Heavenly Dou Cat Net

Chapter 25: Heavenly Dou Cat Net

The black-cloth carriage left Heavenly Dou City at a leisurely pace.

The driver held the reins loosely, the horse's hooves landing steadily.

The carriage was draped in thick black cloth on all sides, with a layer of herb sachets hung outside to mask the scent.

But this kind of concealment might work on humans.

It fell short against cats.

Meow Meow crouched at the end of the roof ridge, watching the carriage enter the path outside the city, his tail flicking lightly.

"So heavy with the smell of blood, and you still think you can hide it?"

"You really take a cat's nose for a decoration."

He didn't follow immediately.

Instead, he first looked back at the few stray cats he had temporarily lured over.

Gray Ear, Numb Tail, Scrawny Yellow, and a Black-and-White.

The names were just made up on the spot.

No deep meaning.

As long as they were easy to remember.

The cats crouched by the base of the wall, staring at Meow Meow, their eyes a mix of fear and curiosity.

They weren't Sacred Flame Spirit Cats.

Just ordinary strays in Heavenly Dou City.

Their usual routine was rummaging through kitchens, dodging children, fighting over territory, and sunbathing.

Now, suddenly being led by a white cat to tail someone, they were a bit bewildered.

Meow Meow was also a little helpless.

"Looks like the Heavenly Dou Cat Net can't rely on temporary feeding alone."

"These guys don't even know the basic rules."

He thought for a moment, then used the Calming Bell to release a very faint trace of Holy Fire Aura.

Not Spirit Ignition.

Just enough for the cats to understand the simplest commands.

"First, don't get near the carriage."

"Second, remember the Black Eagle Crest and the smell of blood."

"Third, if any soul masters look at you, act like ordinary cats."

"Fourth, if you run into danger, flee. Don't try to be brave."

The cats seemed to half-understand.

Gray Ear reacted the quickest, immediately lowering his head to lick his paw, putting on an air of having nothing to do with it.

Meow Meow watched with satisfaction.

"Not bad, you've got some talent."

Numb Tail, however, was staring at the dried meat pouch hanging at the back of the carriage.

Meow Meow's eye twitched.

"You're not allowed to think about eating."

Numb Tail startled, immediately shrinking his neck.

If White Dew were here, she'd probably be very obedient.

The core cats back in the East Side Courtyard would also grasp the meaning instantly.

But here in Heavenly Dou, just starting out, having ordinary strays reach this level was already decent.

Meow Meow couldn't ask for too much.

"Let's go."

He leaped lightly, sticking to the tree shadows as he chased toward the southwest.

The stray cats followed behind.

Not daring to get too close.

But they didn't fall behind either.

The carriage headed all the way to the western outskirts.

It changed paths twice along the way.

There were several hidden sentry posts by the roadside.

Meow Meow did not alert them.

He had Gray Ear and Black-and-White circle around to the far side, tasking them only with memorizing scents.

Numb Tail and Scrawny Yellow stayed near him.

"Remember, tailing isn't fighting."

"Don't make a move if you don't have to."

"You're still ordinary cats—don't try to act tough like This Cat."

Gray Ear let out a soft "mew."

It sounded like an acknowledgment.

Meow Meow glanced at him, suddenly struck by a strange feeling.

Humans had Junior Soul Master Academies.

Shouldn't cats have a Junior Cat Net Course too?

At least teach them to read paths, hide scents, identify soul masters, and not eat random strange things.

Otherwise, as more cats gathered in Heavenly Dou, each relying solely on instinct, trouble was bound to happen sooner or later.

"Once this is done, I need to set up some basic rules for the Heavenly Dou Cat Net."

"And organize that East Side Courtyard system too."

"Can't just rely on A Ju's feeding list for everything."

The carriage veered further off the main road.

It finally entered a hunting ground near the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

At the edge of the hunting ground stood a few old wooden posts.

Black Eagle Crests hung from them.

Meow Meow crouched behind a bush and took a look.

"This is it."

"The Black Eagle Family's Western Suburb Hunting Ground."

The carriage didn't enter through the main gate. Instead, it circled around to the back of the grounds and pulled into an abandoned beast pen.

Five soul masters stood guard outside the pen.

Two were Soul Ancestors, one was a Soul King.

