Chapter 26: A Frosty Confrontation in the Inner City

The cold wind rustled as winter unleashed its fury, and heavy snow drifted all around.

Snowflakes, falling onto the black-tiled roof of the corridor, whispered as they brushed against each other.

The gusting winter wind lifted the white curtains of the suspended pavilion, setting them into endless dance.

Li Che halted abruptly, his face frozen in a moment of icy stillness. His piercing eyes, like double blades unsheathed, cut through the biting cold as they fixed on the elderly woman standing next to the man in white.

“Lei Chunlan!”

Li Che’s deep, gravelly voice resonated from his throat.

Xu Beihu instantly sensed the change in Li Che’s demeanor and movements, pausing for a moment in surprise.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Beihu asked, furrowing his brows.

Li Che’s emotions churned within him, for that expression on the old woman’s face was unforgettable.

Lei Chunlan, known as the midwife who delivered XiXi but also responsible for the deaths of many infants she once helped bring into the world.

And now, she appeared here—in a place Li Che never would have imagined.

In that instant, Li Che’s heart darkened to its very core.

Countless thoughts swirled in his mind.

What connection did Lei Chunlan have with the Si Family Young Master?

Rumor had it that Lei Chunlan was entangled with the Lingying Sect. Could it be that the Lingying Sect was also linked to the Si Family?

Lei Chunlan’s background seemed far stronger than anyone had imagined. No wonder the bounty posted in Outer City was quickly withdrawn, while the ‘Ogre’ warrant against him still hung high on the bulletin board.

“I’ve recognized a familiar face,” Li Che said evenly, suppressing his emotions.

Though Xu Beihu was a burly man, his sensitivity was keen enough to notice Li Che’s unusual gaze fixed on the old woman.

“Let’s sort out any grudges and figure things out before taking action,” Xu Beihu advised.

Li Che nodded, and the two stepped into the pavilion’s private chamber.

A servant of Jinhuang Pavilion carefully set a wood carving, draped in a black cloth, onto a table that had long been prepared in the pavilion.

“Mu Bai, my friend, our genius sculptor from the Xu family has arrived. Just look at his craftsmanship.”

Xu Beihu strode into the building and burst into hearty laughter.

The man in white sitting gracefully in a huangtan chair directed his gaze toward them, and Li Che could clearly make out his handsome features.

His refined face held a strangely bewitching charm, with eyes tinged in melancholy and a tear-shaped mole at the corner—a look of profound sorrow that hovered on the brink of tears. A stray lock of hair draped over his forehead, swaying gently in the breeze.

“Beihu, you’ve really done me a favor,” Si Mu Bai said as he rose, his voice oddly quivering as if almost in tears.

He exchanged a fist bump with Xu Beihu before his eyes fell upon Li Che.

“This must be Master Li, right? Though not from Inner City, your wood carvings have stirred quite the buzz inside. Craftsmanship like this is rare even among masters…”

Si Mu Bai laughed, though his smile was even less pleasing than his attempted tears.

Li Che nodded slightly, his gaze still drifting toward Lei Chunlan.

At that moment, Lei Chunlan recognized Li Che. Despite the deep wrinkles etched on her face, she offered him a kindly smile, watching him with a gentle warmth—neither avoiding nor hiding.

Noticing Li Che’s lingering look, Si Mu Bai continued with a forced smile, “A servant from the household assists with some tasks. If Master Li happens to be offended by anything, please pardon our shortcomings.”

Xu Beihu narrowed his eyes, and Li Che understood the meaning behind Si Mu Bai’s words.

This Lei Chunlan was under his control; any conflicts should be tolerated…

Si Mu Bai’s words clearly implied that he was well aware of Lei Chunlan’s misdeeds, yet he was aggressively protecting her.

Or perhaps it was that Li Che’s status wasn’t significant enough for Si Mu Bai to take him seriously.

Lei Chunlan’s smile grew ever brighter, blooming stubbornly like a withered chrysanthemum forced into full splendor.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the pavilion grew colder as the wind howled and swept in.

After a moment, a wry smile appeared on Li Che’s face as he remarked, “Perhaps I mistook you for someone else— I thought you were the midwife entwined with the Lingying Sect who once delivered my beloved daughter.”

“That midwife has cost several newborn lives— a true villain, wanted by the authorities. There’s no way she’d appear in the Si Young Master’s mansion. I must have been mistaken.”

Although Li Che’s words carried a hint of double meaning, Si Mu Bai detected the softening in his tone. His smile twisted even more unsightly as he waved his hand, prompting Lei Chunlan to lower her head and retreat.

“Master Li, your presence honors us. Now, feast your eyes on your own workmanship,” Si Mu Bai declared coolly, swiftly diverting the conversation.

