As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Immortal Artisan Upgrade, Bad News Arrives

The wood consisted of mere offcuts he had salvaged from the wood carving shop—just a small, unremarkable piece that failed to draw any attention when he brought it home.

As for the carving knife, he had commissioned it from a blacksmith in the city's western district years ago, back when he first felt a yearning to learn the craft. A custom set like that hadn't been cheap, but at long last, the investment was proving its worth.

Within him, the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit pulsed with energy, stirring a divine sense of intuition that rose up to guide his hands.

Li Che decided to forgo using ink lines for an outline, treating this as a true test of his capabilities by carving directly into the wood. Aided by the Dao Fruit, he possessed an intimate, instinctive grasp of the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue" design, as if the image were burned into his very soul.

It was as though he had already sculpted thousands of these statues alongside Master Chen; his mastery was born of a phantom lifetime of practice.

Every detail was under his absolute command, from the external silhouette to the internal proportions and the precise pressure of every stroke.

Because this was his first genuine attempt, a slight awkwardness lingered initially. However, the friction between his fingers, the steel blade, and the timber smoothed out as he progressed, his proficiency sharpening with every passing second.

His technique grew increasingly fluid, eventually taking on a distinct, elegant charm—the unmistakable hallmark of a seasoned expert.

Usually, such refined carving skills would require decades of accumulated experience.

Yet, through the power of the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit, Li Che seemed able to "touch" the essence of the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva. Like a sponge, he was slowly soaking up the years of expertise Master Chen had poured into the original.

The rhythmic sound of the sharp blade shaving the wood created a steady, bustling rustle.

Under the flickering, popping oil lamp, wood shavings fell like a gentle rain. In Li Che’s palm, the sharp angles of a palm-sized "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue" began to manifest.

Though it lacked a final polish and remained rough around the edges, the underlying form already displayed the quality of divine craftsmanship!

Nearby, Zhang Ya had finished settling Xi Xi to sleep. When she looked over and saw that Li Che had produced a rough outline of the statue so quickly, her heart was instantly gripped by astonishment.

Observing how deeply absorbed her husband was in his work, she didn't dare disturb his focus, quietly keeping her curiosity to herself.

Abandoning the idea of sleep, she sat on the edge of the bed, watching him work by the dim light of the oil lamp.

The longer she watched, the more her eyes misted over with emotion. Her lips curved into a joyful, hidden smile.

She had assumed her husband had long since abandoned his dreams of wood carving, but she was wrong.

He had never stopped practicing in secret, and now he had prepared this wonderful surprise just for her!

"I wonder if my husband could find work as a carver at the shop, or perhaps just an apprentice... then he wouldn't have to spend his days doing the backbreaking labor of hauling heavy timber," she pondered quietly.

Zhang Ya’s desires were humble; she simply wished for her husband to have an easier way to provide for their family.

Lost in his craft, Li Che eventually returned to reality as the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue reached a point where no more cuts were needed. It wasn't a finished product yet, as it still required polishing.

Nonetheless, a surge of profound joy filled his heart.

Suddenly, his spirit jolted as he sensed a change.

[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (lv1, 10%)]

Wait, what?!

Li Che’s eyes widened. He noticed that the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit now displayed a suffix, similar to a progress indicator for experience, which had slightly increased.

"Can I actually gain experience by carving? Is it like a proficiency system?"

"Or did I gain that 10% because I touched the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' carving, absorbed the technique, and then successfully replicated it?"

It seemed this Dao Fruit was currently in an immature, newly formed state.

To unlock its true potential, he would have to nurture it over time.

Li Che contemplated these thoughts in silence.

He felt a pang of regret for not bringing home more wood to test his theory immediately.

Suppressing his excitement, he stood up and stretched, only to find Zhang Ya dozing off against the headboard of the bed.

Realizing she had been waiting for him, a wave of warmth washed over him.

In the biting cold of the night, he quickly extinguished the oil lamp and pulled his startled wife into the warmth of the blankets.

Outside, the heavy snow continued to fall.

It landed softly on the thick white blanket covering the roof, creating a peaceful silence perfect for a deep sleep.

...

...

The following morning, Li Che reported for duty at Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop as he always did.

"Master Chen, would it be alright if I took these scraps home to practice with?"

During a lull in the work, Li Che approached the elder. He pointed at the offcuts from a "Flowering Curved Willow" carving and made his request.

Master Chen, his beard flecked with sawdust, looked up at him. "You want to learn the craft? You certainly have a sharp eye for it. It's good wood, though it's a shame you're starting so late in life. Still, since you're interested, feel free to take whatever scraps I leave behind."

