The guard at the manor was very affable. When Ji Changkong mentioned he was a friend of Duan Haoshan, one guard enthusiastically ushered him inside the Duan manor without inquiring about any minor details.

Duan Haoshan was in a courtyard, drinking and celebrating with several brothers, discussing anecdotes from the Spiritual Treasure Convention. The group was flushed from the drink, thoroughly enjoying themselves at the height of their merriment.

When the guard brought Ji Changkong before Duan Haoshan, Duan Haoshan obviously froze for a moment, not having expected him to appear at the Duan manor at this time.

“Brothers, please continue your drinking; I have something to attend to.” Duan Haoshan abruptly stood up, the wine’s haze instantly vanishing from his eyes. He waved the guard away, then grabbed Ji Changkong, pulling him behind the secluded rockery, and whispered, “Brother Changkong, why are you here?”

“Brother Duan, I apologize for not revealing my true identity to you earlier; please forgive me.” Ji Changkong smiled apologetically. “Brother Duan, how did you discover who I am?”

“Not long after the incident with Du Shaofeng, someone mentioned that Bai Hui, who followed Bai Qingya, was actually Ji Changkong of the Great Marsh of Yunmeng. Some people who had visited the Great Marsh of Yunmeng heard the descriptions given by people at the Spiritual Treasure Convention and were certain you were Ji Changkong. Of course, I then knew who you were,” Duan Haoshan explained, then laughed heartily, “When friends connect, identity isn't important. Brother, you are quite valuable—the Old Matriarch of the Du family is truly furious because of you!”

Hearing this, Ji Changkong thought of someone—the Six Harmonies Celestial Master who wore a mask and had once attacked him. This person had seen him in the Great Marsh of Yunmeng before and recognized him in Tianshui City. He first sent people to invite him, and when that failed, he took action himself.

If his identity issue was revealed by him, it would naturally be impossible to conceal any longer.

With a wry smile, Ji Changkong shook his head. “Brother Duan, to be frank, I came to find you today because I need a favor.”

“Tell me. If I can help, I will certainly do my best,” Duan Haoshan replied seriously, without hesitation.

“I heard your Duan family has excellent intelligence channels. I hope Brother Duan can help me deliver a letter to the Ji family on Azure Rock Mountain as quickly as possible, to be placed directly into my grandfather Ji Yusheng’s hands!”

“No problem, this is an easy matter,” Duan Haoshan agreed readily.

Hesitating for a moment, Ji Changkong took the Sun Heart Stone from his mustard seed pouch and placed it inside the envelope along with the letter, handing it to Duan Haoshan. “I rely on you, Brother Duan.”

“Brother, don't be so formal.”

Duan Haoshan took the envelope without even looking, preparing to handle the matter for him immediately.

Just then, a slender figure passed by the corridor in front of the rockery. Hands on her hips, she pointed at the Duan family members still drinking and carousing, and shouted, “You bunch of little drunks! Grandfather just gave the order—scram back to the training grounds! Grandfather wants to inspect all of your cultivation levels one by one!”

The youths who had just been drinking with Duan Haoshan heard her sharp call. They all put on grim faces and frantically rushed off to check their appearances in mirrors and gulp down water, seemingly trying to clear the smell of alcohol from their systems as quickly as possible.

“Where’s Big Brother? Hmph, where is he hiding?” The little girl ignored the others, shouting around the courtyard, her mischievous eyes darting everywhere, seemingly determined to root out Duan Haoshan.

“Little Sister…”

Duan Haoshan looked somewhat awkwardly at Duan Lingyue, who stood before him with her hands on her hips, and managed a dry laugh. “Little Sister, why is Grandfather suddenly looking for people? Did you snitch?”

“So what if I did?” Duan Lingyue tilted her head up with a huff, casting a disdainful glance at Ji Changkong standing beside Duan Haoshan. She asked brazenly, “You look very unfamiliar. You must be one of Big Brother’s rowdy friends, right? Let me tell you, you are forbidden from drinking with my Big Brother from now on, or I won’t be polite to you!”

Duan Lingyue only glanced at him once before immediately categorizing him as one of Duan Haoshan’s drinking buddies. Ji Changkong felt a pang of guilt; he had only just met Duan Haoshan before being invited out for drinks. Being labeled like that by Duan Lingyue made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

“Little Sister, Big Brother has a favor to ask. Please deliver this envelope to the Ji family on Azure Rock Mountain as fast as possible, into the hands of Ji Yusheng!” Duan Haoshan said with a strained smile, handing the envelope Ji Changkong had given him to Duan Lingyue.

Most of the men in the Duan family were the robust and forthright type. Such people naturally wouldn't pay much attention to intelligence gathering. However, Duan Haoshan’s grandmother, Lin Yue’e, was said to have been particularly skilled in such matters in the past. After marrying into the Duan family, Lin Yue’e single-handedly built up the Duan family's intelligence network.

Lin Yue’e controlled the Duan family intelligence network and did not allow the Duan men to interfere; only the daughters of the Duan family were permitted to manage it. Duan Lingyue was currently one of the key figures in this network.

Touching the envelope, Duan Lingyue looked suspiciously at Ji Changkong, then at Duan Haoshan. “Family business? Or are you running an errand for someone?”

“Family business,” Duan Haoshan hurried to say.

