Volume Three: How a Crooked Merchant Was Made - When the Old Man Lost His Horse (Part Two)

After hearing Luo Qian's account, Zheng Daoguang looked doubtful. "Really? Who would hire a killer like Luo Renwang to save you? His price is hardly cheap." Luo Qian gave a bitter smile. "I don't know either. If you can find out for me, I'll have to thank you. Besides, would I really walk into a trap just to come here and lie to you?" Zheng Daoguang considered this, then waved his hand. His subordinates withdrew.

Only Luo Qian and Zheng Daoguang remained in the room. Zheng Daoguang's expression softened. "I knew you'd come back to see me, just as I knew you were innocent..." Luo Qian froze. "Then why did you just..." Zheng Daoguang said helplessly, "It's a stance an official has to take. You caused such an uproar. If you came back and I didn't teach you a lesson, how could anyone accept it? Appearances like that have to be maintained. When you rise to a position of authority, you'll have to learn these things too." Luo Qian nodded, but privately disagreed. He had no ambitions in officialdom. If he could secure a minor post and look after his business, he would be perfectly content.

"Do you know that what you did shocked the entire Immortal Realm? Even His Majesty the Immortal Emperor flew into a rage. He's ordered the Imperial Execution Bureau to take full charge of the investigation." Luo Qian was startled. "I knew it would cause a tremendous stir, but I never expected it to reach even the Immortal Emperor."

Zheng Daoguang said, "Lu Xiaofeng is famously unyielding in the Immortal Realm, and Luo Renwang is a wanted criminal. With those two together, you've become a supporting player. The Immortal Emperor has only ordered Luo Renwang's capture by a strict deadline. He's barely mentioned you." Luo