Chapter 6: Hobby Challenges Profession, Tang's Mechanisms

Although Chen Dabao and Li Che had a good relationship, a laborer who moved wood and finished statues every day could hardly see any hope in the master's assessment.

At least, from Chen Dabao's perspective, he saw no hope for Li Che to become a formal woodcarver.

Even if Li Che practiced carving with scrap wood from the shop after work.

But learning woodcarving isn't that easy.

According to Li Che's situation, it could only be said that he had an interest in woodcarving, but had not been formally trained.

And to challenge someone's profession and livelihood with a hobby... that was a bit presumptuous.

Li Che did not explain or argue for himself.

Why should he?

His eyes sparkled, and the Dao Fruit [Xian Gong] in his heart throbbed slightly, as if radiating heat, illuminating his future path.

He relied on this...

"Little Li, if I were you, this year... I would try to learn some farming techniques. Although you lack strength, at least when you need to protect your child, you can step forward and swing your fists."

Chen Dabao stood up, patted Li Che's shoulder, and then entered the workshop to continue carving.

Li Che pondered for a moment and found Chen Dabao's words quite reasonable...

"Farming techniques... I need a way to learn them. With the Dao Fruit [Xian Gong], perhaps... I can design some mechanisms to serve as a preventive measure."

"Although that Old Lady Lei targets children a year after they are born, what if something happens?"

Li Che took a deep breath and made up his mind.

Without further thought, he continued working, moving wood and statues.

Perhaps because they learned that Li Che was also going to participate in the woodcarving assessment, many apprentices looked at him with strange and wary eyes, and even refused to let Li Che move the carved statues.

For a while, Li Che was idle in the woodcarving shop.

Except for a few old masters and regular customers who still sought him out, no one else approached him. Li Che was happy to have some free time and began to think about mechanisms.

But after thinking for a while, he had no clue.

He felt he should seek out Old Chen, who might have some connections.

"Mechanisms? You want to set up some mechanisms to protect your child, that's a good idea... not impossible."

"But setting up mechanisms is also a science. I don't understand the advanced ones, but I do have an ancient book on mechanisms in my library."

Old Chen stopped his carving and smiled when he heard Li Che's question.

Li Che rubbed his hands together, his eyes brightening.

Many people in the shop knew that Master Chen had a library with many precious ancient books.

Old Chen glanced at Li Che and raised a finger: "I can lend you the ancient book, but I never do business at a loss. This ancient book is extremely rare and valuable... one tael of silver for one day of borrowing."

One tael of silver a day?

Li Che took a deep breath. It was indeed expensive.

But Li Che nodded decisively, agreeing to the terms.

"Wow, so decisive, that's a good father. For your daughter's safety, you're willing to go all out... if you had haggled, it wouldn't have been one tael a day."

"For your fatherly love, I'll make it fifty large Jing copper coins a day."

Chen Dabao stroked his beard and smiled.

Li Che was delighted and quickly thanked Chen Dabao. Who would complain about the cost when they could save money?

"I'll bring it to you tomorrow, remember to bring enough money."

Chen Dabao said and then buried himself in his carving again.

As time passed, the sky gradually turned gray.

Li Che collected his wages for the day, only fifteen copper coins, about a third less than usual.

But he didn't mind. After collecting his wages, he carefully wrapped the scrap wood he had chosen and carried it home.

Now, bringing some scrap wood home every day to carve and accumulate [Xian Gong] experience had become a habit for Li Che.

Today, he had touched a new woodcarving, which should help him gain some more experience.

Because the [Xian Gong] Dao Fruit had already reached level 2, he could now carve a woodcarving much faster.

[Dao Fruit: Xian Gong (Level 2, 9%)]

His experience had increased a bit.

Li Che's lips curled into a smile, and his eyes focused, planning to try making a mechanism.

However, he had no concept of mechanisms, so he thought of highly lethal crossbows and began sketching designs on paper.

...

...

The sky was faintly bright, the east turning a pale white.

In the misty mountains, clouds surged, and large snowflakes drifted down, covering the entire Feilei City in a white blanket.

Li Che got up early, washed up, and started preparing breakfast. Zhang Ya got up to help but was gently pushed back by Li Che.

"The girl cries all night, you need to comfort her. My dear, go back to sleep, and get up to eat later."

Li Che gently patted Zhang Ya, who was still half-asleep with disheveled hair, and she nodded, lying back down to sleep.

After finishing everything, Li Che kept the breakfast warm in the pot.

He then left the mud house, stepping on the thick snow, heading towards the woodcarving shop.

Stepping onto the long street paved with blue stones, the wind and snow howled, but the sounds of hammers and chisels, horns, and flutes could still be heard.

"The Holy Spirit teaches, cleansing the dust, the method of reincarnation without worry, the wise can achieve without being taught..."

Chanting voices drifted down the street, accompanied by the continuous sound of footsteps on the snow-covered blue stones.

Li Che squinted, stood by the roadside, lowered his hat, and glanced at the red shrine carried by the crowd in the narrow procession.

Inside the shrine was a strange statue of a three-headed, six-armed child, lifelike and radiant, clearly the work of a master.

Looking at the procession, followed by a group of white-clad believers, both men and women, old and young, their faces gaunt and fanatical.

"The Spirit Child Sect..." Li Che took a deep breath, a fierce look flashing in his eyes.

No matter what the Spirit Child Sect was, his daughter Xi Xi was his treasure, his everything. His wife and child were what he wanted to protect.

If they wanted to harm Xi Xi, they would destroy his family. Li Che would rather die than let them take a piece of him.

Clenching his fists, Li Che braved the wind and snow, heading straight for Xu's Woodcarving Shop.

At this moment, his desire to become a formal woodcarver in the shop became very strong.

Not only because becoming a woodcarver would mean getting a house and the shop's protection, but also because it would give him the qualifications to learn the internal strength techniques and martial arts taught by the shop...

The [Xian Gong] Dao Fruit, although it had given Li Che a significant boost, ultimately only improved his talent in craftsmanship.

It did little to help his personal combat skills.

When he arrived at the shop, the atmosphere was tense, and many apprentices were not working, conserving their energy.

Li Che immediately understood that the woodcarving assessment would likely take place today.

Chen Dabao, drinking from a gourd of old yellow wine, sat on a bench in the distance, his legs crossed, humming happily.

"Little Li, come here."

Old Chen waved to Li Che when he saw him.

Li Che's eyes brightened, the gloom from seeing the Spirit Child Sect procession lifted, and he quickly walked over. Old Chen pulled out a yellowed book from his pocket.

"This book, 'Tang's Mechanism Records,' is one of my treasured ancient books. I haven't studied it much, but it contains many mechanism secrets. However, it also requires skillful hands, and some even need internal strength and martial arts. Of course, you can try the simpler ones; they should be enough to deal with anyone who isn't an internal strength warrior."

"Thank you, Old Chen." Li Che, excited, took out fifty copper coins and gave them to Chen Dabao, then took the book.

The moment his fingers touched the ancient book...

The [Xian Gong] Dao Fruit in his chest...

Throbbed!

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(End of Chapter)