Chapter 39: The Gathering Storm

“Old Chen?”

Li Che’s expression darkened in an instant.

During their time together, not only did XiXi grow exceptionally fond of Old Chen, but even Li Che and Zhang Ya treated the solitary elder as one of their own.

Li Che shifted his gaze toward Zhao Chuanxiong.

Sensing Li Che’s intense stare, Zhao Chuanxiong paused his escort of Chen Daba, squinted, and glanced back.

“Li Che?”

“So it’s Master Li…”

“Long time no see.”

Zhao Chuanxiong’s smile was forced, not reaching his eyes as he looked at Li Che.

Back when Sun Changbiao died, Zhao Chuanxiong was assigned the investigation, zeroing in on Li Che under the guise of an inquiry — really, it was a threat and a test of XiXi’s prodigious potential.

Regrettably, ever since confirming Li Nuǎnxi’s innate talent, Zhao Chuanxiong hadn’t found the right moment to act.

Then came the encounter with Ogre. After being injured by him and taking time to recover, he met Ogre again—this time, as Ogre destroyed the Eight Trigram Staff…

Frightened, Zhao Chuanxiong no longer dared to stir up trouble, focusing solely on survival and thereby missing any chance to strike.

This time… if not for the pressing orders from Si Mu Bai’s side, Zhao Chuanxiong would have continued playing it safe. After all, Ogre was still very much alive.

“Captain Zhao, what has Master Chen done?”

Li Che asked in a deep, measured tone.

“In the Sun Changbiao case, Butler Sun Lianfu has refiled the report, accusing Chen Daba of killing his son, Sun Changbiao, and murdering his wife, Liu.”

“Since the matter reached the authorities, I was reassigned to the case… to apprehend Chen Daba.”

Zhao Chuanxiong fixed a half-smile on Li Che as he stared at him.

“Your daughter’s year has been looking pretty good, hasn’t it?” Zhao Chuanxiong hinted.

Hearing this, Li Che’s eyes narrowed slightly as he suppressed his murderous intent.

Ignoring the provocation, he replied in a low voice, “Wasn’t that case originally pinned on Ogre?”

Zhao Chuanxiong shook his head. “With Butler Sun Lianfu’s new report and ruthless Ogre terrorizing the city with brutal methods, the City Lord needed a major case to calm the public. He personally intervened, issuing an order for me to arrest Chen Daba for investigation. If there’s any injustice, the City Lord will set things straight.”

“Master Li, rest assured—Master Chen is the highly respected woodcarver of Xu Ji, and our government office won’t let him be harmed.”

“Once the investigation is clear, he’ll be released.”

“But in Feilei Prison, Master Chen still has to go through the process.”

“Master Chen is incredibly strong. I know if he resists… he’ll end up on the government’s wanted list. Then it won’t be me, but the elite enforcers from the Inner City who’ll intervene.”

Zhao Chuanxiong said coolly.

Chen Daba’s expression darkened as he subtly shook his head at Li Che, who seemed about to say more.

The elite enforcers from the Inner City… they’re true divine cultivators. Crossing them would be a grave mistake.

“A Che, protect XiXi well,”

Old Chen murmured this reminder to Li Che.

Zhao Chuanxiong led Old Chen away.

Silence fell in front of the Woodcarving Shop.

Li Che took a deep breath, realizing that the Lingying Sect had finally started to act against Xu Ji in the Outer City.

Or rather, they had set their sights on the prodigious child, XiXi.

Xu You once remarked that XiXi possessed exceptionally rich divine potential, ranking among the finest of spiritual children. For Lingying Sect, the temptation was immense — perhaps even enough to drive them to desperate measures.

“Since Old Chen has always lived at my place, safeguarding XiXi, does Zhao Chuanxiong think he must take Old Chen first before making his move?”

Indeed, to any observant person, it certainly appeared that way.

Old Chen’s body tempering had reached the Blood Exchange stage after decades of cultivation. As a veteran woodcarver of Xu Ji, he was well supplied with the Blood Exchange techniques.

Regarding his inner strength, Old Chen had even touched the threshold of the Fourth Heavenly Level.

Among all the woodcarving masters at Xu Ji, Old Chen’s martial prowess was unmatched — formidable even in the Inner City.

With such a powerful protector, abducting XiXi wouldn’t be easy; naturally, Zhao Chuanxiong opted to detain Old Chen instead.

However, precisely because Old Chen was so strong, Li Che felt no worry for his safety.

“And what about the Third Shopkeeper?” Li Che fixed his gaze on Butler Sun.

Zhao Chuanxiong explained that it was Butler Sun Lianfu who had filed the report.

But Butler Sun offered no rebuttal, confirming that there was indeed some truth to it—even if he wasn’t entirely to blame, his silence hinted at a connection to Zhao Chuanxiong.

Butler Sun kept his head down, avoiding eye contact as he refrained from answering Li Che.

“The Third Shopkeeper… was summoned away by the Second Shopkeeper early this morning and has already returned to the Inner City.”

Zhao Xuan, his long legs a testament to his martial training and spirited demeanor, explained this to Li Che.

“The Second Shopkeeper… Xu Beihu?”

Li Che furrowed his brow.

“What a coincidence?”

As soon as the Third Shopkeeper, Xu You, had left, Zhao Chuanxiong came over and took Old Chen away…

Could it be that Xu Beihu is also in cahoots with Zhao Chuanxiong’s ilk?

