Chapter 1366: Nobpo

Only after Sister Han's figure disappeared did the leader dare to step forward obediently, rubbing his hands and making a request.

"Mr. Wu..."

"What we witnessed today has left us deeply shaken. Now that we’ve come to understand a bit of the truth, we’re at a loss about what to do next. We hope, sir, that you will consider our shared Xia country origins and lend us your guidance. If there’s anything we can do to assist, we would gladly risk our lives!"

Hearing this, Wu Tao turned his head, pondered for a moment, and then spoke in a deep voice.

"That’s just as well. It saves a lot of trouble."

"Do you know if there have been any sightings of strange creatures nearby? As members of the demon-hunting department, this shouldn’t be unfamiliar territory for you. If there are any, take me there immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old men hurried back to the helicopter, making satellite calls nonstop!

Under immense pressure, the highly efficient demon-hunting department poured all its resources into the task. Within minutes, they had reported the exact location, complete with coordinates, photos, and videos. Even distant shots of the monster’s appearance were sent over in several images.

It had to be said, although their abilities were limited, they truly gave it their all.

Wu Tao nodded with gratitude, taking the various materials and glancing through them.

"Thank you."

His simple words left the men both flattered and apprehensive.

The leader, visibly excited, seized the opportunity to step closer with a smile and extend an invitation.

"Mr. Wu."

"We’ve prepared everything. Reinforcements have already been arranged on-site, and more information is still coming in. Why don’t you board the helicopter first? You can review the materials and listen to the reports while we head to the destination."

The obvious gesture of goodwill was not lost on Wu Tao. He understood that they were trying to curry favor, which was a natural and shrewd move.

In the past, he wouldn’t have bothered with such mundane social interactions.

However, since these people had gone to great lengths to assist him, and more information was still being sent, taking a ride on their helicopter wouldn’t hurt. After all, knowing your enemy was the key to a steady approach.

Besides, there was no reason to reject someone who was being so sincere and helpful, especially when all their preparations were useful. Wu Tao nodded in thanks and boarded the helicopter.

During the flight, Wu Tao reviewed the various materials and became familiar with the creature he was about to face. He also formulated a plan in his mind.

Soon, the helicopter landed by a northern lake.

The old men expressed their gratitude excitedly, though it was unclear who had actually helped whom.

"Thank you, Mr. Wu! Thank you, Mr. Wu!"

"Our branch’s personnel will be here shortly. If there’s anything you need, Mr. Wu, please don’t hesitate to ask. We won’t disturb you further, as you have important matters to attend to. If you ever need our assistance in the future, just say the word!"

"Take care, Mr. Wu!"

After a few hurried words, the old men bid their farewells with excitement, as if they had just won the lottery.

As the helicopter ascended, the old men waved respectfully through the windows like children, leaving Wu Tao both amused and touched. He made a mental note of their kindness, thinking to himself that they were truly good people.

Just as he was about to take action, a few off-road vehicles sped toward him in the distance.

Dust clouds rose as the vehicles raced forward like wild horses!

The cars screeched to a halt, and several people swiftly got out. When Wu Tao saw Xu Rong and the others stepping out, he was genuinely surprised.

"Why are you here?"

After all, this place was several hundred kilometers away from Pingjiang. How had they managed to arrive so quickly? It was quite unexpected.

However, as soon as Wu Tao finished speaking, apart from Xu Rong, who stepped forward excitedly, Li Weiwei and the others were even more astonished.

"Huh?!"

"Why are you here too?!"

"We received an urgent order to come here for a secret mission. Why are you here?!"

Hearing the girl’s question, Wu Tao suddenly remembered.

Ah, so the reinforcements the old men had arranged were these familiar faces. The arrangement was quite thoughtful, with all the chosen personnel being people he had met before. It was likely the result of the old men’s careful selection.

Faced with such considerate preparations, Wu Tao didn’t say much more.

