"Father!"
"Sheng'er!" One wept bitter tears, the other cried until tears streamed down his old face. What a melodramatic father-and-son reunion. Only after crying for ages did they rein in their grief. Bai Ru took his son's hand, stepped forward, and bowed to Luo Qian. "Thank you, young friend!" Luo Qian smiled. "No need. I took your money, so I solved your problem. Only right, only right." He rubbed his fingers together at them. Bai Zisheng looked at his father.
Bai Ru felt awkward. He had left in such a hurry that he had brought little money, and only now remembered that Luo Qian was not working for free. With an embarrassed look, he said apologetically, "Young friend, I'll certainly pay you, but I didn't bring that much with me today. Could you perhaps..." Luo Qian stroked his chin, looking every bit the petty-minded villain. "You didn't bring it? Surely a distinguished Steward of the Saint Court can come up with a trifling six hundred thousand?" "Six hundred thousand?" Hadn't they agreed on three hundred thousand? Bai Ru was puzzled.
Bai Zisheng hurriedly pulled his father aside and explained. Luo Qian said, "Lord Bai, there's still a balance of Three Hundred Thousand. But that only covered rescuing your son. We never guaranteed he'd survive afterward. The antidote was a separate purchase. I'm sure you're a reasonable man, Lord Bai, so I needn't say more. Heh heh..."
Bai Ru cared little about the money. "Of course. Six hundred thousand Superior Saint Stones. As soon as I get home, I'll send someone with them." Luo Qian was still stroking his chin. "Normally, I ought to take your word for it. But these days, you never know what lies beneath a man's skin. Who knows what might happen later... Heh, I don't mean