The two were discussing bamboo slips when Long Xiao emerged from below the cliff. They hurried forward to inquire about the situation.
Wangcai, seeing them engrossed in conversation, also sidled over, cocking its ears to listen.
Xiao Ming glanced at Wangcai and said, "Can you understand? Why are you listening in?"
Wangcai glared at Xiao Ming and moved behind Long Xiao to continue eavesdropping.
Long Xiao recounted the situation in the cave to the two, their faces etched with surprise.
"Ten dragons, I never expected there to be ten dragons down there," Old Hu exclaimed in astonishment.
"They were pythons, not dragons at all," Long Xiao corrected.
Old Hu shook his head. "They were dragons. Once pythons grow horns, they become jiao. Jiao are a type of dragon. With further cultivation, they can ascend and become true celestial dragons."
"Dragons that can fly are evolved from pythons? That's too unscientific," Xiao Ming remarked.
Old Hu cast a disdainful look at Xiao Ming. "What science? Modern science is too insignificant. It can't possibly explain human society and the natural world."
While the two discussed natural science, Long Xiao took out the bamboo slips from the basket and studied them for a while, but still couldn't decipher their meaning.
He put down the bamboo slips and picked up a bronze ware from the basket. The patina on the bronze ware was too heavy, making the inscriptions unclear. It needed to be treated before it could be read.
The jade carvings had no inscriptions, only various strange patterns. Long Xiao could understand these. What surprised him was that all these jade pieces were magical artifacts.
He selected all the jade pieces and examined them one by one. He discovered that the talismans on these magical artifacts were ancient, and many of them were similar to those he had learned in the "Dragon Treasury."
Old Hu and Xiao Ming packed the bamboo slips and bronze wares, while Long Xiao examined the jade pieces. After they loaded everything onto the cart, Old Hu curiously asked, "A'long, can you understand the drawings on the jade?"
Long Xiao nodded. "Yes, these drawings are spiritual talismans, and these jade pieces are ancient magical artifacts."
"Magical artifacts?"
Old Hu pondered for a moment. "I once heard a legend. A long, long time ago, a group of dragon slayers came here, wanting to slay an ice dragon to rid the people of evil. But they were all eaten by the ice dragon."
Long Xiao recalled the pile of white bones in the cave. "The legend you're telling might be true. The pile of white bones in the cave belongs to those dragon slayers."
The jade pieces were packed into a separate bag by Long Xiao and also loaded onto the cart.
They decided not to take the "ice marrow." Staying there any longer was pointless. They all packed their belongings onto the cart and set off on their return journey.
After returning to the city and bidding farewell to Old Hu, Long Xiao bought another vehicle, loaded all the jade pieces and bamboo slips onto it, and drove back to Donghai.
The bronze wares were only useful for selling and had no other purpose. Long Xiao left them to Old Hu as a bonus.
Upon returning to Donghai, Long Xiao spent two days studying the bamboo slips and jade pieces. He had basically deciphered the talismans on the jade, understanding their methods of drawing and their functions.
He still couldn't understand the bamboo slips at all. The Ji family were antique connoisseurs, so Long Xiao took a scroll of bamboo slips to the Ji family for consultation.
Ji Yuelan was very welcoming when she saw Long Xiao. She hadn't seen him for a few days and had been missing him, though she couldn't express it.
"Brother Long, where did you get these bamboo slips? They're from a very ancient era," Ji Yuelan asked, examining the scroll in her hand.
Long Xiao recounted the entire process of going to the cave to Ji Yuelan.
Ji Yuelan exclaimed in surprise, "Are there really dragons?"
Long Xiao shook his head. "It wasn't a real dragon, but a large python with horns on its head."
"Once a python grows horns, it becomes a jiao. A jiao is a type of dragon, no longer just a large python," Ji Yuelan explained.
After looking at the bamboo slips for a while, Ji Yuelan also couldn't recognize the script. However, she could tell that this scroll was from the Western Zhou Dynasty.
To figure out what was written on the bamboo slips, Ji Yuelan showed them to other members of the Ji family, but none of them could understand it.
"Brother Long, Beijing University has many talented individuals. How about I go to Beijing University for you and find someone to take a look?"
Long Xiao nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Yuelan."
Ji Yuelan smiled. "Brother Long has been incredibly kind to our Ji family. Helping you is our duty."
Ji Yuelan set off for the capital, while Long Xiao returned to Xinglin Grass Hall to begin studying spiritual talismans. The talismans on the jade had greatly inspired him, and he started pondering how to enhance the effectiveness of spiritual talismans and apply them in actual combat.
While Long Xiao was in western Sichuan, the "Three Dragons, Two Tigers, One God of Wealth" of Donghai continued their mission against the Yamato Overseas Development Company.
Luo Caishen had gained the upper hand, and the stock of Yamato Overseas Development Company plummeted. Even the economic experts invited by Kameyama Kyuji from Japan couldn't stop it.
The economic experts from Japan were no less skilled than Luo Caishen's team, but the Chinese stock market was different from those in other countries. Methods that worked in other stock markets were ineffective in China.
Several companies under Yamato Overseas Development Company were also in a passive state.
On the official front, they were suppressed by Lu Tianxing and Lu Tianzhi, and various procedures left them overwhelmed.
Every day, people from Brother Xi Cheng Hu and Leopard A from Dongcheng were causing trouble for these Japanese individuals, leading to constant conflicts. Every time a conflict erupted, the police would arrive at the scene to make arrests, taking both parties into custody for questioning.
The results of the questioning were that the Japanese were either indicted or detained, while the troublemakers generally got off scot-free. Even if they committed serious offenses, they were detained for at most three to five days.
Kameyama Kyuji was in a state of utter distress, unable to devise any counter-strategy.
One day, he was sitting in his office, lost in thought, when Akisama walked in.
Akisama was short and always wore a perfectly pressed small suit, no matter the occasion.
"Mr. Kameyama, what vexing matter has you looking so glum?" Akisama asked with a smile.
Akisama was a very mysterious and elusive figure; no one knew when or where he appeared from.
Seeing Akisama's sudden appearance, Kameyama Kyuji was accustomed to it. He stood up and politely offered Akisama a seat.
"I'm so worried I could die. Why are these Chinese people targeting me everywhere?" Kameyama Kyuji sighed.
Akisama nodded. "It's right that they're targeting you. The mastermind behind this is that Long Xiao. He organized a meeting and united the Three Dragons, Two Tigers, and One God of Wealth of Donghai to deal with you."
"It's Long Xiao again," Kameyama Kyuji gritted his teeth. "If I ever get the chance to capture him, I will tear him to shreds."
Akisama smiled. "Capturing him isn't difficult, but tearing him to shreds seems unnecessary. Long Xiao is a talented individual. If we could make him work for us, that would be even better."
"You want to use Long Xiao?" Kameyama Kyuji asked.
Akisama nodded. "Yes, I want to use Long Xiao."
Kameyama Kyuji pointed. "Long Xiao is eyeing my headquarters building. You know the purpose of this building, and he is an enemy of our nation."
Akisama smiled. "Let him have the headquarters building. Give him whatever else he wants."
"If we give him the building and he tears it down, our entire plan will be ruined."
Akisama shook his head. "It will only appear ruined on the surface. This is also good. They will think our plan is over and will no longer target us."