Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 1000 Rubbing shoulders
Fang Yu gave her a deep look and stopped pursuing the unanswerable question.

Following Lulu's lead, he rattled off a string of rare materials that he already knew by heart, demanding several times the quantity he usually required when trading with Lulu. Some of these items were priceless treasures, extremely rare and unavailable in the world.

Lulu listened, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper. The list Fang Yu had provided far exceeded her expectations; some of the materials were even extremely difficult to gather with her current resources. She hesitated, "Diao Deyi, isn't this... a bit..."

"Lord Jing personally promised that the imperial court would also be at my disposal."

Fang Yu interrupted her, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable air of authority, "Or is it that Lord Jing's words just now are not valid? If you are truly in a difficult situation, then I will have no choice but to seek Lord Jing's approval again."

Lulu felt a chill run down her spine when she heard the words "Lord Jing".

She understood that this was the Crown Prince's intention, and unless Fang Yu's demands were excessive, she simply couldn't refuse. And Fang Yu was indeed very wise; his requests were all within reasonable limits.

She gritted her teeth and nodded, "Alright! As you say! I'll prepare the materials for you as soon as possible, and the quantity... will be doubled!"

A genuine hint of joy finally flashed across Fang Yu's eyes.

His main purpose in staying and waiting for Lulu was to finalize the payment.

Hearing Lulu's personal promise, and that the quantity would double, a huge weight was finally lifted from his heart.

"Thank you very much!" Fang Yu smiled, his gratitude this time was genuine.

"Once I complete my investigation of Gao Meng, I hope to see your sincerity, Senior Sister Lulu."

After saying that, he didn't linger. He gave Lulu a slight bow, turned around, and strode away, his figure quickly disappearing from Lulu's sight.

Watching his departing figure, Lulu stood there for a long time, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Fang Yu's last words were clearly a reminder to her, and at the same time, they indicated that what drove his actions was always tangible benefits.

This gave her a slight sense of relief, even though she felt helpless, as she could still cooperate as long as there was a request.

As Fang Yu left, his steps were light, but his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

"Double... They actually agreed!" He suppressed the urge to roar to the heavens, feeling a surge of energy coursing through his body. "Great! With this, we can gather almost all the essential materials needed to revive my second sister!"

He recalled Lord Jing's nonchalant yet weighty promises, and compared them to his previous collaboration with Lulu, where she was stingy and calculating when it came to resources. He couldn't help but sigh again, "It's definitely better to have a powerful backer! Even a tiny bit of what Lord Jing gives out is far more valuable than all of Lulu's wealth!"

Although the road ahead remains fraught with danger, he is willing to risk everything to revive his second sister, even if there is only a sliver of hope.

……

The long streets of Beijing, bathed in the glow of dusk, resemble a flowing, bustling painting.

The setting sun tried its best to pour out its last warm gold, but it could not penetrate the restlessness and unease floating in the air.

The shouts of peddlers, the rumble of carriages and horses over the bluestone slabs, the laughter of children, the storytelling voices drifting from the teahouses... all these sounds intertwine to form a buzzing background, enveloping this ever-present imperial capital.

Fang Yu walked against the flow of people, his figure as nimble as a fish in the crowded throng, always able to find gaps to slip through.

He frowned slightly, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and he repeatedly pondered the few clues about Gao Meng in his mind.

Investigating her is no easy task, nor can it be accomplished by force alone. After all, she is a trusted lieutenant of the adopted son of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and a gradual approach is necessary.

Fang Yu knew that he was facing a huge and sophisticated machine, and that acting rashly would only alert the enemy and even bring about his own destruction.

He needs a more thorough plan and to personally verify the accuracy of the intelligence before taking action.

With this in mind, he quickened his pace and decided to return to the Ouyang residence first. He also wanted to tell Ding Hui that his second sister finally had a chance to gather all the materials at once, so that she could prepare in advance.

This is the busiest time of day, with people going home, rushing to the market, or seeking pleasure, all merging into a turbid torrent.

At a stall selling exotic spices, a crowd surged and jostled as they scrambled to see a blue fragrant wood called "Dream Essence".

Fang Yu instinctively stepped aside to avoid a woman who was walking quickly with her head down.

In that instant, he seemed to sense that the other person paused slightly, and their steps faltered for an extremely brief moment.

