As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Dao Fruit Immortal Craftsman, Six-Eyed Bodhisattva

Closing his eyes, he centered his focus and calmed his mind.

Once again, Li Che witnessed the vision that had briefly flashed before him earlier.

He saw a boundless expanse of land where a colossal tree took root, its canopy thick with vibrant leaves. Hanging from its branches was a fruit that shimmered with a rhythmic, multi-colored glow.

As if reacting to his prolonged gaze, the radiant fruit detached with a soft "plunk" and fell straight into Li Che's waiting palm.

"Dao Fruit..."

Li Che whispered, his eyes fixed on the object resting in his hand.

...

[Your daughter has been born safely; you have obtained the Dao Fruit "Immortal Artisan"]

[Immortal Artisan (Dao Fruit): Master of myriad crafts, possessor of the divine touch and unrivaled expertise]

...

The glowing text flickered into existence before his eyes.

Li Che’s pupils contracted as a surge of emotion hit him.

In the nineteen years since he had transmigrated into this world, he had never possessed a Golden Finger. Yet now, with the arrival of his daughter, his cheat had finally manifested in this form.

Was this a blessing brought by his child?!

Pure joy began to well up inside him. The name Dao Fruit carried such weight that he felt certain it would be the foundation he needed to thrive in this world.

As his excitement grew, the floating interface shifted to reveal new information.

...

[Name: Li Che]

[Bonds: Li Nuanxi (Daughter)]

[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (Un-evolved, lv1, 0%)]

[Hint: For every year the bond target survives in safety, the Dao Tree shall produce one Dao Fruit]

...

His breathing grew ragged. Li Che stared at the notification in disbelief, his heart racing with intense agitation.

As long as his daughter lived safely each year, the Dao Tree would grant him another Dao Fruit...

In Li Che's straightforward view, the Dao Fruit acted as a medium to grant him specific skills and extraordinary talents.

Currently, Li Che was a laborer at a wood carving shop in the Outer City of Flying Thunder City. He spent his days hauling heavy wood carvings—exhausting work, but the piece-rate pay was at least honest.

After a grueling day, he could earn thirty or forty Dajing Cast Copper Coins. It was enough to survive, but any hope of true prosperity was nothing more than a pipe dream.

However, everything changed now. If he could guarantee his daughter’s safety, he would receive a new Dao Fruit every single year!

"Xi Xi is my flesh and blood. Protecting her and ensuring she grows up well is my responsibility as a father..."

Li Che grinned broadly. Between the fortune brought by his daughter and the newfound hope for their future, his happiness was boundless.

As the Dao Fruit in his hand began to dissolve and merge with him, Li Che didn't feel any immediate physical transformation.

He tried to analyze the [Immortal Artisan] fruit, but he couldn't quite grasp its essence yet.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

The sound of carp soup bubbling in the pot snapped Li Che out of his trance.

He moved quickly to ladle out a bowl of the rich, milky-white soup. Taking a deep breath of the fragrant steam, he smiled and carefully carried the hot bowl toward the earth house.

His wife, Zhang Ya, had finished nursing Xi Xi and was now gratefully sipping the soup he had prepared.

Li Che took Xi Xi into his arms. Under the watchful eye of Grandma Lei, he gently patted the infant’s back to help her burp.

After helping out in the house for a while and sharing some wisdom on infant care, Grandma Lei prepared to head home.

Li Che handed the baby back to Zhang Ya and stepped outside to see the old woman out.

"Grandma Lei, I can't thank you enough. You’ve been a lifesaver," Li Che said, pressing ten coins into her hand.

Grandma Lei pushed his hand back with a sigh. "Che, I’ve known you since you were a boy. You earn those coins through back-breaking labor at Xu’s Wood Carving Shop. It’s not easy money. Keep it and use it to look after your family."

"The Outer City has been grim lately... fewer babies are being born, and many don't survive their first years. Keep a close eye on Xi Xi and stay safe."

Her warning caused Li Che’s expression to turn grave.

"Grandma..."

Grandma Lei wrapped a cloth around her head and picked up her basket. Bracing against the howling snow, she added, "Listen to me. Don’t take the child out into the streets without reason. Stay far away from those who worship the Child God... and those who profit from the offerings..."

"The world is cruel, and children are fragile. As parents... you must be more than cautious."

Li Che exhaled a plume of white mist into the freezing air and nodded solemnly.

His heart felt heavy. He had heard the rumors about children dying recently, but they had felt distant. Now that he was a father, those stories carried a terrifying weight.

"I understand, Grandma Lei. I'll be careful."

Li Che spoke with absolute sincerity.

