Chapter 152
Jiang Xiu asked him, "Important person? Who is it?"
"As the data we have gathered on the ancient city shows that it is an underground tomb, it means that we are going to venture into a tomb. Entering a tomb is different from archaeology and needs an expert on it. Therefore, we have invited a famous shaman who is an expert in Fengshui and Yin-Yang."
Inspecting a tomb is a part of archaeology and also the most important part, but it was after all only a part of it. Archaeology has many sides to it other than inspecting tombs, such as studying historical remains, historical sites, and secret lands. In fact, archaeologists rarely ventured into graves. The ones most familiar with tombs were tomb robbers. Since many strange things happen in underground tombs, these tomb robbers always have someone among them who understands Fengshui and yin-yang.
"What's the name of that shaman?" Jiang Xiu asked the professor.
"Li Chengzhi. He's from Pinghai's Spirit Tomb Sect. According to Young Master Jin's words, this man's position is pretty high in Pinghai's underworld, and he had spent a huge amount of money to invite him."
Jiang Xiu nodded slightly. After all, they were going into the desert. The torrid heat of the desert wasn't something that ordinary people could endure, and the desert was full of dangers too. "It looks like he spent a lot."
Jiang Xiu looked towards Jin Xi who was seated opposite to Qiu Yinru and spoke to her with a smile on his face. He guessed that Jin Xi was having a great time flirting with her. This young master had really spent a lot of capital to impress Qiu Yinru.
"Right. What's the history behind this Young Master Jin?"
Professor Xu was stunned, "You don't know it yet?"
Jiang Xiu shook his head.
Professor Xu shook his head inwardly by the fact that Jiang Xiu had offended Jin Xi without even knowing his background. "Golden Brocade Group is a famous business tycoon of Pinghai. The Jin family possess enough assets to stand in the top 5 among the Pinghai province as well as the top list in the entire nation."
Professor Xu's face was filled with heartfelt admiration as he said this.
Pinghai's economic development was very quick and violent like Jiangnan's. Soon after, Jiangnan would overtake Pinghai and leave it way behind. But as of now, Pinghai province's economy still stood above Jiangnan's and was at the top 3. As the Jin family's assets ranked among the top 5 in Pinghai, they were really a considerable force.
Jiang Xiu just smiled in response to this.
There were many other true elite clans in the nation, and their assets were far above those millionaires showcased on Forbes. It was just that their assets were invisible as they didn't wish to act high-profile.
After seeing that Jiang Xiu didn't seem to care about this, Professor Xu mentioned another thing, "I also heard a rumor. It seems like the Jin family isn't that simple. Although they are based in Pinghai, they have deep ties to the Imperial Capital. This is clear from the fact that Young Master Jin is able to mix in well within the Imperial Capital." He lowered his voice a little, "Jin family is a political plutocrat as well as the wallet of Old Diplomat Jiang."
Jiang Xiu instantly questioned him back without any change in his expression, "You mean Jiang Yishan?"
Professor Xu nodded with discretion.
Jiang Yishan had once been stationed at Pinghai. It was reasonable to say that there was a relationship between the Jin family and the Jiang family.
Professor Xu continued, "You understand his history now, right? Young Master Jin isn't someone ordinary people can afford to provoke. Apologize to him when you're free. Got it?"
Jiang Xiu just smiled.
"Young man, it's good to have an unyielding character, but you need to act according to the situation. You can't offend some people as you'll not only harm your future but also involved your family."
…
At a table far from them, a few of the team members were playing poker leisurely. It was quite exhausting to travel long distances via rail and was difficult to pass the time unless they did something.
Jiang Xiu leaned back at his seat and closed his eyes. After that, he didn't open them for several hours, neither did he eat nor did he drink anything, and didn't even go to the toilet.
Just like that, the train had finally arrived at Pinghai!
The team members all got down the train. Cheng Dewen asked Jin Xi at this moment, "Young Master Jin, are you from Pinghai?"
"Yes. This is my native place, but I grew up in the Imperial Capital. I return here during the Chinese New Year, so I'm very familiar with the place. Since we will stay at Pinghai for 1-2 days, you can roam around a bit." Jin Xi explained to him.
"Yinru, it's your first time to Pinghai, right?"
