Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 1026 Advanced
It seems that the connection between the Demon Capital Envoy and this cunning young master is far closer, deeper, and... more honest than she imagined!
Since the other party had already seen through her true nature but did not expose it, and even after she took the initiative to reveal it, there was no excessive reaction, this is undoubtedly an extremely strong positive signal!

This suggests that the other party is at least not opposed to cooperating with demons, and may even already be part of this alliance!

This gave her unprecedented confidence in proposing future "cooperation" ideas.

Little did she know that Fang Yu's calmness did not stem from his "close connection" or "deep cooperation" with Brother Qing, but rather from his ability to directly see the health bar.

From the very first time they met, Fang Yu already knew whether she was human or demon.

Gao Meng's self-disclosure was nothing more than confirmation to Fang Yu of a fact that was already firmly established in his mind, and naturally it did not arouse any surprise.

In Gao Meng's view, Fang Yu's silence was a tacit approval and an indication that he was waiting for her to continue elaborating.

She perked up, feeling that she had laid enough groundwork and it was time to get to the real core and reveal her purpose.

She leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between herself and Fang Yu, and lowered her voice to make sure only the two of them could hear her.

"I've heard from higher-ups that Young Master Diao has a close relationship with the Demon Envoy. Since they both serve the Demon Envoy, they're practically on the same side, which makes things easier. I wonder if Young Master Diao would be interested in cooperating with us local demons?"

"cooperate?"

Fang Yu raised an eyebrow, his voice rising slightly at the end, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

He and Brother Qing are definitely on the same side.

However, if he were to become deeply entangled with the cunning and unpredictable local demonic forces in the capital, that would be a completely different matter.

This involves not only the exchange of interests, but also stances, trust, and the enormous risk of being turned against at any time.

These demons are by no means benevolent; to cooperate with them is tantamount to seeking help from a tiger.

but……

The situation is currently in complete chaos, and Juemen's mission is one he must complete no matter what.

Perhaps, by taking this opportunity to feign cooperation, we can not only successfully complete our mission but also gain a deeper understanding of the internal workings of the demons.

He composed himself, and asked in a calm, unbiased tone, "What kind of cooperation?"

Gao Meng was slightly pleased when she saw that he did not refuse her outright, as if she had seen a glimmer of hope. However, her long-term infiltration had instilled in her a cautious nature, which prevented her from completely letting her guard down.

She leaned forward, lowering her voice to ensure only Fang Yu could hear: "The specific action plan involves core secrets, so please forgive me for not being able to reveal it for the time being. But Young Master Diao only needs to know that we demons will soon be working closely with the Demon Envoy to plan a momentous event."

She carefully chose her words. Since she had initially judged Fang Yu to be a potential "fellow traveler," revealing some information that did not touch on the core issues would actually demonstrate her sincerity and increase her leverage.

Her eyes gleamed with a light mixed with ambition, and her voice was low and seductive: "The capital has been stagnant for too many years, and it is about to usher in an unprecedented storm, a complete reshuffling! The old order and the established structure will be utterly shattered in this storm! And the new era will be written by us, together with the Demon Capital Envoy!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Yu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he couldn't help but sneer.

Big changes? Storm? Hasn't Beijing been lively enough lately?
However, he did not reveal any of these thoughts. Instead, he looked thoughtful and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if he was carefully weighing the pros and cons.

After a moment of silence, he looked up at Gao Meng and agreed with a cautious tone: "Since you have the courage and have a close relationship with Brother Qing... well, the Demon Envoy, then I can consider the cooperation."

Gao Meng's face immediately broke into a more genuine smile, her previous tension and wariness largely dissipating: "Young Master Diao is indeed a wise and shrewd person! It is our honor to have your approval! Welcome to the team!"

A huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. Being able to win Fang Yu over was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for their cooperation with the Demon Capital Envoy.

“However,” Fang Yu’s tone suddenly changed, his gaze becoming sharp as a knife, piercing Gao Meng’s heart, “since it’s a cooperation, it’s all about mutual benefit and trust. You need to show some sincerity first and let me see the foundation of the cooperation. Tell me, who is your direct contact in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, or rather, in the demonic line? I need to confirm whether your level is high enough, and… whether your side is safe and reliable enough.”

