Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 1011 Awareness
Jiang Yong could clearly sense that the air between the two men seemed to have solidified, a silent tension spreading silently, and any slight sound could break this dangerous balance. Jiang Yong's mind raced; he was assessing the situation, speculating, and finally making a decision.

"Lord Diao?!"

Jiang Yong greeted Fang Yu in a voice that was somewhat exaggerated, somewhat surprised and enthusiastic.

This shout, filled with just the right amount of surprise and delight, instantly severed the silent power struggle between Fang Yu and Gao Meng.

Fang Yu's heart skipped a beat at first, but he quickly recognized the owner of the voice. His tense nerves did not relax, but became even more alert. However, this alertness was perfectly hidden under his astonished expression.

He turned his head and a look of surprise appeared on his face, as if he had just been startled from his thoughts.

The person who came was Jiang Yong.

He strode up the stairs, his face beaming with the warm smile of someone he'd met before, but he was clearly overdoing it, making Fang Yu sense something subtly off.

Fortunately, Jiang Yong was not a slow-witted person.

He understood even more clearly that, under no circumstances could he let anyone know about his relationship with Gao Meng in public.

So at this moment, the only reaction he could make was... surprise, pure surprise at unexpectedly encountering "Diao Deyi" here.

"Lord Diao?! It really is you!" Jiang Yong raised his voice slightly, making sure that the surrounding tables could faintly hear his "surprise." "This is really... I haven't seen you for several days! I thought your figure looked like mine, but I didn't dare to recognize you. I didn't expect it to really be you!"

Seeing this, Fang Yu also put on a perfectly timed smile, as if he had just been rescued from some unpleasant confrontation, and replied with a hint of relaxation, "Jiang Yong? It has indeed been a few days since I last saw you. I didn't expect to meet you here."

His tone was calm, with a hint of politeness in his voice, as if they were reunited after a long separation.

Jiang Yong's performance was even more diverse.

He first glanced at Fang Yu, then, with a hint of inquiry and curiosity, turned his gaze to Gao Meng, who sat quietly to the side with a cool expression. His face showed just the right amount of doubt, as if carefully choosing his words, and he cautiously asked, "Lord Diao... what are you doing here? And who is this young lady...?"

His gaze darted back and forth between Fang Yu and Gao Meng, fully demonstrating the curiosity of an "uninformed bystander" about this strange pair.

Fang Yu's face showed a hint of helplessness and a slight displeasure at being offended. He waved his hand and said in a nonchalant tone, "Don't misunderstand, this young lady... I don't know her either. I was just wondering why she sat down on her own."

He portrayed himself as an innocent victim who was passively drawn into the situation, effortlessly passing the buck back to Gao Meng.

"Trying this trick?" Gao Meng scoffed inwardly, a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashing deep in her eyes.

She was incredibly intelligent; no matter how Fang Yu acted, she was already certain that this unfamiliar face was there to investigate her.

However, since the other party wanted to play along, Gao Meng didn't mind playing along and seeing what he was really up to.

So, Gao Meng slowly got up, her movements still elegant, but her brows carried a hint of coldness and aloofness, as if she were truly a well-bred young lady who had mistaken someone for someone else and was slightly embarrassed.

She nodded slightly, her voice clear and melodious, like jade beads falling onto a plate: "It seems I misunderstood. Young master, I am truly sorry. There are always some clueless people who have a habit of following me. Just now, seeing you here alone, my gaze lingered on you... and I mistakenly thought you were one of those bored people, so I came forward to ask what was going on. I hope you will forgive my rudeness."

Her explanation was reasonable and logical. It pointed out her situation of being "followed" and explained why she took the initiative to sit opposite Fang Yu. It also attributed Fang Yu's possible observation behavior to suspicion of being a "lecher," thus turning the tables on him.

Fang Yu cursed the woman inwardly for her sharp tongue and quick wit, but on the surface he had to maintain his composure, waving his hand magnanimously and speaking in a rather tolerant tone: "It's alright, it's alright. It's just a misunderstanding, young lady, you don't need to take it to heart. The capital is a place where all sorts of people mingle, it's only right that you be cautious."

He acted like a true gentleman who was misunderstood but chose not to hold a grudge.

Seeing this, Jiang Yong immediately stepped in to play the peacemaker. He clapped his hands, a relieved expression on his face, and his voice became much lighter: "Oh dear! It turns out they were strangers, it was all a misunderstanding! You scared me to death!"

