Chapter 33: Whispers of the Storm

The whimpering wind and snow carried a touch of piercing sorrow.

Dressed in a sleek black outfit and a conical hat, Li Che’s expression was gravely serious.

Accompanying him was his Uncle’s entire family.

They battled through the increasingly fierce storm, too preoccupied to be shocked by the earlier brawl in the courtyard – all they wanted was to reach Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop.

Treading along Bluestone Street, the snowy weather left the road nearly deserted, with most people hurrying along with their heads down.

Throughout the journey, everyone remained completely silent.

Suddenly.

Li Che’s pace faltered as his foot abruptly kicked aside a small mound of snow.

Amid the hazy snowfall, a lively aura of festivity seemed to linger.

From the far end of Long Street came a clanging symphony – the beat of drums, the wail of suona horns, and devout chanting fused into an eerie melody that sent shivers down the spine.

“The Sacred Spirit’s doctrine: purge the dust of the mundane; attain a rebirth free of worldly worry – achieved only when the wise remain silent…”

A decadent chant drifted out from the swirling storm.

A bare-chested brute wearing a boy’s mask carried a small shrine platform.

Atop the platform stood the Three-Headed Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue, its three expressions shifting between anger, sorrow, and laughter, with eyes so vivid they seemed real.

A neatly aligned group of dozens – the Spirit Infant devotees on parade – advanced down the street.

A lithe woman in a girl’s mask carried a flower basket, scattering petals in time with the music as her radiance rivaled the wintry gale.

Li Che furrowed his brow and ordered his Uncle’s family not to dawdle or gape, urging them to press forward discreetly.

Yet this time, the Spirit Infant devotees did not pass by harmlessly as they had when they previously encountered Li Che.

In the midst of the swirling snow, the devotees spotted Uncle’s family – and Li Chengzhou cradled in Cousin-in-law Liu Chunming’s arms – and their excitement visibly spiked.

They danced with strange, eerie steps, wearing children’s masks; twisting and contorting like hellish fiends, they edged closer with each step.

A heavy sense of oppression filled the air, riding the wind and snow as it slammed into them!

Uncle Li Liang broke into a sweat, his whole body trembling.

Cousin Li Zhengran’s eyes burned with fury as he clutched a cleaver tightly.

Aunt and Cousin-in-law Liu Chunming were utterly terrified – a scene so unfamiliar it nearly brought them to tears as they clung tightly to the frightened Li Chengzhou.

Li Che stepped forward, his blood surging and his skin flushing red as he showcased his perfected Skin Polishing technique.

“In broad daylight, what do you think you’re doing? Kidnapping children?!”

“Have you forgotten the Imperial Court and the law?”

Li Che roared in anger, his booming voice momentarily intimidating the devotees.

But as the drums and suona resumed, the masked devotees closed in once again; behind their childlike masks, greedy, sinister glints shone in their eyes.

Li Che clenched his fists tightly.

He thought, “Time to put on the mask!”

The devotees drew ever closer, and an uncanny aura began to permeate the air – unsettling their minds and warping their emotions!

Li Che’s heart skipped a beat… divine essence?

It wasn’t overwhelming – just a trace – but for ordinary people, even a hint could be deadly!

Suddenly.

The wind and snow exploded as a figure dashed in like a speeding cannonball, crashing down right before Li Che and his Uncle’s family.

With overwhelming chi surging and his inner strength bursting forth, he stirred a tempest that scattered the advancing Spirit Infant devotees.

“I am Xu You, the Third Shopkeeper of Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop.”

“Everyone, acting like this in broad daylight is a step too far. Feilei City… it’s not yet time for the Lingying Sect to run amok.”

Clad in a fox cloak, his white robes as pristine as snow and his hair wildly untamed, he spoke in an indifferent tone.

Li Che was taken aback – he hadn’t expected to see Xu You, the Third Shopkeeper, after such a long silence since his last demon hunt, and now under these circumstances.

Xu You’s chi blazed like fire as his inner strength surged, his presence radiating an explosive and terrifying aura.

The Spirit Infant devotees scattered, their lingering divine aura dissipating with the snow.

No words were exchanged.

The devotees, bearing portable shrines and dancing while scattering petals in tune with drums and suona, gradually receded and dissolved into the storm.

Even the malevolent essence seemed to vanish with them.

At last, Uncle’s family exhaled a long, relieved sigh; Aunt felt as if she had narrowly escaped a calamity and began to sob softly.

Li Che clasped his fists in gratitude and said sincerely, “Many thanks, Third Shopkeeper.”

Xu You turned around; his once refined, scholarly features now etched with hardship and marked by a prominent scar.

