Chapter 20: If the child doesn't like you, don't force it

In the midst of snow and wind, a figure stood resolute.

With a rainbow-like vitality enveloping him from the outside, he was remarkably noticeable amid the vast grayness, carrying a policeman's saber, his gaze extremely sharp yet with a hint of amusement.

From afar, he saw Li Che carrying braised pork, a jar of wine, and osmanthus cakes.

Li Che paused in his steps, his first thought was... his misdeeds had been exposed.

But after careful contemplation, there was no reason for it, he, with the Dao Fruit of Dragon Elephant Vajra, had changed his physical form without leaving any clues.

If the crime had not been exposed...

Then why had the Yamen's arrest officer, after investigating the death of Sun Changbiao, not left but instead appeared in front of his courtyard? What could he possibly want?

For a moment, Li Che couldn't figure out the reason and lost his train of thought.

"Are you Li Che, Master Li?"

A hand, rough with calluses from knife training, rested on the cloth-wrapped hilt as Zhao Chuanxiong looked at Li Che approaching and asked with a smile.

Li Che's hands were full, so he could only symbolically clasp his fist in response, "Indeed, it is I. What does the Policeman wish to instruct?"

Zhao Chuanxiong watched Li Che and silently appraised him, then imperceptibly shook his head.

From the spiritual state and aura that Li Che exuded, his cultivation was just at the Great Success in Skin Refinement, nothing more. It was unlikely he was the Bone Tempering criminal who had killed Sun Changbiao with ruthless and decisive means.

According to Madame Liu's description, that criminal was nearly two meters tall, heavily muscled, and extremely terrifying.

A stark contrast to Li Che's physique.

However, Zhao Chuanxiong didn't come looking for Li Che for that reason.

"Madame Liu had confessed." Zhao Chuanxiong watched Li Che, still maintaining an almost-smiling expression.

Li Che's heart tightened instantly, realizing what Zhao Chuanxiong was referring to.

"Did you receive a Furious Spirit Infant Wood Carving two days ago? That was placed at your doorstep by the deceased Sun Changbiao..."

"As a follower of the Spirit Infant Sect, he had targeted your family's Spirit Infant."

Zhao Chuanxiong's lips curled into a slight arc, focusing on Li Che.

Upon hearing this, Li Che clenched his teeth in anger: "I am indeed aware because my daughter Xi Xi was targeted by the Spirit Infant Sect right after she was born, which is why I strove to excel and became a Wood Carver at the wood carving shop and moved into Xu's Courtyard..."

"I thought we could be carefree, and my daughter could grow up safely, but little did I expect, after Xi Xi's one-year-old birthday feast, the Spirit Infant Sect turned up in our shop again..."

As Li Che spoke with deep emotion, his face flushed with anger.

"Master Chen speculated that it was someone from the shop who placed the wood carving and asked Master Chen to help look for it. Eventually, it was confirmed to be the doing of Sun Changbiao."

At this point, Li Che's face exhibited a look of fright: "Head Constable Zhao, I did not kill Sun Changbiao, I..."

Zhao Chuanxiong had been staring at Li Che, and upon seeing his slightly incoherent speech, raised his hand to gesture.

"Alright, I know it wasn't you. You wouldn't have the capability to kill Sun Changbiao..."

"Since it involves you, I was just asking as a routine part of the investigation."

Zhao Chuanxiong turned around at the right moment, looking towards the courtyard.

"Master Li, won't you invite me in for a sit?"

Zhao Chuanxiong continued with a smile, "I've heard about your superb woodcarving skills. Perhaps I might request your craftsmanship in the future."

Upon hearing this, Li Che hesitated momentarily, his heart reluctant to invite the other inside, but given the officer's direct request, he could only invite him into the courtyard.

He opened the courtyard door.

Zhang Ya, looking beautiful, stood under the eaves piled with thick snow, while Xi Xi, stomping in her wooden walker, toddled around the freshly swept courtyard.

Upon seeing a government officer entering the courtyard, Zhang Ya's complexion immediately turned pale.

"Husband..."

She hurriedly called out, thinking that Li Che had committed some crime.

