The Eerie Temple

Li Che bought a pound of spiced beef and a bottle of old yellow wine. His mood was heavy as he trudged through the snowy streets. Surprisingly, his emotions after his first kill weren't as intense as he had anticipated. Born into this chaotic era where the imperial court was in decline and strange phenomena were rampant, life seemed as fragile and insignificant as weeds—entirely expendable.

The dark-skinned man hadn't been Lei Chunlan, the midwife, but since the man harbored malicious intent toward Xi Xi, Li Che had not hesitated to strike. He deliberately found an excuse to leave Old Chen behind before taking action, not wanting to kill in front of him. Old Chen might not have been entirely trustworthy; witnessing such an act could give him leverage. And had Old Chen himself ever gone so far as to take a life?

The issue that truly unsettled Li Che, though, was the man's final words. They hinted at a deeper problem, a chilling implication that even Xu family might not be able to suppress the Spirit Infant Cult. Could that be true?

Li Che exhaled sharply, his breath misting in the cold air as he walked down the long street. He paused when he passed the government bulletin board, his gaze catching on something unexpected. The wanted poster for Lei Chunlan had been torn down and replaced with a notice about a wanted rapist.

"So Lei Chunlan's bounty... has already been canceled?" he muttered under his breath.

Was Lei Chunlan dead, then? Or had the Spirit Infant Cult intervened and suppressed the bounty themselves? The frown on Li Che's face deepened, his thoughts growing darker. Killing the dark-skinned man from the Spirit Infant Cult had brought little relief to his anxiety.

"Until we've moved into the courtyard near the shop, I can't relax..." he murmured to himself.

Against the swirling wind and falling snow, Li Che made his way back to the woodcarving shop. As he stepped inside, he removed his straw hat and cloak, letting the wave of warmth embrace him. The sound of Xi Xi's babbling and laughter immediately softened the tension in his chest. Entering the workshop, he found Old Chen cradling Xi Xi in his arms, his face glowing with joy as he swayed her gently.

"Come on, Xi Xi, give Grandpa Chen a smile," Old Chen cooed.

Xi Xi giggled, her chubby hands reaching out to grab Old Chen's beard and tugging at it with surprising strength. Old Chen roared with laughter, his delight infectious. The senior craftsmen nearby paused their work to join the scene, smiles spreading across their weathered faces.

The little girl's presence was like a ray of sunshine on a cold winter's day, bringing life and laughter to the shop.

"Ah Che, you're back?" Old Chen called out when he noticed him. "Go to the backyard. The second manager is waiting for you. Don't worry about Xi Xi; she'll stay here with me. This little girl and I have a connection, I tell you! If anyone dares to lay a finger on her, this old man will smack them dead."

Li Che nodded, placing the spiced beef and wine on a nearby table. After exchanging a few comforting words with his wife, Zhang Ya, who had been waiting in the workshop, he made his way to the backyard.

The snow fell harder now, thick flakes swirling in the air and coating the ground. The training grounds were already occupied when Li Che arrived. Woodcarvers Zhao Xuan and Wang Zhengpin, who had joined the shop around the same time as Li Che, were practicing their skin-tempering techniques under the stern instruction of Second Manager Xu Beihu.

Quickening his pace, Li Che stepped forward and greeted the two managers with a respectful bow, his hands cupped.

"Second Manager, Third Manager, apologies for my tardiness."

Xu You, the Third Manager, sat under the eaves of the building nearby, a serene expression on his face as he placed winter plum blossoms into a boiling pot of water alongside a handful of roasted tea leaves. He glanced up at Li Che and nodded.

"Old Chen already explained the situation to us," Xu You said warmly. "Given the circumstances, your delay is understandable. Your daughter... has caught the attention of the Spirit Infant Cult, hasn't she?"

Xu You's tone carried no hint of blame, but his words struck a nerve.

"Spirit Infant Cult does nothing good," he continued. "That accursed temple and the things that come out of it—what good could possibly come of them? And yet, so many fools in this city worship their so-called 'Spirit Infant Lord,' offering their faith as if it will save them. Even some of the powerful families in this city secretly support the Cult. Fools, all of them! They'll bring nothing but disaster."

Xu Beihu, a burly man exuding an aura of unshakable strength, snorted in disdain. A single snowflake that drifted too close to him seemed to disintegrate mid-air from his sheer vitality.

"Come here, Li Che," Xu Beihu said, his booming voice cutting through the snowstorm. "You must train hard and make progress in your the skin-Tempering practice . Strength is the only thing that matters in times like these. Without it, you won't even be able to protect your wife and daughter."

Li Che stepped forward, his expression resolute.

"I've already arranged for your move," Xu You interjected, his voice calm and measured. "Tomorrow, you and Old Chen can go inspect the courtyard. Spirit Infant Cult wouldn't dare make a move against Xu family, not even in the outer city. The shop is perfectly safe."

Xu You paused, letting the steam from his tea waft between them.

"When your daughter is older, she can come to Xu family's estate in the inner city. There, she can train alongside Xu family's descendants and build a solid foundation for herself."