Nodding, Duan Lingyue became serious. “Even family business must follow the rules set by Grandmother! You lose your hundred high-grade Yuan Stones for this month.”

“If I lose them, I lose them. Just get this done for me quickly,” Duan Haoshan urged.

“So annoying!” Duan Lingyue grumbled under her breath, then looked at Ji Changkong. “Ji Changkong, follow me. I need to speak with you.”

“Ah…” Ji Changkong breathed out softly. “How did you know it was me?”

“I’ve seen your portrait, and I’m the one who compiled the information about you. Now you come looking for my Big Brother about Ji family matters—if not you, then who?” Duan Lingyue scoffed, adding with disdain, “You really have guts, wandering around without changing your appearance at all. People with connections have privately seen your portrait; tracking you down wouldn't be difficult at all.”

“Changkong, rest assured. My little sister is very well-informed. If you need anything, asking her won't be wrong,” Duan Haoshan said. Hearing a roar echoing from a distance, he flinched, then hurriedly started to leave. “Brother, you two stay here for a bit. I’ll come find you after I deal with the old fellow.”

Duan Haoshan, clearly fearful, vanished as soon as he finished speaking.

Duan Lingyue glanced sideways at Ji Changkong and said coolly, “Follow me.”

She held the envelope containing the Sun Heart Stone. Ji Changkong felt uneasy, but regardless of Duan Lingyue’s cold demeanor, he dutifully followed her. In the back courtyard of the Duan family.

Delicate exclamations of delight could be heard intermittently. The Duan family intelligence organization, managed by Lin Yue’e, operated in an orderly manner under the hands of a group of women.

In an area where falcons were kept, several young girls from the third generation of the Duan family were tossing pieces of raw meat to the falcons centered in the iron cages, chatting happily in low voices.

“Hehe, I wonder who Sister Lingyue will catch to test the eagles today? This batch of newly trained falcons is quite fierce!” Duan Xiaoqi, whose hair was tied in a ponytail, held a piece of bloody raw meat and reached her small hand into the iron enclosure.

The falcon, which had been staring intently at the bloody meat, immediately pecked viciously the moment it appeared in the cage.

Swiftly placing the meat down, Duan Xiaoqi slapped the top of the falcon’s head, pinning it down motionless. The falcon struggled several times but could not break free from her grip, flapping its wings in annoyance and screeching constantly.

Duan Xiaoqi smiled triumphantly, reached out a small hand, suddenly clamped down on the falcon’s neck, and tossed it out, sending it crashing hard against the iron cage. “Still not behaving? Don't worry. Someone will keep you company soon enough.”

“It must be Big Brother Haoshan again. Lingyue always finds him to test the eagles,” said Duan Shanshan from the side, whipping a falcon hard with a willow switch, provoking it into furious cries as it flapped violently in its cage.

“Sister Lingyue, you’re here! Huh, who is this person?” Duan Xiaoqi cheered at first, then looked at Ji Changkong with confusion.

“Who is he, Lingyue?” Duan Shanshan also asked.

“He’s here to test the eagles for my brother,” Duan Lingyue replied casually, leading Ji Changkong toward a massive iron cage. She opened the gate and said to Ji Changkong, “The falcons we raise in the Duan family must not only be obedient but also retain their wildness. I heard you can summon fierce beasts from the Great Marsh of Yunmeng, so these mere falcons should be no problem. Well, go in and let the falcons attack you. You are only allowed to dodge, so we can see if the falcons’ ferocity is still there.”

“I won’t go,” Ji Changkong refused, shaking his head.

Wiggling the envelope in her hand, Duan Lingyue huffed, “If you don’t go, I’ll delay sending this for ten days or half a month. I roughly know the message you want to send; sending it today might still be timely, but if it’s delayed any further, humph, your Ji family might be in danger.”

Although annoyed, Ji Changkong didn't say much more. He needed a favor from them, so he had no choice but to comply with Duan Lingyue's demands.

Glaring hatefully at Duan Lingyue, Ji Changkong voluntarily stepped into the center of the huge cage. This cage was over twenty meters high, the size of five or six rooms, allowing the falcons enough space to spread their wings and exert their full attack power.

Seeing Ji Changkong obediently enter, Duan Lingyue smiled triumphantly at Duan Shanshan and Duan Xiaoqi, then called out loudly, “Shanshan, Xiaoqi, bring in three falcons that are nearly mad!”

Duan Shanshan and Duan Xiaoqi looked excited, as if having a stranger test the eagles for them was highly amusing. They quickly nodded in agreement, grabbed the small cages holding the falcons, and brought them over, opening them facing the gate of the large cage.

With the help of Duan Shanshan and Duan Xiaoqi, the three falcons, which had been tormented for a long time, rushed into the center of the large cage one after another.

These three falcons were much larger than a man, with jet-black feathers, talons like grappling hooks, and beaks sharp as javelins. Their small eyes glared fiercely at Ji Changkong, seemingly regarding him as a deeply hated enemy.

“Go! Attack!”

Duan Xiaoqi cheered excitedly, scooping half a ladle of fresh blood and splashing it out behind him while he was not paying attention. He failed to dodge in time, and his back was splattered with much of the bloody liquid.

Smelling the scent of blood, the three falcons instantly went into a frenzy and lunged toward him.