That's... Jijin?
Fang Yu glanced at the other person briefly and immediately recognized him. Without giving it a second thought, he left quickly without even saying hello. He didn't have much interaction with Ji Jin; they had only bumped into each other on the road, so there was no need for much conversation, especially since he had other important matters to attend to at the moment.

Just as Fang Yu disappeared into the crowd, Ji Jin, who looked puzzled, also stopped in his tracks.

That person just now seemed to be...

Ji Jin turned around, wanting to confirm the identity of the person from before, but when he looked again, the person had already been swallowed up by the crowd and disappeared without a trace.

"what happened?"

Jiang Yong, who was standing next to Ji Jin, keenly noticed the subtle change in Ji Jin's aura and his glance back, and immediately asked.

His gaze towards me became wary, his right hand instinctively pressed against the cold hilt of the broken blade at his waist, his body tensing slightly, entering a state of readiness to deal with any unexpected situation.

This weapon was a benefit he got after following Qian Wu. This broken blade is extremely cold in nature. If it can cause a wound, it can even cause the wound to freeze and become damaged on the spot, resulting in serious cold damage. It is considered a very useful weapon.

Ji Jin withdrew her gaze, but a lingering doubt remained in her eyes. She shook her head, attributing that fleeting, almost instinctive feeling to the days of travel and mental strain. "That person just now..."

She paused, then her voice calmed down, "Never mind, the crowd is too chaotic. I must have been overthinking it. Getting on the way is the priority."

Jiang Yong tilted his head slightly, somewhat puzzled. Following Ji Jin's gaze, he looked back, his eyes scanning the crowd meticulously, taking in only the bustling scenes of everyday life.

Peddlers carrying heavy loads and hawking their wares, children laughing and chasing each other, and weary-looking family members hurrying home...

There were no unusual occurrences that warranted attention.

He withdrew his gaze and did not ask any further questions. He simply turned slightly to shield Ji Jin from the oncoming crowd and said in a low voice, "Miss Ji, the crowd is denser at the fork in the road ahead. Please stay close to me."

The two said no more and walked silently, one after the other, through several streets and alleys that gradually quieted down.

The closer one gets to the area where the Qian residence is located, the fewer pedestrians there become, and the bustling atmosphere of the marketplace is gradually replaced by a quiet and oppressive ambiance unique to grand mansions. Finally, the vermilion gate of the Qian residence comes into view.

The gate was tightly shut, and two imposing stone lions stood silently in front of it, casting long, distorted shadows in the slanting rays of the setting sun, adding to the solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The guards at the gate clearly recognized Ji Jin and, without asking any questions, silently opened the side door.

Upon entering the mansion and passing the carved screen wall, one can hear a rhythmic and powerful sound of something cutting through the air coming from the backyard, occasionally mixed with the soft sound of feet rubbing against the ground.

In the open courtyard, a slender and agile figure was practicing martial arts with great concentration.

It was Qin'er.

She wore a sharp, dark-colored short-sleeved outfit that accentuated her tall and flexible figure. Her long, black hair was tied into a high ponytail, drawing a sharp and powerful arc in the air with her swift movements.

Her palm techniques were sharp and her footwork agile. Her body moved swiftly and quickly, and each touch of her toes was light and steady. Then she would leap up, spin, and chop with her palm. Every movement was precise, smooth, and full of explosive power.

She had clearly been immersed in it for a long time; fine beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead and the sides of her nose, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks, but her eyes were still incredibly bright and focused, as if the whole world consisted only of her and the martial arts she was practicing.

Ji Jin had no time to appreciate her friend's ever-improving martial arts skills. She was restless, her chest pounding like a startled rabbit.

She strode over quickly, not even caring whether she would disturb Qin'er's practice, her voice filled with obvious panic: "Qin'er! Stop! Something terrible has happened! Hall Master Qian is dead!"

Qin'er was just mastering the "Returning Wind Swaying Willow" move when she heard the sound and suddenly stopped and withdrew, causing a slight ripple in the air around her.

Her chest rose and fell slightly, her breath came in short gasps, and she turned to look at Ji Jin.

Her fair face had a healthy flush from exercise, and her clear, autumn-water-like eyes looked at her friend, filled with great doubt and inquiry.

Unable to speak, she could only cast her anxious gaze at Jiang Yong, who had followed behind, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly.