He chose the most direct approach, playing his cards openly and making no attempt to conceal his purpose.

This was both a way to demand crucial information for completing the perilous mission and a further test of Gao Meng's strength and the power behind her.

This direct request caught Gao Meng off guard and left her momentarily stunned.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of hesitation and struggle flashed across her face.

The identity of the person infiltrator is one of the most important secrets; once it is leaked, the consequences are unimaginable.

But on second thought, Fang Yu's candid questioning made him seem open and honest, as if he truly regarded her as one of his own, someone he could speak frankly with.
Perhaps he was simply performing a necessary check to verify the credibility of his partner?

Fang Yu noticed her hesitation but didn't give her much time to think. He added in a calm tone, as if stating a simple fact.

"Don't worry, I'm not trying to investigate anything. I'm just doing someone a favor by investigating your background and the network of relationships behind you, so I can have a clear explanation when I get back."

"It's merely an investigation to understand the situation; it's not about eliminating anyone."

"If I get the intelligence, I can just privately remind you to be extra careful and watch out for potential dangers. In a way, this is a subtle way of reminding you to take precautions."

His words were reasonable and logical, cleverly positioning himself as a neutral information transmitter rather than an assassin carrying out a cleanup mission, which greatly reduced Gao Meng's resistance.

Gao Meng's eyes flickered as she rapidly weighed her options.

Fang Yu's demonstrated strength and potential, as well as his ambiguous relationship with the Demon Envoy, are all worth the risk she takes to win him over.

Simply revealing the name of a non-top-level contact, without leaking core plans or operational details, would be a worthwhile deal if it could secure their cooperation or even temporary neutrality.

She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and said in an almost inaudible whisper, "It is... Liu Wenjing, the Grand Scholar of the Daoist Academy."

"Liu Wenjing..."

Fang Yu silently repeated the name in his mind, memorizing it firmly. The Daoist Academy was an important and prestigious academic institution of the imperial court; how could a highly respected Grand Scholar be a key liaison planted by demons within the upper echelons of humanity?

The depth and breadth of this infiltration are truly alarming.

No wonder the Crown Prince wanted to investigate Gao Meng.

"very good."

Fang Yu nodded, a hint of satisfaction showing on his face. "Then, based on this sincerity, the foundation for our cooperation can be considered to have been initially established."

Seeing this, Gao Meng finally felt relieved and quickly seized the opportunity to further demonstrate her willingness to cooperate.

"In that case, to show our importance and to allow Young Master Diao to gain a deeper understanding of our plan, I would like to formally invite you to a meeting in a few days. At that time, the high-ranking members of the demons who truly hold power will be present to discuss our grand plan with you face to face and explain our magnificent vision in detail. I believe that after hearing the plan, Young Master Diao will definitely have a different opinion of us."

"Okay, we'll see how things go then."

Fang Yu neither immediately agreed nor refused, leaving room for maneuver. He stood up, straightened his clothes, and made as if to leave.

However, just as he turned around and was about to step out of the private room, Zhuge Shi's anxious eyes and the "Bone Tiger" mission suddenly flashed through his mind.

Since Gao Meng has clearly stated that she is a member of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and holds a high position of power, perhaps she can provide some unexpected convenience or information?
He paused slightly, his body still, as if suddenly remembering something. He turned around and asked in a seemingly casual, conversational tone, "By the way, have you ever heard of a place called 'Pinxinfang'?"

Gao Meng was about to get up to see him off when she heard this, a look of surprise flashed across her face, and she subconsciously replied, "Pingxinfang? Of course I know it. On the surface, it's a brothel that welcomes guests with music and dance, but in reality, it's an important base and transit point under our Tianji Pavilion, which has been operating for many years and specializes in handling all kinds of shady transactions. What, is Young Master Diao... interested in that place?"

A hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes; she didn't understand why Fang Yu had suddenly asked about this place of pleasure.

