As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life

Li Che, upon hearing this, his face dramatically altered, his eyes nearly splitting apart with rage.

"Spirit Infant Master? The Spirit Infant Sect... so viciously cruel, all my family has moved into Mansion City, yet they still won't let us be?!"

"The order of Mansion City is, of course, unimpeachable, but I fear they might sneak out in the middle of the night and launch a surprise attack on your family."

Zhang Lianhao glanced at Li Che, whose face showed a mix of shock, anger, and a hint of fear.

"I've asked all I needed to ask, go back now..."

Li Che's body trembled slightly with anger; he thought for a moment about seeking Zhang Lianhao's protection.

Zhang Lianhao smiled, not even looking as he waved his hand dismissively.

Li Che, having no choice, had to leave the tower.

He walked out from the Town Temple Office Yamen.

Li Che's face, tense and angry, instantly returned to calm.

Inside that tower, there had been a second person, filled with murderous intent towards him.

The Heaven and Earth chessboard was always looming, and Li Che clearly sensed that person's aura, dark as if dripping with water...

"Qin Family members?"

The aura was somewhat familiar; back then, when he shot the grey-faced spy in front of Qin Mansion Gate, he had encountered this person's aura.

As for the chief officer, Zhang Lianhao, he bore no murderous intent towards him, likely acting on someone else's behalf, though his words were profoundly meaningful.

His brow furrowed slightly.

"Zhang Xiangyang... the Spirit Infant Master..."

"Does this chief officer want to go fishing?"

"Fishing? It's been a while since the Bull Demon... has tasted bait..."

...

...

Inside the tower.

Zhang Lianhao poured another cup of tea, and moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows.

It was Qin Haonan, the brother of Qin Yuqing.

"How so? You think it was he who killed your sister?"

"Merely a Blood Exchange Warrior, with divinity as faint as a stream... Do you think he could kill her?" Zhang Lianhao asked.

Qin Haonan stroked his beard: "It seems not, but Zhang Xiangyang from Fei Lei City did say that Li Che has undeniable ties to the Bull Demon..."

"Pity, that child entered the Heavenly Oversight... became a third-class guest official, otherwise, I wouldn't waste words, I would have just killed him. If he were the Bull Demon, he certainly wouldn't surrender without a fight, he would reveal his trump cards in resistance..." Qin Haonan regretfully added.

Qin Haonan was direct, with no discomfort in speaking of committing murder in front of Zhang Lianhao.

"It seems he was recommended by Li Qingshan; if you really kill him, aren't you afraid that when Li Qingshan returns, he'll simply smash your head with that Ram Horn Hammer?"

"Haha, what Li Qingshan values is merely that Supreme Spiritual Child's daughter; the recommendation was probably just a favor..."

"This Li Che is just a Blood Exchange Warrior, if he dies, he dies."

"Why would Li Qingshan offend my Qin Family for his sake?"

"However, according to what Zhang Xiangyang said, this Bull Demon... if not Li Che, is still undeniably connected to Li Che's family; Li Nuanxi, Li Che's daughter, is especially close to the Bull Demon, Zhang Xiangyang has witnessed it himself, they might even be... master and disciple?"

Qin Haonan looked at Zhang Lianhao.

"Think it over, she's a Supreme Spiritual Child preselected by a Qian Yuan Divine Sect Branch..."

"That would mean troubling not just Li Qingshan but directly the Qian Yuan Divine Sect."

Zhang Lianhao sipped his tea and replied indifferently.

"Show out."

Qin Haonan frowned, glanced at Zhang Lianhao, and without further words, turned and left.

After leaving the Town Temple Office Yamen, he stood in the long night street.

"Indeed, the Divine Sect is not easy to provoke..."

After a moment's thought, Qin Haonan headed towards Gold Split Gate.

...

...

When Li Che returned home, everyone was still awake.

Seeing Li Che safe and sound, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's good you're unharmed, it's good you're unharmed..." Uncle Li Liang's alcohol even sobered up quite a bit, everyone knowing the reputation of the Town Temple Office, who wouldn't?

Old Chen drew on his dry pipe, his brows furrowed tightly, "Because of the matter in Fei Lei City, right? Alas, that damnable Cao Guang..."

