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"Dragons, the leaders of the scaled creatures. They can be both ethereal and bright, both small and large, both short and long. They ascend during the spring equinox and dive into the depths during the autumn equinox." Further descriptions of dragons' habits and abilities can be found in "Guanzi • Water and Earth": "Dragons are born from water. They swim amidst five colors, hence they are divine. When they desire, they transform like a silkworm; when they wish to grow larger, they hide below; when they want to rise, they soar through the clouds; when they wish to descend, they plunge into the abyss." The image of dragons has always been varied, but a widely accepted description comes from the Southern Song's "Luoyuan • Erya • Wing • Dragon": "The dragon is the leader of the scaled creatures... Its form resembles nine things: its head is like a camel's, its horns like a deer's, its eyes like a rabbit's, its ears like an ox's, its neck like a snake's. The character for 'dragon' in Shang Dynasty oracle bones resembles a clam in its belly, scales like those of a carp, claws like an eagle's, and paws like a tiger's. Its back has eighty-one scales, embodying the number nine times nine. Its voice is like that of a bronze plate, with whiskers by its mouth and a pearl beneath its jaw." Such descriptions are indeed grand and imposing.
After the Hidden Dragon Abyss incident, Old Bi later asked me whether dragons truly exist in this world. I didn't know how to respond because such matters had surpassed our understanding and imagination. However, not long after that conversation, I encountered an animal that might have some connection to the legendary dragon—or perhaps it was indeed a "dragon."
In late July, two newly graduated Red Badge Trainees were added to our Unit. With two new Squad Leaders who were both graduates in command specialties, my workload naturally decreased significantly compared to when I was on my own. I looked around the Unit; there wasn't much going on anymore. Having already completed over a year since graduation, I decided to take advantage of this opportunity to file for leave, which was quickly approved. Next came booking train tickets, packing my bags, and handling handovers—all done with a joyful heart since I hadn't been home for over a year and my longing for home was growing stronger. On the day of departure, I didn't even have lunch at the Unit; I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. So much so that I didn't even take the bus after exiting the gate; I hailed a taxi straight to the train station.
It takes nearly twenty hours to travel from this city to my hometown, so I chose an afternoon train to ensure I'd make it home in time for lunch. After passing through ticket inspection and entering the military waiting room, I noticed there was still some time before departure. I thought about taking a quick nap but worried about missing my train. Just as I was hesitating, my phone rang. I glanced at it—it was an unfamiliar number. After considering it for a moment, I pressed the answer button.
"Hello! Who is this?" I asked politely.
"Is this Wang Squad Leader?" There was a brief silence on the other end before the voice continued. "Yes, who is this?" I couldn't recall who it was at first, but since they knew my name and title, I figured I must know them and patiently waited for their response.
"I... I'm Xiao Mo Ya." "Oh, it's you! Moya," I realized it was that fierce girl. What could she want?
"Call me Moya," she said firmly. "I'm near your unit; can you come out?"
"What? You're near my unit? Is there something you need? Moya, I'm on leave right now at the train station preparing to go home."
"You're at the train station? Then I'll take a taxi over to see you; wait for me!"
"Moya! Moya! Don't come! I'm about to leave; if you come here now it will be pointless! If you need something from me, just say it!" I felt anxious about her actually coming.
"Really?"
"Really, Moya, I'm about to drive. I've already found a sleeper for you. If there's anything, just let me know." Why does Xiao Mo Ya always beat around the bush instead of getting straight to the point? What could be so urgent that she had to come looking for me?
"Oh, I don't have anything in particular. I just wanted to chat with you since I was passing by. Let's talk when you get back."
After hanging up the phone, I was left puzzled, unable to figure out why Xiao Mo Ya would want to talk to me. But soon, the joy and anticipation of returning home pushed those thoughts aside.
After a long journey, I finally arrived home on the afternoon of the second day. My parents had already gone to work, leaving a note and some food for me. Without bothering to eat, I chose to sleep soundly, and I ended up sleeping until the morning of the third day! You really can't imagine the feeling of being on vacation. Living under constant pressure in a tightly organized environment like Discipline, suddenly my body and mind relaxed completely. It felt like returning to the state of summer vacation during college—daytime gatherings with friends, evening dinners, and nights spent gaming online. It was pure relaxation, a blissful escape!
This state of bliss lasted for a week until I visited my uncle's house. My twelve-year-old cousin Guoguo insisted on going to the pet market because she wanted to buy a pet. Seeing that my uncle didn't seem to mind, I figured he just wanted me to take her to get a fish or turtle or something. Perfect! Ever since I enlisted, I hadn't had the chance or inclination to visit such places. Little did they know how much I loved dogs; I often visited animal markets but was strongly opposed by my family. Otherwise, I would have brought home several pets by now.
