Chapter 1359: The Origin Of Terror

Despite not having slept all night, Xu Rong was full of energy.

Unable to contain her overwhelming curiosity, she quickly freshened up and prepared to head to the old town. No matter how terrifying Wu Tao might be, she was determined to uncover the truth!

Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang at the most inconvenient time.

"Ding ling ling, ding ling ling..."

Xu Rong glanced at the screen, noting it was a colleague. Thinking it might be work-related, she reluctantly answered.

To her surprise, the voice on the other end was overly eager and ingratiating.

"Captain Xu, today is a rare day off, and the nation has just recovered from that terrifying tsunami. It's a time for celebration. On such a joyous occasion, I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me. What do you say, Captain Xu...?"

Hearing this, Xu Rong lost all interest.

She coldly hung up without hesitation.

"Not interested."

The current situation was becoming increasingly complex, with strange natural disasters and mysterious powerful figures constantly emerging. She had no time to deal with an oily colleague. While his constant flattery was tolerable before, given the current circumstances, as a member of the demon-hunting department, he showed no sense of responsibility whatsoever.

Putting away her phone, Xu Rong immediately left.

By nine o'clock, she was already standing in front of Wu Tao's house.

"Knock knock!"

After a tense knock, nine layers of security doors opened one by one. A lazy Wu Tao slowly looked up, his eyes lighting up slightly upon seeing Xu Rong, a hint of anticipation on his face.

"It's you."

"So? Any news from your headquarters?"

Xu Rong, feeling awkward, quickly explained nervously.

"No, no..."

"There's no news from headquarters yet. I came to invite you to lunch and to ask you a few questions. Do you have time?"

By the end, her voice was trembling with nervousness.

Xu Rong had never invited anyone to lunch before, let alone a man, especially someone as mysterious and powerful as Wu Tao. Her anxiety was through the roof!

Wu Tao, however, remained calm and nodded agreeably at the mention of lunch.

"Sure."

Xu Rong was momentarily stunned, her eyes lighting up with surprise. Whether it was because her first invitation to a man had succeeded or because she now had a chance to ask her burning questions, her face was filled with excitement, a blush adding to her charm.

This demeanor was a far cry from the cold, ruthless persona she was known for. If her colleagues saw her like this, they would be utterly shocked...

Not long after, the two were seated in a private room at a riverside restaurant. The quiet, serene environment was perfect for their conversation, and the view from the window was refreshing, helping them relax a bit.

Seeing Wu Tao enjoying his meal with satisfaction, wiping his mouth with a contented expression, Xu Rong mustered her courage, gripping her water glass tightly, and spoke with trembling lips.

"Mr. Wu."

"Could you tell me who you really are? How do you explain the abilities you've shown before? If we were to categorize you as a demon hunter, what level would you be...?"

Her series of questions was filled with anxiety, her cautious eyes betraying a glimmer of hope.

Facing the beautiful captain in such a state, Wu Tao didn't mind. After all, he had just enjoyed her hospitality, and he still needed her help to find Sister Han.

But as he pondered her questions, he found them difficult to answer.

He could only smile and offer an ambiguous response.

"Hmm."

"If I were to reveal my identity and strength, it wouldn't just shatter your understanding but also cause a lot of trouble. It's better if you don't know."

Xu Rong's eyes widened.

Even though his words were cryptic, as a smart woman, she could read between the lines!

The strange phenomena she had witnessed before were already shocking enough, but Mr. Wu's identity could overturn all that and even cause significant trouble...

What kind of terrifying truth was this?

Xu Rong couldn't imagine what Mr. Wu considered "trouble," and she dared not think about his true identity and actual strength.

One thing she was certain of: this man's background was a world-class secret.

What did that mean?

Having worked in the demon-hunting department for so long, Xu Rong knew better than most that such a level of secrecy was almost taboo. Ordinary people who got involved would only meet a dead end.

As Mr. Wu said, it was better not to know...

Thinking this, Xu Rong felt a chill run down her spine and quickly changed the subject, not daring to ask further.

"Mr. Wu..."

"Did you enjoy the meal? Although Pingjiang City is a small place, it has its unique charm. If there's anything we can help with in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

Regardless, this powerful and mysterious man meant no harm. It was definitely a good idea to befriend him for now.

Hearing her goodwill, Wu Tao smiled and nodded.

He didn't sense any malice from this woman, and as for threats, they were out of the question. Having an ally was always better than making an enemy.

After some casual conversation, the two, now full and content, leisurely strolled back.

On this day of widespread celebration, a man and a woman chatting easily as they walked under the trees by the roadside looked like a couple to anyone who saw them. Especially since their appearances and attire were somewhat mismatched, it only reinforced this impression.

After all, in these times, looks didn't matter much; the ability to survive was what counted. The idea of a beautiful woman with an ordinary man was already a common sight.

As they walked, they naturally drew envious glances and quiet sighs, making Xu Rong feel somewhat awkward.

Fortunately, the old town wasn't crowded, and soon the streets became quiet and empty, free from such distractions.

However, the peace didn't last long.

After walking along the ginkgo-lined road for a while, they turned a corner and ran into another passerby.

This man's reaction was much more intense than the previous ones. He paused, eyeing the chatting pair, his gaze growing colder by the second, and he suddenly barked out a cold shout!

"Xu Rong!"

The sudden shout startled Xu Rong, and she looked up, stunned.

"Zhou Pengfei?"

She never expected to run into this guy while out for a stroll.

Getting an oily phone call in the morning was bad enough, but now she had to bump into him again, and he even had the nerve to call her out by name with a sour face. It was beyond annoying.

What was even more infuriating was that before she could say anything, he was already gritting his teeth and spitting out words.

"Xu Rong!"

"How could you do this?!"

"I invited you to lunch this morning, and you turned me down. Not only did you refuse, but now you're out strolling with this loser!"

"I, Zhou Pengfei, am a man of some standing, with looks and prospects. What part of me is worse than this guy?!"

He fired off a series of aggrieved questions, as if he had been deeply wronged.

Xu Rong stopped in her tracks, her gaze icy.

She couldn't understand.

How could Zhou Pengfei be so self-absorbed, acting as if her refusal to have lunch with him was some great injustice?

They were just colleagues. Who she had lunch with was none of his business.

What was even more laughable was that the "loser" he was referring to was actually thousands of times more formidable than him. Even his father wouldn't dare offend someone like Mr. Wu.

Sigh...

Xu Rong felt a wave of helplessness and decided to ignore him.

But Zhou Pengfei, instead of backing off, turned his dark gaze to Wu Tao.

"Hey?"

"Kid, what's your deal? No offense, but with your looks, you dare to have lunch with her? You must have some serious connections, huh?"