The Hush Money Hadn't Even Warmed Up Before They Lost Their Memories

The next day, Wei Mao, having received the invitation, wore a solemn expression.

Just to climb the social ladder, they even invited the Prefect. This was going too far.

Wei Mao felt the Prefect's intentions weren't as simple as networking; there had to be more to it.

And…

Looking at Lu Bei's name on the invitation, Wei Mao was puzzled. Zhu Ting hosting a banquet at Bright Moon Tower and inviting him made sense, but why invite Lu Bei?

Was it to make up the numbers?

Wei Mao didn't understand, but he decided to attend anyway. He couldn't refuse the Prefect's invitation. After sending a message to his superior, the County Lieutenant, he arrived at Bright Moon Tower at the appointed time.

Bright Moon Tower was located on the bustling main street, frequented by wealthy merchants. As a renowned venue for banquets in the area, one had to make reservations and wait in line for a meal.

It was a century-old establishment with such rules; no one was exempt.

Except for the Prefect.

The establishment's attitude was clear: the rule-breaking had nothing to do with the Prefect, but was purely out of respect for him.

Lu Bei accompanied Wei Mao to the banquet and met the Prefect in a private room on the second floor. The Prefect had climbed the ranks through his own efforts, not relying on his ancestors.

He appeared elegant and refined, a scholarly middle-aged man.

Since Wei Mao had to go to the military camp the next day, he used tea instead of wine and drank three cups as an apology. Zhu Kui was not angered and claimed to be unwell, also switching to tea.

After three rounds of tea, Zhu Kui made an invitation, saying he had arranged for a singer in the adjacent private room and wanted Lu Bei to go and appreciate her performance.

Lu Bei was familiar with this situation. Today's main characters were Zhu Ting and Wei Mao, who had private matters to discuss and needed to clear the room.

He nodded to Wei Mao and followed Zhu Kui to the next room. He saw another banquet table, but to his disappointment, behind the semi-transparent screen, there wasn't a soul, not even a ghost.

"Brother Lu, don't be shy. Come, have a couple of drinks first."

"I'll pass on the drinks."

Lu Bei waved his hand. "I can't hold my liquor well, only two or three cups. Let's get down to business!"

Where's the singer? Hurry up and call her!

"Alright, straight to the point, quick and clear."

Zhu Kui clapped the table and praised him. He opened the food container in the center of the table and slowly pushed it towards Lu Bei.

Inside the container was a stack of silver notes. Although they had no fragrance, they looked exquisite, with both the denominations and the quantity being very tempting.

"Brother Lu, this dish is called 'Wealth and Status Beyond Measure.' Please, have a taste!" Zhu Kui said solemnly.

"???"

Lu Bei was completely bewildered and exclaimed that he had learned something new. So this was how people ate in worlds with spiritual energy.

If they had told him earlier, why would he bother refining pills? Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to just go out for meals every day!

"Brother Lu, what do you think of the dish? Are you perhaps implying there isn't enough?"

"It's plenty. I'm quite full."

Lu Bei was full of questions. Just as he was about to ask, he thought better of it, first packing the delicacy away, and then asked, "Young Master Kui, I cannot accept a reward without earning it. You've suddenly bestowed such wealth upon me, and truthfully, I dare not accept it."

Then why don't you give it back!

Zhu Kui inwardly scoffed but smiled. "Brother Lu, I was just praising you for being straightforward, and now you're… Oh, I understand. The misunderstanding has been cleared up, right?"

Misunderstanding?

What misunderstanding? Can you be more specific?

Don't you know you're being a real pain?

Lu Bei thought for a moment. To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, he decided to be direct. "Young Master Kui, please tell me in detail what misunderstanding you are referring to. If the Prefect intends to win over my cousin… I must confess, he is a man of principle, and I'm afraid I won't be much help."

"Hahaha, Brother, you speak so humorously. I understand what you mean. The past is like smoke, scattered by the wind, as if nothing ever happened." Zhu Kui nodded repeatedly, thinking that Zhu Ting had worried too much. The spy was greedy, yes, but he knew how to play the game.

Look at that, the hush money wasn't even warm yet, and the person had already forgotten everything.

