Chapter 34: Shadows of Change in Feilei City

Li Che returned to Xu Ji Courtyard with Uncle’s family. They made do in their own courtyard for the night, and the next day he went to see Butler Sun.

Thanks to Xu You’s approval, Butler Sun didn’t make things difficult. Although his attitude toward Li Che had become cold ever since his son’s death, one had to remember that Sun Changbiao once planned to sacrifice XiXi in order to have a son.

The fault lay with his own son, not with Li Che’s family, who should have been the victims.

After sorting out Uncle’s housing, Li Che heaved a long-held sigh of relief.

Recalling the oppressive feeling as members of the Lingying Sect marched down the main street, Li Che couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

The whole of the Lingying Sect… they clearly weren’t people you could trust.

They were destined to be a menace sooner or later.

Inside the workshop, Li Che set his carving knife aside. His dark hair, speckled with wood chips, swayed as his eyes tracked the drifting snowflakes in the courtyard. In his mind, he was jotting down a list of Lingying Sect members he intended to eliminate.

Naturally, the very top of his list was occupied by the Lingying Cult Leader. He even circled the name, marking it as critical!

Day after day passed.

Ever since the bounty on Ogre had been raised to 500 taels, Li Che had only once intervened to help Uncle’s family and then decided to keep a low profile, never stepping in again.

Of course, during that time he had also tried tracking down Head Constable Zhao Chuanxiong, but unfortunately Zhao seemed to be as cautious and sleazy as if he were plotting to kill him.

He never appeared alone; even when traveling, several constables shadowed him. At night, he wouldn’t return home, disappearing without a trace.

Unable to find an opening, Li Che eventually gave up.

Perhaps because that Bone Tempering Eight Trigram Staff martial artist had died, the Outer City of Feilei enjoyed a brief calm. But soon, news of children being murdered began to trickle in.

As long as there was malice anywhere, the cycle would never end.

Time slipped through one’s fingers like sand, each grain marking another cycle from spring to summer.

Before he knew it, half a year had flown by.

Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop.

Li Che took a deep breath, brushed the dust off his carving, and before him, a lifelike Nine Sons Embracing Lotus Sculpture emerged.

Old Chen had once carved a Nine Sons Embracing Lotus Sculpture too, but Li Che’s version was even more vivid and imbued with unique symbolism—as if the nine children had come alive, frolicking and playing as if you could almost hear their laughter.

This was the enriched essence brought by the Dao Fruit [Xian Gong] reaching level 3.

“Ah Che, your craftsmanship has improved! At next month’s evaluation, you might even be promoted to Four-Blade Wood Carver.”

At the workshop door, Xu You, clad in a silk white robe, leaned casually against the frame while holding a jar of wine and smiling warmly.

“A Four-Blade Wood Carver enjoys free access to both the Inner and Outer City. Ah Che… have you ever considered moving your whole family into the Inner City?”

Xu You inquired.

Li Che thought about the Inner City, where masters teemed and it was said that the true power of the Lingying Sect resided. Moving in seemed far too risky.

Just as Old Chen had remarked, life in the Outer City might be less comfortable, but at least it was far from the eye of the storm, allowing for a more carefree life.

Seeing Li Che’s prolonged silence, Xu You waved his hand. “Forget it. If you move to the Inner City, it’ll only be trouble when I come over for a drink.”

As someone marginalized in his family and stripped of any chance at becoming clan head, staying in the Outer City was the norm, with most not bothering to return to the Inner City.

Since Xu You returned from a purge of evil at the Bizarre Temple in the Outer City, he and Li Che had hit it off; what began as an effort to win him over had grown into genuine friendship, with Xu You frequently visiting for drinks.

Soon, visits to Li Che’s small courtyard for a meal became increasingly common.

After finishing work, Li Che and Xu You returned together to the modest yard.

There, the loquat tree flourished, its branches heavy with lush, green leaves.

Little XiXi, clutching a wooden stick under the loquat tree, giggled and chattered away.

At such a tender age, she was lively and sharp, as energetic as a spirited toddler with boundless enthusiasm—a sign of her unique Lingying nature.

“Daddy!”

The moment Li Che returned, XiXi’s chubby face lit up and she dashed over barefoot, full of excitement.

She suddenly skidded to a stop before Li Che and Xu You, nearly bumping her braided head against Li Che’s thigh.

“Daddy… where did you bring the candied haws for XiXi?”

Blinking her large eyes, XiXi began searching around.

But after a fruitless round of searching, her once proud little chest deflated like a burst balloon.

Li Che chuckled as he lifted the disappointed XiXi, saying with an innocent smile, “Didn’t I promise you the day before yesterday? I brought you candied haws yesterday; you must be mixing up your memories.”

XiXi looked puzzled and tilted her head, “Really? I’ve already forgotten what candied haws taste like…”

She then stuck out her tongue to lick her lips.

Xu You burst out laughing, “Looks like your dad didn’t buy them for you, so Uncle Xu did.”

As if by magic, Xu You actually produced a candied haw, prompting XiXi to cheer with delight.

Old Chen pulled out a bamboo chair and settled under the loquat tree to cool off. Seeing the scene, he shook his head and laughed, “Third Shopkeeper, don’t spoil little stinker XiXi—too many candied haws will ruin her teeth.”

Hearing this, XiXi pouted, “Stinky Grandpa Chen, I’m not little stinker XiXi—I’m Li Nuǎnxi!”

Her mumbled words were still laced with a hint of baby talk.

