Misguided practice of sinister cultivation techniques: Slander! The problem lies with you all, not me!
Chapter 64: What Isn’t Reciprocated is Often the Most Expensive

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: What Isn’t Reciprocated is Often the Most Expensive

After discovering Shen Ying’s interest in the skin he had added to the Jade Sword Immortal, Duan Yun thought he’d found a kindred spirit and figured he could still have a shot at obtaining the other’s cultivation technique.

He said, "Those are called White Silk and Black Silk. With my limited knowledge, I believe only Divine Silkworm Silk can achieve such an effect. I’ll make a couple of pairs for you when I’m free."

"Really?" Shen Ying said with a surprised face.

Duan Yun said, "The ’Nine Death Silkworm Technique’ you practice, does it produce silk like a silkworm when it’s fully cultivated? How about you spit out some silk and I’ll make you two pairs on the spot?"

Shen Ying shook her head and said, "The Nine Death Silkworm Technique only produces ’Divine Silkworm Armor’ when reaching the stage of Divine Silkworm Seven Transformations, and I’m not there yet."

Duan Yun said, "Then just pass it on to me. I’m a once-in-a-million cultivation genius; surely I can reach the Seven Transformations quickly."

Shen Ying suddenly looked wary and said, "You’re just trying to coax my technique out of me, aren’t you? Why not be direct, why beat around the bush?"

Duan Yun seriously said, "Would you teach me if I didn’t beat around the bush?"

"I wouldn’t. This is a family martial art not to be casually taught to outsiders; it contains many risks. If my father knew I was indiscriminately passing it to someone else, he would break my legs."

At this point, Murong chimed in teasingly, "He’s your brother. What outsiders?"

Duan Yun quickly added, "Right, I am your long-lost brother. There’s absolutely no problem teaching me."

To learn a technique, having an extra sister was no big deal.

Whether bonded by blood or not, it didn’t matter.

Shen Ying said with a pained expression, "Get lost! Wanting to learn my Nine Death Silkworm and also to be my brother, you’re taking too much advantage!"

"How can learning Kung Fu be considered taking advantage?" Duan Yun said.

But Duan Yun’s attempt to learn Nine Death Silkworm Technique was unsuccessful, though he wasn’t too disappointed, knowing that not everyone shared his ambition to impart martial arts.

So, he generously said, "I won’t learn your family’s secret techniques, then how about I teach you Swordsmanship?"

Since arriving in Wangchun City, he hadn’t taught any martial arts and was itching to do so.

He had previously thought of giving Peach Blossom Swordsmanship in exchange for martial arts from the Murong brothers, who flatly declined.

The reason was simple: they were lazy and passionate about sabers, and they would never cheat on their love!

Unless it was a technique from Old Demon Duan that could transform him into a woman, he wouldn’t learn anything else in this lifetime.

Shen Ying, before him, appeared to be a new candidate for Old Demon Duan to pass on his techniques.

Shen Ying rejected again, saying, "I won’t learn it."

"Why not? My Swordsmanship is so good, and I’m not asking for anything in return," Duan Yun said, feeling gloomy.

He had already displayed his strength, and there was no reason for his ’Jade Sword True Understanding’ to be despised.

"My mother taught me that the most expensive things are usually those that don’t ask for repayment; it might end up costing a person everything. Besides, I don’t like practicing sword. I like boxing," she said.

Saying this, Shen Ying looked at Duan Yun with a doubtful gaze, "I’ve realized you’re not only trying to worm out my martial arts and be my brother, but you also want the status of an elder, to be my master."

At this point, Murong suddenly got excited, saying, "Master and disciple? You guys are this twisted?"

"Shut up!"

"Shut up!"

Duan Yun and Shen Ying shouted in unison once more.

Then Shen Ying said, " You, a big man, can’t go back on your word about sending me two pairs of socks."

"Sure, once I get the silk, I’ll make you two pairs," Duan Yun said grandly.