After putting down the things in his hands, Li Che waved his hand towards Zhang Ya, "This is Head Constable Zhao from Yamen, here to inquire about some matters, nothing serious."

Zhang Ya nodded upon hearing this, her tense heart somewhat relaxed.

Zhao Chuanxiong had appeared by Xi Xi's side at some point, smiling amiably, "So this is Master Li's daughter. She truly is lively and lovely, as exquisite as carved jade."

Upon hearing this, Li Che's heart tightened instantly, and alarm bells went off.

"Yes, all children are like this."

"I really like children. May I hold her?" Zhao Chuanxiong asked gently.

"The little girl is shy. I'm sorry, Head Constable Zhao," Li Che declined without a second thought.

However, Head Constable Zhao, as if he hadn't heard, squatted down and looked at Xi Xi, "Xi Xi, can uncle hold you, alright?"

Xi Xi's crystal-clear large eyes stared at Head Constable Zhao, and the next moment, she started scooting away in her walker, clattering along.

Yet, Zhao Chuanxiong laughed, his hand already reaching out.

Li Che's eyes narrowed, his "Dragon Elephant Vajra" Dao Fruit began to throb slightly in his heart.

But he quickly suppressed it.

Because the hand Zhao Chuanxiong extended had been grabbed by another hand, preventing him from holding Xi Xi.

"Head Constable Zhao, if the girl doesn't want to be held by you, what are you doing?"

Old Chen, not a tall figure, with a leather wine flask at his waist, had reached out his hand and firmly held Zhao Chuanxiong's extended hand.

The whirling snowstorm seemed to freeze in that moment, hanging in mid-air, then silently shredded by a terrifying gale, exploding into a mist of snow.

Two conflicting auras clashed fiercely, like giant waves colliding skywards.

Zhao Chuanxiong slightly turned his head, his gaze shifting to Chen Dabao who had stopped his motion, the smile on his face gradually fading.

"So, it's Master Chen..."

"If the kid doesn't like you, don't force it. Don't leave any traumas on the child,"

Old Chen spoke indifferently.

"Grandpa Chen...hug," Xi Xi, seeing Master Chen, pedaled over to him on her walker, bumping into his legs, and called out in a babyish voice.

"Oh my, my precious baby, Grandpa will hold you, come here." Old Chen looked at Xi Xi, his aged face blooming with a smile like chrysanthemums, and picked Xi Xi up from her walker.

Zhao Chuanxiong no longer squatted down but stood up, his hand returning to rest on the handle of his knife.

"Such a lovely child,"

Zhao Chuanxiong watched as Old Chen walked away with Xi Xi, saying with a smile.

Li Che's heart relaxed slightly as well.

"Master Li, Master Chen, I shall leave first,"

Zhao Chuanxiong did not stay longer in the courtyard, waved his hand, and left the courtyard, merging into the blurry snowstorm, disappearing from sight.

Old Chen held Xi Xi, gently bouncing her as he played with her, making Xi Xi giggle continuously.

While watching Zhao Chuanxiong's retreating figure, he slowly relaxed.

"A Che, don't let people easily enter the courtyard in the future, especially strange guests..."

Old Chen said gravely.

"Xi Xi's resistance to Zhao Chuanxiong isn't because she's shy. Xi Xi is perceptive, she has the spirit to discern good from evil intent towards her, and this Zhao Chuanxiong... harbors no good intentions," Old Chen said.

Upon hearing this, Li Che's expression shifted slightly.

"He told you that Madame Liu confessed, and it was Sun Changbiao who placed the Spirit Infant Wood Carving in front of your courtyard?"

Old Chen looked at Li Che.

Li Che nodded.

Old Chen smiled slightly, his voice a bit cold, "From start to finish, Madame Liu only admitted that they, as a couple, had joined the Spirit Infant Sect, but she never confessed to placing the Spirit Infant Wood Carving at your doorstep..."

"Moreover, the Spirit Infant Statue found in Sun Changbiao's home was a common Three-Headed Six-Armed Spiritual Infant Statue, with one eye open and one closed..."

"How then did Zhao Chuanxiong know that the one placed in front of your door was the 'Furious Spirit Infant'?"