Chapter 5: Spirit Infant Master, One-cut Master

Grandma Lei... kill infants?

Specifically targeting the infants she helped to deliver?

When Li Che heard his uncle's words, chills ran down his spine and his pupils suddenly constricted.

"Uncle, where did you hear this?" Li Che took a deep breath, his heart sinking, and quickly asked.

The Old Scholar, with a smoking pipe in his mouth, puffing out hazy smoke, frowned deeply into a "Chuan" character: "I didn't believe it at first, but Xi Xi was delivered by Grandma Lei, wasn't she? So, I went out of my way to ask around..."

"It's true, the families of those deceased children... they all made a fuss at the government office of the Outer City. The government has issued a warrant, and they're actively searching for Grandma Lei!"

"If you don't believe me, you can go and see the notice board at the government office yourself, the warrant is hanging right there."

The voice of the Old Scholar was also much more serious.

Although he was regretful that Xi Xi wasn't a boy, she was still a seedling of the Li Family. Hearing such news, his first thought was to worry about Xi Xi's safety.

"It's said that this Grandma Lei... worshiped the 'Spirit Infant Master,' believed in the teachings of the Spirit Infant Sect, and just like that, killing... sigh, it's really a sin, they're just children."

The Old Scholar's voice trembled slightly, and he let out a long sigh, continuously drawing on his smoking pipe.

Li Che's expression became extremely grave, and his heart was suspended in worry.

For Li Che now, Xi Xi was the apple of his eye, his most treasured daughter; if anything happened to her, Li Che would be heartbroken and blame himself.

Protecting his daughter was the duty of a father, the responsibility he must bear!

"Thank you, Uncle. I'll find out more and make preparations early," Li Che said earnestly. The Old Scholar nodded quickly, then rubbed his hands together: "Since I'm here, I might as well visit Xi Xi..."

Li Che was speechless, looking at the bashful Old Scholar, he didn't say much and led him into the house.

When the Old Scholar saw Xi Xi, his old face was all smiles, as if blossoming into a flower.

He verbally disapproved of Xi Xi not being a boy, but his fondness for Xi Xi was genuine.

"Your sister-in-law is due soon, and your mother says her belly is pointy, which should mean a boy... heh, I hope the kid will be as lovely as Xi Xi," the Uncle said, beaming with joy.

His eldest son had married, and his child was also due to be born this year.

"Wife, while I'm not at home during this time, you have to lock the doors and windows properly, don't open them for anyone no matter who calls,"

After sending away the Old Scholar, Li Che, before heading off to work, specifically reminded Zhang Ya.

Zhang Ya was stunned, but she didn't ask any questions, just obediently indicated that she would do as told.

...

...

Worried, Li Che arrived at the notice board of the government office and indeed saw the wanted posted for Grandma Lei.

"Lei Chunlan, killed seven children, all of whom she had delivered a year ago..."

"Hm? Delivered a year ago... So do all these murdered children need to meet the one-year-old requirement?"

Wearing a conical hat, Li Che looked at the notice and fell into deep thought.

But he did not dare to place his trust in his own deductions.

What if Lei Chunlan chose to strike at children who had just turned a month old?

Li Che couldn't take that risk...

And he couldn't afford to.

"It seems that I must become a wood carving master at the wood carving shop... If I have the protection of Xu's Wood Carving Shop, at least I'll be safe."

Li Che took a deep breath, pressed his hat down, and headed for Xu's Wood Carving Shop.

As soon as he arrived at the wood carving shop, he saw Master Chen, with white hair and beard but a ruddy complexion, sitting in a chair, humming a tune and drinking from a gourd.

"Little Li, you've come? I heard you're going to take part in the wood carving assessment, haha, you've got guts, daring to take the test after just a month of self-study," Master Chen said with a chuckle as he saw Li Che.

Master Chen's full name was Chen Dabao, now sixty-eight years old, and he was a senior master at Xu Ji's Wood Carving Shop.

Chen Dabao had long qualified to join Xu Ji's in the Inner City, but he never wanted to go, preferring to stay in the wood carving shop in the Outer City.