Li Che soothed for a while, and then everyone gradually left.

After Zhang Ya put Xi Xi to sleep, she blocked Li Che's waist, "Husband, are you really all right?"

She knew Li Che's true identity, which is why she was so worried.

After all, Mansion City had many more powerful figures compared to Fei Lei City, so the sense of safety had dropped dramatically.

Li Che rubbed Zhang Ya's head, "It's okay, haven't I returned safe and sound? Besides, I am now a Third-class Guest Official of the Qintian Observatory, even the Temple Control Bureau wouldn't dare to touch me without evidence."

Zhang Ya rested her cheek against Li Che's robust chest, listening to his strong and vigorous heartbeat, feeling slightly at peace.

She murmured softly.

"You are the head of this family, you must not get into trouble... We need to watch Xi Xi grow up together."

"Don't worry, in two more months it will be the Divine Sect Branch's entrance examination. Xi Xi is almost guaranteed to become a disciple of the Divine Sect, no one will dare to touch her, and once she joins, even fewer will dare to."

"Alright now, don't worry, your husband has got everything under control."

"Let your husband check if you have practiced well today, have you mastered the Sinew Transforming techniques that I taught? Let's see if you need to learn something new."

"Ah? There are new techniques?"

In Zhang Ya's soft, wet voice, the couple entered into their Sinew Transforming practice.

...

...

The next day.

Li Che left the house refreshed, heading to serve his duty at the Qintian Observatory. He changed into the robe of a Heavenly Oversight Guest Official, still wearing a black elastic shirt underneath.

The duty was rather simple, just having tea and passing time with Shangguan Qinghong in the teahouse.

"Do you want to take on the task for a Divine Wood Carving that pays in Divine Crystals?"

Shangguan Qinghong, her crystal clear jade feet bare, squatted on the chair, cracking sunflower seeds.

Upon hearing Li Che's question, she took out the task book and began flipping through it.

"There is one, a disciple from the Heart Monkey Temple who cultivates the Wrath Divinity needs a Ten Cities Level 'Furious Ghost-suppressing' type statue of a deity. There's no temple god reference, so the Woodcarving Master can freely express their creativity.

However, after the product is finished, it depends on whether the other party is satisfied before deciding whether to deliver it or not," said Shangguan Qinghong.

"And if they are not satisfied?" Li Che frowned.

"They can refuse to accept it. This is the task agreement. If you can't accept this, then don't take the task," Shangguan Qinghong stated matter-of-factly.

Li Che nodded, "How much is the reward?"

"Two Ten Cities Divine Crystals."

"Only two?"

Shangguan Qinghong looked at Li Che strangely, "That's the market rate, and besides, you don't think that two Ten Cities Divine Crystals are too little, do you? Your monthly salary is only three..."

Li Che smiled awkwardly; he had already spent this month's salary.

Being part of the Moonlight Clan, Li Che naturally hoped the price would be as high as possible.

"Will you take it?" Shangguan Qinghong cracked a seed, blinking her large eyes, she asked.

"Taken!"

"The Temple God has no reference, so I am free to express myself?" Li Che narrowed his eyes.

"Exactly," nodded Shangguan Qinghong.

Li Che pondered thoughtfully; this was the first job he had taken, aimed at making a name for himself.

If he wanted to earn more Divine Crystals later and quickly accumulate enough Divine Crystals to advance the maturity of the 'Pure Heart' Dao Fruit to level 3...

This job's reputation was extremely important!

If managed well, more high-value Divine Crystal jobs would come flooding in!

"A Ten Cities Level Divine Wood Carving, which makes a difference, naturally won't revolve around the embodied divinity content... Thus, it must involve profound meaning," Li Che's eyes brightened, recalling earlier speculation and enhancing the Immortal Artisan based on deity statues from his memory...

Now he could well experiment in this job.

"Furious Ghost-suppressing... To suppress ghosts must be furious..."

"Then it must be that..."

"Leopard-eyed, ring-eyed, Iron-faced and with whiskers!"

"Evil-Dispelling and Demon-Slaying Great General, Zhongnan Iron-faced Divine Lord, Supreme Deity who Purges Demonic Miasma..."

"Zhong Kui!"