Chapter 145: 140 Cellar Storage

"Mysterious Technique?"

Sang Jialiang was stunned for a moment and asked, "What is a Mysterious Technique?"

Tang Zhao was also taken aback, only then realizing that not everyone knew about Mysterious Techniques. Unlike the internal and external training known to all, Mysterious Techniques were already high-level knowledge, extremely rare among the common folk, and monopolized by the Imperial Court and various major powers. Even a Great Hero of the Imperial Court like Xue Daxia had to treat a copy of a Mysterious Technique like a treasure, secretly slipping it to Tang Zhao; how could it be any different for others?

He explained, "A Mysterious Technique is a cultivation method above internal energy, a new realm beyond martial arts. It can cultivate the Spirit and also forge Qi-Gong. He pointed his finger, and the Qi-Gong transformed into a thin thread, lifting a pillow, tossing it in the air, and then setting it down. He explained, "This is Qi-Gong. Qi-Gong is more condensed than internal energy; it can provide Body Protection and change shape. Brother Sang already has a foundation in both internal and external training, so learning a Mysterious Technique is a natural progression."

Traditionally, one had to complete internal and external training before learning a Mysterious Technique, but nowadays, Mysterious Techniques have become increasingly refined, allowing those with some foundation to learn them. Since Sang Jialiang's foundation in internal energy and external arts was not shallow, he could certainly practice a Mysterious Technique.

Although the value of a Mysterious Technique was not insignificant, it was not particularly precious to Tang Zhao. Aside from the "Great Sun Divine Carriage" he practiced himself, which was top-tier, Zhuoyu Villa possessed several other Mysterious Techniques of varying quality, many of which existed solely to collect Qi-Gong as a material; any White Jade Disciple who wished to practice them could do so. Just based on Sang Jialiang's persistence in upholding righteousness in Lingzhou, a symbolic fee would be enough to close the deal.

Sang Jialiang pondered for a moment, carefully opened the white cloth bundle in his hands, and said, "Could it be... is this a Mysterious Technique?"

Jiang Shenyi and Tang Zhao leaned in together to look, exclaiming, "Oh, you really do have a Mysterious Technique."

Inside the white cloth bundle was a silk-bound book with "Mountain Gate Night Watch Manual" written on it.

Just looking at the title, it was most likely a Mysterious Technique.

Tang Zhao took it and flipped through a few pages, seeing the familiar writing style. Judging by intuition, the quality of this technique was not bad, seemingly no less than his own "Paulownia Flower Inviting Phoenix Manual." Sang Jialiang explained, "This is a technique I obtained by chance. I felt it must be a profound secret manual. But I couldn't understand it at all. It's my fault for only recognizing a few big characters; I couldn't read this profound technique, and I didn't dare ask anyone. I pondered it myself for several years and seemed to grasp a little bit of the way, but I was afraid of practicing it wrong. Today, it is rare for you noble people to visit, so I wanted to use it to trade for some things."

Tang Zhao and Jiang Shenyi shared a knowing smile. Isn't it normal for a regular person not to understand a Mysterious Technique? Tang Zhao had read many books, and even he felt it looked like heavenly script the first time he saw one, let alone this man.

Tang Zhao asked him, "What did you originally want to trade for?"

Sang Jialiang said, "It's like this. Although I have some ability, it was all gained by stumbling around, and I am muddled myself. I can't pass it down at all. The children in the village are still learning those village-style moves and can't really learn anything. I saved some money, added it to what the village pooled together, and sent a few promising children to martial arts schools in the city. But the schools either don't teach seriously, or they forbid passing it on after teaching, so they can only learn it themselves. Over these years, the village has wasted money; we haven't cultivated a pillar of support, nor have we left a heritage for the village."

"I'm not that old. But as the old saying goes, ten years to raise, ten years to educate. Starting from now to cultivate a few successors, it will take ten years to succeed; time is not generous at all. And... can I even live for another ten years? There are thieves everywhere, all hating me, and I really have no certainty. Maybe in a year or two, or perhaps tomorrow, I'll go out and get chopped down by someone. Once I'm gone, who will protect the old and young in the village? I can't sleep at night thinking about this. If the village could get a good heritage and keep producing talent, I wouldn't be afraid even if I died one day."

The two realized, and this matter was even simpler. Tang Zhao said, "A technique? Internal energy or external arts? Or moves?"

Sang Jialiang opened his mouth, wanting to say, "I want all of them," but felt a bit guilty.

His original intention was to trade the technique he obtained by chance for some practical techniques, but seeing the two's attitude, they didn't seem to care about his treasured item, so if he asked for too much, it would look like he was being greedy.

Although he didn't say it, how could Tang Zhao and Jiang Shenyi not see his meaning? They didn't care about Mysterious Techniques, let alone ordinary internal and external arts. Tang Zhao didn't even know how many sword manuals and fist scores he had stuffed into Blind Boxes.

Tang Zhao said, "How about this, let's divide the work. You can practice this Mysterious Technique, and I will provide annotations to ensure you can understand it."

Jiang Shenyi continued, "Teaching the children to practice will be up to me. I know some ordinary internal and external arts, and I will stay in the villa for these few days to guide the children here. Although I can only stay for a few days, those who are smart will be able to get the hang of it in these few days. If you want books, my junior brother has plenty. You can pool money to buy them, and he will give you a bundle price."

Tang Zhao said, "We can also test the children's Spirit Talent."