The remaining two, judging by their aura, were Soul Elders.

This wasn't a weak setup.

At least not one Meow Meow could recklessly charge into right now.

"If a real fight breaks out, it'll be a big hassle."

"Better just watch for now."

When the carriage stopped, a low beastly growl came from inside.

The sound wasn't loud.

But it was strained.

As if something was stuck in its throat.

Several soul masters immediately stepped forward and unloaded the cargo from the carriage.

It was an iron cage.

The cage was covered in black cloth.

The moment the black cloth was lifted, Meow Meow's gaze darkened.

Inside the cage was a young beast.

Not large in size.

It looked like a tiger, but not quite an ordinary white tiger.

Its white fur was streaked with black markings, and along its spine, faint wisps of dark, netherlike aura lingered.

Its eyes were red, and its claws kept scraping against the cage floor.

But it didn't seem fierce.

More like it was in pain.

Jianbing suddenly woke up inside the Calming Bell.

"It's white tiger blood."

"And there's a Nether scent too."

His voice was soft, but carried clear unease.

Meow Meow didn't reply, just kept watching.

That Soul King said in a low voice:

"This one's steadier than the first two."

"After taking it back, don't feed it Black Water first."

"The master said the third batch needs to observe natural fusion effects."

Another Soul Ancestor asked:

"What if it still can't hold on?"

The Soul King snorted coldly.

"If it can't hold on, swap to the next batch."

"The materials from Star Luo aren't easy to get, but they're not impossible either."

Meow Meow's tail stopped mid-swing.

Star Luo.

So it really involved them.

Jianbing said quietly from within the bell:

"It will die."

Meow Meow's gaze darkened.

He could see that too.

The bloodline on that cub had been forcibly mashed together.

White Tiger aura, Nether aura, and that polluted aura from Black Water Marsh—all crammed into one place.

Let alone a cub.

Even a fully grown soul beast might not withstand it.

But he couldn't save it now.

At least not directly.

There were Soul Kings and Soul Ancestors here.

If he made a move, not only might he fail to take the cub, but the lines Heavenly Dou Cat Net had just laid out would be exposed too.

Meow Meow gritted his teeth.

"Note it down first."

"First find out where they're taking it."

Jianbing said nothing more.

But the little white tiger phantom inside the Calming Bell visibly tightened.

Inside the Beast Pen, several soul masters carried the iron cage down into the underground.

Meow Meow had Gray Ear take Scrawny Yellow around to the other side to sniff out the exit, while he himself crept closer to the outer edge of the Beast Pen.

The scents here were chaotic.

The smell of blood.

The smell of herbs.

The smell of soul beasts' fear.

And several fluctuations of soul power from human soul masters.

Meow Meow gently collected a bit of the aura with the Calming Bell.

The system quickly popped up a notification.

[Ding, White Tiger Sample clue increased.]

[Current associations: Black Eagle Family, Western Suburb Hunting Ground, Star Luo White Tiger Cadet Branch, Nether aura.]

Meow Meow glanced at it, his heart sinking further.

No mistake.

This thread was indeed getting deeper.

Just as he was about to pull back, Numb Tail suddenly lunged forward.

Not to fight.

It had caught the scent of dried meat again.

Meow Meow's eyes and claws moved in sync—he swept it back with his tail.

Numb Tail nearly tumbled into the grass.

"Are you stupid?"

"Those are all soul masters over there—you still want to eat them?"

Numb Tail curled up in grievance.

Meow Meow looked at him and suddenly felt the need to set some rules.

"Remember, no foraging during a mission."

"You can eat when we get back."

"If you lose your life, you lose everything."

Numb Tail lowered his head.

Gray Ear watched from the side, as if he had taken note.

Meow Meow sighed inwardly.

Ordinary cats were just like this.

If you didn't teach them, they'd always follow their instincts.

But once they learned, they could become excellent eyes.

This was the first step of the Cat Net.

It wasn't about making them fight.

Just to see, remember, and report back.

By the time dawn was near, there was finally new movement from the Beast Pen.

The iron cage holding the young beast was carried out again.

But this time, it wasn't heading toward Black Water Marsh.

It was going deeper into the hunting grounds.

Meow Meow followed for a stretch and spotted an underground cellar entrance.

Beside the cellar stood a stone tablet.

