Qin Tong was startled by the question.
She looked at Murong Shuang nervously and retorted, "General Murong, how could you have such a dangerous idea? You are a Three-Star General, who could possibly arrest you?"
Murong Shuang said, "Hai Wentao was also a Three-Star General, wasn't he also arrested?"
"That's different," Qin Tong said. "Hai Wentao committed too many offenses outside the Great Wall, and the higher-ups decided to deal with him. Otherwise, how could an ordinary person touch him? You are different, General Murong. You are upright and honest, with clean hands. No one above can touch you, and no one else can even think of it!"
It sounded plausible.
But...
Murong Shuang always felt something was not quite right, a vague sense of danger.
Murong Ba's poisoning seemed to be a deliberate act by someone to lure Murong Shuang to Modu; coincidentally, it was Hai Wentao who went.
Hai Wentao became the scapegoat.
The more she thought about it, the more chilling it became.
If everything was indeed as it seemed, who in the entire world possessed such immense power?
Even a Five-Star General couldn't do it. It would have to be... the Dragon Warlord!
Thinking this, Murong Shuang smiled.
The Dragon Warlord wanted to harm her? No, absolutely impossible.
Everyone knew that Murong Shuang was a loyal follower and admirer of the Dragon Warlord. She had rejected countless eligible men just to have a chance to marry him.
Under such circumstances, how could the Dragon Warlord bear to harm her?
Besides, there was no motive.
Murong Shuang shook her head and said, "Too many things have happened in Modu recently. That place is like a bottomless pit, a vortex that seems to swallow anyone who goes there, making it difficult to escape."
Her eyes sharpened, and she said seriously, "Therefore, I cannot go there lightly. I need to devise a foolproof plan."
Qin Tong nodded. "I agree with that. Even if we have to go to Modu, we must be prepared. In fact, I also feel that there is a strange force lurking in the shadows, watching us covetously!"
...
Modu, Police Station.
Jia Zheng, former secretary to the Mayor of Modu, came to visit his imprisoned son, Jia Guowei.
In just over a week, Jia Guowei had transformed from a fair-skinned, plump young man into a haggard figure with vacant eyes, like a convict.
Seeing Jia Guowei's miserable state, Jia Zheng's heart ached.
Jia Guowei cried, "Dad, I can't stand it anymore. I don't want to stay in prison. Get me out, take me home, please! Apply for parole, spend some money to bail me out!"
If he could do that, Jia Zheng would have done it long ago.
The problem was, he couldn't.
When Jia Guowei was imprisoned, it was agreed that he must serve a full year. Not a day or an hour less would count as a year.
It was unchangeable.
Moreover.
In the past, when Jia Zheng handled official duties on behalf of Mayor Liang, he held great power and could engage in some corrupt practices.
Not anymore.
As Mayor Liang's health gradually recovered, his power was fully restored.
Jia Zheng lost all trust and was relegated to a leisurely department, where he spent his days copying documents, with absolutely no power.
Add to that the poisoning of his close friend, Murong Ba.
Jia Zheng was now utterly alone, with no money, no power, and no connections. How could he get Jia Guowei out?
"Alas..." Jia Zheng sighed deeply. "Guowei, it's not that Dad doesn't want to save you, but I'm willing but unable. Now all the power is in Mayor Liang's hands, and they are all in league with Lu Ming. Our good days are over."
As soon as he heard the name 'Lu Ming,' Jia Guowei's teeth itched with anger.
It was because of Lu Ming that Jia Guowei had fallen into this predicament.
Jia Guowei gritted his teeth and said, "I'm not having a good time, so should Lu Ming have a good time? Dad, even if you can't get me out, can't you do something to harm Lu Ming? Make him suffer a bit too, then I'll feel better staying in here."
This...
Jia Zheng thought for a moment, but said nothing.
He had long wanted to harm Lu Ming but could never find a suitable opportunity. Moreover, with Lu Ming skillfully navigating all sides now, Jia Zheng had even less confidence in dealing with him.
"Let's talk about it later."
After his visit, Jia Zheng left the police station and walked along the roadside.
He walked and pondered how to make Lu Ming suffer.
As he walked, Jia Zheng saw a little girl begging on the street, ragged and with a leg disability. Lu Ming seemed to know her.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
Jia Zheng chuckled and said, "Lu Ming, I remember you have a goddaughter of a similar age. Alright, you put my son in jail, and I'll make your goddaughter suffer too. Then we'll be even!"
...
Night.
Lu Ming was temporarily staying at Chen Yingong's place, and also visiting his goddaughter, Chen Xian.
After a period of recuperation, Chen Yingong's condition had basically recovered, and Chen Xian had enrolled in a good kindergarten, where she excelled.
Everything was developing in a positive direction.
"Dinner's ready."
The Dragon King personally cooked a large table of dishes. Without any distinction of hierarchy, they sat together, eating hot pot and drinking beer, in a harmonious and joyous atmosphere.
Here, Lu Ming felt a greater sense of home than when he was with Jiang Mengxin and Xu Qin.
While they were eating, the television was on.
A news report playing in the middle caught everyone's attention: Recently, there had been a large number of child disappearances in Modu, mostly between the ages of 2 and 7. The police initially suspected that a criminal gang was operating in Modu and were intensifying their efforts to find the missing children, assuring citizens and bringing solace to broken families. At the same time, they cautioned parents to always keep an eye on their children when taking them out, and never let them out of sight, nor...
The host rambled on with a lot of precautions.
Chen Yingong frowned slightly and said, "I didn't expect there to be such rampant organized crime in Modu."
The Dragon King sighed. "There are too many bad people in this era. Chen Yingong, you must be careful when you take Xian'er out these days. Never talk to strangers or accept snacks from them."
Chen Xian nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I know. I will definitely not go with strangers."
"Good, that's my good girl." The Dragon King patted Chen Xian's little head and then gave her a large slice of lamb.
Chen Yingong looked at Lu Ming and asked, "Mr. Lu, are you going to continue this stalemate with the Jiang family?"
Lu Ming gave a wry smile. "Give me a few days off. I'll stay here these few days and won't go back."
The Dragon King chimed in, "That's right, don't go back! If you have to go back, they should come pick you up with an eight-bearer sedan chair! After all the hardships you've endured for the Jiang family, and they treat you like this? Even a dog knows gratitude, but those scoundrels in the Jiang family are worse than dogs!"
Lu Ming sighed and said nothing.
They were enjoying this happy time, unaware that this happiness would be extremely short-lived.
What awaited them was Jia Zheng's terrible revenge!