168: Let me take you into the trap

“Hmph, a formula?

This formula is not simple. With it, Rejuvenation Powder will become useless, and the prices of those Spiritual Plants will also drop.

One move affects the whole body. Twenty percent of their Wang Family's profits come from Rejuvenation Powder.

Cutting off this source and adding it to our family's income could at least give us one more Condensing Spring cultivator.

Yunzhou, remember, for our Zhong Family to enter the county city, we must accumulate our foundation bit by bit.

Don't look down on it as just a small Medicinal Pill formula; it's a ladder for our Zhong Family to ascend.

This Azure Flame war, in my opinion, won't stop within ten years.

Both sides are training their troops; as long as people die, it's an opportunity for us living ones, understand?”

“Yes, Second Uncle.” Zhong Yunzhou was about to leave when Zhong Xiaoran pulled him back.

He looked left and right; the servants had already departed.

Zhong Xiaoran whispered:

“Those disobedient Guest Elders, arrange them at the Black Wind Martial Hall.

They consume our Zhong Family’s Medicinal Pills yet disregard proper etiquette. It's time their families enjoyed some 'blessings'.”

Zhong Yunzhou looked at his Second Uncle, a smile in his eyes:

“Killing two birds with one stone?”

“You are much smarter than your good-for-nothing father. Go and handle it.” With a successor in the family, Zhong Xiaoran happily rubbed Zhong Yunzhou’s hair.

Thus began a coordinated attack targeting Jiang Hanwen.

The next day, the City Lord's Mansion issued an order.

The low-priced immortal water, while capable of eliminating hidden body injuries, was addictive and possibly a ploy by evil cultivators.

The City Lord's Mansion urged all cultivators to be careful, and if they were willing to hand over immortal water, the City Lord's Mansion would buy it back at twenty-five taels per bottle, a premium of five taels.

Before news of the immortal water spread, under the guise of responding to the City Lord's decree, the Wang Family dispatched over a hundred subordinates skilled in pharmacology. Three people led a team of Xunwu Guard, searching from the City Lord's Mansion outwards.

No place that might contain immortal water was spared.

In just three days, thirteen counterfeit sites were destroyed, and six hundred bottles of immortal water were forcibly recovered from Loose Cultivators.

In the bookstore, Jiang Hanwen sipped his tea.

Li Minzhong sat opposite him, enthusiastically sharing the big news about immortal water.

Jiang Hanwen knew that the other party had made their move, and it was a direct attack, labeling him and suppressing him, determined to make his immortal water an object of public scorn.

This tactic was no different from those industry giants in his previous life.

Jiang Hanwen was just an ordinary person and hadn't seen the video of the deleted chat.

However, he had heard the recording. Of course, that recording was definitely “fake,” absolutely!

“My father once said that truly good medicine doesn't cure the illness; it just keeps you fine as long as you take it, and the illness returns once you stop.”

“Is there such medicine?”

“Hmm~ What do you think?

What we fear most are those folk doctors who actually cure illnesses.

So, for all these years, our group has never stopped collecting medicinal formulas that can cure diseases. We buy out those we can, and for those we can't, we find ways to spoil the medicinal ingredients.

This way, even if they have the right medicine, they can't cure the illness.

Or we get the healers arrested—they don't have licenses, you know.”

“Haha, your methods are superior.

I have a question: Does your group have medicine that can cure cancer?”

“That question is a bit sensitive. I can only say that almost none of our group's senior executives have family members hospitalized.”

Jiang Hanwen hadn't expected that one day, this surreal and “fake” recording would be replicated in his own life.

Interest moves people's hearts. What seemed like just a formula was, in fact, all about money.

“Shopkeeper Jiang, how do you think the person behind the immortal water will counterattack?

Now, the city is spreading rumors that immortal water is poisonous, and no one dares to believe in it anymore.” Li Minzhong narrowed his eyes, enjoying his tea.

“Your tea is getting better and better. Fortunately, that person from the Bai Family didn't come, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to drink such good tea.”

Jiang Hanwen didn't answer directly. He took out a bottle of immortal water and looked at Xia Zhijie:

“If someone secretly sold it to you, would you believe it?”

Xia Zhijie glanced left and right; there was no one.

He snatched the porcelain bottle from Jiang Hanwen's hand, uncapped it, and lightly sniffed.

After confirming the authentic scent, Xia Zhijie looked at Jiang Hanwen with a thirsty expression:

“Shopkeeper, how many bottles did you buy? I’ll take them all for thirty-five taels each! With this, my business can double!”

“Dream on. I only bought two bottles from a Medicinal Pill shop to study.

Rumors are rumors, but true gold fears no fire. Think about it, you know this stuff is good, so wouldn't those who have used it know too?”

Jiang Hanwen extended his hand, and Xia Zhijie reluctantly handed the porcelain bottle back.

“What you say certainly makes sense, but it won't work.” Li Minzhong sighed:

“You know the Wang Family, right? The one with a Ningquan Realm cultivator.

They've put out word that anyone who provides verified information leading to the capture of the person behind this will receive ten thousand taels and can become a Guest Elder of the Wang Family.

In my opinion, it's difficult. The person who created immortal water will probably have to leave City Name and find somewhere else to sell his medicine.”

“You know so much, so why haven't you Breakthrough to Qi Induction yet?” Jiang Hanwen steered the conversation to another topic.

“My wife says I need to balance work and rest.

Otherwise, how would I have time to come over, hehe.”

...As night fell, Jiang Hanwen walked out of the bookstore.

Since the other party had made their move, he naturally had to respond and see who would fall first.

As he passed the entrance of a Medicinal Pill shop called Luo's Medicinal Pill Shop, Jiang Hanwen inexplicably grew wary. His hairs stood on end; he actually felt danger!

He calmly walked past the Medicinal Pill shop and continued forward. However, faint footsteps sounded in his ears.

It seemed Li Minzhong's information also had omissions.

The Wang Family, who wanted to capture him, had more than just propaganda tactics; they had already prepared to take action, just waiting for him to walk into their trap.