Transmigration: I, the Dragon Overlord, start by protecting my beautiful bride!

Upon hearing this, the pharmacy owner remained silent.

Long Aotian raised his voice, "I'm asking you a question. Do you think my joke is funny or not?"

"Well, that's funny." The pharmacy owner, not understanding what was going on, forced a smile and tried to please Long Aotian.

"Funny?" Long Aotian smiled slightly. "Since you find this joke funny, then let me borrow the jade thumb ring for a couple of days. Don't be so stingy~"

"This..." The pharmacy manager panicked and hurriedly said, "No, no, no, it's not funny, this joke is not funny at all!"

"Since you know this kind of joke isn't funny, why do you still make such a joke with a child?" Upon hearing this, Long Aotian's expression immediately changed. "And you blame someone for stealing your medicinal herbs? If you had paid him properly, would you have forced him to do this?!"

Upon hearing this, the pharmacy owner bowed repeatedly, "Yes, yes, Master Shen is right. I'll go get his wages right away."

Upon hearing Long Aotian's words, the pharmacy owner scurried off into the inner room.

When they came out again, the little rascal had a string of copper coins in his hand.

Perhaps out of respect for Long Aotian, the pharmacy owner gave him a little more.

"Thank you." On the way, the little rascal looked at Long Aotian with great gratitude.

"You're welcome. This is what you deserve for your work." Long Aotian patted his shoulder again and said, "I just want to tell you that in this world, no matter what others do, it should never affect us."

"What they do—steal, rob, or cheat—has nothing to do with us," Long Aotian said earnestly. "Only by doing our best can we have a clear conscience."

"Yes, I understand." The sly one looked at Long Aotian and nodded very seriously. "I'll remember it. Thank you, Lord Shen."

Long Aotian looked at him with great satisfaction. He had always harbored a dream of educating and nurturing people, not only to help these children, but also to help himself when he was once lost...

"I'll take these herbs to Grandma Liu, and then use this money to go home and buy some good food for my sister!" The little rascal was very happy because he didn't have to go hungry, steal, or beg today. So today was a smooth day for him.

“This…” Jiang Beichuan looked at the little rascal and was about to speak when Long Aotian stopped him.

"You little rascal, it's getting late. If you go back late, your sister will worry about you." Long Aotian stopped him and said, "If you trust me, I'll take these medicinal herbs to Grandma Liu, how about that?"

The little rascal looked at Long Aotian, hesitated for a moment, then nodded and handed the medicinal herbs to Long Aotian.

"Alright, I trust you." The little rascal looked at Long Aotian and handed him the medicinal herbs. "I'll go home first today and visit Grandma Liu next time."

"You don't need to visit her."

"Why is that?" Little Sly looked at Long Aotian, puzzled.

"Because her son has taken her to Jingcheng for medical treatment." Long Aotian made up a lie without any hesitation. "However, her son and I are colleagues, so I will send the medicine to her. You don't need to worry."

"This..." The little rascal stood there, his eyes seemingly filled with complex emotions.

But a moment later, he looked up, his eyes shining, "Okay, as long as Grandma Liu can get better, that's more important than anything else."

"Hmm." Long Aotian nodded, looking at the young man in front of him, unsure of what to say.

"Tomorrow will be better. One day, I will take my sister and leave Qianzhou City to live a good life!" The little rascal laughed and ran towards home, waving as he ran, "Goodbye, Lord Shen!"

Watching the little rascal gradually walk away, Long Aotian felt a mix of emotions.

"My lord, you are truly kind-hearted." Jiang Beichuan said to Long Aotian, "However, I am still very curious, who exactly took Liu Sanniang away? And where did they take that old lady?"

Long Aotian turned his head. The setting sun on the dock had already sunk to the sea, reflecting a shimmering light on the surface.

Who knows?

"Then, sir, where do we go now?" Jiang Beichuan caught up with him. "Have we come away empty-handed today?"

"I didn't have high hopes to begin with, so don't worry about it," Long Aotian said. "You kid, hurry up and get better, then come help me at the Night Guard, understand?"

"Hey, I get it."

Long Aotian and Jiang Beichuan parted ways near the dock. Since this guy was still a minor patrol officer, his home was near the south of the city.

"Today is a good day, hmm~ hmm~ hmm~ hmm~~~"

Long Aotian hummed a song as he walked home. On his way back, he happened to see a snack stall on the street, so he bought some to take home for his wife to try. But as soon as he reached his door, before he could even knock, two dark figures rapidly approached from behind...

When he opened his eyes again, he had been taken to a pavilion outside the city.

"Hero, hero, let's talk this out. Do you want money or women?" Long Aotian's restraints were released, and he quickly said, "If you want money, I have some here. If you want women..."

Long Aotian lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly, "I'm really in a bit of a predicament..."

"Lord Shen, my master invited you here today not for your money, nor for your favors," the person beside him said, somewhat speechless.

Upon hearing this, Long Aotian finally dared to open his eyes.

On the pavilion, he saw a figure with his back to him, while two burly men stood beside him.

"May I ask, Your Excellency, what brings you here today?" Long Aotian asked tremblingly, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

He shouldn't have offended anyone recently. The only ones he might have offended are Lin Boguang and Li Tongzhi.

But now that Li Tongzhi is dead, could this person be related to Lin Boguang? Long Aotian wondered to himself.

“Lord Shen, please don’t misunderstand.” The person with his back to him spoke up from the pavilion. “I’ve come to you this time because I have a good job for you.”

The man slowly turned around, holding something that looked like a whisk in his hand.

Moreover, this person had white paint on his face, no beard or mustache, and a somewhat shrill voice. These characteristics reminded Long Aotian of some historically significant figures.

“My master cherishes talent the most. Knowing that Qianzhou City has produced such a fine general as Lord Shen, he sent me here.” The old man, devoid of any masculine energy, stepped forward, looked at Long Aotian kneeling on the ground, and reached out to help him up.

Long Aotian dusted himself off, looked at the man in front of him, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "May I ask, sir, who is your master?"