Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 1012 Rest
Fang Yu's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

The group exchanged glances, a hint of hesitation flashing across their faces, as if they were considering how to phrase their words.

One of them opened his mouth, about to speak, but Jiang Yong spoke first again, with a slick smile on his face, explaining, "Lord Diao, you may not know this, but Lord Qian Wu has recently been recruiting soldiers and expanding his power. As for me, I am honored by Lord Qian's high regard and am responsible for helping to find and recruit some ambitious people and heroes of the martial arts world."

He pointed to the group of men at the table, “These brothers are all heroes who have recently been introduced by me and are preparing to join Lord Qian’s ranks.”

"Qian Wu?" Fang Yu raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on him.

Qian Wu had previously been doing only moderately well, but now he unexpectedly has the resources to recruit and expand his business.

He nodded, his tone unreadable: "I see. Qian Wu is getting better too."

These words were spoken in a calm tone, yet they left Jiang Yong and the others unsure of his attitude.

Next, Fang Yu only symbolically drank two glasses of wine offered by the crowd before getting up to leave.

His original plan was to lie in wait in the restaurant and secretly observe Gao Meng, but now that his actions had been exposed and his goal could not be achieved, there was no point in staying here and wasting time with these low-level thugs.

The best course of action is to leave before Gao Meng comes down, to avoid any further complications.

Seeing that he was about to leave, everyone naturally tried their best to persuade him to stay:

"Why is Lord Diao in such a hurry to leave? The banquet has only just begun!"

"Yes, yes, let us toast you a few more times!"

"Brother Jiang, quickly try to persuade Lord Diao!"

...

However, Fang Yu was determined to leave, and no matter how they tried to persuade him, he simply waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing this, Jiang Yong knew he couldn't force him to stay, so he tried to smooth things over: "Since Lord Diao has other important matters to attend to, then we won't keep you any longer. It's already a great honor to have met you today, and I will prepare a small feast another day to apologize to you."

Fang Yu said no more and turned to walk towards the entrance of the restaurant.

He left the noisy crowd, the smell of alcohol, and the fawning glances behind him.

However, just as he was about to step out of the Forget-Worry Pavilion, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of a crucial question.

He abruptly stopped, turned around, and looked at Jiang Yong, who had come to see him off, with eyes like lightning.

“Jiang Yong,” Fang Yu’s voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the surrounding noise, “The Qian family… I mean Qian Wu, why did he suddenly decide to expand his power?”

He stared intently into Jiang Yong's eyes, trying to catch any hint of anything unusual.

He suspected that Jiang Yong's appearance in this place was not accidental, and was very likely related to Gao Meng.

Furthermore, he suspected that the expansion of the Qian family's power might also be related to Gao Meng, or rather, to the Tianji Pavilion in some unknown way.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yong's answer was direct and straightforward, with almost no hesitation: "Replying to Lord Diao, this matter is quite simple. Lord Qian Wu is now following the newly adopted son of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Lord Yuwen Wuji. With Lord Yuwen's support, it's natural for him to expand his influence and do things for you."

"Yuwen Wuji?!"

Fang Yu's eyes widened immediately, his face filled with disbelief, almost thinking he had misheard.

That name, like a thunderclap, exploded in his mind.

"Which Yuwen Wuji? Is it Yuwen Wuji from Tianyuan Town?" Fang Yu's voice unconsciously rose a few decibels as he asked anxiously.

This is absurd! Yuwen Wuji from Tianyuan Town is still alive? And he's even transformed into the adopted son of the Tianji Pavilion in the capital?

The difference in their social status is like heaven and earth!
Jiang Yong was taken aback by Fang Yu's sudden change in mood, then shook his head, a hint of uncertainty on his face: "This... I'm not too sure. Lord Yuwen's background is not something we insignificant people can inquire about. However, he did only recently arrive in the capital from out of town, and the timing seems... somewhat plausible?"

He didn't dare to make any definitive statements, after all, while the name "Yuwen Wuji" wasn't particularly common, it wasn't unique either.

Fang Yu was momentarily confused and uncertain.

Reason told him that no matter how he thought about it, it couldn't possibly be the same person, right? What virtue or ability did Yuwen Wuji from Tianyuan Town have to be chosen by the Tianji Pavilion and adopted as their son? There must be some hidden story behind this that he didn't know about, or was it just a coincidence of having the same name?
Various thoughts swirled in his mind, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

Now is not the time to delve into this, and regardless of whether this Yuwen Wuji is the same Yuwen Wuji as before, it seems that it does not directly conflict with my current task.

