Chapter 38: Not Seeking Justice, the Ox Demon Reappears

Boundless snow drifts across the sky, frozen three feet deep.

Thick, pure white snow blankets the entire street of Wai Cheng, yet the struggling populace still braving the wind and snow to go to work and set up stalls, merely to earn a few more copper coins, buy firewood, and survive this murderous winter.

Li Che, intending to go to the rented cottage in Listen-to-Rain Lane to train, wore a cotton coat and a bamboo hat, walking down the long street, seeing many households in the city hanging white gauze, the sound of weeping still drifting out amidst the wind and snow.

They are families who have lost their sons; lately, the activities of the Spirit Infant Sect have become ever more frequent.

After being driven out to Wai Cheng, they were like wolves entering a flock of sheep, showing no restraint, instead growing even more vicious.

Even the Yang family's large estate in Nei Cheng, established in Wai Cheng, had its spirit children looted.

It can be said that the atmosphere of the whole city has become increasingly strange and oppressive.

Although Flying Thunder City has a government, the captain of Outer City's prefecture office, Zhao Chuanxiong, is a follower of the Spirit Infant Sect; how could ordinary people possibly resist?

And who could uphold justice for them?

No one.

The great families of Nei Cheng merely expelled the Spirit Infant Sect, seeming not to dare to completely offend it to the death.

Mainly because the Spirit Infant Sect is deeply entrenched, even having ties to the Guiyi Miao, possibly involving some prominent figures in Fēiléichéng.

"According to Lao Xu, the Spirit Infant Sect's reach extends to the spirit children of the noble families in Nei Cheng—that is the foundation of those great houses..."

"But those noble families merely expelled the Spirit Infant Sect, without launching a full-scale war... evidently they are wary of something."

Stepping down, sinking into the deep snow, Li Che saw a woman frozen stiff, numb, burning paper money at the doorway.

On the long street, the Spirit Infant Sect's marching followers chanted slogans, moving in crowds, their faces full of fervor and excitement, forming a stark contrast with the numb, despairing woman.

"This damned world, this damned Spirit Infant Sect... my son, my son..."

The woman stared blankly at the departing followers, then suddenly wailed, tears and snot streaming down, her voice shrill.

Li Che stood still, coldly watching those fervent followers trample the long street as they passed.

He slowly closed his eyes.

He couldn't help but think: if he failed to obtain the Dao fruit, would he now be as numb and powerless as this woman?

Upon reflection, he felt somewhat... empathic.

In this world, no one upholds justice for them.

None.

Li Che opened his eyes, he also could not...

Because he has a family, a lively and lovable daughter, there are more things to consider.

Not knowing when, Li Che walked back to the cottage in Listen-to-Rain Lane.

This is the place he rents in Wai Cheng.

In the cottage amid the sky-filling snow, he moved a bamboo chair to sit, took out a thin wooden board from his bosom, and also drew a carving knife he carried with him.

Unhurried, he began carving with great seriousness and focus.

With the scraping sound of the carving knife on the wood's surface, the rustling wood shavings flew up with the wind and snow.

A cute ox mask thus took shape.

Xixi belongs to the ox, so Li Che grew accustomed to wearing the cute ox mask.

Covering his face with the cute ox mask, Li Che lifted his head; beneath the mask, his eyes burst forth with coldness and abandon.

Things Li Che dare not do.

Niu Mo, can.

Things Li Che cannot do.

Niu Mo, can.

The abandon Li Che dare not pursue.

Niu Mo, too can!

"Spirit Infant Sect followers... already on my little list; then... let's settle the accounts."

Niu Mo muttered.

The whole city has been made too oppressive by the Spirit Infant Sect.

"Your Grandpa Niu Mo has come... to relieve the pressure!"

Seek no justice, only indulge!

……

……

Flying Thunder Inner City

Golden Splendor Pavilion

Curtains flying

Within the hanging lofty pavilion, the charcoal brazier burns red, making the indoor temperature warm and moderate.

Si Mu Bai sipped tea; opposite him sat several figures wearing child masks, although the charcoal brazier strove to release warmth, the chilling, murderous atmosphere still made one feel frozen.

"That Niu Mo—we haven't gone to trouble him, yet he has started acting again... over the past half month, he has repeatedly struck, killing several of our Spirit Infant Sect followers who were searching for children in the city!"

"He twisted off heads, cut off hands, nailed the bodies to the wall with his signature crossbow bolts... his methods are extremely brutal!"

