Due to it being Sunday, the antique market was crowded. In addition to the shops being open, there were several times more stalls than usual.
With the crowd surging and people brushing shoulders, Long Xiao and Xiao Ming walked and looked along with the throng, searching for what they desired.
After browsing for a whole morning, Long Xiao hadn't found a single antique. Aside from some old objects, the stalls were filled with various kinds of crafts.
Xiao Ming complained as they walked, lamenting the scarcity of edible items in the antique market, and how any rare old medicinal herbs they encountered were invariably fake.
As noon approached, the two decided to find a place to eat first before continuing their exploration.
Before they could find a restaurant, Long Xiao received a call from an unfamiliar number.
He pressed the answer button, and a strange voice came from the phone: "Is this Mr. Long Xiao?"
The caller's Mandarin was somewhat stiff; it was clear they were not from China.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Long Xiao asked.
"Hello, Mr. Long Xiao, my name is Da Cang Tian San. I am a friend of Ono Jin Ken. Ono Jin Ken has entrusted me to contact you to retrieve his short sword."
"That's no problem. I already told Ono Jin Ken that he can redeem it for five hundred million."
"Mr. Long Xiao, some matters require face-to-face discussion. Can we meet?" Da Cang Tian San inquired.
"No problem. I'm at the antique market now. Call me when you arrive, and we'll coordinate."
After ending the call, Long Xiao and Xiao Ming found a small eatery. They had just ordered their dishes when, before they were served, Da Cang Tian San called again.
After Long Xiao told Da Cang Tian San the location of the small restaurant, two middle-aged men in suits soon entered.
Upon seeing Long Xiao and Xiao Ming, both middle-aged men looked surprised. They hadn't expected that Ono Jin Ken, famous in Japan, would be defeated by such a rustic-looking fellow in China.
"Hello, I am Da Cang Tian San," one of the middle-aged men stepped forward and said, extending his hand.
Long Xiao didn't extend his hand. He gestured with his chin towards a chair and said, "Sit down. I'll treat you to some noodles."
Both hesitated before sitting down. The dishes and noodles arrived quickly, and Long Xiao and Xiao Ming ate silently.
The two men looked at Long Xiao and Xiao Ming awkwardly. Seeing that neither intended to speak, they finally picked up their chopsticks and ate reluctantly.
They had never eaten in such a small eatery before, believing that such roadside restaurants in China were unhygienic.
After Long Xiao finished eating, he put down his chopsticks and looked at the two Japanese men eating their noodles unwillingly, asking, "Do you understand Western medicine?"
Both shook their heads. They knew that Long Xiao was not only a master but also a doctor who ran a medical clinic.
"Mr. Long Xiao, as far as I know, you practice Traditional Chinese Medicine."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "You're right, I practice TCM. In reality, there's no real difference between TCM and Western medicine."
The idea that there was no difference between TCM and Western medicine was something they had never heard before. In their eyes, TCM and Western medicine were two irreconcilable medical systems, and it was impossible for there to be no distinction.
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Long Xiao continued, "In the beginning, TCM had the same principles as Western medicine. It's just that over the thousands of years of TCM's development, the treatment methods of Western medicine, which have endless future repercussions, were abandoned."
The two men didn't understand Long Xiao's words. Long Xiao smiled and said, "You wouldn't understand even if I explained this to you. Do you know about Western medicine's immunotherapy?"
The two nodded. Long Xiao continued, "There's an old Chinese saying, 'Eat dirty, stay healthy,' which is akin to the early stages of Western medicine's immunotherapy. TCM treats by strengthening the root and nurturing the vital energy, increasing the body's own immunity. This way, there are no sequelae after treatment."
The two nodded, agreeing with Long Xiao's statement.
The cultivation techniques they practiced originated from China, and although they had been modified, their foundation remained unchanged. Long Xiao's words were not difficult for them to understand.
Hearing Long Xiao's words, they suddenly understood. They realized Long Xiao meant that by eating too cleanly, one's immunity doesn't get exercised, and it gradually weakens.
"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Long," they said, standing up and bowing respectfully to Long Xiao.