Qiu Yinru nodded, "Yes, it's my first time. I planned to come here many times but couldn't make it in the end. This time, I've finally arrived here."
Everyone unloaded the luggage after that.
Archaeology was quite an exhausting work. The work needed a lot of things such as videotape equipment, exploration equipment, ladders, tents, sleeping bags and so on."
"I'll help you."
Jin Xi brought out his gentlemanly side out again.
"Thank you!"
Everyone knew very clearly in their hearts that this opportunity was set aside for Young Master Jin. Actually, he wasn't the only one secretly in love with Qiu Yinru, but the others had no choice but to give up.
There was a bus waiting for them after they left the railway station. Pinghai was Young Master Jin's domain, so he had naturally arranged things properly. The hotel they were staying at was a private 5-star hotel. There was actually no need to make it all so luxurious but since it was the Golden Brocade Grand Hotel, they were persuaded by him as it was his own family's and they could stay there for free.
"Wow. I have never stayed at a 5-star hotel before!"
"I'm so excited!"
The girls all screamed excitedly after seeing the deluxe lobby of the hotel.
"Jiang Xiu, have you ever stayed at one?"
Chen Dewen asked Jiang Xiu in a soft voice.
"No!"
Jiang Xiu matched his answer with what they were expecting.
The economy was pretty average in the year 2008, and the concept of 5-star hotels was pretty different from those in the future which were genuine high-grade luxury hotels.
For ordinary people, staying at a 5-star hotel was a pretty luxurious experience.
"That's why you should feel grateful. If it weren't for Young Master Jin, you would have never got the chance to stay at such a high-grade hotel."
Jiang Xiu simply ignored him and after taking the room card.
"Look over there, do you know who that is?"
"Yeh. It's a greedy ingrate who lives for free without doing anything at all."
In reality, Jin Xi didn't wish to invite all of them to stay here too. He was just showing off. If it weren't for Qiu Yinru, he would've never invited these people to stay at a 5-star hotel.
…
Sometime after Jiang Xiu had come to the hotel, he received a call form Gu Dekang who hadn't called him in a long time, "Hello, Mr. Jiang?"
"What is it?"
Gu Dekang spoke a little anxiously, "I wasn't planning to disturb Mr. Jiang but had no choice but to do it. As the results of Jingmen Military District weren't good in the All-Army Competition, the leader of the Central Military HQ is quite dissatisfied. I'm under a lot of pressure right now. The situation is has become worse now as I heard that someone wants me to step down from my position."
"Is someone acting behind the scenes?" Jiang Xiu asked him.
"It's all the same whether it's the military or officialdom. In case we show weakness, people will always plot to make you step down. That's why I wish to ask for Mr. Jiang's help."
"How do you want me to help you?"
"The leader will be held accountable for the achievements in this time's military competition. Though this is just a ruse, sometimes this kind of ruse is the most crucial point. That's why I can only try to win through the competition."
"I wish to ask Mr. Jiang when you can come to the camp and teach those little brats."
"That way I can show the results to the HQ as quickly as possible."
This was the reason for his call. Though Jiang Xiu held the title of Jingmen Military District's Chief Adviser, he hadn't made a single trip there during these two months. This was why Gu Dekang urging him to come there.
"I'm about to enter the desert. It will take at least 10-15 days or as long as 1-2 months."
"If the pressure on your side is that huge, how about this? I have a fist technique with me. You can send someone to get it from me. If you teach it to your army members, it should increase their fighting strength by a grade."
"May I ask what's the name of this technique and what rank it is?"
"Explosive Flame Punch, Demigod level."
Ancient fist techniques were already very amazing by the fact that they could increase the power tenfold, and this fist technique was a rank higher than that. There was no doubt that it would increase their fighting strength a lot more than that.
Gu Dekang was jubilant at this good news, "Thank you, Mr. Jiang. Thank you very much…"
Jiang Xiu didn't have any ordinary first techniques with him, neither did he have any ancient ones. He only had God level ones with him, but these were all immortal arts, and those soldiers naturally couldn't learn it. Jiang Xiu got rid of the immortal elements from the art and only left the simple martial arts part behind. That's why he called this Explosive Flame Punch a Demigod level art.
Having an ancient fist technique was already considered a huge thing in the army, and now that they had a Demigod level one, it was something really amazing.
"I'll immediately send someone to get it…"