"Is this upholding justice? Calling himself a great hero of the Niu Mo? Utterly laughable... in this world, those who dare to be heroes... all come to a bad end!"

A smiling girl's child mask emitted a cold sound, piercingly shrill like a bone-scraping blade scraping a white wall.

Si Mu Bai gazed beneath those masks, at the hidden cow demons and serpent gods, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Rest assured, this Niu Mo... is doomed to die."

"Please, the four of you come over... for this matter also still requires four assistants."

Having spoken, Si Mu Bai gestured with his hand toward one side.

His assistant, the marrow-cleansing martial artist Guo Zhan, immediately lowered his posture and walked over.

"Go ahead, let Zhao Chuanxiong make a move..."

"My 【Spirit Infant Eagle】 is only missing that top-grade spirit infant; I can't delay any longer..."

……

……

Listening Rain Lane, inside the small courtyard.

Having just slain the ox demon of the Spirit Infant Sect's followers, he returned, restraining his breath with the "Sleeping Dragon Elephant" technique.

After tidying up, Li Che sat cross-legged and began his daily divine cultivation.

The 【Pure Heart】 Dao fruit throbbed slightly; with each beat, like a heart contracting and expanding, the pristine divinity between heaven and earth, as if attracted by a spirit, flowed in like fine streams, entering his body and gathering within the 【Pure Heart】.

【Dao Fruit: Pure Heart (LV1, 3%)】

Li Che opened his eyes, furrowed his brow, and slowly exhaled a breath.

"The 【Pure Heart】 Dao fruit, although it can draw divinity from heaven and earth, ultimately, lacking a divine law, my efficiency in drawing divinity is extremely low..."

"Only now have I managed to push the Dao fruit's maturity to 3%... and the speed is getting slower and slower."

"I really need to obtain a divine law to study."

Li Che pondered.

This idea has lingered in his mind for a long time, and now it grows ever stronger.

Unfortunately, divine laws cannot be bought at the market; there are no channels.

Even such divine laws, even within the noble clans of the inner city, are treasures kept at the bottom of the chest.

Even if one becomes a master woodcarver and gains recognition from the noble clans, only after passing multiple trust assessments will they be granted an inferior divine law.

"So, to obtain a divine law, one must still find a way through the noble clans..."

For now, set aside the divine law.

Li Che's gaze narrowed.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV1, 90%)】

Li Che stared blankly ahead; the 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao fruit, which had been at 70% maturity, rose to 90% in just half a month.

"Could battle... killing... also additionally increase maturity?"

Li Che murmured.

In the half month since the ox demon emerged from the mountains, Li Che, relying on the Dao fruit's "Sleeping Dragon Elephant" and "Vajra Transformation" abilities, killed many of the Spirit Infant Sect's thugs.

Most were crushing victories; even a Bone Tempering Realm thug, upon encountering him, could barely last a few exchanges.

Unexpectedly, the pleasant surprise was that it accelerated the Dao fruit's maturation.

Li Che couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

And because of the increase in the Dao fruit's maturity.

Li Che's bone-tempering cultivation thus formally reached perfection.

"Bone tempering has reached perfection... but in external training, I still lack a marrow-cleansing law; moreover, my internal strength has reached the third heaven for quite a while, yet without a superior internal strength law, breaking through to the fourth heaven is very difficult..."

"Divine law, marrow-cleansing law, superior internal strength law... alas, where should I seek these?"

Li Che rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache.

As the chief woodcarver of Xu Ji Mu diao Pu, his wealth is extremely abundant.

But having money doesn't mean one can buy everything they want.

After tidying up.

Li Che braved the wind and snow all the way toward Xu Ji Mu diao Pu.

In his heart, he worried about how to obtain divine law and marrow-cleansing law.

Walking on.

Just arrived at the entrance of Xu Ji Mu diao Pu.

Li Che immediately sensed that the atmosphere was off.

At the entrance, two squads of constables in red-black uniforms stood, each with a knife at their waist.

And from within the woodcarving shop.

The constable captain Zhao Chuanxiong, who had left his name on Li Che's little ledger, escorted a person out of the shop.

Watching the figure being escorted by Zhao Chuanxiong.

Li Che's face sank instantly.

"Old Chen?"

ps: Tuesday, PK is crucially important, related to the second round of recommendations, please keep reading! Everyone lightly tap, tap to the last chapter to see the reading rankings, Old Li thanks!

(End of chapter)