"According to the intelligence from three days ago, Su Qiluo has already been forced to participate in the Yun Family's struggle for heir, and is currently undergoing the first trial."
The melodious voice said up to here, and Du ke's eyelid immediately twitched.
"Is there any intelligence on the first trial of the Yun Family's struggle for heir?"
"Sorry, there is no related intelligence for now."
The melodious voice was full of deep regret, "The Yun Family's surveillance against outsiders prying into the struggle for heir is too tight, even our Hongque Building's connections are unable to obtain specific intelligence."
"I see!"
Du ke lowered his head in thought, and since he did not ask further, the melodious voice also stopped speaking, waiting for Du ke's next question.
Shi San was also obediently waiting for Du ke to finish thinking. After pondering for a while, Du ke also closed his eyes, took a deep breath several times, in order to calm his thoughts.
After a while, Du ke also opened his eyes, with no visible change of emotions in those golden eyes.
No matter how anxious, what's the use?
It's useless to rush to the girl's side now, it's better to take this opportunity to make more preparations that are beneficial to the girl.
"Is there any intelligence on all the people from the Yun Family participating in the struggle for heir?"
Du ke said up to here, and also paused, with a hint of viciousness in his eyes, "Also, intelligence on Yun Family's madam Kong Xian, as well as her sons and husband!"
"We have them, and will prepare them for you before you leave."
"Good."
Du ke nodded, and also glanced at the jade box on the table.
"Dear guest, the reward you have given already far exceeds the price of the intelligence you asked for. From now on, you can ask anything."
Noticing Du ke looking at the jade box on the table, the melodious voice explained right away.
"In that case, let me think about it."
Du ke started pondering again, to see if he had missed anything.
"That's right!"
Suddenly, Du ke thought of something, and also pricked up his ears, asking the wall, "What was Su Family's reaction to Yun Family forcibly making Su Qiluo participate in the family's struggle for heir?"
"Currently, there are only two pieces of intelligence on Su Family."
"First, Su Family's patriarch has been away from the family for many days, and his whereabouts are now unknown."
"Second, Su Family is consolidating its troops, as if preparing for war."
"If Su Family starts a war, will no one in the imperial court manage it?"
"Dear guest, although this is Long Life Celestial Dynasty's world, the decision makers of this world are the Nine Surnames and Thirteen Hopes."
"Those emperors and dukes of the royal family are nothing but penned pigs and dogs, just helping the Nine Surnames and Thirteen Hopes to herd the common people."
"No matter if there is a change of dynasty or power in the future, the Nine Surnames and Thirteen Hopes will remain unchanged, The world will still be theirs, only the penned pigs and dogs are replaced."
"I see."
Du ke clicked his tongue, so that was why Su Family's residence alone was as big as a county city, it turned out there was such a reason.
Many of his previous questions finally made sense now.
"Dear guest, anything else you'd like to ask?"
"Do you have any news about Heavenly Fire here?"
Du ke recalled the Heavenly Fire needed to unlock the Black Cauldron's powers, and the melodious voice immediately replied, "Yes, there will be an auction in Yunzhou Monster Market six days later, where a Heavenly Fire will be auctioned as a lot."
"Is Su Qiluo in Yunzhou now?"
"Yes, according to the intelligence from three days ago, Su Qiluo happened to be inside the city near Yunzhou Monster Market."
"What a good opportunity."
Du ke smacked his lips, pondering for a moment before saying, "How to obtain the credentials to enter the Yunzhou auction?"
"We can provide it for you if you want."
The melodious voice said again, "As I said before, the price you paid far exceeds what you have obtained so far."
"Based on our Hongque Building's principle of fair exchange, you can now make any reasonable request within proper limits."
"In that case, can you tell me what this is?"
Du ke took out the crystalline stone he obtained from Old Goat, and the melodious voice immediately said, "This is a Spirit Stone, one of the currencies circulating in the Monster Market."
"Hmm," Du ke nodded, but soon asked again, "How to obtain this Spirit Stone?"