It wasn't just Chen Dabao, but the other wood carving masters in the shop felt the same way.

This left Li Che puzzled, why wouldn't they go to the Inner City?

He heard that living conditions and everything else in the Inner City were far better than in the Outer City.

"You young man… Despite its appeal, the Inner City is also fraught with danger. Now, the world is in chaos, evil spirits are rampant, the Mysterious Temple stands tall, various sects are rising, and the Imperial Court is unstable. The court's control over many cities has long declined, thus each city has fallen under the control of local noble families..."

"Among these nobles, there is endless strife and friction over the control of the cities and the vast interests they hold. For us old bones, entering the Inner City is like stepping into a maelstrom, which we can't withstand."

"Here in the Outer City… although conditions are somewhat worse, relying on my own Inner Strength, I can still live comfortably."

Master Chen took a blissful sip from the gourd of old yellow wine, smacking his lips as he spoke.

Li Che nodded, somewhat understanding Master Chen's thoughts.

In the mountain where no tigers roam, the monkey is crowned king... Staying unassuming is key.

Suddenly, Li Che thought of something and asked softly, "Master Chen, have you heard of the 'Spirit Infant Master'?"

Master Chen paused in his drinking, furrowed his brows, and glanced at Li Che, "You little one, are you worshiping that thing?"

Li Che hurriedly shook his head and recounted the news his uncle had told him that morning.

"My daughter was delivered by Lei Chunlan... and I'm worried," Li Che said anxiously.

Upon hearing this, Master Chen's expression became serious, "It seems… another disciple has fallen into heresy. Since the Spirit Infant Sect, born from the Mysterious Temple, entered Fei Lei City, the number of child deaths has greatly increased…"

"That midwife must have worshiped the Spirit Infant Master, having her mind bewitched, using these children she personally delivered as sacrifices to the Spirit Baby."

"The birthing... it's like a ritual... Once targeted, it's hard to shake off."

"That midwife... will not easily let go of your child."

With Master Chen's affirmation, Li Che's expression turned grim and unsightly, his fingers clenched into fists, his breathing grew heavier.

"However, based on your description, those children who died had all been born a year before, seemingly requiring to be nearly one year old to qualify for the ritual. Thus, for this year, your child should be safe. But you'll still need to keep a close watch to prevent the midwife from secretly taking your child, waiting for the right time to carry out her evil sacrifice!"

Having seen many such cases, Master Chen spoke with a somewhat detached tone.

All he could do was offer a warning.

As for helping Li Che, setting aside whether he could actually be of assistance, even just considering the nature of their relationship, it wasn't that deep.

To put it plainly, Li Che was nothing more than a laborer who moved lumber in the wood carving shop, nothing more.

Li Che was well aware of this and did not ask for help.

If he really did ask for help, and Master Chen refused, the already thin relationship between them would be completely severed.

"Master Chen... if I became a wood carver at the wood carving shop, would the shop take care of it?"

Li Che took a deep breath and asked.

Master Chen took a sip of his wine and glanced at Li Che.

"If you became a Wood Carver, all your problems would be solved."

"The shop provides living quarters for Wood Carvers; you could move your wife and child over, under the protection of the wood carving shop. Within the shop's compound... if that midwife dares to show up, she would definitely be killed on the spot."

"Us Wood Carvers possess Inner Strength; even if that midwife has the support of the Spirit Infant Master's evil techniques... we have nothing to fear."

"If you truly became a Wood Carver, even just a lowest-rank One-cut Master, I would count as your neighbor. Should that wicked midwife dare to make a move... I'll slap her to death for you!"

Master Chen wiped the wine stains from his beard, grinning to reveal a mouthful of fierce, yellow teeth, showing a bit of ferocity.

But soon, the ferocity faded, his fingers lightly tapping the well-used gourd of wine, humorously looking at Li Che.

"The premise is... you, young man, have what it takes to become a Wood Carver."

"It's difficult..."

"How do you think you, with a mere ten days or a few months of self-study done on a whim, can surpass those apprentices in the shop who've spent a great deal of silver and have been learning wood carving since they were young?"