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 commissions from the Inner City where the elite's appetite for intricate woodwork was insatiable.

The requests varied wildly, ranging from serene landscapes to statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, and even depictions of obscure deities that Li Che had never encountered before.

For a mere laborer, the task of lugging raw timber and delicate finished statues earned only a meager piece-rate wage—exhausting, bone-breaking toil for very little reward.

Yet, if one managed to ascend to the rank of a professional wood carving master, a single completed piece could command at least ten silver coins!

Li Che had even heard rumors of a Master Chen, who once spent nearly a month crafting a "Thousand-Armed Guanyin Woodcarving Statue." That single project earned him a Gold Leaf, the equivalent of a staggering one hundred taels!

Such mastery over wood could elevate a commoner to a life of immense wealth.

Li Che felt the pull of ambition. In the past, such dreams were far beyond his reach.

The art of wood carving usually required training from childhood, demanding both innate talent and a keen artistic eye. Most apprentices at the shop had been signed over by their families at five or six years old in exchange for silver.

By the time Li Che had started working at the shop, he was already thirteen, having long since passed the ideal age for an apprenticeship.

He had once entertained the idea of teaching himself, but after a few days of fumbling, he had abandoned the notion.

How could a few days of clumsy self-study ever compete with those who had spent their entire youth honing their craft?

Furthermore, watching a master work was one thing; actually applying the knife to the grain was a different reality entirely.

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

A flicker of hope ignited within Li Che's heart.

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.

Handling finished carvings required far more finesse than moving raw logs, as any slip could ruin weeks of work.

He meticulously wrapped the pieces in cloth and secured them with hemp rope, ensuring the fibers wouldn't chafe or scratch the detailed surfaces.

Hoisting a Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue onto his back, Li Che stepped carefully toward the inner chambers.

Once inside Master Chen's workshop, he lowered the statue, unwrapped the protective cloth, and let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the wood remained pristine.

"Master Chen, the Bodhisattva Statue has arrived. Would you like me to bring in a large piece of Flowering Curved Willow now?" Li Che asked with a respectful smile, rotating his stiff shoulders.

Master Chen was already perched on his stool, rhythmically dragging a carving knife across a whetstone.

"Yes, be quick about it. I'm starting a 'Nine Sons Embracing Lotus' piece, and it's going to be a grueling job. The Inner City is demanding it on a tight schedule."

Master Chen spoke while testing the edge of his blade.

Li Che headed back out into the courtyard where the snow continued to fall, intending to grab the Flowering Curved Willow he had previously scouted.

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

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

Usually, the masters selected their own timber, but there were exceptions. Some were so confident in their abilities—or simply too bothered by the winter chill—to bother picking it themselves.

But if a laborer delivered the wrong wood...

A kind master might overlook it, but a short-tempered one would surely dock the transport fee from one's wages.

Such a mistake would mean double the labor for less pay—a devastating loss.

Li Che moved away from the first log and began searching through the timber pile. He ran his palms over the wood until, guided by the influence of the Dao Fruit, he found a piece that felt perfect.

Though this section of Flowering Curved Willow was heavier, he lugged it back to Master Chen’s workshop.

"Oh? This is excellent, Li. You've got quite the eye. This timber is a perfect match!" Master Chen remarked, his surprise evident. The wood’s natural grain aligned almost perfectly with the "Nine Sons Embracing Lotus" he had envisioned.

With such a fitting base, he could sketch the outline immediately, bypassing hours of mental preparation.

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

After his brief praise, Master Chen moved toward the assembly area.

"Little Li, help me get this onto the carving frame. I heard you just had a daughter... I'll toss in a little extra for this heavy lifting," Master Chen said, standing up with a grin.

Li Che’s eyes brightened at the promise of extra pay. He quickly secured the ropes and began the strenuous task of hoisting the Flowering Curved Willow onto the metal supports.

"The Inner City is in a frantic rush lately, specifically for carvings of children. It’s likely due to the rumors surrounding the 'Spirit Infant Master.' The whims of those nobles... they change like the wind."

Master Chen shook his head, muttering under his breath.

"They want this done in five days. My old bones are going to be screaming by the end of it."

"But the pay is handsome. Hehe, Li, want to guess what they're paying for this?" Master Chen rubbed his hands together, initiating conversation as he approached the snow-dampened wood.