Long Xiao smiled and gestured for them to sit down, saying, "You've come to retrieve Ono Jin Ken's short sword. You know my terms. What are your thoughts?"
Da Cang Tian San nodded and said, "Mr. Long Xiao, the reason we've come to see you is that we don't have enough cash on hand. We plan to take Mr. Ono back to the country tomorrow. Could you accept some cash and replace the remainder with items of equivalent value?"
Long Xiao hadn't actually expected to receive five hundred million; he had asked for a high price, intending to negotiate.
If they offered the full amount directly, Long Xiao would naturally accept. He smiled and said, "I'm a very reasonable person. Anything you give is fine. If it's still not enough, you can owe me the rest."
Da Cang Tian San had prepared several arguments to persuade Long Xiao, and he was very pleased that Long Xiao was so accommodating.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Long. I'll prepare everything as soon as I get back. We'll reserve a private room at the Donghai Grand Hotel tonight for dinner and to finalize the transaction."
Xiao Ming couldn't help but exclaim, "All right! Prepare more dishes tonight. I didn't eat enough at lunch."
Earlier, Long Xiao, Da Cang Tian San, and the other man had each eaten only one bowl of noodles. Xiao Ming had eaten three large bowls by himself and was still complaining he wasn't full.
Da Cang Tian San smiled at Xiao Ming and said, "Certainly, young man. Order whatever dishes you like tonight; eat until you're full."
After the two Japanese men left, Long Xiao and Xiao Ming resumed their exploration of the antique market. Long Xiao was still somewhat unwilling to give up, wanting to search a bit more.
As it neared five in the afternoon, the crowd in the antique market dwindled. Long Xiao and Xiao Ming prepared to head to the Donghai Grand Hotel to wait for Da Cang Tian San. Xiao Ming secretly tugged at Long Xiao's sleeve and said, "Boss, something's up."
Following Xiao Ming's pointed direction, Long Xiao saw a group of people gathered, seemingly discussing something.
"Let's go, let's go see," Long Xiao said.
There were over a dozen people gathered. Long Xiao and Xiao Ming approached from behind and overheard them haggling. Judging by their accents, eight of them were from the Northeast, and only three were locals.
"I'll take this for five thousand."
"I'll offer eight thousand," said a burly man with a Northeast accent.
"I'll offer nine thousand," said a woman with a Northeast accent.
Soon, the price increased to fifteen thousand. The three locals began to hesitate. Long Xiao stepped forward and said, "Let me see what it is."
"You're not buying," said the young man holding the box, glancing at Long Xiao.
"Why wouldn't I buy? I'll buy it if it's worth the price," Long Xiao replied.
He opened the box, revealing another root of old ginseng. Long Xiao examined it carefully and found it wasn't the Ghost Spirit Grass, but a common tuber of San Qi. It takes less than ten years for a kilogram of San Qi to grow, and its medicinal properties are not strong; it's not even worth a hundred yuan.
After looking, Long Xiao sighed and shook his head, saying, "It's not worth it. Do you have any other herbs?"
A burly man grabbed Long Xiao's arm and pulled him aside, saying, "If you're not buying, don't cause trouble."
It was already past five o'clock, and Long Xiao didn't want to get entangled with these people further. He said, "Do you have any other herbs? Yesterday you scammed my father-in-law out of a hundred thousand, and I didn't pursue it. Bring out all your herbs for me to see."
The young man holding the box and selling the herb grabbed at Long Xiao's collar, saying, "What the hell do you think you are, saying we scammed your father-in-law?"
The three people with local accents saw that the people bidding against them were now siding with the seller. Only then did they realize that these people were all in on it together.
The three turned and left. The seller once again grabbed at Long Xiao, intending to act.
Long Xiao dodged again and said, "Xiao Ming, give them a lesson, educate them."
"You got it!"
Xiao Ming pulled out a black iron cleaver from his backpack. After a flash of black steel, everyone was dumbfounded.
Everyone felt their scalps tingle. Reaching up to touch, each person found a lock of hair had been shaved off by Xiao Ming.