client!

But this undoubtedly shows that the other party's request is far from simple; this woodcarving job will surely be extremely difficult.

Li Che's expression turned solemn; he clasped his fists and stared: "I don't know what the Si Family Young Master wishes to have carved…"

Xu Beihu looked at the solemn Li Che and smiled.

"Nine-Headed Guanyin Wrathful Cry Ghost-Suppressing Statue."

(End of Chapter)