Volume Four: The Buddha Saves No One, but I, the Demon, Shall-Buying Back What Was Mine (Part One)

"No need. I took a few of your Vengeful Souls, and you act as though I'm about to overturn the entire Netherworld. I wouldn't dare accept your thanks," Luo Qian said with a curl of his lip. The Lord Emperor and Judge Cui looked embarrassed, but when they saw that Luo Qian was no longer insisting on leaving, they knew there was still hope. Judge Cui drew the Lord Emperor aside and whispered, "Your Majesty, unless we offer something rare and precious, I doubt the Immortal will help us again."

The Lord Emperor could see that for himself. He stroked his beard. "But what do we have in the Netherworld that could tempt an Immortal? Give me a moment to think."

Luo Qian stole a glance at them. Surely these two aren't that slow on the uptake? His worry proved unnecessary. After some thought, the Lord Emperor made up his mind. He came before Luo Qian and bowed deeply. "Immortal, would you keep a secret for the Netherworld?"

Luo Qian held fast to his merchant's principles: never make a promise lightly. A promise was an agreement, and an agreement was business—the kind that often carried enormous risks. "Hah. If it's something I have to keep secret, forget it." He dusted off his hands and turned to leave. This time, the Lord Emperor did not stop him. "Immortal, this is no small matter. Without the treasure that guards our springs, the Netherworld will fall. But if this secret gets out, the Netherworld will be thrown into chaos all the same." As he spoke, the Lord Emperor raised a barrier that shut even Judge Cui out.

Seeing how serious he was, Luo Qian grew curious. Besides, the greater the risk, the greater the profit—wasn't that how business worked? He gave an equivocal