He clutched his chest, feigning lingering fear, "I just thought... hehe, I thought I'd accidentally stumbled upon something good happening to Lord Diao!"

He winked and made faces, his tone carrying a tacit, unspoken banter between men, trying to lighten the mood.

Before Fang Yu could respond, he spoke as if to himself, but his voice was clear enough for Gao Meng, who was nearby, to hear clearly: "Listen to that! I was really overthinking it! I heard Lord Qian Wu mention before that Lord Diao has a beautiful wife hidden away at home, a hidden gem, and they are very much in love! Lord Diao is also known for his integrity, so why would he go out and flirt with other women and ruin his reputation?"

His words, ostensibly praising Fang Yu, subtly conveyed to Gao Meng the information that "Diao Deyi" already had a family and a harmonious one.

Then, Jiang Yong changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat regretful and ingratiating: "It's a pity, Lord Diao, after you went to the Ouyang residence, you lived a secluded life and rarely went out. I wanted to build a relationship with you and learn more from you, but I never had the chance! What a coincidence today!"

He appeared to be chatting casually with Fang Yu, but in reality, he deliberately emphasized the words "Ouyang Mansion" with a barely perceptible intonation.

Sure enough, upon hearing the words "Ouyang Mansion," Gao Meng's fingers holding the teacup paused almost imperceptibly. Although her expression remained aloof, a subtle ripple flickered in the depths of her profound eyes, like a small pebble being thrown into a calm lake.

Although she quickly returned to normal, this sudden change did not escape the eyes of Fang Yu and Jiang Yong, who had been secretly watching her.

As Fang Yu listened to Jiang Yong's seemingly enthusiastic but actually information-rich words, he also sensed a subtle sense of unease.

Jiang Yong talked too much, and it seemed that he was intentionally or unintentionally revealing his information to this stranger.

This is inconsistent with Jiang Yong's usual cautious style.

Was he trying to get himself out of a predicament?

Or... is there another motive?
Is this a hint to Gao Meng?
Several thoughts flashed through Fang Yu's mind in an instant, but on the surface, he just cooperated with a helpless expression, rolled his eyes at Jiang Yong, and said with a hint of reproach in his tone: "Jiang Yong, watch your words! Don't you dare to slander my reputation. I have always kept myself clean and never set foot in places of pleasure. I came here today just to find some peace and quiet."

Jiang Yong immediately seized the opportunity, his face plastered with a "wrongdoing" smile. He stepped forward, grabbed Fang Yu's wrist affectionately, and said repeatedly, "Alright, alright! It was my fault! I spoke recklessly and talked nonsense! I deserve to be punished!"

He pulled Fang Yu along and warmly invited, "I apologize to Lord Diao for drinking with him! Since Lord Diao is all alone, it must be boring for him here. Why not do us the honor of coming down and having a few drinks with us? Our table is quite lively, so let me do my part as the host!"

Having said that, as if to show his sincerity and generosity, he turned to the other patrons on the second floor and the waiter who came up after hearing the commotion, and announced loudly: "Gentlemen! Today is a happy occasion, and it's better to meet by chance than by chance! Today, I, Jiang Yong, will cover all the drinks for all the guests at Forget-Worry Pavilion! Everyone, drink to your heart's content, and don't leave until you're drunk!"

Upon hearing this, the Forget-Worry Pavilion fell silent for a moment before erupting into enthusiastic cheers and compliments.

"Young Master Jiang is so magnanimous!"

"Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Jiang!"

"Young Master Jiang is so generous!"

…Praises poured in, instantly pushing the atmosphere of the entire restaurant to a climax.

Amidst the praise, Jiang Yong beamed with pride and tightened his grip on Fang Yu's hand.

Fang Yu, who was worried about not having a chance to escape and avoid continuing this dangerous and meaningless confrontation with Gao Meng, naturally went with the flow and did not refuse.

He had originally planned to lie in wait and observe, and being "forcibly" dragged away by Jiang Yong at this moment actually provided him with a reasonable excuse to leave.

A helpless smile, half-heartedly agreeing, appeared on his face. He nodded slightly in Gao Meng's direction and then followed the enthusiastic Jiang Yong downstairs.

However, just as he reached the top of the stairs and was about to step down, Fang Yu paused almost imperceptibly.

As if possessed, he turned back one last time to look towards the private seating area on the second floor.

Unexpectedly, Gao Meng did not look away either.

She remained standing there, holding the white jade-like wine glass, her cool gaze piercing through the noisy crowd and landing squarely on him.