Beside him, Xu Beihu remained silent, his expression darkening slightly as he felt a twinge of disappointment in Li Che.

Even though Li Che couldn’t confront Lei Chunlan directly, Xu Beihu’s presence still bolstered his stance—allowing him to recover some dignity. Yet Li Che chose to swallow his grievances.

His steadiness was admirable, though it lacked a hint of wild defiance, much to Xu Beihu’s mild discontent.

But Xu Beihu understood—all too well that they were dealing with the Si Family.

It was just that Li Che’s reserved nature, akin to that of Xu You, was something he didn’t particularly fancy.

Since Li Che had chosen to yield, Xu Beihu was too lazy to press the matter further.

Si Mu Bai then approached the wood carving, drawing back the black curtain to reveal the “Nine-Headed Guan Yin Weeping Statue” beneath.

Si Mu Bai’s breath suddenly caught in his throat.

A look of astonishment filled his eyes as he stared, and slowly, two streams of hot tears began to slide down his cheeks.

“Oh, it’s magnificent—so rich in meaning despite lacking divine essence. Each of Guan Yin’s nine heads portrays a distinct expression of compassion and suffering, with even the slightest furrow conveying empathy for all beings. The depth within those weeping features is profound…”

“It’s truly marvelous,” he added, laughing through his tears.

Si Mu Bai burst into simultaneous bouts of laughter and crying, clapping his hands in approval.

In the next moment, his hands pounded down forcefully on the statue as he began to wail, and white mists seemed to rise from its surface.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed. Such an eerie display sent a jolt through his nerves.

In that instant, the entire pavilion was shrouded in a bizarre, eerie aura—as if the cries of ghosts, the wails of a grieving woman, and the heart-wrenching sobs of an old man were echoing around them.

Li Che even felt a bittersweet ache in his nostrils, as if tears were about to fall.

Xu Beihu stepped in front of Li Che and gently patted his shoulder, instantly dispelling his fragile sorrow.

Taking a step back, Li Che’s eyes flashed with astonishment.

“Si Mu Bai is refining his divine cultivation. The overflow of his divinity has affected you, but I’ve managed to suppress it—everything’s fine now,” Xu Beihu said with a smile.

Though he wasn’t fond of Li Che’s temperament, Xu Beihu couldn’t deny his remarkable talent, making him someone worth keeping close.

Li Che clasped his fists in gratitude.

“Your cultivation is barely complete with just Skin Polishing. If the influence of this weeping divinity lingers too long, it might damage your spirit…”

“Take the Gold Leaf and leave. The carriage waits outside; you may return on your own. If you fancy a stroll in Inner City, just be sure to exit before dark.”

Xu Beihu said with a light chuckle.

Li Che accepted the five Gold Leaf tokens, carefully tucking them away before bowing his fist and departing.

He cast a long, lingering glance at Si Mu Bai, who was still hunched over the wood carving, feverishly absorbing its essence—the statue now looked as withered as a frostbitten eggplant, far removed from Guan Yin’s likeness…

Li Che licked his lips.

His hand… it felt strangely itchy.

He fought the urge to unleash his innate divine technique, Thousand Analysis Hand, to siphon the overflowing divinity from Si Mu Bai.

Li Che exited Jinhuang Pavilion.

Back in the carriage, Li Che sat regally within the lavish compartment, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the tea table as his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Driver, please pause the carriage. I’ve come to Inner City for a rare visit. I plan to buy some osmanthus cakes for my wife, along with some delicious treats. Wait for me here,” Li Che said with a smile.

The carriage driver, accustomed to serving an Inner City regular like Li Che, replied courteously with a smile.

“Master Li, please go ahead. I’ll be waiting here. Just leave Inner City before nightfall, and there’ll be no trouble.”

Li Che responded with a warm bow.

Inner City was bustling, its streets teeming with people rivaling the liveliness of Outer City.

Once out of the driver’s sight, Li Che’s expression turned ice-cold.

He first visited a silk shop to buy black cloth, which he quickly fashioned into a loose black cloak, then purchased a conical hat. From his pocket he retrieved a carving knife and some thin wood, and in mere breaths, he crafted a Cute Cow Mask with his skilled hands.

Finding a deserted alley, he donned the conical hat, removed his clothes to hide them, then draped on the black cloak, wore the hat again, and finally fitted on the Cute Cow Mask.

Instantly!

The shadow cast on the wall of the alley twisted, writhed, and stretched upward furiously!

It was as if a divine dragon was murmuring and a mystical elephant bellowing!

Restraint? Composure? Yielding?

I just want to change my stance… and crush you all!

“Lei Chunlan…”

“Your Ogre is here!”