Chapter 2: Dao Fruit Immortal Craft, Six-Eyed Bodhisattva

He settled his mind and closed his eyes.

Li Che once again saw the fleeting image he had glimpsed before.

On the vast, boundless land, a great tree shot up from the ground, its branches lush and leaves dense, green leaves swaying, upon which hung a fruit flowing with seven-colored light.

After staring at it for a long while, the variegated fruit gave a soft 'plop' and fell, drifting into Li Che's hand.

"Dao Fruit..."

Li Che gazed at the fruit in his palm and couldn't help murmuring.

……

【Your daughter was born safely, you have obtained a Dao Fruit 'Immortal Craft'】

【Immortal Craft (Dao Fruit): Myriad Phenomena Immortal Craft, a hand that comes like divine inspiration, unparalleled skill】

……

The words flickered into view.

Li Che narrowed his eyes, but his emotions surged suddenly.

Having been in this world for nineteen years, he had never obtained a golden finger, yet now, with his daughter's birth, a golden finger appeared in this very manner.

Does one gain prestige through one's daughter?!

Li Che burst into cheer; the name 'Dao Fruit' sounded so lofty, surely it could become his capital to establish himself in this world.

Just as he was feeling delighted, the prompt before him changed again.

……

【Name: Li Che】

【Bond: Li Nuanxi (daughter)】

【Dao Fruit: Immortal Craft (untransformed, Lv1, 0%)】

【Prompt: For each year the bonded one grows up safely, the Dao Tree can bear one Dao Fruit】

……

His breathing grew slightly ragged; Li Che stared blankly at the prompt before him, his emotions surging violently.

For each year his daughter grows up safely, the Dao Tree can bear one Dao Fruit……

In Li Che's simple, plain understanding, the function of a Dao Fruit is equivalent to bestowing upon him a skill, a talent.

Now Li Che works as a helper transporting finished wood carvings in a woodcarving shop in the outer city of Fēiléichéng, selling manual labor, but paid per piece, so it's fair to all.

But after a hard day's work, exhausted, he could probably earn only thirty or forty Dàjǐng cast copper coins—enough to support his family, yet dreaming of great wealth and letting his family live in luxury in this world is mere wishful thinking.

But from now on, if he lets his daughter grow up safely, bearing one Dao Fruit each year, perhaps everything will change!

"Xixi is my daughter; I ought to protect her and see her grow up safely—this is what a father should do……"

Li Che laughed happily; his daughter's birth had brought him a turn of fortune, giving him hope for the future—how could he not be cheerful?

When the Dao Fruit in his palm gradually melted away, Li Che did not notice any change in himself.

He studied the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, but found no clue.

"Guruguru……"

The crucian carp soup in the pot boiled and bubbled, interrupting Li Che's thoughts.

He quickly ladled a bowl of fresh, fragrant, pure white crucian carp and tofu soup, took a deep breath, a smile tugging at his lips, and carried the steaming soup cautiously toward the earthen house.

His wife Zhang Ya had already fed Xixi, and was now contentedly drinking the crucian carp soup Li Che had cooked.

Xixi was held by Li Che, and under Lei A Po's guidance, gently patted her soft back—this is called burping.

After busying herself in the earthen house for a while, Lei A Po gave Li Che some pointers on childcare, then prepared to take her leave.

After Li Che handed Xixi over to Zhang Ya, he followed after her.

"Lei A Po, thank you so much, thank you for your hard work." Li Che pressed ten wen coins into Lei A Po's hand.

Lei A Po waved her hand, sighed, and said: "Che'er, I've watched you grow up since childhood; you help the Xu Ji Woodcarving Shop haul those heavy timbers and sculptures, earning hard-earned money is no easy feat—keep this money and provide well for your family."

"This outer city… lately few children are born, yet many die young; take good care of Xixi, you must stay safe."

Lei A Po's admonition made Li Che's expression involuntarily turn solemn.

"Granny……"

Lei A Po wrapped her head in a cloth, slung a bamboo basket, braved the wind and snow, and instructed: "Remember, don't casually bring the child out to roam the streets; if you encounter those Child-worshipping Gods… those who eat incense offerings… you must stay even farther away."

"The times are harsh, children are prone to early death; you parents… must be extra cautious."

In the freezing wind and snow, Li Che exhaled a puff of white mist and nodded solemnly.

His heart sank slightly; indeed, lately there have been many reports of children dying young.

Li Che had originally not thought much of it, but now that he is a father, he naturally ought to pay more attention.

"I understand, Lei A Po."

Li Che replied in a low voice.

Lei A Po said no more, gave a faint sigh, pulled her cotton coat tighter, and plunged into the windy, snowy night, gradually disappearing into the snowy alley before the rows of earthen houses.

Li Che watched Lei A Po's figure vanish, turned back into the earthen house, and hurriedly stuffed the door cracks to prevent heat loss.

He rubbed his hands, added some charcoal to the stove, then Li Che went to the kitchen and brought the remaining fish soup back again.

After the couple had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Che climbed onto the bed.

Gently patting his milk-drunk, asleep daughter, Li Che narrowed his eyes, a smile unbidden tugging at his lips.

