Chapter 8

The Demon's Hand (8)

Dan Aoxian was still burning the light in his room late into the night.

"Doctor Dan, are you there?"

Dan Aoxian, who was grinding herbs in a mortar, was startled by Chao Aoliang's sudden visit and stood up.

"Ah? What brings you here at this hour?"

"Rather, what are you doing so diligently at this hour, Doctor Dan?"

"I was thinking of making a pill."

"To earn money for ginseng?"

"Just that pills are more valuable than ordinary herbs."

At first glance, Dan Aoxian looked extremely tired, yet he was still smiling brightly.

Seeing this, Chao Aoliang made up his mind.

"Don't worry about money. I'll take care of it from now on."

"What? How?"

"There's a way. So, Doctor Dan, get some rest."

Chao Aoliang left the hall and immediately went to find Fan Jiewei.

"Go and get a log. A good one."

Fan Jiewei frowned.

"Why come at this hour of the night? What do you need the log for?"

"To make money. Doctor Dan can't keep working like this without sleep."

"But selling wood won't earn much..."

"We can sell it at a higher price."

"How... Oh!"

Fan Jiewei, who was about to ask, suddenly realized the reason and exclaimed.

"Chao, you have exceptional talent!"

A talent that made Chao Aoliang as famous as his martial arts.

His carving skills had reached an astonishing level, significantly contributing to his notorious reputation in the current martial world.

Chao Aoliang would carve the figures of righteous sect masters he had killed.

Naturally, the righteous sects would shudder at the thought.

However, no one doubted his carving skills.

A short while later.

Chao Aoliang and Fan Jiewei returned to Dan Aoxian's hall.

"This should cover the living expenses."

Chao Aoliang placed the item he had brought on the table.

It was a Guan Yu statue about a foot tall.

"Wow!"

Dan Aoxian couldn't help but exclaim.

The lifelike expression and dynamic posture, along with the vivid sense of being ready for battle, made it a perfectly crafted wooden statue.

Chao Aoliang shrugged at Dan Aoxian's reaction.

"I can carve even stones once my inner strength is restored."

If he could properly control his inner energy, the material itself would no longer be a constraint.

Even jade, marble, or even iron would be possible.

"Did you make this yourself? People would line up to buy it at this level."

Chao Aoliang and Fan Jiewei exchanged satisfied smiles.

"But can you make other things besides Guan Yu statues?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Thinking about it, there are Guan Yu temples everywhere, so Guan Yu statues might not sell well."

Chao Aoliang nodded.

It made sense. Why would anyone need a small Guan Yu statue when there are grand ones available?

"Then make something that people would buy more of."

"No problem."

Chao Aoliang strode out confidently.

Fan Jiewei, excited, followed behind.

And after another hour.

Chao Aoliang returned to the hall and placed five wooden statues on the table.

This time, they were Buddha statues.

"Wow... Huh?"

Dan Aoxian gazed at the Buddha statues in amazement.

After a moment,

"Are these Buddha statues?"

Dan Aoxian's question made Chao Aoliang nod.

"I chose the most popular ones. From left to right, they are Maitreya Buddha, Medicine Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva."

"But I don't recognize these Buddha statues?"

The forms were perfect.

The problem was that there was no trace of compassion or grandeur in any of them.

Each one had a terrifyingly fierce expression.

While a Guan Yu statue might fit a lifetime of battle, these statues did not align with the selfless and compassionate spirit of Buddhism.

"How can that be? I perfectly recreated them."

"They're too scary. No one would want to buy these Buddha statues."

Seeing Chao Aoliang's serious expression, Dan Aoxian smiled.

"Can you carve something cute, like a baby or a child?"

"Just wait a moment."

Chao Aoliang left the hall again and returned exactly an hour later. Dan Aoxian, who had been staring at the wooden statue he placed, sighed.

"How can a baby have such a fierce aura?"

"Why? It's perfect."

"It's perfect to me too!"

Seeing the situation, Fan Jiewei also chimed in to support Chao Aoliang. However, Dan Aoxian shook his head firmly.

"These can't be sold to people."

Just looking at them made him feel his lifespan was being shortened.

How could anyone bring such ominous objects into their home?

"There's nothing we can do."

Seeing the two men's disappointed expressions, Dan Aoxian reluctantly moved the table.

"Sit down and close your eyes."

Dan Aoxian smiled gently at the two men, who looked puzzled.

"It's the doctor's role to treat not only physical illnesses but also mental ones."

With that, Chao Aoliang and Fan Jiewei sat cross-legged.

"Focus on my words now."

The two men, eyes closed, nodded.

"The place where you are sitting is a calm meadow with a gentle breeze."

Chao Aoliang and Fan Jiewei's expressions softened.

"Just by listening to Doctor Dan's voice, I feel calm."

"Beautiful flowers are blooming everywhere in the vast meadow."

"..."

"..."

"A butterfly has landed on your shoulder."

Thud! Thud!

Chao Aoliang and Fan Jiewei simultaneously slapped their shoulders.

"Please don't kill the butterfly."

"..."

"..."

"I'll try again."

This time, he changed the atmosphere.

"It's early morning. The cool air feels incredibly refreshing. You can hear the sound of a clear stream nearby."

