As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus, the Method of Inner Strength

Xu Ji's Wood Carving Shop held a prestigious reputation within the Outer City, frequently securing lucrative commissions from the Inner City, where the appetite for fine woodwork was insatiable.

The requests ranged from intricate landscapes to solemn statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, and even depictions of obscure deities that Li Che had never encountered before.

As a mere laborer, hauling both raw timber and completed icons provided only a meager, fixed piece rate. It was grueling, back-breaking toil for very little reward.

In contrast, achieving the status of a professional wood carving master meant a single finished piece could net at least ten silver coins!

Li Che had even heard rumors that Master Chen once spent a month crafting a "Thousand-Armed Guanyin Woodcarving Statue," earning himself a Gold Leaf—the equivalent of a staggering one hundred taels!

Mastery of such a craft could elevate a commoner to a life of great wealth.

Li Che felt the stirrings of ambition, though in the past, he wouldn't have dared entertain such a fantasy.

Wood carving was a skill typically cultivated from early childhood, demanding both innate talent and artistic vision. Most apprentices were sold to the shop by their families at five or six years old in exchange for silver.

By the time Li Che had started working there at thirteen, he was already considered far too old to begin.

He had once attempted to teach himself the craft, but after a few days of frustration, he had abandoned the idea.

How could a few days of self-study possibly compete with those who had labored since their youth?

Furthermore, observing the art was simple, but applying the knife was a different matter entirely.

"I should find a chance to test this... Could the Dao Fruit of the Immortal Artisan truly have bestowed me with a gift for wood carving?"

A flicker of hope ignited in Li Che’s chest.

A gust of freezing wind bit at him, clearing his mind. He suppressed his dreams of becoming a master for the moment and returned his focus to the task at hand.

Moving finished carvings required far more delicacy than hauling raw wood, as any blemish would be disastrous.

He carefully swaddled the pieces in cloth and secured them with hemp rope, ensuring the fibers wouldn't chafe the detailed surfaces during transit.

With a Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue strapped to his back, Li Che stepped carefully toward the inner chambers.

Entering Master Chen’s workspace, Li Che lowered the statue and unwrapped it. Seeing no marks or damage, he let out a long breath of relief.

"Master Chen, the Bodhisattva Statue has arrived. Shall I go and bring you a large piece of Flowering Curved Willow now?" Li Che asked with a polite smile, rolling his tired shoulders.

Master Chen was already perched on his stool, his carving knife rasping against a whetstone.

"Yes, be quick about it. I have to begin a 'Nine Sons Embracing Lotus,' which is a painstaking job. The Inner City is demanding it urgently," Master Chen replied, testing the edge of his blade.

Li Che stepped back out into the snowy courtyard to retrieve the Flowering Curved Willow log he had previously selected.

However, the moment his hand brushed the timber, the Dao Fruit of the Immortal Artisan pulsed within him, granting him a strange, instinctive insight.

"This particular piece of Flowering Curved Willow isn't right for a 'Nine Sons Embracing Lotus Statue,'" Li Che whispered to himself.

Usually, wood carving masters selected their own materials, but there were exceptions. Some were so confident in their prowess—or simply too bothered by the winter cold—that they left the selection to others.

But if a laborer picked the wrong wood...

A kind master might overlook it, but a short-tempered one would surely dock the porter's pay.

In such a case, one would not only have to haul the heavy wood multiple times but would also lose money—a double misfortune.

Li Che bypassed his original choice and began running his hands over the timber pile. Guided by the resonance of the Dao Fruit, he finally found a piece that felt absolutely perfect.

Lugging the heavier log of Flowering Curved Willow, he made his way back to the workshop.

"Oh? This is excellent, Li. You’ve got a sharp eye. This timber is a perfect match!" Master Chen remarked, pleasantly surprised. The wood’s natural grain almost perfectly mirrored the "Nine Sons Embracing Lotus" he intended to create.

With just a few marks, he could establish the form, saving him hours of mental preparation.

Li Che offered a modest smile, choosing not to boast.

After his brief praise, Master Chen prepared to work.

"Little Li, help me hoist this onto the carving frame. I heard you have a new daughter... I'll give you a little extra for this trip," Master Chen said, standing up with a grin.

Li Che’s eyes brightened, and he quickly moved to assist. He looped the ropes and strained to lift the massive Flowering Curved Willow onto the iron supports.

"The Inner City is in a frenzy lately, demanding all sorts of child-themed carvings. It’s likely because of the rumors surrounding the 'Spirit Infant Master.' The whims of those nobles... they shift like the wind," Master Chen muttered, shaking his head.

"They want this done in five days. My old bones will likely be screaming by the end of it."

