Chapter 69, Manual Carving

“Which one?” Xia Yan was still reminiscing over what happened and he couldn’t help but ask carelessly. [Is it because I used your birthday gift or molested your chest?]

“You…” Yao Min was both angry and frustrated and she stamped Xia Yan’s leg heavily. However, she was still sensible and didn’t use the heel’s pointy end, but its sole. If she had used the heel’s pointy end, she would have broken Xia Yan’s foot.

Xia Yan jumped out of pain and lowered his head to observe the back of his hand. She had just scratched his skin and he didn’t bleed. It was fortunate that Yao Min was a doctor and didn’t have long nails, or else she would have left five bloody trails in his hand.

“Lil Min, don’t bully Lil Yan,” A large heap of stuff was piled up on the workbench and it blocked Yao Shigu’s view. This was why he didn’t get to see Xia Yan molesting Yao Min’s chest, and he had only heard the former’s pained cry. He was aware of his eldest granddaughter’s bad temper and knew that Xia Yan would likely suffer in her hands.

“I…” Yao Min wanted to tell him that she got molested, yet she couldn’t blurt this out.

“Grandpa, did he ruin the white nephrite and yellowstone, which I have gifted you?” Yao Min asked.

“Lil girl, how could you say this? How come you are saying that he ruined them? Lil Yan is our One-Knife School’s Headmaster and he can use and carve the best and most expensive materials if he wants, and none can reproach him or blame him,” Yao Shigu said.

“It isn’t a question of whether he has the right to use them or not. As long as he didn’t carve them well, then he has ruined them,” Yao Min wasn’t willing to accept this and she spoke again.

“Who said that Lil Yan didn’t carve them well?” Yao Shigu furrowed his brows and questioned her.

“Didn’t he carve three sculptures in a single morning? He has even used a jadeite and white nephrite. Grandpa, please answer me honestly, can he carve fine sculptures in this short period?” Yao Min pointed at Xia Yan and spoke angrily.

“I… I also can’t believe this, but Xia Yan has done it,” Yao Shigu also approved of his granddaughter’s opinion, but everything was in front of his eyes and he could only believe in this miracle.

“Grandpa, did you just say that he achieved it? What do you mean?” Yao Min asked.

“Xia Yan has used only three hours to carve three sculptures and every sculpture is a top-notch artwork,” An ardent look appeared in Yao Shigu’s eyes and flames almost erupted from his eyes.

“Top-notch artworks?” Yao Min didn’t believe him.

“That’s right, every piece represents our One-Knife School’s highest standard,” Yao Shigu said resolutely.

“Martial Uncle, you are giving me too much credit,” Xia Yan was quite pleased with himself, but he still put on a modest facade.

“It’s no wonder that my senior brother has given you the Passion Knife despite your young age,” Yao Shigu looked at Xia Yan. He felt like he was looking at a priceless treasure.

“Is he so amazing?” Yao Min and Yao Ting were shocked by their grandpa’s endless praises of Xia Yan. Even though Yao Shigu had admitted himself that he didn’t master his craft, he still had keen eyesight when it came to sculptures, and none could deny that any sculpture praised by him would see its price rising by many folds.

If Yao Shigu’s evaluation of Xia Yan spread out, then Xia Yan would surely become famous.

“Come over and have a look at them!” Yao Shigu handed over two sculptures to his two granddaughters respectively.

Yao Min received an exquisite Jade Toad carved out of white nephrite. Upon touching this Jade Toad, she found it smoother and glossier than cheese. She found it quite appealing and couldn’t bear to part with it. After she observed the Jade Toad carefully, she finally believed her grandpa’s assessment.

Even an amateur could discern that this Jade Toad was outstanding because all humans were endowed with instinctual love for beautiful objects.

“It turns out that he didn’t do a half-assed job and he didn’t ruin those materials. He’s really a genius!” Yao Min’s pretty eyes sparkled and she gained a better opinion of Xia Yan. [This fella is really skilled!]