He simply replied casually, "I’m here on a mission too."

Xu Rong, being more familiar with him and clearly aware of some inside information, quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Mr. Wu, if there’s anything we can do to assist, we’ll be fully prepared."

Wu Tao glanced at the vast lake. Although the scenery was beautiful, there didn’t seem to be any signs of activity, nor did it appear to be inhabited by any spirits or monsters. He then asked, "Do you have a speedboat?"

Xu Rong immediately responded, heading toward a hidden area by the lakeside where the demon-hunting department’s monitoring base was concealed.

"Yes! Please wait a moment, Mr. Wu. The speedboat will be ready to launch within five minutes!"

With that, she gave her team a commanding look and led them toward the hidden base in the woods. The team members, though confused, had no choice but to follow orders.

Before long, a small amphibious boat entered the lake.

Wu Tao nodded in satisfaction and boarded the boat, sitting steadily as he gave a signal with his eyes. Xu Rong immediately led the team to follow, starting the speedboat and cruising back and forth across the lake.

Water splashed as the small boat raced across the emerald-green lake, moving as freely as a tourist enjoying the scenery.

After sitting on the boat for a while, Li Weiwei and the other team members grew increasingly puzzled. They glanced at the unfamiliar Wu Tao and began whispering among themselves.

"Who is this guy? What’s his background?"

"His name is Wu Tao. I’ve run into him a few times in the city, but he doesn’t seem to have any notable background."

"Huh? Then why is the captain being so polite to him?"

"I have no idea. I’ve known the captain for years, and I’ve never seen her be this friendly or polite to any man before."

"This is really strange..."

"Aren’t we here to carry out a secret mission? Why are we sightseeing and enjoying the scenery now?"

"Who knows?"

"Enough chatter. Our duty is to obey orders!"

The voices on the boat weren’t loud, and as the speedboat moved, they were quickly drowned out by the sound of the water. However, they didn’t escape Wu Tao’s keen perception.

But he had no time to pay attention to these bystanders, nor did he care to engage with them.

As the boat approached the center of the lake, Wu Tao took out a jade pendant, tied it to a fishing line, and began fishing, looking completely at ease.

Seeing this, the men and women behind him frowned in confusion, their eyes showing signs of dissatisfaction.

Xu Rong, however, was very understanding and tactful. She skillfully slowed the speedboat, as if everything Wu Tao did was perfectly natural and beyond question.

Faced with this默契 (tacit understanding) cooperation, the team members grew even more puzzled.

The way they looked at the two of them also became somewhat strange.

After quietly observing for a while, the team members felt as if they had been force-fed a mouthful of "dog food" (a metaphor for feeling like third wheels in a romantic situation). They wore expressions of helplessness and quietly asked Xu Rong what the mission was about, but she remained silent.

Left with no choice, the team members asked for temporary leave to return to the base and see if there was anything else they could do, lest they truly become unwanted third wheels.

To their surprise, Xu Rong, wanting to avoid them disturbing Mr. Wu, immediately granted their request.

At this point, the uninformed team members felt even more convinced that they were witnessing a romantic moment. However, since they were on a secret mission, they couldn’t express their emotions openly. The male team members’ eyes flashed with envy, but they could only follow Li Weiwei and leave with a sense of resentment.

Even swimming seemed preferable to continuing to be third wheels!

With the boat now free of others, it finally became much quieter.

Wu Tao’s expression grew even calmer as he focused on the fishing line. The jade pendant tied to the line contained spiritual energy, a rare commodity on the barren Earth. It held an irresistible allure for all kinds of spiritual creatures.

As long as he waited patiently, he was sure to catch something.

Unfortunately, despite the beautiful lakeside scenery, the wait yielded no results.

Although Wu Tao was extremely patient and his mind was steady, he couldn’t ignore his empty stomach. Helpless, he turned to Xu Rong, who was accompanying him.

"Do you have any food?"