Speaking softly with his wife Zhang Ya, she perhaps fatigued from childbirth, fell into a deep sleep.

Li Che, however, stared wide awake and murmured softly, full of energy.

"The charcoal's used up again; tomorrow I'll go find the charcoal seller to buy some—Xixi has just been born, she can't be left to freeze."

"My wife needs to properly observe the postpartum month, otherwise she'll suffer from postpartum illness……"

"Hmm, I'll go to the woodcarving shop tomorrow to move more statues; recently demand for statues in the inner city has suddenly increased, there's plenty of work, I can earn a lot of money."

"I will definitely work hard to save money to buy a big house, so even in the depths of winter we can stay warm and cozy."

"My dear, rest assured, our days will surely keep getting better..."

"On the bed, Li Che gently embraced his wife and daughter, his eyes half-closed."

"With each breath, silence so profound it could be heard."

"……"

"……"

"The next day, dawn broke."

"Li Che rose early, watched his wife Zhang Ya, who was observing the postpartum confinement, finish the breakfast he had prepared, then gave Xixi, who had just finished her milk, a pat on the back to burp her, put on his straw hat, and left the earthen house."

"The ground was white, the wind bitterly cold, snowflakes as big as hands."

"The chill was piercing, cold to the bone like a knife."

"The heavy snow showed no sign of stopping, and the ground of the outer city of Fēiléichéng was covered in thick piles of snow."

"After walking several li, under a hazy sky accompanied by wind and snow, he arrived at the work site, Xu Ji Mu Diao Pu."

"Though called a shop, it is actually a huge mansion, its interior extremely spacious, with many piles of timber for woodcarving stacked throughout."

"Li Che and many other hired helpers were mainly responsible for transporting timber for the woodcarving shop's masters, or moving finished woodcarvings."

"The woodcarvings varied in weight, but the price was uniform: moving a woodcarving once earned five Da Jing cast copper coins, while moving timber was cheaper, earning one copper coin per trip."

"The main risk was in moving woodcarvings; if they were bumped or knocked, the wages would basically be deducted in full."

"He shook off the snow on his body, removed his straw hat, placed it at his workstation, and Li Che entered the woodcarving shop."

"Inside the shop a charcoal brazier burned, the temperature moderate, a rich scent of wood drifting about."

"\"Little Li, go move a piece of 'water willow' for me, a larger piece; also, help me move the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue' carved three days ago to the inner room, someone from the inner city will come to collect it in two days—if the snow melts and it gets wet, it won't be good. \""

"Just as he entered the shop, an old man wearing a padded jacket, with white whiskers and a ruddy complexion, called out to Li Che."

"The old man carried a shiny oil-glossed wine gourd filled with aged yellow wine."

"\"Okay, Master Chen. \" Li Che gave a bright smile and hurriedly replied."

"As a familiar helper in the shop, careful and diligent, he had never had an accident moving woodcarvings, and his reputation was excellent."

"Therefore, after becoming acquainted with a few woodcarving masters, they would specifically assign him to work."

"Master Chen was one of Li Che's regular patrons."

"After responding to Master Chen, Li Che turned and entered the spacious courtyard."

"The snow poured down, covering the timber piled in the courtyard; after some effort, he found the area where the 'water willow' was located."

"He found a larger piece and Li Che dragged it out."

"He tied it with rope, secured it, tested its weight, patted the timber, then turned and walked toward the finished woodcarving area at the corner of the courtyard."

"Since the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' mentioned by Master Chen was exactly the piece Li Che was responsible for moving, he knew its location well."

"He found the woodcarving buried under the heavy snow; the carving was about the size of an adult, likewise carved from 'flower willow' wood."

"Li Che reached out and brushed off the snow that had settled on the carving."

"Suddenly a strange feeling welled up in his heart; the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' carving seemed to come alive, its six eyes fixed on him, blinking from time to time."

"Then, a hazy image suddenly appeared in his mind."

"It was Master Chen wielding his knife, stroke by stroke, carving the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' statue; Li Che felt as if he were present, as though he and Master Chen had merged into one."

"Gradually, the carving technique and skill involved in sculpting the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva seemed to merge into Li Che's... instinct!"

"\"Huh? \""

"The vision before his eyes faded, the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva stopped blinking, and Li Che's breathing suddenly became rapid."

"A slight stir in his heart, merely touching the carving felt as if he had learned Master Chen's carving technique..."

"This must certainly be related to the Dao fruit 【Immortal Craft】 he obtained yesterday because of his daughter Xixi's birth!"

"\"Myriad Phenomena Immortal Craft, hand of the divine, unparalleled skill... \""

"\"The effect of the Immortal Craft Dao fruit... perhaps it could give me a chance to become a true master of woodcarving techniques! \""

"Li Che's eyes glimmered faintly, and he couldn't help but feel a spark of ambition."

"If he could become a woodcarving master at Xu Ji Mu Diao Pu, it would be far more promising than being a mere helper hauling timber and woodcarvings!"

"To let his family live well in this chaotic world is no longer an extravagant wish!"

"(End of chapter)"