The Emperor's Mind

"Attend a banquet?"

Su Mu paused slightly and said, "This Su is an outsider, unversed in etiquette. I fear I might dampen His Majesty's spirits."

Liu Xun smiled faintly upon hearing this and said, "Daoist Su need not worry. This is a private banquet. His Majesty has only invited Daoist Su alone; it is of no consequence."

"Only this Su?"

Su Mu was surprised in his heart. After pondering for a moment, he nodded slightly and said, "If that is the case, then I shall trouble Lord Liu to lead the way."

Hearing this, Liu Xun leaned to the side to guide him, leading Su Mu out of the Zhenma Camp, where a carriage was already waiting outside.

Liu Xun walked quickly to the front of the carriage, lifted the brocade curtain, and said, "Daoist Su, please."

The esteemed Commander of the Zhongyu Camp, a trusted confidant before His Majesty, actually lifted the curtain for Su Mu himself. This truly caused the surrounding guards' eyes to pop out in shock.

Looking across the entire court, the only person who could make this man lift a curtain was likely only the current Emperor himself?

Seeing this, Su Mu frowned slightly. He glanced at the luxurious yet unostentatious carriage before him, shook his head, and said, "This Su does not care for carriages. If Lord Liu does not mind, would you walk a distance with me?"

Nine dragons entwined, ten-thousand-year agarwood—looking across the entirety of Great Ngu, the only one who dared to ride in this kind of carriage was the one in the Donghua Palace. If he rode in it today, who knew how many rumors would spread in Shuntian City tomorrow.

"I would not dare. This old servant shall naturally accompany you."

Hearing Su Mu's words, Liu Xun stepped down from the carriage, walked to Su Mu's front, and said, "The hour is late. Daoist Su, please set out."

Su Mu nodded slightly and did not stand on ceremony with Liu Xun. He took the lead to enter Shuntian City, while Liu Xun bowed and followed behind him like a servant.

Su Mu's brow furrowed slightly, and he quickened his pace. Seeing this, Liu Xun did not mind, following behind Su Mu neither fast nor slow, maintaining a distance of half a step at all times.

This fellow is determined to push me into the teeth of the wind and waves.

Feeling annoyed in his heart, Su Mu took a step forward and instantly vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, he was already before the gates of the imperial palace, with Liu Xun's figure nowhere to be seen behind him.

Yet only a few breaths later, Liu Xun's flickering figure appeared within Su Mu's line of sight, and before long, he arrived before him.

"Lord Liu is indeed swift. In this Shuntian City, I fear not many can catch up to you."

Su Mu glanced at Liu Xun, whose breathing remained steady, and could not help but praise him. Liu Xun, however, put on an embarrassed look and said, "Daoist Su overpraises me. Working before His Majesty, one's hands and feet must naturally be a bit nimble."

A bit nimble? If this speed was considered nimble, then others were only fit to be called crippled.

Su Mu roughly guessed Liu Xun's cultivation base and spoke no further nonsense. Pointing ahead, he said, "Lord Liu, there are many rules in the imperial palace. Please lead the way."

"Daoist Su, please follow me."

Liu Xun nodded slightly upon hearing this and walked ahead of Su Mu to lead the way, while Su Mu followed closely behind.

Entering the imperial palace of Great Ngu for the first time, Su Mu was also somewhat curious. However, all around were high walls and grand tiles, offering no scenery to behold. Yet, he could sense quite a few auras hidden in the darkness, clearly the hidden guards of the imperial palace.

Once inside the palace gates, which were as deep as the sea, living in this place meant every word and action was monitored; just thinking about it was uncomfortable.

Su Mu shook his head, withdrew his Divine Sense, and stopped spying. He silently followed Liu Xun through the imperial palace, finally stopping before a magnificent palace hall.

Donghua Palace.

Su Mu glanced at the plaque hanging before the main hall, feeling an indescribable sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before. But before he could recall, he was drawn by the clanking sound of cooking.

"Daoist Su, His Majesty is waiting inside. Please follow this old servant."