"Hongque Building can help exchange for you, shall we convert the excess price you paid into Spirit Stones?"
"Exchange some for me, and find me some divine weapons and human martial arts manuals."
Du ke paused, and emphasized, "Best if they are divine weapons used by those who have broken through innate with Divine Will!"
"The more manuals the better."
"Alright, dear guest, anything else you need?"
"If I get into trouble in this Monster Market, can I find you to resolve it?"
As soon as Du ke said this, the melodious voice stopped for a moment, but still replied respectfully, "As long as you can afford the price."
"No problem, I may not have anything else, but I have plenty of these!"
Du ke pointed to the elixir pills in the jade box, putting on an arrogant manner, "The old man gave me a lot before I left, these are just a drop in the bucket."
"I have a lot more, even better ones."
"Now I'm so poor all I have left are elixir pills!"
Facing the white cat's arrogant words, the melodious voice also paused, but soon said, "Anything else you need?"
"No more, go prepare what I want!"
"Yes, please wait a moment."
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell completely silent. Du ke also stroked his chin and slowly started thinking about what to do next.
He must go find the girl, that's a must. Coming to Hongque Building on a whim this time to inquire about the girl's news can be considered an unexpected gain.
What else?
Get the intelligence first, then rush to reunite with the girl in Yunzhou as soon as possible.
Right, he still had to give her a big surprise then.
...
"Manager, this is the whole conversation between that Spirit Cat and me."
A nightingale hopped and placed a conch in front of the old madam. After glancing at the conch, the old madam calmly said, "Thank you for your hard work, go rest now."
"Yes, manager."
The nightingale left, while the old madam fiddled with the conch, which immediately started playing back the entire conversation between Du ke and the nightingale.
Soon, the old madam also showed a look of astonishment, incredulously saying, "Could this cat be the Cat General that Su Family's eldest miss has been looking for?"
"If it's really so...."
The old madam paced around the room several times, then grabbed the conch and rushed out of her room.
She still had to find her supervisor, the intelligence value was too great for her to handle alone.
An hour and a half later, in the interrogation room numbered Di Zi Jia.
"Young master?"
There was a knock on the door from outside. Du ke, who was playing tic tac toe with the puppy, immediately casually ended the game, adding another defeat to the puppy's record while saying, "Come in."
"Young master, here is what you asked for."
The old procuress walked into the quiet room, behind her stood a row of birds, each holding something different in their hands.
"Here are the spirit stones you wanted."
As soon as these words left the old procuress's mouth, one of the birds stepped forward.
"The intelligence you wanted!"
Then two more birds stepped out.
"The auction pass you wanted!"
Another bird walked out.
"The martial arts manuals you wanted."
Three more birds stepped forward.
"The divine weapons you wanted." As the last two birds behind the old procuress took a step forward, she continued, "Oh right, here is a gift from us at Hongque Building!"
As soon as the old procuress moved to the side, a painting and a badge were also presented.
"This is a calligraphy containing the natural profoundness of mortals, and this identity badge with the word 'Heaven' on it, consider it a token of our esteem."
"Much appreciated!"
As Du ke spoke, he also gave Thirteen a look.
Thirteen immediately jumped onto the table, closed the jade box, and handed it to the old procuress.
"Now the money and goods have been settled."
Seeing the old procuress taking the jade box, she repeatedly nodded, "Yes, yes, yes, now you may help yourself."
"Leave now."
After Du ke let the birds leave, the old procuress and company also quickly left.
Once all the birds had left, Du ke immediately opened the box containing the spirit stones. As soon as he opened the box, Du ke narrowed his eyes, and his tail also involuntarily swayed.
The box was full of translucent, crystal clear spirit stones. Du ke couldn't help but narrow his eyes when he saw them.
After closing the box of spirit stones, Du ke also lightly tapped the other items.
Putting aside the intelligence from the Yun family and the auction pass for now.
There were forty-five martial arts manuals, two divine weapons, one gun and one blade. After glancing at the calligraphy, the aura wasn't weak, still a decent item.
