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 timber consisted of scrap pieces he had retrieved from the wood carving workshop—mere fragments that went unnoticed by others when he carried them home.

Years ago, fueled by a desire to master the craft on his own, he had commissioned a set of carving knives from the blacksmith in the city's western district. The custom set had been quite a significant investment at the time, but it was finally proving its worth.

Within him, the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit throbbed and surged, evoking a divine sense of mastery that rose to guide his hands.

Since this was a personal trial of his capabilities, Li Che bypassed the use of ink for sketching outlines and moved directly to the wood. Empowered by the Dao Fruit, he possessed an instinctive comprehension of the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue" design, as though the image were etched into his very soul.

Just like Master Chen, it felt as if he had already crafted the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva hundreds or even thousands of times; his movements were born of seasoned familiarity.

Every element of the process was under his absolute command, from the external proportions to the internal depth, and the precise pressure applied with every stroke of the blade.

Because it was his initial attempt at practical application, some stiffness remained. However, this initial friction between his fingers, the tool, and the timber was steadily refined as the work advanced and his proficiency grew.

The movements of his knife became increasingly fluid, eventually taking on a distinct elegance—a clear sign of a master's touch.

Generally, such refined carving expertise is only achieved through years of accumulated practice.

Yet, through the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit, it was as if Li Che could "commune" with the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva. Like a sponge, he was absorbing the decades of experience Master Chen had poured into the craft.

The sharp blade made a rhythmic rustling and bustling sound as it worked against the wood.

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

Though it remained unpolished and the lines were still somewhat raw, the basic form already displayed the hallmarks of extraordinary craftsmanship!

Nearby, Zhang Ya had finished putting Xi Xi to sleep. When she noticed that Li Che had produced a rough outline of the statue in such a short window of time, her heart was instantly seized by amazement.

Seeing Li Che so deeply lost in his work, Zhang Ya refrained from interrupting, quietly keeping her questions to herself.

Abandoning the idea of sleep, she sat on the edge of the bed, watching her husband work with intense focus by the light of the oil lamp.

As she observed him, her eyes softened with emotion, her lips curved into a joyful smile.

She had assumed her husband had long since abandoned his interest in wood carving, but she was mistaken.

He had never stopped; he had been practicing in secret all this time, and now he was revealing this hidden talent to her!

"I wonder if my husband could find a position as a wood carver at the shop, or perhaps even an apprentice... Then he wouldn't have to endure the grueling labor of hauling heavy timber and statues every day," she whispered to herself.

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

Deeply immersed in the craft, Li Che eventually returned to reality as the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue reached a point where no more carving was needed. While it was not yet a finished product due to the lack of polishing, it was complete in form.

A sense of profound satisfaction filled Li Che’s heart.

Suddenly, his spirit felt a strange resonance, as if perceiving a change.

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

Wait?!

Li Che’s eyes lit up when he saw that the status of the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit, which functioned like a measure of his proficiency, had ticked upward.

"Does completing a carving actually grant experience? Like a skill level?"

"Or perhaps it's because I made contact with the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' carving, mastered its specific technique, and successfully finished it, resulting in a 10% gain?"

It appeared this Dao Fruit was currently in an early, immature state.

Only through steady cultivation could he eventually harness its full potential.

Li Che reflected on this discovery.

Unfortunately, he hadn't brought home any more timber, so he couldn't test his theory further today.

Suppressing his curiosity, he stood up and stretched his limbs, only to find Zhang Ya nodding off against the headboard.

Knowing she had been waiting for him to come to bed, Li Che felt a surge of affection. 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 snowfall intensified.

The flakes landed softly on the thick white layer covering the roof, creating a gentle sound that invited a deep, peaceful sleep.

***

The following morning, Li Che arrived at Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop for his usual shift.

"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 master. He pointed to the offcuts leftover from a "Flowering Curved Willow" carving, unable to hide his interest.