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

Estimating that this statue was less complex than the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, Li Che gave a modest guess.

"Fifty taels? Hehe... It’s much more. A Gold Leaf and then some!"

Master Chen chuckled and struck the timber with his palm. Suddenly, the skin of his arm took on a reddish glow, and a visible heat radiated from his hand into the wood, forcing the moisture out in a plume of steam!

The temperature spiked so sharply that Li Che felt as though he were standing next to a roaring furnace.

Li Che gasped, stunned both by the realization that the carving was worth one hundred and fifty taels and by the display of Master Chen’s incredible power.

These wood carving masters weren't just artisans; they were, as the stories claimed... martial artists!

True masters possessed Inner Strength, which they utilized to flash-dry timber, saving weeks of seasoning time.

Furthermore, the Inner Strength channeled into the wood gave the finished art a certain spiritual depth.

It was this unique profundity that compelled the Inner City nobles to pay such exorbitant prices.

Noticing Li Che's wide-eyed envy, Master Chen asked with a playful smirk, "Want to learn?"

"Learning isn't free. While you won't get your hands on any Superior Internal Strength Techniques, the basic Internal Strength Techniques kept by Xu Ji in the Outer City are available to those who can pay."

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

Li Che’s heart pounded. "Master Chen, how much does such an Internal Strength Technique cost?"

"You can't simply buy a Superior Internal Strength Technique; those are guarded by the main Xu Ji branch in the Inner City, and commoners have no hope of seeing them."

"For a basic technique here in the Outer City, you can buy in if you have the coin. The cheapest... will still run you thirty taels. What, are you actually considering it?" Master Chen asked, his hands still steaming as he watched Li Che with a half-joking expression.

"You have a newborn to feed, better keep your silver... even if you buy the scroll, learning it is hard, and mastering it is even harder."

Master Chen shook his head, offering sincere advice.

However, seeing the genuine intensity in Li Che's eyes, the old man softened.

"You're a diligent 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 I can teach you for twenty taels."

Li Che didn't commit immediately, simply smiling and saying he would give it some thought.

He then took his leave from the workshop.

For the rest of the day, Li Che remained busy, assisting other carvers with timber and finished products.

He even helped the younger apprentices move smaller scraps to ensure he earned every copper possible.

The shop provided a basic lunch; though simple, it was hot and filling, providing the fuel needed for the manual labor.

As evening fell, Li Che collected his daily earnings of thirty-five Dajing Cast Copper Coins and clocked out, his body heavy with fatigue.

Donning his conical hat, he pushed through the blizzard, stopping to buy charcoal on his trek home.

By the time he reached the maze of narrow alleys, the world was cloaked in darkness. However, the faint, warm glow of an oil lamp emanating from his modest earthen home caused him to quicken his pace through the snow.

"Wife, I'm home!"

He slipped inside and shut the door instantly, preventing the howling wind and snow from stealing the precious warmth of the room.

After tossing some fresh charcoal into the brazier, Li Che crept toward the bed where Xi Xi lay, her round eyes wide and alert.

Upon seeing her father, the infant let out a soft, delighted giggle.

Li Che felt his heart swell with affection as he scooped her up, gently swaying back and forth.

Zhang Ya watched them with a soft, loving gaze before fetching Li Che's dinner from the stove.

The steam from the bowl of noodles carried a comforting aroma through the small house.

In their world of poverty, "maternity leave" was a luxury they couldn't afford.

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

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

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

Holding Xi Xi, Zhang Ya patted the baby rhythmically while watching her husband with curiosity.

"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 suppress a laugh. "Husband, you've 'learned' many things over the years, but after a few days, you always decide that quitting is the better path..."

Li Che’s lips curled into a confident smirk. "Wife, don't tease me. Have you heard the saying, 'thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west'?"

"Your husband is a different man now; I am a father!"

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

Did becoming a father somehow grant one the skill to carve wood?

Li Che merely smiled, offering no further explanation.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment. Suddenly, the intricate techniques and memories of the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue surged into his mind like water being squeezed from a sponge, saturating his consciousness.

When he opened his eyes, they held a new, sharp clarity.

With absolute composure and steady hands, he drove the carving knife into the wood for the very first time.