"But the pay is handsome. Hehe, Li, take a guess at what they're paying for this piece?" Master Chen rubbed his palms together, approaching the snow-dampened wood.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Li Che exhaled, "For a five-day rush... it must be at least fifty taels?"

Given that this statue seemed less complex than the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, Li Che gave a cautious estimate.

"Fifty taels? Haha... It’s much more. A Gold Leaf more!"

Master Chen chuckled, then slammed his palm against the timber. Suddenly, the skin of his arm took on a reddish glow, and a visible steam erupted from his hand into the wood, instantly purging the moisture!

The heat was overwhelming, making Li Che feel as though he were standing beside a roaring forge.

Li Che gasped, stunned both by the one hundred and fifty tael price tag and the incredible display of Master Chen’s power.

These masters were more than just artisans; they were, as the rumors suggested... martial artists!

Every true wood carving master possessed Inner Strength, using it to season the wood instantly and save precious time.

Furthermore, the Inner Strength infused into the wood gave the carvings a certain spiritual depth.

It was this unique essence that compelled the Inner City elites to pay such exorbitant sums.

Noticing Li Che’s wide-eyed envy, Master Chen asked with a playful smirk, "Interested in learning?"

"It isn't free, mind you. While you’ll never get your hands on Superior Internal Strength Techniques, the basic Internal Strength Techniques provided by Xu Ji in the Outer City are available to anyone who can pay."

"Spend a few decades in bitter Cultivation, and you might just manifest Inner Strength yourself."

Li Che felt a jolt of excitement. "Master Chen, how much would such a technique cost?"

"Superior Internal Strength Techniques can't be bought; you'd have to join Xu Ji in the Inner City, and they don't take just anyone."

"As for the common Internal Strength Techniques out here, you can buy them. The cheapest... starts at thirty taels. What, are you actually considering it?" Master Chen asked, his eyes twinkling as he continued to dry the wood.

"You have a newborn at home; you should save your coins. Even if you buy the scroll, learning it is one thing, and mastering it is quite another."

Master Chen shook his head, offering a sincere warning.

However, seeing the serious look on Li Che’s face, the old man’s brow rose. "You’re a focused lad. It’s a shame you didn't start carving as a boy. If you truly want a technique, come to me. I have one for twenty taels you can have."

Li Che didn't commit immediately, simply smiling and saying he would think it over.

He then departed from Master Chen's workshop.

For the rest of the day, Li Che threw himself into his labor, assisting other carvers and helping apprentices move smaller loads to earn his keep.

The shop provided a simple, hot lunch—enough to stay full and keep his strength up for the work.

By evening, Li Che collected his daily wages of thirty-five Dajing Cast Copper Coins and left, exhausted.

Donning his conical hat, he trudged through the driving snow, stopping to buy charcoal on his way back.

Night had fully descended by the time he reached the maze of narrow alleys. The sight of a faint yellow glow from the oil lamp in his small earthen home caused him to quicken his pace through the drifts.

"Wife, I’ve returned."

He slipped inside and shut the door instantly, barring the freezing wind and snow from stealing the indoor warmth.

After stoking the brazier with fresh charcoal, Li Che crept to the bedside. Little Xi Xi was wide awake, her eyes following him.

When she saw her father, she let out a tiny, delighted giggle.

Li Che’s heart swelled with affection as he scooped her up, gently swaying her in his arms.

Zhang Ya watched them with a soft expression before bringing Li Che a bowl of dinner from the stove.

The aroma of steaming noodles filled the small room.

For those in poverty, there was no such thing as true maternity leave.

For Zhang Ya, not having to toil in the fields and only having to prepare a meal was as much of a rest as she could expect.

Once they had eaten, Li Che insisted his wife rest while he handled the washing up.

Afterward, he took a small block of wood and a sharp knife back into the main room.

Holding Xi Xi, Zhang Ya watched her husband with curiosity as she patted the baby to sleep.

"Husband, what are you up to?"

Under the flickering light of the lamp, Li Che cracked his knuckles and smiled. "I’ve picked up a few tricks at the shop lately."

"Wife, just watch!"

Zhang Ya couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "Husband, you've 'learned' many things over the years, only to tell me a few days later that it’s best to give them up..."

Li Che grinned. "Don't tease me, wife. Have you never heard the saying, 'thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west'?"

"I am a different man now; I am a father!"

Zhang Ya bit her lip, her eyes dancing with amusement.

What did being a father have to do with suddenly becoming a wood carver?

Li Che only smiled, offering no further explanation.

He closed his eyes for a moment. The intricate techniques and the specific details of the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue surged through his mind, saturating his thoughts like water squeezed from a sponge.

When he opened his eyes, they seemed to shimmer with newfound clarity.

With a steady hand and a firm grip, he pressed the blade into the wood, making his very first cut.