Master Chen, his beard dusted with wood shavings, looked up at Li Che. "You're thinking of learning the craft? You certainly have a sharp eye for it. It's good wood, though it's a shame you're starting a bit late in life. Still, since you're interested, feel free to take whatever scraps you find from my projects."

Having assisted Master Chen for several years, Li Che enjoyed a level of leniency and favor from the old master.

Delighted, Li Che thanked him profusely and began gathering the waste pieces he could use for his nightly practice.

Master Chen watched him for a moment with a silent, knowing smile, shook his head, and went back to his work on the "Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus."

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

The "Immortal Artisan" Dao Fruit gave a slight vibration. The piece he touched this time was a work titled "Spring Fills the Universe," which required incredibly delicate skill to render leaves that looked truly alive, capturing the very spirit of the season.

The moment his hand brushed it, a familiar sensation flooded his mind.

He envisioned a female Wood Carver with a knife in hand, her fingers and palms seemingly breathing the essence of spring into the wood as she carved the vast world.

A torrent of knowledge regarding the specific methods and skills for "Spring Fills the Universe" entered his consciousness.

Li Che was thrilled. Just as he had with the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva, he had successfully acquired another carving style.

However, when he attempted to touch other carvings, the Dao Fruit remained still. It seemed there was a daily cap on how much he could learn.

Over the following days, Li Che dedicated himself to exploring the "Immortal Artisan" Dao Fruit.

An Immortal Artisan with a divine touch, unmatched in all of craftsmanship!

By making contact with a statue, he could acquire its carving techniques, and for every unique statue he completed, he gained 10% experience. However, a specific design only granted experience once. This meant Li Che had to learn and execute ten distinct carving styles to advance the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit to level 2.

Now that he understood how to utilize the Dao Fruit, Li Che felt a great sense of hope for his future!

***

Time marched on, day by day.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Xi Xi reached her full moon milestone. Her bright, lively eyes scanned the world with curiosity 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 baby girl burst into fits of joyful laughter.

Xi Xi was a happy child, her dimples appearing whenever she smiled, looking exactly like her mother.

Zhang Ya sat nearby mending old garments, watching her husband and daughter with a look of pure tenderness and contentment.

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

Throughout the past month, Li Che had spent every night carving various figures. His exquisite skill had left Zhang Ya in awe, making her realize just how talented he truly was.

In her eyes, she believed her husband was already more skilled than any apprentice at the shop—perhaps even rivaling the masters themselves.

"The Third Shopkeeper mentioned... that we have to follow the established protocol. He wants me to take the carving examination alongside the students who pay for tuition. 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 grab for the rattle-drum as he answered his wife.

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

Li Che smiled, his eyes shining with a newfound self-assurance.

With a simple thought, he checked his status:

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

After a month of constant learning from shop carvings and working late into the night, he had successfully reached level 2.

At this stage, the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit improved his ability to convey intent; his carvings could now manifest a powerful essence of their own.

Furthermore, Li Che’s physical coordination had reached incredible heights—his fingers were now exceptionally nimble. This applied to more than just wood; he was certain he could now assemble even the most complex mechanical devices with ease.

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

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

However, the air remained sharp and freezing.

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 worn Confucian robe under a heavy coat. He was frowning as he puffed on his pipe, hurrying toward the house.

"Uncle," Li Che greeted him.

His uncle, burdened by a traditional preference for sons, had not visited since Xi Xi was born once he learned she was a girl. His Great Aunt had come once, however, bringing eggs to help Zhang Ya recover.

"Che'er, are you heading to work? This is a good time to catch you," the Old Scholar said, his brow deeply furrowed.

Li Che nodded, noticing his uncle's hesitation before he finally spoke.

"Che'er, have you heard the news?"

"That Grandma Lei... the midwife who helped Xiao Ya..."

"She has killed several children..."

"They say... every single victim was a child she had delivered herself!"