The two men's expressions became more relaxed.

"You are slowly climbing a mountain as if taking a walk. In the distance, you see a quiet hermitage."

"..."

"..."

"Inside the quiet hermitage, there is no one except for a monk sitting on a dais, smiling kindly. Can you see him?"

"Yes, he's smiling!"

"Right! I can see him too!"

Dan Aoxian smiled.

Fortunately, this time it seemed to work.

But at that moment,

"That guy is mocking us! Damn it! I hate bald guys!"

"I'll pluck out his eyes and use them as my third testicle..."

Dan Aoxian sighed.

"Enough!"

The two men, eyes open, looked around.

"Where did he go?"

"Where? Did he run away?"

Dan Aoxian shook his head.

"Rather, make dragon or tiger statues. Buddha statues won't work."

"Are you giving up on our treatment?"

Dan Aoxian gave a bitter smile in response to Chao Aoliang's question.

"It's not giving up... Psychological treatment takes time."

Dan Aoxian, whose resolve was wavering, tried to steady himself.

The next morning.

In a dense forest, a carriage was flying above the treetops.

"Wow!"

Seeing Dan Aoxian's exclamation, Fan Jiewei burst into laughter.

"Is it that good?"

"Yes! It feels like flying!"

Fan Jiewei felt a sense of accomplishment.

He had thought learning the skill of flying a carriage was useless, but now he was glad he had learned it.

There was no better martial skill for playing with children.

"I can do this!"

"Awesome! Uncle is the best!"

Dan Aoxian gave a thumbs up.

The carriage, besides Dan Aoxian, was loaded with wooden statues carved by Chao Aoliang, and Fan Jiewei was carrying it with one hand. He quickly descended the mountain and placed the carriage at the village entrance.

"Amazing, Uncle. If I had pulled the carriage alone, it would have taken half a day."

"This much can be done in an hour."

Fan Jiewei took a hero's cape from the carriage and wrapped it around his head.

"Wow! You look like a different person."

With the continuous praise, Fan Jiewei smiled.

"Shall we go then?"

Fan Jiewei entered the village with a smile.

"But how are you going to sell these?"

"I have a plan."

Dan Aoxian, smiling, pointed to a spot.

"Set it up there."

The two arrived at a woodworking shop that sold various furniture and decorations.

"Wait here for a moment."

Dan Aoxian took a dragon statue from the carriage and hid it in his arms.

Then he entered the shop.

"Welcome... "

The shop owner's welcoming voice lost its strength when he saw the young Dan Aoxian.

"Hello, Uncle."

"What do you want?"

The owner, unimpressed, replied. Dan Aoxian, ignoring his gaze, entered the shop.

"These are expensive items, so don't touch them carelessly."

Instead of answering, Dan Aoxian pointed to a statue.

"How much is this?"

"Five silver taels."

Dan Aoxian was surprised.

"Is it that expensive?"

The owner replied indifferently.

"Looking at you, I might give it to you for four taels."

No matter how naive Dan Aoxian was, it was clear that the owner was trying to rip him off.

"Can't it be three taels?"

"Since you're not buying it anyway, just leave. Don't bother people."

"Really, if I buy it, will you sell it for three taels?"

"Sure, I'll sell it for three taels. Do you have the money?"

Instead of money, Dan Aoxian took out the dragon statue.

"I'll buy it with the money from selling this. How much would you give for this?"

The owner, eyes wide open, jumped up. It was clearly not an ordinary item.

"Where did you get this?"

"I have fifty of them."

The owner's eyes widened even more.

"Fifty are in the carriage outside, and if you're interested in buying, I can continue to make them for you."

"Buy them all! How much?"

"..."

The owner was silent for a moment.

But in that short moment, Dan Aoxian did not miss the greedy look that flashed across his eyes.

"One silver tael!"

"Only one tael?"

"Only one tael! That's the price I can give you in my shop. You won't get this price anywhere else."

Dan Aoxian smiled and bowed.

"Understood. Goodbye."

As Dan Aoxian put the statue back in his arms, the owner's face showed confusion.

"You're not selling it?"

"Yes. The price is too unreasonable. I can't sell it at that price, out of respect for the person who made it."

"Wait, hold on!"

While the owner was flustered, Dan Aoxian left the shop.

This time, he went to another woodworking shop. It was smaller than the first one but cleaner and better organized.

The owner also looked more approachable.

"Welcome."

Moreover, he greeted Dan Aoxian, whom he had never seen before, warmly.

Dan Aoxian pointed to the same item he had seen in the first shop.

"How much is this?"

"That's a bit expensive. It costs two silver taels."

The price was much higher than the first shop.

"Can you give a discount?"

The owner hesitated.

"I don't make much profit on it..."

He pointed to another statue.

"How about this one? It's a bit cheaper but the quality is not much different."

Dan Aoxian, smiling, took out the dragon statue.

"How much would you give for this?"

"Wow!"

The owner, examining the statue, let out a low exclamation. Then he began to inspect it carefully.

"I think it should be at least five silver taels..."

"If I sell it?"

"I need to make a profit too, so I can buy it for three taels."

It was a much better deal than the first shop.

Of course, if he looked around more, he might find a shop that would buy it for a higher price. But he trusted this shop owner.