Chapter 20: A Snowy Confrontation at Xu Ji Courtyard

In the midst of wind and snow, a solitary figure stood unwavering.

Amid the swirling gray-white expanse, his vibrant aura cut a striking figure. With a dagger slung at his side, his eyes were piercing yet carried a wry amusement.

In the distance, Li Che appeared, carrying cured meat, a jar of liquor, and osmanthus cakes.

Li Che suddenly halted—his first thought: his misdeed had been exposed.

But on reflection, there was no reason. With his 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit and his shapeshifting, he had left no trace.

If his crime had never come to light…

Then why would this local constable, after probing Sun Changbiao’s death, linger at his courtyard, now with ulterior motives?

For a moment, Li Che was completely at a loss, his thoughts scattered.

“You are Li Che, Li Shifu, aren’t you?”

With hands calloused from years of sword practice, Zhao Chuanxiong rested his palm on the cloth-wrapped dagger hilt as he smiled at the approaching Li Che.

Cradling several items in his arms, Li Che could only offer a symbolic fist bump and reply, “It’s me. What orders do you have, Officer?”

Zhao Chuanxiong studied Li Che intently, then gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head.

From Li Che’s dispersed aura and energy, it was evident he had barely broken through his Skin Polishing stage—not nearly the ruthless Bone Tempering cultivator capable of killing Sun Changbiao.

According to Liu’s account, that murderer was nearly two meters tall, with a burly, muscular build that was downright terrifying.

A stark contrast to Li Che’s modest frame.

Yet Zhao Chuanxiong’s visit was not about that.

“Liu has called,” Zhao Chuanxiong remarked with a wry smile as he fixed his gaze on Li Che.

A chill ran through Li Che; he immediately grasped the implication behind Zhao’s words.

“Didn’t you receive a wrathful Spirit Infant Wooden Carving the other day? That’s the one that the late Sun Changbiao left at your doorstep…”

“He, as a devotee of the Lingying Sect, had set his sights on your Spirit Infant.”

A sly smile curved Zhao Chuanxiong’s lips as he watched Li Che closely.

Li Che gritted his teeth, “I know all too well. Ever since my daughter XiXi was born, the Lingying Sect has had their eyes on her. That’s why I strove to master woodcarving and moved into Xu Ji Courtyard…”

“I thought I could finally live in peace and let my daughter grow safely, but after her first birthday, the Lingying Sect returned to my woodshop…”

Li Che’s voice grew thick with emotion, his face flushing with anger.

“Master Chen suspected that someone from inside the shop had placed the carving, and after some investigation, it was confirmed—it was Sun Changbiao’s doing.”

At this revelation, terror flashed across Li Che’s face. “Officer Zhao, I didn’t kill Sun Changbiao. I…”

Zhao Chuanxiong, watching Li Che’s increasingly jumbled words, raised a hand to signal him to stop.

“Alright, I know you couldn’t have killed Sun Changbiao. You simply lack the strength…”

“Since it involves you, I’m merely asking routine questions.”

At that moment, Zhao turned and glanced into the courtyard.

“Li Shifu, care to come inside for a chat?”

With a smile, Zhao added, “I’ve heard you’re a master woodcarver. Perhaps one day I’ll need your skills.”

Li Che hesitated; though he wasn’t keen on inviting a stranger in, Zhao’s blatant approach left him no choice but to open the courtyard door.

The courtyard door swung open.

Under a snow-laden eave, Zhang Ya stood gracefully while XiXi toddled about on a wooden walker in the freshly shoveled courtyard.

At the sight of an officer entering, Zhang Ya’s face drained of color.

“Husband…”

She hurriedly called out, fearing Li Che had done something wrong.

After setting his items aside, Li Che waved at Zhang Ya, “This is Officer Zhao Chuanxiong from the precinct. He’s here on an investigation—nothing serious.”

Zhang Ya nodded, her tight anxiety easing slightly.

Before long, Zhao Chuanxiong appeared beside XiXi and, smiling broadly, remarked, “So this is Li Shifu’s daughter. Truly lively and exquisitely delicate.”

At these words, Li Che’s heart clenched, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

“Yes, children are always like that.”

“You know, I have a soft spot for kids. Mind if I give her a little hug?” Zhao Chuanxiong asked amiably.

“My little girl is quite shy, Officer Zhao,” Li Che immediately refused.

Yet, as if ignoring his refusal, Officer Zhao crouched down and said, “XiXi, let Uncle give you a hug, will you?”

With large, sparkling eyes fixed on Officer Zhao, XiXi soon began toddling away on her walker.

But Zhao chuckled as his hand stretched out.

Li Che’s gaze sharpened as the power of his 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit began to stir within him.

Yet he quickly suppressed it.

For Zhao Chuanxiong’s outstretched hand was suddenly gripped by another, preventing him from taking XiXi.

“Officer Zhao, the little one doesn’t want to be held. What are you doing?”

Old Chen, not very tall but with a time-worn liquor gourd at his waist, intercepted Zhao Chuanxiong’s hand before it could reach XiXi.

In that moment, the howling wind and swirling snow seemed to freeze in midair, only to shatter into a mist of soft snowflakes under a fierce gust.

Two forces clashed violently, like titanic waves colliding.

Zhao Chuanxiong slightly turned his head to look at Chen Daba, his smile gradually fading.

“So it’s Master Chen…”

“If the child doesn’t like you, don’t force it. Don’t leave any bad impressions,” Old Chen calmly remarked.

“Grandpa Chen, hug me,” XiXi cried out, bumping into Master Chen’s leg on her walker in a childlike plea.

“Oh, my little darling, let Grandpa hold you,” Old Chen said warmly, his weathered face blooming into a smile as he scooped XiXi into his arms.

Zhao Chuanxiong stood up, his hand once again resting on his dagger hilt.

“What an adorable child,” he commented, watching XiXi being carried off by Old Chen.

Li Che felt a small measure of relief.

“Li Shifu, Master Chen, I must be off now.”

Without lingering, Officer Zhao waved and disappeared into the swirling snowy haze.

Old Chen cradled XiXi and gently rocked her, eliciting her bubbly giggles.

As he watched Zhao Chuanxiong’s retreating figure, he slowly exhaled his worry.

“A-che, don’t let strangers roam your courtyard—especially not unknown ones,” Old Chen advised gravely.

“XiXi’s refusal isn’t out of shyness. She’s perceptive—able to sense kindness versus malice. And Officer Zhao…well, he means you harm,” Old Chen continued.

At these words, Li Che’s expression shifted subtly.

“Did he mention that Liu had called? That Sun Changbiao placed the Spirit Infant Wooden Carving at your door?”

Old Chen looked intently at Li Che.

Li Che nodded silently.

Old Chen smiled coldly, “From beginning to end, Liu only admitted that the couple joined the Lingying Sect; she never acknowledged placing the Spirit Infant Wooden Carving at your door…”

“Moreover, the Spirit Infant Carving discovered at Sun Changbiao’s residence was merely a standard Three-Headed, Six-Armed Spirit Infant Carving—its eyes blinking intermittently…”

“Then how did Officer Zhao come to know that it was the ‘Wrathful Spirit Infant’ placed before your door?”