Two pairs of silk stockings, he should be able to manage that.

But at the same time, he felt a bit guilty, as the craftsmanship in this world to get the texture of those stockings right might not be easy.

Shen Ying then stoked the fire more, bringing the splendid chicken they hadn’t had time to roast earlier and began grilling it.

Thinking about the four neat corpses in the backyard, all three of them felt a strange sense of relaxation and comfort.

"I say, today we’ve helped Ying solve a problem, and Yuzhu Villa has averted another crisis. We should celebrate," Murong said, watching the greasy wild chicken.

"It’s the middle of the night and raining, how can we celebrate? Go make a few graves for those eunuchs and dance in front of their graves?" Duan Yun wondered.

"Drink wine! Of course, drink wine! You and Shen Ying are no fun, eating meat without drinking wine, celebrating without drinking. What’s the point!" Murong retorted.

Shen Ying raised an eyebrow and said, "It’s the middle of the night, all the taverns in town are closed, where can we buy any wine?"

Murong responded, "I previously buried a few jars of peach blossom brew in the yard, vaguely remember it’s in the southeast corner, but I can’t remember the exact spot. However, I’m certain it’s there."

"Why don’t one of you dig them up, then we’d have wine to drink."

At this point, Duan Yun and Shen Ying both looked at Murong.

Murong, shivering, said, "Why are you two siblings staring at me?"

"Of course you’re the one to dig," Duan Yun said.

"Why me?"

"Because you’re the weakest tonight," Duan Yun said earnestly.

Shen Ying agreed, "I think Mr. Duan is right!"

Murong: "I...."

In the dead of night, the drizzle was soft.

Murong, holding the long-absent gentleness, dug in the yard.

He now wished he could dig a hole and bury himself in it.

This was truly a hole he had dug for himself.

Under the broken eaves, Duan Yun and Shen Ying sat there, each holding a roast chicken leg, enjoying themselves while watching Murong dig.

"Do you think he can dig them out?" Shen Ying asked, puzzled.

"If he doesn’t find it, just keep digging until he does."

"You’re ruthless."

The two chatted and laughed while Murong was panting heavily.

He’d moved more tonight than he had in the whole past year.

At that moment, Murong suddenly saw a glint of porcelain, hurriedly dug it up, and cried out with joy, "Found it!"

Having the wine made the meat even tastier.

I must say, this Plum Blossom Brew, buried for several years, was truly refreshing and carried the fragrance of plum blossoms.

But this brew was somewhat heady.

Shen Ying watched Murong lying down drinking like a dragon sipping water, clicking her tongue in wonder, "I thought being able to drink while standing on my head was a skill, but you’ve outdone me."

Murong hurriedly said, "I used to think this skill of lying down and drinking was great, but I felt inferior after meeting him."

Shen Ying turned to Duan Yun and asked, "How else can you drink?"

"He drinks normally, but he can shoot the wine."

"Shoot the wine? How so?"

Duan Yun extended his finger, and the wine shot out, nearly hitting Shen Ying’s face if she hadn’t reacted quickly.

In the next moment, Shen Ying kept dodging as Duan Yun could shoot wine even from his elbow.

In fact, now his toes could shoot too.

Being shot at by Duan Yun, Shen Ying couldn’t help but say, "Ah, stop it, you’re so weird."

Without another word, Duan Yun flicked his finger and shot a stream of wine right into Murong’s face as he lay there drinking.

Murong: "I *******!"

After having their fill of wine and meat, the three of them began to contemplate their safety and discussed a very important matter.

"The eunuch is dead, Ying’s trouble is resolved, now it’s your turn," Duan Yun said.

At this, Duan Yun and Shen Ying both looked at Murong.

Duan Yun pondered, "If your sisters come, what will you do? Should I fix up the cellar a bit, so we have a place to detain them after overpowering them, to help them recover faster?"

Murong, shocked, said, "What, detain?"