Chapter 35

After listening to Huan Jun's detailed explanation, Liang Xiao suddenly understood.

This was probably the secret that was said to be passed down orally and not recorded in writing. Without being taught, one could not even find the door to enter, let alone understand its profound mysteries.

Talent plus hard work could make a poor family's child excel in archery and become a famous archer. However, this came at a cost. Incorrect training methods would leave hidden injuries from years of practice. At a certain point, these hidden injuries would become insurmountable obstacles, preventing further progress in archery and causing unbearable pain.

Training a divine archer was different from training an ordinary archer. To become a divine archer, one needed not only talent and hard work but also the right methods. Such methods could not be easily grasped by a sudden insight. It might take generations of repeated contemplation and even a heavy price to master these techniques and methods.

Such methods could not be easily shared with others; they could only be held by families with a tradition of archery. Academic traditions could be passed down through writing, but martial arts traditions could only be passed down orally between master and disciple, making it difficult for outsiders to learn.

By sharing these techniques with him, Huan Jun was essentially handing him the golden key to the hall of archery.

Otherwise, Huan Jun could have just told him how to practice without explaining why. In that case, unless he had an extraordinary talent, it would be hard for him to understand the underlying principles. When he tried to pass on his archery skills to his descendants, there would be some distortion, and after a few generations, the essence might be completely lost.

In that moment, Liang Xiao felt both gratitude and guilt.

He had always tried to keep his distance from Huan Jun to avoid being implicated, but now that Huan Jun had shared this secret with him, it was as if he had already been accepted as a disciple. Even if others did not know their relationship, how could he treat Huan Jun as a stranger?

A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father. Since he had accepted Huan Jun's archery skills, he should serve him for life. Otherwise, he would not be worthy of being a person, let alone standing in the world.

Holding the bamboo bow, Liang Xiao left the east wing and went to the west wing. Standing in front of the loom, he hesitated for a long time, unsure how to tell his mother. This was a big deal. If Huan Jun encountered any trouble in the future, he would definitely be implicated. He had brought this upon himself, but what about his mother?

Liang Miao looked at Liang Xiao, stopped the loom, and glanced at the bamboo bow in his hand. She sighed lightly, "Xiao'er, don't worry. From the day he entered our door, I knew you were destined to be master and disciple. This is fate, and one cannot resist fate."

"Mother..."

"Don't worry." Liang Miao came over and stroked Liang Xiao's head. "Misfortune and fortune are interdependent, as Laozi said. A man of integrity should not only seek wealth and honor but also be upright and have a clear conscience."

Liang Xiao extended his arms and gently hugged his mother's waist. Unconsciously, he had already grown taller than her. He was deeply moved, realizing that as a man from the 21st century, he was less bold than a woman from the Han dynasty. He had been overly cautious and calculating, wanting to gain advantages while fearing entanglements. Thinking himself extremely clever, he was actually just a petty and narrow-minded person.

"Mother, I know what to do."

...

Liang Xiao found Tuniu and spent two days tidying up the backyard.

Previously, the backyard was empty, with no wild grass but also no vitality. Liang Xiao thoroughly cleaned the backyard, moved his mother's room inside, and freed up the west wing of the front yard for Huan Jun to live in.

The Han people revered the northwest, with the main gate facing east or north. The best rooms were in the west or north, while the east rooms were for the kitchen or toilet. Since he had recognized Huan Jun as his master, he could no longer let him stay in the east wing; he had to move him to the west room, the place of honor.

He didn't realize until he started cleaning that there was a small wooden pavilion in the backyard, covered with grapes. The grapes were plump and sweet. Liang Xiao was surprised; wasn't it said that grapes only came to China after Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions? How could they already be in his backyard?

Some rare treasures, Liang Xiao didn't dare to waste. He dragged Tuniu to cut down a few trees outside the city, repaired the wooden pavilion, and even made a swing.

After months of training, Tuniu's martial arts and strength had greatly improved. He could fell a tree as thick as a bowl with just two axe strikes, making him an excellent choice for physical labor. He almost did the entire project without Liang Xiao's help.

"Thanks, Tuniu."

"You're welcome." Tuniu wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Working for you is much easier than practicing martial arts with my master." He winked and grinned, "And I can eat at your place without feeling guilty."

Liang Xiao laughed. It turned out Tuniu had always been embarrassed, but he hadn't come any less often. He had to admit he owed Liu Ling a favor. Without the gifts from Liu Ling, he and Tuniu couldn't afford such good meals. Eating meat every day, many of the neighborhood boys must have been envious, and the walls of his house might have been nearly collapsed by people sniffing the aroma.

"Today you're in luck. My mother has prepared a grand meal to welcome my master. You can come too."

"What do you mean 'come too'? I never planned to leave." Tuniu rolled his eyes and waved his axe, grinning proudly, "Otherwise, I would have finished this work yesterday."

"You're hopeless." Liang Xiao laughed, "It's just a meal, is it worth so much?"

"It is." Tuniu looked around and tugged at Liang Xiao. "What do you think of my sister? If you like her, marry her, and we'll become one family. You can come to my place for meals every day. My sister is a bit fierce, but she's very efficient..."

"Get lost!" Liang Xiao kicked Tuniu, making him stumble. This guy was shameless, a real beast. To be able to eat at his place openly, he was willing to give his own sister away.

"Don't be like that." Tuniu clutched his buttocks and cried out, "Now that you're a famous scholar, many girls are interested in you and want to marry into your family. Since we're such good friends, why let others benefit? It's better for me to benefit."

"Forget it." Liang Xiao scolded, "I won't marry your fierce sister. When I become an official, I'll marry a well-bred lady. Tuniu, don't worry. With our skills, we won't stay in obscurity forever. Will you have trouble finding a wife?"

"My sister said, even if she can't be the main wife, being a concubine is fine."

"Really, what did your sister say?"

"Ah?" Tuniu covered his mouth and mumbled, trying to change the subject.

"If you mention this again, I'll break ties with you." Liang Xiao waved his hand and chased Tuniu away. "Now, either go wash up and get ready for dinner, or pack your things and go home."

"I'll go wash up." Tuniu grabbed his tools and ran off.

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Thank you to Nanbofo, Sweet Potato, Turen, Shudazi, Bai Ze 12345, Xunqianmo, and other readers for your support.

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