This had everyone chuckling.

Just then, Zhang Ya had finished bustling in the kitchen and began setting the table for dinner.

Xu You, Old Chen, and Li Che’s family gathered in the yard on a summer evening, spreading a table out for dinner.

Xu You savored the moment. Living alone in the Outer City meant every meal was a solitary affair. Now, surrounded by warmth and lively chatter, he truly cherished the company.

Between bites of pork head meat, Xu You looked at Li Che and remarked, “Ah Che, these days… the Lingying Sect’s maneuvers are growing bolder.”

“In the Inner City, the Lingying Sect, in collusion with the Si Family, has set its sights on the Lingying Children of the other three major families, effectively severing ties. Several experts at the Bone Tempering level have already perished.”

“The Si Family just couldn’t withstand this fury. The instigator, Si Mu Bai, was driven out of the Inner City, and the Lingying Sect’s influence there has been largely eradicated, forcing most of them to retreat to the Outer City…”

Xu You said in a low tone.

Li Che sipped his wine and mused, “Since the three major families in the Inner City have fallen out with the Lingying Sect, why not completely wipe them out? Why leave any survivors?”

Old Chen laughed coldly, “The Lingying Sect sprang from that Bizarre Temple outside the city—it isn’t something you can eradicate easily. Their members, especially the higher-ups, always wear masks to conceal their identities… Their power structure is endlessly complex. How could they ever be entirely eliminated?”

“Perhaps even the high-ranking officials among the three major families—or in the local government—are themselves powerful members of the Lingying Sect.”

Old Chen, seemingly accustomed to such realities, spoke with a trace of melancholy.

“If this Lingying Sect matter isn’t handled properly, Feilei City is doomed sooner or later.”

After his words fell silent, the dinner table was engulfed in quiet.

Xu You furrowed his brow before relaxing it again…

He exchanged a look with Old Chen, then hesitated as if to speak.

Old Chen downed a hearty bowl of wine and banged it on the table, “Third Shopkeeper already knows my past. I was once a refugee from Zhouyun City in the north—and no matter how Zhouyun City fell, I will never forget.”

Xu You sighed, said nothing further, and simply looked at Li Che, “For now, keep a close eye on XiXi. Don’t let her wander off… Once the Lingying Sect issue subsides, or during next year’s Lingying Child selection, I plan to arrange for her to join the Divine Cultivation Institute established by Feilei City’s major families, so she can be safe.”

“Moreover, I’ve heard that the Divine Sect will send strong disciples down next year to recruit apprentices. Unfortunately, XiXi is still too young. But if she manages to catch their attention, she won’t have to worry about the Lingying Sect’s threat anymore.”

“In the presence of a giant like the Divine Sect, the weak Lingying Sect is truly pathetic.”

“Thus, it’s likely the Lingying Sect will go on a rampage until the Divine Sect’s disciples arrive…”

Li Che nodded, refilled his bowl, and toasted Xu You.

“I’ll leave XiXi’s matters in your capable hands, Old Xu.”

Xu You rolled his eyes but returned the toast with his own bowl.

“We’re family now; XiXi and I are as close as siblings.”

……

……

Taking Xu You’s words to heart, Li Che made sure not to let XiXi wander off.

He also noted that the Outer City had grown increasingly chaotic. Lingying Sect members were more active than ever—outside Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop, martial artists could be seen nimbly leaping across eaves late at night, always eyeing potential targets.

However, the security team organized by Xu You—comprising martial arts-savvy wood carvers—ramped up patrols. After Xu You personally killed one of the Tendon Burst experts who tried to intrude, the Lingying Sect’s activities eased somewhat.

Yet in other areas, the Lingying Sect continued its fierce operations.

In Feilei City’s Outer City, a chorus of lament filled the air during these six tumultuous months, as many grieving families reported their lost sons to the authorities.

Local patrol teams were organized, but their efforts bore little fruit; the hoodlums of the Lingying Sect always seemed to learn of the plans in advance.

Amidst the chaos, six months passed, and the disorder not only failed to improve—it escalated.

The cold wind blew as early winter crept in silently.

Another six months slipped by before anyone noticed.

XiXi turned two years old.

Outer City, Tingyu Alley.

In a rented yard belonging to Li Che.

Li Che sat cross-legged. As snowflakes descended and drifted beside him, the inner strength surging within—like a coiled serpent—burst them into a flurry of snow mist.

He slowly opened his eyes. The energy receded and was absorbed entirely into Dao Fruit [Dragon Elephant Vajra].

“The Serpent Inner Strength has reached its third level. This inner strength is now at its limit.”

“To breakthrough to the fourth level, I’ll need to master a superior inner strength technique.”

Li Che exhaled, and a gust of wind shot from his mouth like a sharp arrow.

Suddenly, within his chest, the Dao Fruit [Xian Gong] and [Dragon Elephant Vajra] pulsed subtly!

A familiar scene unfolded before him.

On the vast earth, a towering treasured tree shot up into the clouds. Countless leaves shimmered, and soon a radiant, multicolored fruit formed—a dazzling display reflecting the many moments of XiXi’s growth over the past year.

With his jet-black hair cascading over his shoulders, Li Che’s eyes shone brilliantly.

Another year of hopeful anticipation finally bloomed at this moment.

XiXi, two years old: The Third Dao Fruit…

At last!

……

【Your daughter, two years old, safe and sound and free from ailment—has been granted a Dao Fruit ‘Pure Heart’】