So professional!

What past is like smoke? What do you even understand?

Sensing something was wrong, Lu Bei felt the silver notes in his embrace getting hot. He decisively threw them into his Qiankun Bag and straightened his expression. "Young Master Kui, let's stop beating around the bush. If you don't clarify what misunderstanding occurred, I'm leaving."

"Brother, this is no longer fun. Some things are better left unsaid to save face!"

Meanwhile, in the adjacent private room.

Zhu Ting's hand, holding the tea cup, trembled slightly, and a look of embarrassment crossed his face. "General Wei, what you said is true?"

Wei Mao was silent for a moment, then replied helplessly, "Prefect, you know my character. I have no intention of price gouging. Lu Bei is indeed not a spy. He is my wife's junior disciple, and he is here to stay for a while."

"Then…"

"A misunderstanding."

"……" x2

Zhu Ting felt deeply humiliated by his own slip-up. If Zhu Kui were present, he would have strangled him on the spot.

Wei Mao acted as if nothing had happened, picking up his teacup and toasting a few times. After a moment, the awkwardness between them dissipated, and they began discussing political affairs with laughter.

Both men had served as officials for many years, possessing both decorum and thick skin. Even in an awkward situation, they could laugh it off. It was a different story for Lu Bei and Zhu Kui.

"Damn it, you scammed me!"

"Damn it, you sold me fake medicine!"

Zhu Kui stared blankly, as did Lu Bei, their gazes towards each other growing increasingly hostile. No wonder he hadn't refined any high-quality Qi Ling Pills for the past month; the problem lay with the raw materials.

Before, he had thought the Huangji Pill Nurturing Art was just mediocre, with its upper limit being the finished product and high-quality pills being unattainable.

"So it was you, brat!"

Lu Bei narrowed his eyes slightly. The quality of the Qi Ling Pills affected how much experience he gained. Without high-quality pills, he had lost at least tens of thousands of experience points, which, rounded up, was practically a hundred million.

How could he tolerate losing a hundred million experience points!

Lu Bei couldn't tolerate it, and Zhu Kui couldn't tolerate it even more. He slammed his palm on the table: "You punk, be sensible and hand over the money honestly, or don't blame me for turning on you."

"Money? What money?"

"Don't play dumb, the money I just gave you!"

"Pah!"

Lu Bei spat, angrily retorting, "When you gave me the money just now, I said I don't accept rewards without merit. You insisted on giving it, and I accepted it then. Now you want it back? This is simply going too far!"

"You, you..."

Zhu Kui tremblingly extended his hand: "I have never met anyone as shameless as you."

"What, you, a seller of fake medicine, never look in the mirror!"

Lu Bei widened his eyes: "That makes sense. Looking at your face, each feature is on its own, none obeying the others. Not looking in the mirror is indeed conducive to longevity."

Bang!

Zhu Kui, enraged, slammed the table and lunged at Lu Bei.

"Are you sure?"

Lu Bei didn't move, curling his lip: "I'm not trying to scare you, but the Prefect and my cousin are having a pleasant chat next door. Try touching me."

Zhu Kui almost spat blood upon hearing this. He retracted the hand that was about to grab Lu Bei's neck and gritted his teeth: "The Prefect... is my uncle. Your cousin is merely a mere County Lieutenant, a nobody."

"It's precisely because the Prefect is your uncle that my cousin, a mere nobody, is about to bring disaster upon you."

Lu Bei said disdainfully, "Don't you think about it? The dignified Prefect exposing his family's embarrassing secrets and losing face in front of a County Lieutenant. He's been holding in a lot of anger. Do you think you'll have a good outcome?"

"Ah, this..."

Zhu Kui broke out in a sweat and gasped.

"Look at you. I was just refining pills, not bothering anyone, why did you have to frame me?"

Lu Bei taunted, "Now it's all good. The next time we meet, I'll only be attending your funeral."

"It's all your fault!"

Zhu Kui gritted his teeth, unable to think of any retort. He then mockingly said, "You never leave your house, and you refused even when I invited you to Yunshui Tower. You claim to be normal, who would believe that!"

"Come on, if you dare invite me again, see if I accept!"

"..."