Fang Yu's heart stirred slightly. He hadn't expected things to be so coincidental. It turned out that the Concubine's Pavilion was actually the territory of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!
This is truly a case of finding something you've been searching for without even looking for it. He remained calm and went along with her words, saying, "I wouldn't say I'm interested. It's just that I have a... rather important item that seems to have been taken to the brothel by some unscrupulous people and traded there. I want to get it back."

Upon hearing this, Gao Meng realized it was such a "trivial matter," and a relaxed and confident smile immediately appeared on her face, carrying a hint of flattery and taking over.

"I thought it was something serious! It's just a small trouble. Pinxinfang is our territory, and we have people all over it. Finding a person or recovering an item there is just a matter of a word. Since Young Master Diao has spoken, how could I refuse such a small favor? I'll go with you and guarantee that I can help you get the item back smoothly and return it to its rightful owner!"

She was just worried about not finding an opportunity to get closer to Fang Yu, and this was a godsend. She could both showcase her abilities and do him a favor.

Fang Yu gave her a deep look, and seeing the confidence in her expression, he confirmed that this matter was indeed not difficult for her. He nodded and softened his tone: "That's good. With you, the 'host,' leading the way, it should save us a lot of trouble."

The two understood each other without exchanging any more pleasantries and immediately got up and left the teahouse.

Gao Meng led the way, with Fang Yu following closely behind. The two walked through the still bustling streets and headed towards "Pingxinfang".

……

Meanwhile, across from the Concubine's Heart Lane, in a dark alleyway piled with miscellaneous items.

Zhuge Shi had been hiding there, with his back against the cold, damp wall, waiting for more than half an hour.

At first she could maintain her patience, but as time passed and the streetlights gradually came on, the sounds of string and wind instruments and the joking noise from the brothel became clearer and clearer, and her patience gradually disappeared.

She paced anxiously back and forth, her eyes scanning every street corner and every turn where Fang Yu might appear, like the sharpest probes, but she never saw the figure she was hoping for.

The occasional sound of a passing car or horse at the alley entrance would make her heart race, causing her to peek out, only to shrink back into the shadows in disappointment.

"Why isn't he here yet... What's holding him back? Has something gone wrong? Or... is he not really taking the organization's mission to heart at all?"

Various speculations gnawed at her reason like venomous snakes, leaving her distraught.

The Bone Tiger's corpse could be moved out of the city at any time, and once it leaves the capital, finding it again would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Every moment of delay increases the risk of mission failure exponentially.

She looked up at the magnificent, brightly lit building across the street, where the three gilded characters "姘心坊" shimmered with an ambiguous and alluring light in the night.

The cheerful laughter emanating from inside sounded to her like a mix of unknown dangers and opportunities.

"Can't wait any longer!"

Zhuge Shi clenched her fist tightly. "I have to go in first! At least I need to confirm whether the bone tiger's corpse is really hidden here, or find more specific and direct clues! Once Diao De arrives, we can take action immediately."

Having made up his mind, Zhuge Shi no longer hesitated and strode into the Concubine's Abode.

As soon as he entered, Zhuge Shi was drawn to the commotion at the Concubine's Abode.

The main hall of the Concubine's Heart Pavilion was the epitome of luxury.

Gilded beams and pillars, sheer curtains, and a sweet, cloying aroma of perfume and wine filling the air.

On the central stage, a dozen graceful singers were dancing to the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments.

Dressed in light, colorful gowns, their flowing sleeves and swirling skirts resembled blooming delicate flowers. Every glance and every movement was meticulously choreographed, full of allure and beauty, captivating the attention of all the guests below the stage.

The guests came from all walks of life, including wealthy merchants dressed in fine clothes, scholars who pretended to be aloof, and martial arts practitioners with a sharp and capable air.

They cheered loudly, commented quietly, or followed the dancers' graceful figures with dreamy eyes, immersing the entire hall in an atmosphere of extravagance and debauchery.

To add to the festivities, during breaks in the music and dance, a master of ceremonies would throw out snippets of romantic poetry, prompting the self-proclaimed refined guests to compete in reciting and matching verses. Those who could come up with a good match could win the favor of a beautiful woman or receive free drinks, pushing the atmosphere to a climax time and time again.

(End of this chapter)