At some point, Boss Luo had begun faithfully playing the literary and cinematic villain: if he took a fancy to someone else's treasure—or some lovely young lady—he would use every trick he had to seize the prize and bring it home to show off. The Zhu Household would not be the first, much less the last.
Du Lengning left with his orders. He was even more underhanded than Luo Qian, so Luo Qian considered the shop as good as his and turned his attention to the surrounding properties.
The Three Heavens were prime territory. Like Jade Clarity Heaven, they all had their share of problems with the old guard and their descendants. Upper Clarity Heaven was no exception; the problem was simply worst in Jade Clarity Heaven.
He often met the Buddha Ancestor on business, but he was no Savior of Ten Thousand Families. He often tried to learn from Lei Feng out of moral conviction, but he was no Uncle Lei Feng, either. Upper Clarity Heaven could solve its own problems. Luo Qian had no intention of worrying about them.
Little Treasure's "fine rain" woke him again that morning. Luo Qian splashed water over his face twice and felt ready for anything. For once, he went to report for duty at the Immortal Apprehension Office, much to the misery of his subordinates, who had grown lax in his long absence. Everyone who failed to show up got the paddle. At the sight of Luo Qian's dark expression, the rest fell silent as cicadas in winter, none daring to mention his own neglect of duty.
Luo Qian berated them at the top of his lungs, stern in voice and expression. His words carried a distinctly "heartbroken" edge as he condemned the Immortal Apprehension Office's rotten discipline and carefree indolence, as