The sculpture received by Yao Ting was the Jade Ornament, which Xia Yan planned to gift Liu Xue’er. She had heard Xia Yan explaining One-Knife School’s craft characteristics to Jiang Wenchuan and she couldn’t help but compare this sculpture to One-Knife School’s imitation. She immediately noticed the large difference and disparity between those two jade ornaments.

“It’s really beautiful, how good it would be for him to gift it to me!” Yao Ting took a furtive glance at Xia Yan and her face got flushed. She envied Xia Yan’s ‘female friend’.

As for the sculpture in Yao Shigu’s hand, it was a seal made out of a yellowstone. Five ferocious divine dragons were carved upon the seal, as well as four tadpole-like weird characters.

“Grandpa, what’s the deal with those letters?” Yao Ting asked curiously. She couldn’t recognize the seal script.

Yao Shigu dipped the seal in cinnabar ink and stamped a paper with it. It left behind a blood-red imprint.

“A hidden dragon in the abyss,” Yao Min read it.

“Lil Yan, did you also study calligraphy?” Yao Shigu stroked his beard and asked with a smile.

“My master forced me to practice calligraphy daily,” Xia Yan said with a bitter look on his face.

“Hahaha!” Yao Shigu laughed heartily.

After they observed the three sculptures, the Yao Sisters didn’t question Xia Yan’s attainments in carving craft any longer. But, it was still a mystery how did he carve three fine artworks in three hours.

“Those electric devices…” Yao Ting cried out suddenly. “He didn’t use them at all!”

Yao Min and Yao Shigu quickly observed the electric devices and discovered that Xia Yan didn’t use any of them. They all couldn’t help but look at Xia Yan as if he was some kind of monster.

“Did he polish them manually? That’s impossible; it’s impossible to achieve this!” Yao Min cried in surprise.

“Miss Min, you already got the product in your hand,” Xia Yan pointed at the Jade Toad in Yao Min’s hands.

“This… This… How did you pull this off?” Yao Min suddenly recalled that he had already crafted them. So, it was obviously possible.

“Lil Min, you shouldn’t ask about this,” Yao Shigu shouted at her and replied before Xia Yan.

“Grandpa, why are you… Forget it, it’s another secret of One-Knife School and I don’t really want to know it,” Yao Min was quite frustrated.

“Xia Yan, take it.” Yao Ting handed over the jade ornament to Xia Yan reluctantly before she cast her gaze on the yellowstone seal in Yao Shigu’s hands. She clearly coveted it!

“Lil Ting, the Abyssal Hidden Dragon Seal isn’t a toy for girls,” Yao Shigu tried to soothe his youngest granddaughter.

“Humph, so petty,” Yao Ting pouted and spoke angrily.

“Grandpa, this Jade Toad is mine,” Yao Min held the Jade Toad joyfully and tightly, as if she was afraid that her grandpa and little sister would steal it.

“I need both sculptures, Xia Yan still wants to make some money off his craft. Lil Min, you don’t have the right to embezzle it,” Yao Shigu said.

“Then I will buy it,” Yao Min said without any hesitation. “Xia Yan, how much do you want for it?”

“That’s right, you shouldn’t let Lil Yan work for free, you must pay him for his hard work,” Yao Shigu nodded and approved of her actions.

“Just forget it. Martial Uncle, Miss Min, if you like it, then just take it. How can I accept any money from you?” Xia Yan shook his head. He couldn’t accept their money. “If my master learns that I took money from you, he will break my legs.”

Xia Yan declined their offers repeatedly and didn’t accept any money, and that was why the Yao family’s members could only give up. Yao Min had also gotten over her resentment toward Xia Yan and she also started calling him ‘Lil Yan’.

“Lil Yan, grandpa and sis got sculptures carved by you, while I didn’t get anything.” Yao Ting held Xia Yan’s arm, as if she was a little kitten asking for food.

“I will carve another sculpture for you,” Xia Yan was pulled by Yao Ting’s soft hand and her beautiful face was in front of his eyes. So, how could he refuse her request?