Fan Sheng paused, then draped the cloth back over the rack. "What sort of information are you looking for?"
"There's a retainer at Li Cheng's side," Deng Qing said. "People call him Zhang Bo. He seems to have something against me, so I want to learn where he came from and what he's capable of."
Fan Sheng frowned. "How did you end up at odds with someone from the Li Family?"
"I wouldn't call it a conflict."
Deng Qing played it down. "We've crossed paths a few times, and there's been a bit of a misunderstanding. He's a martial artist in the Bone-Forging Realm. I ought to take precautions."
"Since he's Li Cheng's retainer, why not speak to Li Cheng and have him smooth things over?" Fan Sheng said.
"You've always been on good terms with Li Cheng. If Li Cheng says the word, a retainer won't keep hounding you.
"Enemies are better reconciled than made. Besides, the Li Family has powerful connections. If you can avoid making this a bigger affair, you should."
"That's what I was thinking too."
Deng Qing nodded. "But Li Cheng is taking the Prefecture Examination Retest. He won't be back anytime soon. Once he returns, I'll talk to him.
"Until then, I'd rather find out what I can about Zhang Bo. A little extra caution can't hurt."
Fan Sheng thought it over. "You have a point.
"But you're Master's Personal Disciple now.
"Don't keep acting as though you have no one to rely on and must shoulder everything yourself.
"If Zhang Bo really dares to use his Bone-Forging Realm cultivation to bully you, go to Master if you have to."
Deng Qing had his own plans, and the matter was nowhere near the point of involving Li Dashan.
But he could hardly tell Fan