131: Chapter 131 Bargaining

After listening to Xu Xin's explanation, Han Jingyang's heart surged with excitement.

Yang Luchan, that is...

A childhood idol.

That television series starring Jing Ge captivated countless people.

After all, what man doesn't have a martial arts dream in his heart?

Who doesn't want to be like Jing Ge in the series, invincible and undefeated across the world?

From a practical standpoint, I don't lack anything now except for close-combat ability. Once my item skills are exhausted, I can only let others slaughter me. Although I can keep my two bodyguards, Liu Jing and Shi Xiaoya, by my side, bodyguards are still just bodyguards. Even the most professional bodyguard cannot be without a single flaw.

The bodyguards of Abe Tamakane's relative, the Prime Minister, were impressive, right?

And what was the result?

At the critical moment, they were completely useless, leading to that person performing a literal "heart-to-heart" on the spot.

Relying on outsiders and external objects is ultimately unreliable.

If I could obtain Yang Luchan's martial arts experience and insights, and then find a way to improve my physical fitness later, I would truly have no weaknesses.

A melee mage?

Just thinking about it is thrilling.

Besides, for such a good thing to be stolen by the Japanese, no normal person could accept it.

It must be snatched back.

Of course, the specific details still need to be understood; I cannot be arrogant and look down on others.

Although the Japanese are shameless, their strength in certain aspects cannot be underestimated.

By the way, there are Han traitors involved in this matter.

Thinking of this, he asked Xu Xin directly, "What's the situation with the person who dueled you?"

"Actually..." Xu Xin hesitated. "He can be considered my junior fellow apprentice. When we were young, we didn't get along for some reason. Over the years, he has often sought me out for challenges. However, I never expected him to defect to the Japanese and act as a go-between to sell that treasure of our sect to the Japanese."

"Was it a normal transaction?"

"Yes and no. He knows the significance of that bronze tripod. Although no one has been able to open the so-called mechanism to obtain the inheritance within for so many years, it still holds great significance for the direct descendants of the Yang family and the many disciples of the Yang sect. Even if it were just an ordinary bronze tripod, it was cast by Master Yang himself. Even if it were worthless, it wouldn't be sold for less than one hundred thousand yuan."

"What is the attitude of the owner of the treasure?"

"I haven't had a chance to ask yet, but I know the character of this generation's successor. Although he doesn't practice martial arts and leads an ordinary life, he is well aware of the value of this bronze tripod. Under normal circumstances, he would absolutely not sell it for such a low price. I suspect he was coerced."

"This generation doesn't practice martial arts?"

Xu Xin sighed. "In this day and age, the cost-effectiveness of practicing martial arts is extremely low. Besides, since he's from a side branch, no one would say anything if he didn't practice. Actually... even if other direct descendants are still practicing, one can only say they are 'practicing.' As for their level, it's hard to put into words."

Han Jingyang understood.

The inheritance of traditional martial arts has indeed declined.

Although there has been a sign of a revival in recent years, once this kind of thing is broken, it is very difficult to restore it to its original form.

If it were in the age of cold weapons, there would still be a chance to nurture geniuses like Yang Luchan.

But in today's social environment, don't even think about it. Even if there were such good talent, there is no corresponding environment for growth.

Not to mention anything else, just looking at actual combat, where are there so many powerful opponents for you to challenge to hone yourself?

Moreover, the inheritance of traditional martial arts has always been a major problem. Among Yang Luchan's first generation of children, how many fully inherited Yang Luchan's skills? What about the second generation? The third generation?

It's not just the Yang school; other martial arts schools are the same.

The nature of this thing is just like that: building a foundation is difficult, starting is difficult, breaking through is even harder, and becoming a grandmaster-level existence is even more difficult.

From the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty until now, there have only been two peak periods for traditional martial arts: the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.

Why these two periods?

Obviously, the situation was unstable, and wars were frequent. Those who practiced martial arts had to fight for their lives just to survive.

To put it plainly, only under the tempering of life and death, blood and fire, can great experts like Yang Luchan be born.

In a peaceful environment, unless it's a matter of life and death, how many people are willing to engage in a death match with others?

Therefore, it is really not a rare thing for the descendants of martial arts grandmasters not to practice martial arts.

After clarifying the person's residential address, name, family members, and other details, Han Jingyang packed up his stall and left the hospital.

Zhang Zhiyang was waiting at the hospital entrance. Seeing Han Jingyang come out, he opened the car door and gestured.

Han Jingyang nodded to Liu Jing and sat inside directly. "Boss Zhang, speak directly if you have something to say. Don't waste time."

Zhang Zhiyang smiled. "Time is indeed tight, but not so tight that we don't have time to talk. Let's put it this way: the matter is actually under our control. We just don't want to make unnecessary sacrifices, and at the same time, we want to understand more detailed information so we can know ourselves and the enemy."

Han Jingyang raised an eyebrow. "That means you want me to be the hired muscle, right?"

"It's a matter of mutual benefit."

"I'm afraid you won't be willing to pay the price."

"You can ask for the sky, and we can bargain on the spot. Mr. Han, feel free to name your price."

"All the spoils of war, as well as that bronze tripod."

"Impossible. My mission this time is to recover that bronze tripod."

"No, your mission is to keep that bronze tripod in the country. As long as it hasn't left the country, it doesn't matter who has it, does it?"

"How can that be the same?"

"Not the same?" Han Jingyang smiled. "If you say that, then I have to suspect the role you are playing in this incident. Hmm, let me think. You have coveted the bronze tripod for a long time, but it's not easy to rob it openly, and you are reluctant to spend money, so you 'invited the wolf into the house.' Once the wolf carries the meat out the door, you jump out and snatch the food from the wolf's mouth. Thus, what originally belonged to the Yang family reasonably, legally, and compliantly becomes your property."

"Mr. Han, theoretically such a possibility does exist, and I can't even guarantee that such things haven't happened in the past, aren't happening now, or won't happen in the future. But I can guarantee that I and the unit I belong to have never done such things. In this matter, it is the same. Before the incident, we didn't even know such a bronze tripod existed. We were just purely watching those Japanese people. It was only after Xu Xin participated in the duel and an accident occurred that we caught a glimpse of the ins and outs."

"Then why are you reluctant to part with the bronze tripod?"

"We will provide you with a lot of support, especially intelligence support. There is no reason for you to swallow the spoils of war all by yourself. Splitting the spoils of war with you is the reasonable requirement."

Han Jingyang thought for a while and sighed. "How about this, let's both take a step back. I won't take it all for myself, but I want priority selection rights. Is that okay?"

Zhang Zhiyang breathed a sigh of relief. "What kind of priority?"

"I get priority selection for three items, and the rest are split equally, one for each, how about that?"

"This..."

"This is the fairest distribution method. If you are not satisfied, then let's rely on our own means. Whoever snatches it gets it, and no one should complain afterwards. How about it?"

Hearing this, Zhang Zhiyang's eyebrows twisted into knots, and his expression was extremely conflicted.

Obviously, he didn't know how to choose.

Because no matter what, it seemed he couldn't out-compete Han Jingyang.