Seeing Su Mu halt his steps, Liu Xun immediately reminded him in a low voice. Su Mu could only suppress the doubt in his heart and follow Liu Xun into the Donghua Palace.

Passing through the main gate, what met his eyes was an empty courtyard, except that in the center, various kitchen utensils were laid out, where a middle-aged man was displaying his culinary skills.

Was this the current Emperor of Great Ngu, Yang Rui?

Perhaps hearing the noise, Yang Rui put down the spatula in his hand and said, "Daoist Su has arrived. This dish of Ours is also nearly finished; We were just about to ask Daoist Su to taste it."

With that, Yang Rui scooped the food from the pan onto a plate and carried it to an adjacent Eight Immortals table.

Seeing this familiar scene, Su Mu's eyes flickered slightly. He cupped his hands to Yang Rui as a gesture of salutation, then sat down calmly.

Counting the plate Yang Rui had just brought over, there were exactly three dishes and one soup on the table—not many, but the colors were excellent, making one's mouth water just looking at them.

But the most important thing was that the ingredients for these three dishes and one soup were all sourced from the Demon race.

Looking at the man before him, whose appearance somewhat resembled Yang Xin, except with an added touch of majesty between his brows, Su Mu's expression could not help but turn strange.

It turned out that Yang Xin's title of "Chef Prince" originated from this man.

Seeing Su Mu's expression, Yang Rui smiled and said, "This is merely a private banquet. Daoist Su need not be constrained by palace rules; just make yourself at home."

Su Mu nodded slightly, took a set of bowl and chopsticks from Liu Xun's hands, and without the slightest hesitation, picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. Sure enough, it melted instantly, and spiritual energy spread.

It had to be said that these ingredients taken from the bodies of the Demon race were indeed highly nourishing. If not for the existence of demonized humans, perhaps Su Mu would not mind adding them to his menu.

"These ingredients were just delivered from the Zhenma Camp this morning. Daoist Su, taste them and see if they are fresh?"

"Your Majesty's culinary skills are extraordinary; they are naturally fresh and delicious."

Yang Rui picked up a piece of what seemed to be goose liver or something similar, put it into his mouth, savored it, and then said something seemingly unrelated: "No wonder Xin'er is so fond of this; it is indeed an extraordinary delicacy."

Su Mu smiled faintly, put down his chopsticks, looked at Yang Rui, and said, "Your Majesty has summoned this Su. I wonder what the matter is?"

Yang Rui put down his chopsticks and said, "It is nothing. It is just that We realized We had never met Daoist Su until now, and always felt it was somewhat remiss. Daoist Su will not blame Us for being abrupt, will you?"

Su Mu shook his head without speaking. Yang Rui sized Su Mu up from head to toe and said, "We have long heard that Daoist Su's cultivation base is heaven-reaching. Meeting you today, you are indeed an extraordinary person. It was indeed correct for Us to entrust the Confined Prison to Daoist Su."

Hearing this, Su Mu's eyes narrowed, knowing that the main business had arrived. He said, "I dare not accept Your Majesty's praise. This Su merely relied on the contribution of the Jade Toad."

He was certain he had not left any loopholes at the bottom of the Confined Prison, but Yang Rui would definitely send people to inspect the situation. If they discovered that the first nine floors had been completely cleared, there was still a possibility they would suspect him.

"The Jade Toad indeed has no small merit, but as the master, Daoist Su's contribution is not necessarily inferior."

Yang Rui smiled faintly and glanced at Liu Xun beside him. Liu Xun immediately understood, placing a key before Su Mu.

"Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?"

Doubts arose in Su Mu's heart. His Divine Sense swept over the key, and finding nothing extraordinary about it, he looked toward Yang Rui.

Hearing this, Yang Rui pushed the key closer to Su Mu and said:

"Back then, although Taizu disbanded the Zhanyao Camp, the relevant records were not destroyed and were all kept in the imperial palace. Now that the Zhenma Camp can be considered to have inherited the mantle of the Zhanyao Camp, this key should naturally be handed over. However, We wonder if Daoist Su is willing to accept it?"