Before Jiang Yong could explain, Ji Jin grabbed Qin'er's slightly sweaty arm, his voice trembling with barely suppressed urgency, like a frightened bird, and blurted out the shocking news he had overheard: "I just overheard this outside my father's study! The Foolish Underworld! Something terrible has happened at the Foolish Underworld! Master Qian is dead! Even... even the Lord of the Foolish Underworld has died! Someone actually dared to kill the Lord of the Foolish Underworld! A group of very scary guys must have come from the capital!"

As she spoke, her voice unconsciously rose, and the last syllable even became shrill and distorted with fear.

The fingers gripping Qin'er's arm tightened unconsciously, the nails almost digging into her flesh. The knuckles turned white from the force and trembled slightly uncontrollably, clearly showing that he was extremely frightened and completely flustered.

Qin'er felt the coldness and violent trembling from her fingertips, and her heart sank.

She gently grasped Ji Jin's wrist with her other hand, and patted her shoulder reassuringly and firmly with her other hand, but her gaze turned urgently to Jiang Yong again, seeking a more definite answer and explanation.

She needed to know if the news was true and what had actually happened.

Jiang Yong's expression was solemn. Meeting her probing gaze, he slowly nodded, confirming the terrible news brought by Ji Jin.

He gave a wry smile, his voice low and clear: "Miss Ji seems to have had the good fortune to witness Master Qian's skills firsthand, and knows that his strength is unfathomable. The Lord of the Foolish Land is even more mysterious and unpredictable, and his strength is said to be even greater than Master Qian's. The successive deaths of these two giants are indeed too sudden and too shocking, truly earth-shattering. No wonder Miss Ji is so panicked and uneasy."

Ji Jin seemed to have lost some of his strength, or perhaps he had found a sense of belonging. He took a deep breath, as if only in this way could he draw some illusory power from the air.

She gripped Qin'er's hand even tighter, as if it were the only reliable piece of driftwood in a raging river, her voice pleading: "The deaths of the Hall Master and the Palace Master of the Foolish Earth Prefecture are no ordinary vendettas or accidents! There must be a huge conspiracy and upheaval behind it! I feel... I feel that the capital is about to be engulfed in turmoil. My dear sister, I'm really worried about you living here alone! What if... what if it affects you? Why don't you... why don't you come and stay with me for a while? If we sisters are together, we can look after each other, and I'll feel more at ease!"

Upon hearing this, a thoughtful look flashed in Qin'er's cool gaze.

She glanced at Ji Jin, who was pale and still in shock, and then at Jiang Yong, who stood quietly to the side with a solemn expression.

Although she only wanted to practice martial arts to develop her strength, she couldn't refuse since Ji Jin had said so.

After a moment's thought, she nodded, agreeing to her friend's suggestion, and gently squeezed Ji Jin's hand in return, indicating that she could rest assured.

However, Jiang Yong spoke up at this moment, his voice calm and composed, like a bucket of cold water, trying to extinguish Ji Jin's panic: "Miss Ji, please calm down. In my humble opinion, your suggestion at this moment may not be a perfect solution."

He paused, drawing the two women's attention, before continuing his reasoned and logical analysis: "Now, Lord Qian Wu enjoys the deep trust of Lord Yuwen Wuji, whose power is at its zenith. Throughout the entire capital, few dare to challenge his authority. As a result, the Qian family's status has risen accordingly, far surpassing what it once was. To ensure their safety, the Qian family's security has recently become several times tighter than before, with both overt and covert sentries and constant patrols. In contrast, Lord Ji's residence..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already clear.

"Therefore, I believe that the Qian residence may actually be one of the safest places in the capital right now."

His gaze swept over Ji Jin and Qin'er. "If we really need to seek protection for safety, perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask Lord Ji to come and stay temporarily, or... Miss Ji, you could move to the Qian residence. To be honest, I don't think the Ji family is safer than the Qian family, which has the protection of Lord Qian Wu's power."

"You want me to come from the Qian family? To live in his place?" Ji Jin's tone suddenly rose, carrying his usual resistance and a hint of offended dissatisfaction, as well as a trace of barely perceptible anxiety caused by being rejected. "Why should I... why should I live under someone else's roof, especially under his?"

Before she could finish speaking, she felt Qin'er gently squeeze her palm. The pressure was light, but it carried a calming effect.

She paused for a moment, then looked at Qin'er, only to see her friend shake her head slightly, her eyes calm and firm, carrying a clear sense of reassurance and reminder.

This is not the time to dwell on past grievances or save face.

(End of this chapter)