We took a taxi straight to Binh Jiang Road Animal Market. The market was essentially a stretch along the riverside road lined with stalls filled with cages, fish tanks, and all sorts of containers housing various animals. The sounds of barking dogs and meowing cats mixed with the chatter of people greeted us even before we got out of the car! It was bustling with activity; then it hit me—it was the weekend! No wonder there were so many people.
I asked my cousin Guoguo what kind of pet she wanted as we walked around. To my surprise, she wanted a lizard! Wow, that's quite unique! It seemed I'd have to figure out how to satisfy her request before continuing my search for dogs. Fortunately, our local animal market is divided into four sections: flowers and birds at the front, followed by exotic pets, then cats and rabbits. The dog section is at the very back due to dog fighting.
I planned to help her buy a lizard first before checking out the dog area. So we strolled along together until we reached the exotic pet section. Compared to other areas, this one was quite sparse—mostly selling snakes, lizards, spiders, and other unusual pets. After visiting several stalls without finding her desired lizard, I couldn't help but wonder—what kind of girl wants a lizard? A Komodo Dragon? Interesting! Thankfully it was my vacation; we had plenty of time to wander around.
Just as we were browsing aimlessly, my cousin suddenly squealed and ran towards a stall. I hurried after her and was amazed to see a large square glass tank filled with shallow water and sand housing colorful lizards that resembled geckos but were much more vibrant in color and slightly larger. They sat there motionless, looking like plastic toys. "Look, brother! This is exactly what I'm looking for! These lizards are very gentle and calm; the coolest part is you can wear them as hair clips!"
I was taken aback; I'd read about girls in Mexico using lizards as hair accessories before. A single lizard can change colors based on its environment and twist into different poses—definitely a unique accessory! But still, that taste seemed rather peculiar. "Are you sure Mom and Dad will let you keep one?" I asked her.
Guoguo shot me an annoyed glance but ignored my question as she turned back to the vendor. "Is this type of lizard suitable for wearing as a hair clip? Is it easy to care for? What do they eat? I want this one!"
The vendor was an old man dressed simply with graying hair and short stature but bright eyes that sparkled with energy. He raised his eyebrows slightly at her enthusiasm. "Oh, young lady! You've got good taste! This type of lizard is extremely gentle—no aggression or venom—and loves cleanliness; they don't move around much either and are easy to care for. Some beauty-conscious girls do indeed use them as hair clips; just put them back in their tank when you get home. How about buying a pair? These are imported; since you seem knowledgeable about them, I'll let you choose—two lizards for 400 yuan, plus I'll throw in a tank and some food!"
"That's so expensive?!" I blurted out involuntarily; my monthly salary barely exceeded 1,000 yuan—this would take up a third of it! The old man chuckled at me knowingly. "That's actually quite cheap for what you're getting."
"Brother, please! I really want these lizards!" Guoguo pleaded with big eyes full of hope.
Feeling soft-hearted all of a sudden, I turned back to the vendor. "Sir, it seems like there aren't many customers here today; could you lower the price a bit?"
"Buddy," he replied with a smile, "I'm being fair here. How about this: I've got another tank next door with some less valuable pets; you can pick one from there as well as your lizards—consider it complimentary!"
I glanced at my cousin, who was already immersed in the joy of selecting lizards. Sigh, I thought to myself, at least this way I won't lose too much, right? After counting the money and handing it over, I turned back to see her beaming as she picked out a pair. I asked if she wanted to choose an extra accessory from the side, but she shook her head and continued to pester the old man for tips on care. I had no choice but to wander over to the large glass tank nearby.
Just a quick glance made me exclaim! What kind of monster gathering is this tank? There was an ugly turtle that couldn't be any uglier, with scales on its back and a tail that ended in a protrusion resembling a hammer. It must be an Alligator Snapping Turtle. On its head was something that looked like a shield-shaped helmet, and it had triangular eyes glaring fiercely at me! In another corner, there was a large, yellowish Toad that looked like its skin had a rough texture. To make matters worse, it had only three legs! Looking further away, I spotted a furry Giant Spider... None of these creatures seemed normal at all; that was my first impression. I shook my head; it seemed that the 400 yuan accessory wouldn't help recover any losses. After scanning the entire tank, I suddenly noticed a strange snake lurking in the shallow water of one corner!
To be continued, with more excitement ahead!
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