Having assisted Master Chen for several years, Li Che enjoyed a certain level of favor from the old craftsman.

Overjoyed, Li Che thanked him profusely and began gathering pieces of waste wood that would be suitable for his practice.

Master Chen gave him a silent smile and a shake of his head before returning to his work on the "Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus."

Li Che bundled his findings in a cloth and set them at his station. Then, under the guise of organizing and moving the finished carvings in the yard, he went to touch them.

The "Immortal Artisan" Dao Fruit hummed in response. This time, he laid his hand on a piece titled "Spring Fills the Universe." It was an incredibly complex work that required immense patience to carve the delicate, lifelike leaves representing the spirit of spring.

The moment he touched it, that familiar sensation flooded his mind.

He envisioned a female Wood Carver, her fingers dancing with a blade as she etched the vastness of the world into the wood, making the essence of spring bloom from the grain.

A massive influx of technical knowledge and skills regarding the "Spring Fills the Universe" style poured into his consciousness.

Li Che was ecstatic. Just as he had with the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva," he had mastered another distinct style of carving.

However, when he attempted to touch other statues, the Dao Fruit remained dormant. It appeared there was a daily limit to what he could acquire.

Over the next few days, Li Che dedicated himself to investigating the mechanics of the "Immortal Artisan" Dao Fruit.

The Immortal Artisan possessed a divine touch and unrivaled skill!

Touching a statue allowed him to learn its specific carving technique, and completing a carving of that type granted him 10% experience. However, each unique statue only provided this bonus once. This meant Li Che needed to master and execute ten different designs to elevate the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit to level 2.

Having deciphered the Dao Fruit's function, Li Che felt a surge of optimism for his future.

...

...

Time marched on, day by day.

An entire month passed in a flash.

Xi Xi reached her one-month milestone. Her bright eyes blinked curiously at the world as she waved her plump little hands from within her swaddle.

Li Che entertained her with a rattle-drum he had crafted himself, making the infant burst into fits of giggles.

Xi Xi was a cheerful baby; whenever she smiled, she showed the same dimples as her mother.

Zhang Ya sat nearby mending old garments, watching her husband and daughter with a gaze full of tenderness and peace.

"Husband, have you had a chance to speak with the Third Shopkeeper about becoming a Wood Carver?"

Zhang Ya asked tentatively.

For the past month, she had watched Li Che carve various statues every night. His exquisite skill left her in awe.

In her eyes, his talent far surpassed that of the shop’s apprentices; she even believed he was just as capable as the masters themselves.

"The Third Shopkeeper mentioned that we have to follow protocol. I’ll have to take a carving assessment alongside the paying students. If I pass, I can officially join the shop as a Wood Carver," Li Che explained.

He continued to play with Xi Xi, letting her tiny hand grasp at the rattle-drum while he answered his wife.

Zhang Ya nodded, her expression firm. "I know you can do it, husband!"

Li Che smiled back, his eyes gleaming with newfound confidence.

With a mere thought, he checked his status.

[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (lv2, 8%)]

Through a month of tireless work and touching every carving he could find, he had finally pushed the Dao Fruit to level 2.

At this rank, the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit improved his ability to convey "meaning." The statues he created could now embody a powerful, unique essence.

Furthermore, his physical dexterity had reached incredible heights. His fingers were now so nimble that he felt he could easily assemble the most complex mechanical devices, not just work with wood.

After spending more time with Xi Xi, Li Che prepared to head out for his shift.

The snowfall had finally begun to taper off, marking the end of the brutal winter.

Even so, the air remained piercingly cold.

As he stepped out of their small home, he saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was his uncle, the Old Scholar, wearing a tattered Confucian robe under a heavy coat. He was frowning as he puffed on a smoking pipe, walking toward them in a hurry.

"Uncle," Li Che greeted him.

Because of his uncle's traditional preference for sons, the man hadn't visited Xi Xi once during her first month. The Great Aunt, however, had visited to bring Zhang Ya some eggs for her recovery.

"Che'er, are you leaving for work? Good, I caught you," the Old Scholar said, his brow still deeply furrowed.

Li Che nodded, noticing the older man’s hesitation. Finally, the scholar spoke up.

"Che'er, haven't you heard the news?"

"That midwife, Grandma Lei... the one who assisted with Xiao Ya's delivery..."

"She murdered several infants..."

"They say... every single one of them was a child she had delivered herself!"