"Forget it, never mind," Fang Yu took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and waved his hand. "Anyway, it has nothing to do with me."

His biggest concern right now is Gao Meng.

As long as the Qian family's expansion and Jiang Yong's appearance are not directly related to Gao Meng's mission, then there is no need to pay too much attention to them for the time being.

As long as it's not related to Gao Meng, it's fine.

Fang Yu glanced at Jiang Yong one last time, said no more, turned around and left Wangyou Pavilion, his figure quickly disappearing into the bustling streets and crowds of the capital.

Not long after Fang Yu left, Gao Meng gracefully walked down from the second floor.

She didn't glance at the noisy crowd in the lobby, and walked straight towards the door, her demeanor still aloof and cold.

Jiang Yong had been keeping an eye on the commotion upstairs out of the corner of his eye. When Gao Meng left, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately gave a wink to the group of people at the table who were still discussing "Lord Diao" and "the Ouyang family." He then whispered, "I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first. You guys continue drinking, and I'll put the bill on me." The group understood, and although they were curious, they wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

Jiang Yong quickly got up, trailing far behind Gao Meng, and left the Forget-Worry Pavilion.

Gao Meng seemed to have no specific destination, simply strolling leisurely along the street, occasionally stopping to look at the trinkets on the stalls, and sometimes turning into less crowded alleys. Jiang Yong followed cautiously behind, maintaining a safe distance. Thanks to his familiarity with the terrain and his mastery of tracking techniques, he did not attract the attention of passersby. Finally, after turning several corners and entering a quiet, deserted dead-end alley, Gao Meng stopped.

She slowly turned around, her cool gaze fixed on the alleyway entrance, and said calmly, "Come out."

Jiang Yong emerged from the shadows at the alley entrance, his face no longer displaying the arrogance and enthusiasm he had shown at the Forget-Worry Pavilion, but instead filled with respect and caution.

He strode forward, stopping about three steps in front of Gao Meng, bowed, and said in a low voice, "Lord Gao Meng."

Gao Meng nodded slightly, her gaze sharp as a knife, piercing Jiang Yong: "Just who is that Diao Deyi? He was probably investigating me at the restaurant just now." She used a declarative sentence, not a question, indicating that she already had a judgment on the matter.

Jiang Yong dared not conceal anything and quickly told him everything he knew: "My lord, I met this Diao Deyi during a demon-slaying incident organized by the Juemen organization. At that time, he showed remarkable strength and potential. Later, for some unknown reason, he was recruited into the Ouyang Mansion. It is said that... he also has a good relationship with Master Ouyang himself. After that, I had no chance to contact him."

He deliberately emphasized the point that he had a "good relationship with Master Ouyang" in order to illustrate how troublesome this person was.

Gao Meng frowned slightly, realizing the situation was indeed tricky.

She didn't take Juemen seriously.

But Master Ouyang... he is someone even the forces behind her are quite wary of, and he is definitely not someone she can directly provoke at present.

Why would someone with close ties to Master Ouyang be tracking and investigating her? The implications of this made her wary.

"Find some people, and do it cleanly, to investigate him discreetly." Gao Meng pondered for a moment before decisively giving the order. "I need to know his specific situation at the Ouyang residence, his usual whereabouts and habits, and... why he became interested in me. Remember, it's just an investigation. Without my orders, you are absolutely not allowed to act rashly, and you must not expose yourselves."

"Yes! I understand!" Jiang Yong immediately accepted the order, his expression solemn.

He knew that this matter was of great importance, and that if it was not handled properly, it could lead to a terrible disaster.

Gao Meng said no more and waved her hand.

Jiang Yong understood, bowed again, and then quickly retreated into the shadows, disappearing into the intricate alleyways in a few leaps.

Gao Meng stood alone in the alley for a while, carefully sensing her surroundings. Only after confirming that no one else was watching did she turn and leave.

Instead of returning to her publicly known residence, she wandered through the streets and alleys, circling around several times, until she finally arrived at a relatively secluded but tranquil house in the west of the city. This was one of her many hidden dwellings; like a cunning rabbit with multiple burrows, her lodgings in the capital were never fixed.

