The banquet proceeded, and the guests were all joyous.
Only Su Mu remained indifferent, and even when others sought him out for a toast, he acted aloof.
His gaze swept across the garden, his eyes filled with a hint of disgust.
Only when drinking with Jiang Wen did he show a slightly better disposition.
"What is it that you are thinking about, Fellow Daoist?" Jiang Wen asked.
"This Su City Prefect has quite the wide network of connections; it seems that most of the wealthy merchants and gentry of Su City have come," Su Mu said calmly as he drank his wine.
"I wonder if he is displaying his power to me, or if he wants to say something to me."
"This…" Jiang Wen didn't know what to say, as he had no reverence for the powerful figures of Da Gan.
Although the imperial court could impose some restrictions on cultivators, they were ultimately limited.
Cultivators were inherently different from mortals; a hundred years was a lifetime for a mortal, but for a cultivator, it might just be a fleeting spring and autumn.
"However, Prefect Wei Dongliang has only been in Su City for a few years, yet he has managed to gather such power; it truly is remarkable," Jiang Wen marveled.
"That is the most puzzling thing.
I have traveled to many places in Da Gan, and I have rarely seen such harmony between local power holders and officials," Su Mu said indifferently.
"Let's observe further."
Watching Wei Prefect off, Su Mu couldn't help but sneer: "If it weren't for Fellow Daoist stopping me just now, I would have killed him with a single sword strike."
His figure vanished from the spot, reappearing at his residence.
"Rather than killing him, it's better to keep him alive for now," Jiang Wen said, holding up a jade bottle.
"Dispersing Soul Water, Dispersing Soul Water.
No wonder it's called Dispersing Soul Water.
The one who created this is truly devoid of all humanity."
"Yes, yes! This is as it should be.
As the Su City Prefect, I am interdependent with the Tai Shen Palace.
Only when the Tai Shen Palace is well can I live a good life.
Only then can the people of Su City live in peace and prosperity; all of this depends on the immortal masters of the Tai Shen Palace."
Wei Dongliang said with a smile.
"The immortal masters take care of the extraordinary matters, and I take care of the lives of the Su City people; only in this way can we coexist peacefully."
Seeing this scene, the smile on Wei Dongliang's face became even brighter.
He walked to the front of Su Mu, holding a wine cup and bowing respectfully: "It is Su City's honor that the immortal master has come to Su City.
In the future, if you encounter any troubles in Su City, immortal master, you can tell me.
I will definitely ensure that the immortal master can move unhindered in this Su City."
"Perhaps this Wei Prefect is able to control the power and nobility of Su City because of this Dispersing Soul Water," Jiang Wen sighed.
The first time he smelled Dispersing Soul Water, he knew that this thing was probably not right, reminding him of certain things in the modern world.
Those were things that no one could touch; once tainted, it would be difficult to quit.
Seeing what happened at their banquet, everyone looked over.
Jiang Wen got off at a certain place, watching Su Mu leave into the distance.
He removed his transformation technique, and his whole person became several inches taller out of nowhere.
Holding the jade bottle in his hand, he murmured to himself: "I don't know if this Su Mu is truly genuine, or if he is two-faced.
What is going on with him colluding with those bandits?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Wei Dongliang was overjoyed, and gave a look to a person beside him.
Then, he saw the person serving beside him retreat, and then bring up a box of things.
Su Mu gritted his teeth, his expression extremely serious.
The maid beside him was frightened, lowering her head and kneeling on the ground, not daring to get up.
"Then thank you very much, Prefect," Su Mu said expressionlessly.
"Is that so?" Su Mu sneered, just about to say something.
But he saw Jiang Wen give him a look, and swallowed the second half of his sentence.
"I never thought that there could be such evil people in the world!
They actually use the souls of children as ingredients to create this Dispersing Soul Water!" Su Mu said with disgust.
"When I find out who is involved in this, I will make them pay with blood."
"It was my rudeness," Su Mu knew that he had lost his composure, so he sat down.
Seeing that nothing had happened, everyone didn't pay special attention anymore.
After all, immortal masters were too far away from them; it was better to grasp the things in front of them.
"Not so," Jiang Wen shook his head, pouring out the liquid from the jade bottle.
The liquid was bright yellow, rolling into his palm.
Along with the evolution of magic power, it turned into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated after a moment.
Only faintly, that wisp of green smoke seemed to have the weeping of a child.
It's just that this voice was too ethereal, and ordinary people couldn't hear it at all.
As the green smoke dissipated, it no longer existed.
"Fellow Daoist, feel free to take it," Su Mu replied.
"Lady Lu, this thing is called Dispersing Soul Water, and it is a unique product of Su City.
Drinking a little every day will definitely nourish the complexion, preserve the youth, and nourish the essence and strengthen the yang.
It is truly a top-grade health treasure.
Immortal master and lady, try it, and you will know the benefits of this thing," Wei Dongliang said with a smile.
"Fellow Daoist, give this thing to me for now.
I want to take it back and figure it out," Jiang Wen asked Su Mu.
If this kind of thing is used to control people's hearts, then it can be justified.
"Let's talk about it after the banquet is over," Jiang Wen said softly.
This fragrance was particularly strange; after smelling it once, he felt extremely comfortable in his internal organs.
Even subconsciously, he wanted to smell it a few more times.
Jiang Wen immediately became alert, squinting his eyes and asking Wei Dongliang: "Prefect, I wonder what is in it?"
Jiang Wen just nodded at them, stopping Su Mu with his eyes.
"Immortal master, this is a little something from me.
I hope the immortal master will accept it with a smile," Wei Dongliang took a deep breath while holding the thing, and offered it with both hands.
"Haha, you are too kind, you are too kind.
As long as the two of you like it, there will be as much as you want in the future," Wei Dongliang laughed loudly, then bowed and prepared to leave.
"I won't disturb the immortal master's enjoyment."
After Wei Dongliang left, Su Mu looked at the jade bottle and asked suspiciously: "Miss Lu, do you also like such mortal things?"
Perhaps it was because Su Mu was too indifferent, so there were fewer people who came to curry favor.
"Dispersing Soul Water? That's a good name," Jiang Wen nodded thoughtfully, shaking the jade bottle.
"Such a treasure, I will accept it on behalf of Brother Mu, and I thank the Prefect for his kindness."
So the banquet became even more lively, and the guests were all happy.
And Jiang Wen raised his glass and drank with Wei Dongliang, saying: "The Prefect is right, the Tai Shen Palace and the government work together to protect the peace of this Su City."
Jiang Wen reached out and took the box, opening it and seeing a delicate jade bottle.
Holding the jade bottle and shaking it, he could feel that there was liquid inside.
He opened it and carefully checked it, and asked about a strange fragrance.
"This is!" Su Mu crushed the wine glass in his hand, and the maid serving next to him was frightened, and quickly stepped forward to serve him.
And he stared at the jade bottle, his eyes revealing anger.
"It's actually such an inhumane thing!"
The banquet lasted until late at night before everyone dispersed contentedly.
Seeing that the others hadn't returned yet, Jiang Wen summoned Zi Yun and gave her all the jade bottles.
"Zi Yun, see what's inside."
"Okay," Zi Yun took the jade bottle, opened it, and carefully checked it.