Their gazes met again in mid-air.

This time, the tension was gone, replaced by a sense of inquiry, scrutiny, and an indescribable complexity.

Neither of them spoke, nor did they make any extra movements; they simply gazed at each other silently for a moment, separated by a distance.

Immediately, Fang Yu withdrew his gaze, turned around, and disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Only after Fang Yu's figure completely disappeared from sight did Gao Meng slowly sit down and pick up the wine glass that the waiter had just diligently brought over, which had been refilled.

The wine rippled gently in the white jade cup, reflecting in her deep eyes.

She brought the glass to her lips, but did not drink it down. Instead, she took a small sip with great elegance, savoring the spicy yet sweet aftertaste, as if she were reliving the brief but incredibly informative moment she had just witnessed.

“The people from the Ouyang family…” Gao Meng thought to herself, her mind racing. “Is he here to ambush me? What is his purpose? The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and the Ouyang family have never had any dealings, they’ve always kept to themselves. What’s wrong here?”

She felt puzzled, and even a little uneasy.

The various factions in the capital are deeply intertwined, but the "taboo" people have towards the Ouyang family is, frankly speaking, almost entirely due to their fear of the elusive and unfathomably powerful Master Ouyang.

The other members of the Ouyang family, while not to be underestimated, were not enough to warrant Gao Meng's extreme vigilance.

But that's precisely the problem. She had never met Master Ouyang and had no connection with him. Why would he suddenly notice her and even send someone to follow and investigate her?
This doesn't make sense.

Someone like Master Ouyang should be focused on something higher, so why would he be interested in such a minor character as her?
“No,” Gao Meng’s eyes sharpened, “There must be something happening behind this that we don’t know about.”

She put down her wine glass, tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, and began to reassess the situation in the capital, as well as some secrets she might have inadvertently touched upon.

The lobby downstairs is noisier than the tranquil second floor.

Jiang Yong pulled Fang Yu to a large round table on the inner side.

Five or six people were already seated around the table, each with a different appearance. Some were burly and had fierce looks, while others were lean and wiry with shifty eyes.

When they saw Jiang Yong bring over a stranger, they all stopped talking and doing something, curiously looking at Fang Yu with scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible disdain in their eyes.

Before these people could even ask, Jiang Yong stepped forward and introduced them in a loud voice: "Brothers, come, come, let me introduce you to a distinguished guest! This is Lord Diao Deyi! He is currently staying at the Ouyang residence and is a guest of Master Ouyang!"

He specifically emphasized "Ouyang Mansion" and "Master Ouyang," his tone filled with reverence and pride, as if it were his greatest honor to meet Fang Yu.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the people around the table, and added meaningfully, "Lord Diao's strength is unparalleled in my life; he is the most powerful martial artist I have ever seen! His abilities are unfathomable!"

Upon hearing the names "Ouyang Mansion" and "Master Ouyang," the disdain on the faces of the people at the table vanished instantly, replaced by shock, awe, and a sense of realization.

They exchanged a knowing glance.

It turns out they weren't "players," but powerful native NPCs!

For these "players" who generally lack strength and rely on certain forces for development, the Ouyang family is undoubtedly a behemoth and an object that needs to be curryed over.

Instantly, everyone's attitude changed 180 degrees, their faces beaming with enthusiastic, even fawning smiles. They all stood up and surrounded Fang Yu, showering him with praise.
"So you are a high-ranking official from the Ouyang family! My apologies for not recognizing you!"

"I have long admired Master Ouyang's reputation. It is truly an honor to meet such a distinguished guest at your residence today!"

"Lord Diao is indeed extraordinary; he's clearly no ordinary man!"

"Brother Jiang is quite capable, managing to befriend a heroic figure like Lord Diao!"

"Please have a seat, sir! Waiter! Bring a few more jugs of fine wine!"

...

For a time, flattery and sycophancy were everywhere.

Fang Yu frowned slightly; he disliked this kind of hypocritical politeness and sycophantic behavior by nature.

Looking at these guys, whose average strength is only a few thousand HP, although they are much stronger than Jiang Yong, who has less than 10 HP, they are really nothing special in the capital city where hidden talents abound.

What puzzled him was how these guys had gotten together with Jiang Yong, a guy who was clearly weak.

Fang Yu, too lazy to mince words with them, cut straight to the point, interrupting their flattery. He looked sharply at Jiang Yong and the others, asking, "Jiang Yong, how did you meet them?"

(End of this chapter)