However, as she quietly opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit living room as usual, her body tensed up instantly!
An extremely subtle, yet distinctly different aura existed within the room!

Almost instinctively, she assumed a defensive stance, her fingertips twitching slightly as several poisoned hidden weapons slid into her palm.

But just as she was about to make her move, a deep, slightly hoarse voice rang out from the darkness:

"it's me."

Upon hearing this voice, Gao Meng's tense nerves relaxed considerably, but she did not completely let down her guard.

As she skillfully walked to the table and lit the oil lamp, she said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "I have already explained that I cannot participate in the operation that night. Firstly, it was too sudden, I was unprepared, and it was inconvenient to get away; secondly, the purpose of that operation was unclear, and rashly participating would easily expose my identity."

The dim light dispelled the darkness and illuminated a corner of the living room.

On a grand chair against the wall sat a figure draped in a black cloak, his face hidden in the shadow of the wide hood, making him appear mysterious and eerie.

Upon hearing this, the man let out a low chuckle, his voice carrying an inexplicable strangeness: "We're not here to interrogate you. You've infiltrated very well; we're very satisfied with your infiltration of the human bureaucracy and various forces."

The cloak shifted slightly, as if adjusting his posture. "I've come to give you a new task, or rather, an opportunity. I want you to get close to someone."

Gao Meng's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm on the surface. She walked to another chair and sat down, saying indifferently, "What mission? Who is worth your attention and requires me to make contact with them personally?" She quickly filtered through the possible target figures in the capital.

The man did not answer directly, but slowly raised his hand and reached for the hood on his head.

Under the dim, flickering light, the hand appeared unusually pale, with long, thin fingers and nails that had an unhealthy bluish-gray tinge.

Then, he gently lifted his hood.

Under the light, what was revealed was not a human face, but a snake's head covered with fine, dark green scales!

Its triangular head had vertical pupils that gleamed with a cold, cruel golden light under the lamplight, and a forked black tongue that peeked out slightly, emitting a soft hissing sound.

The snake-headed demon grinned, revealing a chilling "smile," and said in a hoarse voice, "That man is called Diao Deyi. According to our current information, he should be staying at the Ouyang residence. More information... is also very limited."

Gao Meng's pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, an undisguised look of astonishment appeared on her face. She even exclaimed in a low voice, "What?!"

Her mind went blank for a moment, and she almost thought she was hallucinating.

Diao Deyi? The one she had just dealt with at the Forget-Worry Pavilion, the one she had listed as a target for secret investigation? The guy who might be valued by Master Ouyang and who made her feel troubled? Less than an hour had passed, and yet she had been personally named by a high-ranking member of her demon faction, who asked her to contact and recruit him?
This is simply... absurd! This is unbelievable! What on earth is going on? Who exactly is this Diao Deyi? What secrets does he hold that have attracted the attention of both Master Ouyang and the high-ranking demons behind him?
In an instant, countless questions flooded Gao Meng's mind, leaving even this usually calm and collected undercover agent feeling unprecedented shock and confusion. The snake-headed demon, watching Gao Meng's discomfiture, flashed a satisfied look in its golden vertical pupils, seemingly enjoying the impact of the news she had brought.

"Try to recruit him, test his attitude, and try to get him closer to our side." The snake-headed demon's "smile" faded, and his tone became serious and seductive. "This is crucial to our upcoming series of operations in the capital, and may provide unexpected assistance. Gao Meng, this is the organization's trust in you, and also your opportunity to make a great contribution."

Gao Meng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart. She knew that she had been drawn into the center of a vortex that was far more complex and dangerous than she had imagined.

And that man named Diao Deyi is undoubtedly the key to the core of this vortex.

She nodded, her voice returning to its usual cool tone, but a hint of solemnity and determination appeared deep in her eyes.

"This matter needs to be explained in detail. I'm quite certain that Diao Deyi is a human being!"

The snake-headed demon hissed and laughed, "Although Diao Deyi is indeed a human, this human is different. He seems to have a close relationship with the Azure Demon Envoy of the Demon Capital! As you know, the Demon Capital was built on the ruins of Tianyuan Town. And Diao Deyi seems to come from Tianyuan Town; they have some kind of close connection. To be honest, the sudden action that night was actually to cover the safe retreat of the Demon Capital envoy. And before meeting us, the Demon Capital envoy met with this human first. You understand the meaning behind that, right?"

(End of this chapter)