He glanced at Li Che and laughed, “I just returned from dealing with the wicked forces at the Bizarre Temple outside the city, and now I encounter this…”

“Seeing you, I had to step up for Xu Ji’s sake… seems like the Lingying Sect hasn’t completely lost its nerve.”

Li Che thanked him again and explained Uncle’s family’s situation; Xu You then sighed, “The Lingying Sect has become increasingly lawless.”

“But to bring them down, one must let them run wild – in time, someone will crush them.”

“Very well, your Uncle’s family can move into Xu Ji Courtyard and find a secluded cottage, but… you’ll have to pay extra rent.”

Woodcarvers living in the compound were normally rent-free; although Uncle’s family had Li Che’s backing, they weren’t originally eligible for Xu Ji Courtyard – yet Xu You was lenient, even if the rent was non-negotiable.

“Don’t worry – for a genius woodcarver like you, the rent will be discounted.”

Xu You smiled.

“I won’t be joining you back at the compound; I’m off to check out that murder scene you mentioned… A Bone Tempering warrior slain while wearing an Ogre mask… That Ogre? Now that’s interesting.”

Xu You said a few words before taking his leave, stepping out with his hands behind his back and vanishing without a trace.

Watching Xu You’s retreating figure, Li Che exhaled in relief. Allowing his Uncle’s family to move into Xu Ji Courtyard, he mused that perhaps Xu You was trying to win him over.

After all, he was a woodcarver with the potential to become a master.

Winning favor and forging alliances… it was only natural.

…

…

Anping Alley.

Amid the wind and snow.

Several figures arrived in rapid succession, their robust chi intermingling in the air.

Xu You, draped in his fox cloak and strolling with his hands behind his back, approached – and there was already more than one person in the courtyard.

Zhao Chuanxiong, a knife strapped at his waist, glared grimly at the lifeless Eight Trigram Staff warrior; the veins in his hand bulged as he gripped the knife, his eyes reflecting both ferocity and a trace of fear.

Besides Zhao Chuanxiong, three other figures appeared, each exuding strong chi and evident martial prowess.

Xu You recognized them as the prominent families from the Inner City – the managers of the Outer City’s enterprises.

Like Xu You himself, though not favored within their own clan, they held high status in the Outer City.

The Inner City’s prominent families consisted of four major clans: the Yang Family, Xu Family, An Family, and Si Family.

Apart from Zhao Chuanxiong, the three present hailed respectively from the Yang, An, and Si Families.

“Crushed to death by overwhelming brute force – perfected Bone Tempering power combined with an explosive martial burst shattered his sternum and pulverized his organs. He was utterly overwhelmed, with no resistance at all…”

“Judging by the manner of his death, it’s impossible to discern the martial technique the attacker employed…”

“This family left a survivor; questioning them should reveal what the culprit looks like.”

“But throughout Outer City, the only one capable of killing with perfected Bone Tempering is none other than that wanted criminal – the Ogre.”

“This Ogre recently went on a rampage in the Inner City, slaying a devoted Lingying Sect follower favored by the Dharma Master, and now in the Outer City he’s killed a deputy fragrance master of the Lingying Sect… Tsk, his arrogance knows no bounds.”

The Si Family’s manager in the Outer City glanced at Xu You and smiled, “Mr. Xu, would you be interested in joining forces to take down this Ogre?”

“Si Liuxian… while your Si Family mingles with the Lingying Sect, my Xu Family is different. This Ogre clearly targeted only the villains of the Lingying Sect – those scum preying on innocent children. In my eyes, his actions are almost chivalrous.”

“He’s done what none of us dare. I barely had time to applaud – I’d even have toasting him as a great hero. Why should we arrest him?”

Xu You gave Si Liuxian a cold glance and sneered.

Si Liuxian’s face immediately darkened.

With his hands behind his back, Xu You swept his gaze over the shattered Eight Trigram Staff warrior, his eyes narrowing.

It seemed he recognized something – a flash of suspicion crossing his face before he turned and left.

Zhao Chuanxiong kept his head low, too intimidated to say more.

Although these disciples of the prominent families were not favored by the Inner City and were far from the power center, they still belonged to influential clans.

Zhao Chuanxiong knew he had no right to act arrogantly in their presence.

Of course, it was also because he was utterly panicked at that moment…

He recalled how, last time, he had hunted an Ogre alongside the Eight Trigram Staff warrior…

And now, the Eight Trigram Staff warrior had been killed in a vengeful strike.

Next…

Could it be him next?

That Ogre… in only a month, he had advanced from early Bone Tempering to perfected Bone Tempering, unleashing a force strong enough to smash the Eight Trigram Staff.

Terrifying… simply terrifying…

The more he pondered it, the deeper the dread grew.

Thin beads of sweat broke out on Zhao Chuanxiong’s forehead as he began to perspire profusely.

What should he… do now?