“Butler Sun, how can you slander Master Chen? Wasn’t the Sun Changbiao case already closed, pinning his death on Ogre?”

Irritated, Zhao Xuan glared at Butler Sun and said in a raised voice.

“Before my son died, Chen Daba had investigated him…” Butler Sun looked up, his aged face trembling slightly. “Once he finished, my son died… What chance is there for such a coincidence?”

“My son’s death is undeniably linked to Chen Daba!”

“Some talk of Ogre, some nonsense about a great hero… it might even be just a disguise for Chen Daba!”

Butler Sun spoke coldly, his clenched teeth betraying venom in his words.

“Butler Sun, Ogre — the one who despises evil. While the Lingying Sect has thrown Feilei City into chaos, leaving many households draped in white cloth and burning paper, only Ogre has dared to step forward and target the villains of Lingying Sect. How can you dare to insult such a hero?”

“Your son, Sun Changbiao, joined Lingying Sect with plans to swap someone else’s daughter for a son… Such a vicious man deserves nothing less than death!”

Zhao Xuan crossed his arms and spoke coldly.

“And besides, your slander is too obvious — linking Ogre’s build with Old Chen’s physique… how can you even associate the two?”

“Why don’t you say that Master Li is Ogre then?”

Zhao Xuan was clearly irritated by Butler Sun’s duplicity.

Li Che was taken aback, thinking he had been exposed…

“Miss Zhao… don’t go spouting off like that.”

Seeing Li Che startled, Zhao Xuan quickly explained, “It’s just an example, nothing more. Don’t worry, Master Li—you’ve only been training for so long. There’s a world of difference between you and Ogre. I get it.”

Li Che: “…”

You don’t know a thing!

Suddenly.

In front of Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop, the clamor abruptly fell silent. Through the hazy snowstorm, Zhao Chuanxiong, clad in a black-and-red uniform, returned.

With a rough hand resting on the hilt of his long blade, he stood upright in the raging snow.

Everyone present was suddenly startled.

Zhao Chuanxiong fixed his piercing gaze on Li Che.

“Master Li, Butler Sun says it was you who sent Chen Daba to investigate Sun Changbiao. So, does your involvement extend to Sun Changbiao’s death?”

The returning Zhao Chuanxiong fixed his gaze on Li Che and murmured.

“Master Li, why don’t you come with me for a bit?”

His words hit like a thunderclap, stunning everyone!

In front of Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop, the atmosphere exploded as murmurs of shock and outrage filled the air!

Many were both shocked and enraged; it was clear to all that Zhao Chuanxiong was deliberately making things difficult.

Butler Sun’s expression turned dark, yet he said not a single word.

With a somewhat ferocious look, Zhao Chuanxiong stared at Li Che. A sliver of his long blade slid out from its sheath as his entire body brimmed with surging energy, like a venomous serpent.

“Li Che! Let me ask you this: at the time of Sun Changbiao’s death…”

“Where were you?”

“What were you doing?”

“You were…”

Boom!!!

Before his forceful inquiry—imbued with inner strength—had fully landed, his voice roared like thunder, echoing all around!

Suddenly, a barrage of blade light spread across the sky, tearing through the swirling snow like a colossal net, crashing toward Li Che!

Intent on subduing Li Che and leaving him helpless, unable to respond!

The brutal and unbridled aura of perfected Bone Tempering, combined with his surging blood and dazzling blade light, cast an oppressive shroud over Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop!

Zhao Chuanxiong not only intended to take Chen Daba away but also had plans for Li Che!

This left only Zhang Ya and XiXi—mother and daughter, utterly powerless—in Xu Ji Courtyard!

By then, when the villains of the Lingying Sect struck, abducting XiXi would be all too easy!

An overt scheme!

A vicious, blatant plot executed under government regulations!

Such dirty tactics!

As the blade light burst forth like a waterfall, its glow enveloping Li Che in a three-foot radius, a fierce, feral gleam flashed in his eyes!

His face flushed red, as if releasing all the anger birthed from Zhao Chuanxiong’s oppressive force!

Then Li Che clenched his fingers—his hooked hand slicing through the air, drawing streams of energy. His clenched arm stood straight like a spear!

Stepping forward.

Bowing slightly.

Throwing a punch!

Turning his punch into a spear!

Mastered… Xu Ji Eight-Link Bone-Shattering Spear!

Every tendon and bone screamed, bones cracking with explosive force!

In a flash akin to lightning and thunder.

Time and again, Zhao Chuanxiong’s blade clashed with Li Che’s fist, their surging energies and blood intertwining in bursts, making the blade tremble visibly!

The turbulent air sent snowflakes dancing, unable to fall—as if repelled by a mighty force that shattered them into a misty haze around the two!

With one hand gripping his quivering long blade, Zhao Chuanxiong casually withdrew.

Li Che’s face flushed as he retreated several steps, his movement kicking up bursts of snow from the ground.

In front of the Wood Carving Shop.

The searing, boiling blood still radiated its heat.

Yet everyone had long been stunned into silence by the thunderous clash between Li Che and Zhao Chuanxiong.

Zhao Chuanxiong clutched his long blade, his jet-black hair whipping about, his eyes filled with shock as he stared at Li Che in sheer disbelief.

“You actually…”

“Bone Tempering?”

P.S. Please keep reading! On this crucial Tuesday, everyone, help old Li charge forward once more!