Grandma Lei said no more. With a sigh, she pulled her coat tight and vanished into the darkness of the snow-covered alleys.

Once she was gone, Li Che hurried back inside and sealed the door cracks to keep the precious warmth from leaking out.

He rubbed his numbing hands, tossed more charcoal into the stove, and went to the kitchen to finish the remaining fish soup.

After they had both eaten, Li Che climbed into the bed.

He watched his daughter, who had fallen into a deep sleep, and a smile he couldn't hide tugged at his lips.

He spoke quietly with Zhang Ya until she, exhausted from the labor, drifted off into sleep as well.

Li Che, however, remained wide awake and full of nervous energy.

"We’re out of charcoal again. I’ll have to see the seller tomorrow. Xi Xi is too young to endure the cold."

"My wife needs a proper recovery period, or she might face health issues later..."

"Right, I’ll take on more statues from the shop tomorrow. The Inner City’s demand has spiked lately. There’s plenty of work and good pay to be had."

"I’ll work until I can save enough for a large manor, somewhere where the winter won't bite so hard."

"Don’t worry, Ya'er. Our lives are going to get better..."

Lying there, Li Che held his wife and child close and eventually let his eyes close.

The only sound in the room was the steady, quiet rhythm of their breathing.

...

...

The following morning arrived.

Li Che rose before the sun. He made sure his wife had breakfast and helped Xi Xi burp after her feeding before donning his bamboo hat and stepping out into the cold.

The world was buried in white, and the wind carried snowflakes as large as palms.

The freezing air felt like a blade against his skin.

The blizzard showed no sign of letting up, leaving deep drifts throughout the Outer City of Flying Thunder City.

After walking for several miles through the dim, snowy dawn, he reached his workplace: Xu’s Wood Carving Shop.

Calling it a shop was an understatement; it was a massive compound filled with stacks of raw timber waiting for the artisans.

Li Che’s role, along with several other laborers, was to haul wood to the carvers and transport the finished masterpieces.

The weight of the carvings varied, but the pay was set: five Dajing Cast Copper Coins for a finished piece, while moving raw logs paid only one coin per trip.

The higher pay for finished works came with a catch—any damage meant the laborer lost their entire day's wages.

Brushing the snow from his clothes, Li Che hung up his hat and entered the main workshop.

The interior was warmed by charcoal braziers, filling the air with the pleasant, heavy scent of cedar and pine.

"Little Li, get me a large piece of 'Curved Willow'—make it a big one—and then move that 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' I finished three days ago into the back room. Someone from the Inner City is coming for it soon; I don't want it getting damp from the snow."

An elderly man in a padded coat, his face ruddy and his hair white, called out to him. He was currently nursing a wine gourd filled with fragrant yellow wine.

"On it, Master Chen!" Li Che replied with a bright grin.

Because he was reliable and possessed a steady hand, Li Che had never damaged a single carving, making him a favorite among the artisans.

Whenever a master needed a delicate piece moved, they usually asked for him by name.

Master Chen was one of his most frequent employers.

Nodding to the old man, Li Che headed out into the large courtyard.

He navigated through the heavy snowfall, searching the timber piles until he found the section containing the Curved Willow.

After selecting a substantial log, he began to drag it out.

He secured it with hemp rope and checked the balance before heading toward the corner where the finished works were stored.

He knew exactly where the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" was located.

He found the statue, which was nearly the height of a man and carved from Flowering Curved Willow, partially covered in a layer of frost.

As Li Che reached out to brush the snow away, something shifted.

A bizarre sensation took hold of him. The Six-Eyed Bodhisattva seemed to flicker with life, its six eyes appearing to blink as they stared directly at him.

Suddenly, a torrent of images rushed into his mind.

He saw Master Chen working, every strike of the chisel and every delicate shave of the wood as the Bodhisattva took shape. Li Che felt as though he were standing in the master's shoes, his consciousness merging with the artisan's movements.

The intricate techniques and years of experience behind the carving began to weave themselves into Li Che’s very... instincts!

"What?"

The vision snapped, the images faded, and the statue returned to its wooden state. Li Che’s heart hammered against his ribs.

A realization struck him. By simply touching the carving, he had absorbed Master Chen’s secret techniques.

This was undoubtedly the power of the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit he had gained through Xi Xi’s birth!

"Myriad forms, divine touch, unparalleled skills..."

"With the Immortal Artisan fruit... I actually have a chance to become a true master wood carver!"

Li Che’s eyes sparked with ambition.

If he could transition from a lowly laborer to a recognized wood carver at Xu’s, his prospects would skyrocket!

Providing a comfortable, safe life for his family in these turbulent times was no longer just a dream—it was within his grasp!