Li Che's steps faltered at these words. Training with Xu family's descendants? 

Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

Li Che didn't dwell on it. After bowing respectfully, he entered the courtyard.

Xu Beihu reached out and patted Li Che's shoulder and torso. His furrowed brows eased slightly. "Your bones are decent. A bit older than ideal, but not impossible to train. Put in more effort, and you might still have a chance to reach the Bone Refining stage in the future."

He paused and added, "Skin-Tempering is the foundation for mobilizing qi and blood. Qi is born within the body, moves outward, and then returns inward again. These processes complement and stimulate one another: using blood to polish the skin, and qi to temper the muscles."

With that, Xu Beihu began teaching Li Che the method for Skin-Tempering training.

Li Che listened intently, not daring to relax for even a moment.

Today, although he had killed someone, it had been through mechanical ingenuity rather than physical prowess. If he could become as formidable as Old Chen someday...

But then again, if mechanisms could still do the killing...

That would always feel more comfortable.

Snow fell heavily, the chill biting into the skin.

Despite this, Li Che was drenched in sweat, his body radiating faint heat. Large beads of perspiration rolled down his forehead as he practiced rigorously.

After a full day of intense training, his skin tingled with warmth. Though he had yet to master the art of skin-Tempering, he had at least grasped its basic techniques.

Xu Beihu stood before the three trainees, his expression stern and imposing. "The skin-Tempering technique has been taught to you all. From now on, you must train diligently and never slack off. Martial arts demand persistence. Training through both heat and cold is the only way to see true progress."

His sharp gaze swept over them as he continued, "Once you've mastered skin-Tempering, I'll teach you the muscles, tendons, and joints-strengthening technique. However, to master skin-Tempering alone will take at least two years. Work hard."

He then laid out their schedules: "From now on, practice skin-polishing in the morning. In the afternoon, carve wood in the workshop. Every six months, your progress in skin-Tempering will be assessed."

Li Che and the other two trainees immediately bowed in acknowledgment, their postures respectful and unwavering under Xu Beihu's tiger-like gaze.

By the time Li Che returned from the training grounds, night had already fallen.

His skin felt sore and raw, but his spirit was high. Finally, he had formally begun his journey in martial arts.

At the workshop, Old Chen was cradling Xi Xi in his arms, wandering through the room as though showing her off. It was almost as if he were introducing her to everyone and everything.

Li Che couldn't help but notice how much Old Chen genuinely liked Xi Xi.

He had heard that Old Chen was a lifelong bachelor, without wife or children. The old man had spent his entire life in dedication to Xu family's wood carving shop, unlike the other senior craftsmen who had numerous wives and children at home.

A single wood-carving craftsman could support an entire family comfortably. While they might not reach the level of master craftsmen, their carvings were still highly marketable. Making money wasn't difficult for them.

Take Old Chen, for instance—just recently, he had carved a "Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus" sculpture and earned a hefty 150 taels from it!

Spotting Li Che, Old Chen grinned broadly. "Finished with training? Started skin-Tempering, have you?"

When Xi Xi saw Li Che, she immediately stretched her tiny arms toward him, a clear sign she wanted to be held.

"Ah, you heartless little thing!" Old Chen pouted dramatically, feigning offense. "Grandpa Chen has been holding you all day, and now you abandon me without a second thought!"

Li Che chuckled, taking Xi Xi into his arms. She was only a month old, but she was growing chubbier by the day. Her fair, rosy skin and adorable features—those large, bright eyes with long lashes—made her look like a tiny sprite whenever she blinked.

"Old Chen, there's something I'd like to ask of you," Li Che said, his tone tentative but sincere.

Old Chen, still teasing Xi Xi, waved his hand dismissively. "I know what you're going to say. You want me to keep watch over Xi Xi tonight, don't you? You won't feel at ease until you've moved into the courtyard, right?"

The old man laughed, his voice warm and knowing.

Li Che didn't bother denying it. In a chaotic world like theirs, caution wasn't a flaw; it was survival. And he was, indeed, worried.

"Don't worry," Old Chen said with a reassuring grin. "Xi Xi and I get along just fine. I'll keep an eye on her tonight. Tomorrow, I'll even accompany you and our little Xi Xi to check out the courtyard."

With that, Old Chen casually took Xi Xi back into his arms. "Alright, alright, you've held her long enough. Come here, Xi Xi, Grandpa Chen will hold you now~"

Li Che couldn't help but laugh again. How could Old Chen say he had held her long enough? He had barely gotten a moment with her!

Returning to the workshop, Li Che found that Zhang Ya had tidied up the space until it was spotless. His heart warmed, and his face lit up with a gentle smile.

A warm home, a loving wife, and their adorable daughter...

That was all he sought. To see his wife and daughter safe and sound.

He only wanted to watch Xi Xi grow up happily.

Spirit Infant Cult, don't push me too far, he thought, his expression darkening.

If they forced his hand...

Today, he had killed one person.

Tomorrow...

Who's to say he wouldn't destroy the entire Spirit infant Cult?