Lost and Found!

Luo Zheng was clearly stunned for a moment upon hearing this answer.

"Hahaha!" He then burst into loud laughter, laughing until tears streamed from his eyes.

Luo Zheng did not care about the gazes of others who looked at him as if he were a fool; he simply rubbed his eyes.

"A-Chuan, I didn't misjudge you, but the more this is the case, the less I can hinder your future."

"I'm going to tell Tang Xiang right now!"

Li Chuan grabbed him and said in a low voice:

"Senior Brother Luo, think about it carefully. Is the Tang Family truly a good place to go?"

Hearing this, Luo Zheng immediately calmed down.

"What do you mean?"

Li Chuan analyzed calmly:

"Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Tang Family, the Inner City Wang Family, and the County Magistrate are clearly in league with one another."

"It is practically common knowledge that these three families want to join forces to contend against the other three families in the Inner City."

"We lack sufficient information and do not truly understand what the situation is."

"Under these circumstances, rashly getting involved in the center of the storm is not a good thing!"

"Furthermore..." Li Chuan looked deeply at Luo Zheng, "I do value a residence in the Inner City and need to settle my family, but is it really safe to place my family in Tang Xiang's hands?"

"If they encounter any danger and need someone to lead the charge, who do you think they will send?"

"By then, with my family in his hands, would I even be able to say a single word of 'no'?"

Luo Zheng rubbed his chin.

"A-Chuan, what you say makes sense. It seems you have thought this through thoroughly."

"I know Tang Xiang's character well; he is the type who won't get out of bed for anything less than profit and never lets himself suffer a loss."

"Now that I think about it, he is willing to offer you such a high price... I fear the price you would have to pay is far greater than that!"

The two looked at each other, both knowing what that price was.

It could be their lives!

Luo Zheng patted Li Chuan's shoulder heavily.

"Regardless, A-Chuan, you chose my Luo Family, and I will certainly not treat you poorly."

"You really need a residence in the Inner City? My family happens to have a courtyard in the Inner City..."

"It's empty anyway, so I'll go ask my father later to give this courtyard to you!"

"That way, you won't have any worries at all."

Li Chuan was somewhat surprised.

He had not expected that the Inner City residence he had lost would return in this manner.

Moreover, it was an even better option than before.

If he were in Tang Xiang's hands, he would inevitably be threatened.

But in the Luo Family's courtyard, he could truly be at ease!

As for the extra silver Tang Xiang offered, it was worth nothing at all.

An Inner City courtyard was worth at least several hundred taels of silver.

Not to mention, that money was blood money!

Li Chuan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Luo."

Luo Zheng smiled bitterly.

"I cannot guarantee it, but I will do my utmost to persuade my father."

"Come with me."

The two walked out of the Flying Swallow Pavilion, chatting and laughing.

Not far away, a youth in a blue robe asked in confusion:

"Brother Tang, what's wrong?"

Tang Xiang withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly:

"It's nothing. I intended to recruit a junior brother to be a retainer in my family, but I was rejected."

The blue-robed youth immediately became interested:

"Is this person so sought after? Did someone from the four great families of the Inner City step in?"

Tang Xiang shook his head:

"No, it was just the Luo Family Apothecary."

The young man in the blue robe sneered:

"This man is truly blind; does he not know that the Tang Family is worth two Luo Family Pharmacies?"

Tang Xiang chuckled:

"Who knows."

At this price, it wouldn't be hard to find a Dark Force expert to clear the way.

It was just unlikely to find someone as simple-minded and easy to manipulate as Li Chuan.

The Dark Force experts in the Outer City were all cunning old foxes.

Getting them to risk their lives... was difficult!

Luo Family Pharmacy.

Luo Zheng brought Li Chuan to a tea table and said solemnly:

"A-Chuan, wait for me here. I'm going to discuss this with my father."

After speaking, he walked into his father's bedroom.

Following behind him was Luo Houping, his eyes filled with confusion.

Inside the master bedroom.

A man with a solemn, square face was hunched over a desk.

It was the head of the Luo Family, Luo Weiyuan!

Hearing the familiar footsteps, Luo Weiyuan rubbed his sore eyes:

"A-Zheng, you're here. What do you need?"

Luo Zheng rubbed his fingers subconsciously, clearly feeling uneasy:

"Father, I have a good friend—the Dark Force junior brother I mentioned to you before, his surname is Li..."

Luo Weiyuan interrupted him, his tone tinged with mockery:

"Li Chuan. You've only ever had one Dark Force friend, of course I remember."

"What's wrong? Didn't we already discuss his compensation? That price was already very high; is he not satisfied?"

Luo Zheng quickly explained:

"No, no, he is very satisfied. He even turned down invitations from other factions because of it."

"But it seems his family is being targeted, and he wants to move into the Inner City."

"I remember we have a house in the Inner City..."

"Bang!" Luo Weiyuan slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, shouting, "A house in the Inner Courtyard? That's worth hundreds of taels of silver—enough to hire several Dark Force experts!"

"I think you've been drugged; how could you even suggest such a thing?"

"I suspect this is a trap he set specifically for you to fall into."

"Do not associate with such a devious person ever again!"

Luo Weiyuan turned his gaze toward Luo Houping behind him:

"Big Brother, you are a good judge of character. Tell A-Zheng what kind of person this Li Chuan is."

Luo Houping thought for a moment and said hesitantly:

"I often interact with him when I deliver medicine. Every time we talk, he praises A-Zheng and shows gratitude."

"He is also very diligent with the medicine transport team, treating every task as if it were his own."

"In my opinion, he is not the kind of person you describe."

Luo Weiyuan had hoped to get some support from Luo Houping, but instead, he received this answer.

He was so angry that his lips trembled:

"Big Brother, even you are helping A-Zheng? That is an Inner City property, not some head of cabbage!"

Luo Zheng's face flushed red, but he still said in a low voice:

"Father, didn't you say we should be 'benevolent and righteous'?"

"He turned down the Tang Family's invitation for my sake..."

Luo Weiyuan laughed in anger: "He turned down who... whose family?"

Luo Zheng stole a glance at his expression and added:

"The Tang Family of the Outer City. They were willing to pay double what we offer just to recruit A-Chuan."

"A-Chuan remembered the help I've given him, so he refused the Tang Family's invitation."

Luo Weiyuan opened his mouth to scold Luo Zheng, but found he didn't know what to say.

For Li Chuan to reject such a generous offer from the Tang Family for the sake of Luo Zheng—that was definitely "loyal."

In the past, he had always taught Luo Zheng that one should treat friends with sincerity, with interests coming only second.

Yet, how had he been the one to change?

Ever since he took charge of such a massive family estate, he had always placed interests above all else...

For a moment, Luo Weiyuan sighed inwardly.

He waved his hand dismissively.

"That house is sitting empty anyway, so be it, be it."

Luo Zheng asked in pleasant surprise, "Father, you agree?!"

Luo Weiyuan scolded him with a smile.

"Get lost quickly, or I might change my mind!"

Luo Zheng was overjoyed and hurried out.

Luo Weiyuan and Luo Houping exchanged a smile.

For some reason, he suddenly didn't feel the sting of loss anymore.