As for the badge?
It was just compensation from Hongque Building!
After taking stock of everything, Du ke immediately put all the items away.
Seeing Du ke storing the items, Thirteen also shook his head and wagged his tail, looking expectantly at Du ke.
"Alright, time for us to go."
"Awoo!"
"Hungry?"
"Woof!"
"Then let's go eat something!"
"Let's go!"
...
Two quarter hours later, at the end of Yaoshi Street.
"Burp~"
The little rabbit who had just let out a satiated burp waved at the stall owner, "I can't eat anymore, really can't eat anymore."
"Please stop stuffing me."
"Oh come on, have another one. You need to eat your fill to have energy to work!"
The stall owner gave the little rabbit another one. The little rabbit was about to decline but suddenly saw Du ke riding Thirteen emerge from the door of the Hongque Building shop.
"Sorry, my employer has arrived, I must get going."
The little rabbit quickly apologized and immediately ran towards Du ke.
Du ke was still looking for the rabbit. But before he could find the little rascal, the little rabbit took the initiative to appear before him.
"Mas-Burp!" Before the words were fully out, the little rabbit let out a satiated burp. She immediately covered her mouth, looking at Du ke embarrassed, "Sir, really sorry, ate too much."
"It's fine," Du ke flicked out seven or eight gold coins. "Did you settle the bill?"
"If not, use this to settle it. The rest is reward money for you."
"Thank you sir."
"After you finish up, take me to Feast Residence for a meal."
"You got it sir! Please come this way, I'll clear the path for you!"
As the little rabbit led Du ke forward, she also took out a gold coin and tossed it to the stall owner. Seeing this, the stall owner smiled and declined, "Keep it for yourself, just remember to eat properly!"
But the little rabbit paid him no heed and directly threw him a gold coin. Seeing the stall owner still wanting to decline, the little rabbit directly said a sentence and swiftly left with Du ke.
"Uncle stall owner, thank you for the carrots."
"Little lass!"
The stall owner flipped the gold coin in his hand, smiling as he watched the little rabbit's departing figure.
"Good kid. Next time should I bring her some white carrots?"
...
"Hurry up, old thing!"
A scolding accompanied by the crack of a whip. The old man dressed in tattered rags arduously dragged a cart frame, slowly inching forward.
"Too slow, faster, move faster!"
The long-faced donkey spirit wielding the whip had a vicious expression as he berated the old man.
"I bought you to pull this cart, not to feed you in your old age! Keep dawdling and I'll sell you to Feast Residence to be steamed bun filling."
Amidst the donkey spirit's scolding, the old man also lifted his head. His face covered in scars and wounds wore an expression of numbness and desolation.
Only in the depths of his eyes was there a hint of sorrow.
I'm sorry, little Yun'er!
Master is sorry, Yun'er!
As he thought this, the old man kept pulling the cart forward.
"Hey, hey, make way in front. Don't block my master's path!"
A little gray rabbit sticking close to the ground yelled while clearing the way for a pair of cat and dog.
Seeing the rabbit, the old man immediately dragged the heavy cart frame to the side. At this moment, the donkey spirit swung his whip down at him.
"Old fool, too slow! Faster!"
"Do you really not want to live anymore?"
Facing the donkey spirit's scolding, the old man gritted his teeth and urged the meager true essence left in his body to stride to the side.
It was also at this time that the old man's actions suddenly froze. This was because the pair of cat and dog behind the rabbit walked past him.
The cat's fur was as white and flawless as beautiful jade. Its golden eyes shimmered brilliantly. A pheasant plume crown was on its head, in its paws it held a tobacco pipe. Its expression was neither sad nor happy, appearing dignified and impressive.
The wolfhound had black and white fur. It wore a tiger head hat, a single shoulder cape hung on its chest, and there was a saddle on its back for the cat to ride.
The instant this pair of cat and dog passed before the old man, his eyes widened in shock. He somehow summoned a burst of strength from who knows where, and suddenly shouted loudly.
"General!"
"General!!"
"General!!!"