Jiang Shenyi nodded and said, "Right, this is also very important. If there are any with extremely high Spirit Talent, we can take them with us when we return. For those who are a grade lower, they can also use Art Tools, which counts as leaving a trump card for the village."

Sang Jialiang was overjoyed, then immediately felt very awkward. The eight-foot-tall man rubbed his hands like a child and said, "But... the two young masters don't have a use for this technique, do you? Then... I... I have no way to repay you..."

Jiang Shenyi waved his hand and said, "Why be so polite? These are all things we can do in passing. We respect you as a clean and good man. Even a Golden Mountain or a Silver Mountain cannot buy our willingness."

Sang Jialiang hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "Even so, I, surnamed Sang, am not someone who doesn't know gratitude. The two of you, please follow me; I have another treasure at home."

Tang Zhao was wearing his Glasses and looking at the Mysterious Technique when he suddenly said, "Brother Sang, don't be impulsive."

Sang Jialiang knew what he meant. How could he not understand the principle of not revealing one's wealth? Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so conflicted just now. But his mind was made up, and he said, "The two of you are such magnanimous people; how could I not trust you? Follow me." After saying this, he took the oil lamp from the table and pushed the door open to go out.

Tang Zhao and Jiang Shenyi had no choice but to follow, not alerting the two from Liangzhou next door. It wasn't that they didn't trust them... well, they didn't trust them. Even though they were allied, they didn't know each other that well, and those two didn't seem particularly well-off, except for the spring water. People are not saints; if Sang Jialiang really had some unexpected treasure, the two of them might not be able to guard it, and those two would be even harder to protect. If something happened that hurt their harmony, it would be even worse.

Passing through the backyard, at the very back was a woodshed, piled full of firewood.

Sang Jialiang pushed open the door, invited the two to enter, then carefully closed the door, hiding the lamp behind the woodpile. He moved the woodpile bit by bit, revealing a cellar entrance. He whispered, "Follow me down."

Tsk—it really had the feel of a hidden treasure.

In this atmosphere, Tang Zhao couldn't help but feel there really was an extraordinary treasure inside.

The space in the cellar was narrow, the air was murky, and it was filled with baskets of grain. Millet, rice, radishes, and a few jars of sauce, wine, and pickled vegetables. He moved the wine jars aside, and underneath was loose soil; only after digging it up did he reveal a three-foot-long box.

As soon as Tang Zhao saw the shape of the box, his heart suddenly jumped, and he thought to himself: It couldn't be, could it?

Sang Jialiang carefully opened the three-foot-long box—

As soon as it was opened, Tang Zhao and Jiang Shenyi's pupils shrank. They both reached out to close the box, then looked up to check the cellar entrance again. After confirming it was sealed, they both whispered sternly, "Are you tired of living?"

Sang Jialiang also heard the harshness in their tone; clearly, the item was much more precious than he had thought, and he was at a loss. Jiang Shenyi caught his breath and said in a low, stern voice, "You dare to hide a sword in your house?! If outsiders see this, let alone you, your entire village will be leveled!"

Sang Jialiang felt guilty and said, "But... but... is this a sword? That kind of sword?"

He hadn't heard of Mysterious Techniques, but he had heard of Sword Guests. It was like commoners knowing about martial arts experts and knowing about immortals in the sky, but not knowing how a person becomes an immortal.

Jiang Shenyi glared at him and said, "You don't know what a sword is? Then why did you hide it so secretly? If you know it's a sword, why did you dare to show it to us?"

Sang Jialiang said, "I... I know what a sword is, but the Sword Guests who pass by also carry swords like this, don't they? And their martial arts aren't even as good as mine."

Jiang Shenyi said, "That's different. Many people who show off are just using Art Tools; those aren't worth much. This is a real sword, enough to leave no chicken or dog alive within a hundred miles of you. And you dared to take it out to show us..."

Sang Jialiang calmed down instead and asked, "Why wouldn't I dare? I was going to give it to you anyway."

Jiang Shenyi was stunned for a moment. Sang Jialiang straightened his expression and pushed the box over, saying, "Regardless of whether it's precious or not, this is the only thing I can bring out. If it's precious, that's even better; it just happens to repay your kindness."

Jiang Shenyi said speechlessly, "You repaid it, but now we owe a debt. And... Junior Brother, do you want it?"

Tang Zhao looked at the sword. The luster of the blade was dull, which was "a Treasure Sword hiding its light," but there were accessories hanging on the sword, clearly decorated by someone in the past. This was a sleeping sword, a sword of a dead Sword Guest.

In other words, it was an old sword.

He shook his head and said, "Senior Brother knows, what I want is a sword I cast myself. You..."

Jiang Shenyi continued, "You also know, I never wanted to be a Sword Guest."

Everyone in Zhuoyu Villa knew that Jiang Shenyi didn't want to be a Sword Guest, and didn't even want to be a Sword Smith. He wanted to be a Talisman Sword Master who made Art Tools and Dharma Artifacts for himself.

Both fell silent at the same time.

This was a sword worth a fortune, enough to stir up a bloody storm, but neither of them needed it.

Ordinary people, even if they didn't need this sword, could keep it to trade for a sword that suited them. But these two didn't even have the need to trade swords. It was like gold; if it couldn't be traded, couldn't be eaten, and couldn't be drunk, it was just special, good-looking scrap metal. Sang Jialiang's gaze wandered over their faces, and he seemed to perceive an awkwardness.

After a while, Tang Zhao asked, "Brother Sang, don't be anxious. Can you tell us the origin of this sword?"