Two characters were carved into the stone tablet.

[Beast Vault]

Meow Meow narrowed his eyes.

"Beast Vault?"

"This place has more than one test subject."

He didn't dare get too close.

He only had Gray Ear memorize the scent of the place.

At the same time, he left a very faint Holy Fire mark under the roots of an old tree not far away.

After doing this, Meow Meow led the few stray cats back out.

This trip was enough.

Going deeper would risk trouble.

On the way back to Heavenly Dou City, the stray cats were noticeably quieter than when they came.

Especially Numb Tail.

This time, he didn't stare at any food.

Meow Meow looked at them, thought for a moment, and took out a bit of processed minced meat from the Calming Bell, sharing it among the cats.

"Good work."

"But if you run off again next time, no food."

The cats immediately lowered their heads and ate.

After Gray Ear finished, he even looked up at Meow Meow.

His gaze was clearer than before.

Meow Meow's heart stirred.

Having been steeped in Holy Fire Aura all night, he seemed a bit more spiritually attuned than an ordinary cat.

Not yet at the level of Spirit Ignition.

But he could already understand more.

"From now on, you'll temporarily be in charge of West City."

Meow Meow said.

Gray Ear let out a serious "meow."

Meow Meow turned to Numb Tail.

"You're in charge of remembering the kitchen... no, the back door."

Numb Tail's eyes lit up.

"Don't get too happy too soon."

"The back door isn't for you to sneak food—it's for you to watch who comes and goes."

Numb Tail lowered his head.

Meow Meow watched helplessly.

"Forget it, take it slow."

When they returned to the Crown Prince's Mansion, Qian Renxue was already waiting in the Clear Radiance Pavilion.

White Dew stood by the window. Seeing Meow Meow return, she immediately ran over.

Qian Renxue also set down the scrolls in her hands.

"How did it go?"

Meow Meow jumped onto the table and recounted everything he had seen the night before.

The Western Suburb Hunting Ground.

The Beast Vault.

White Tiger Cubs.

Star Luo Materials.

Hell Spirit aura.

As Qian Renxue listened, her expression grew colder and colder.

"They have quite the nerve."

"Having nerve is one thing,"

Meow Meow said.

"Having someone backing them is the real key."

"The Black Eagle Family couldn't have gotten Star Luo White Tiger Cadet Branch materials on their own."

"And they definitely couldn't have built a private Beast Vault."

Qian Renxue nodded.

"I'll check the Hunting Ground Register."

"And the merchant caravans that have come from Star Luo in the last three years."

Meow Meow thought for a moment, then added another line.

"When you check, don't just look for White Tiger."

"Also look for Hell Spirit Cat."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"You suspect the Zhu Family?"

"It's not that I suspect the Zhu Family,"

Meow Meow shook his head.

"It's that there was Hell Spirit aura in this batch of experiments."

"Someone got their hands on something from the Hell Spirit Cat Lineage."

"Blood, a Soul Bone, or even a Martial Soul Cadet Branch—any of them are possible."

Qian Renxue fell silent.

This matter involved Heavenly Dou nobles, and also Star Luo's White Tiger and Hell Spirit.

If they kept digging, they might uncover a very large thread.

But it would also be very dangerous.

Meow Meow could read her thoughts.

"No rush for now."

"All we need to know right now is what they're doing."

"Once we have more evidence, we'll decide how to use it."

Qian Renxue nodded.

"Mm."

Meow Meow then recounted how the stray cats had performed.

Especially how Numb Tail had nearly been exposed because of the dried meat.

When Qian Renxue heard this, a rare hint of amusement flickered in her eyes.

"It seems your Cat Net still needs training."

"Very much needed."

Meow Meow sighed.

"The gap between ordinary cats and a Sacred Flame Spirit Cat is too vast."

"If the Heavenly Dou Cat Net is to spread, we must first teach the basic rules."

"At the very least, no sneaking food during missions."

White Dew heard this and nodded very seriously.

Meow Meow glanced at it.

"Don't laugh."

"You'll be the one teaching them from now on."

White Dew was suddenly stunned.

Qian Renxue watched White Dew's dazed expression and the corner of her lips curved slightly.

"It's still young."

"Precisely because it's young, it makes a better example."

Meow Meow said with righteous confidence.

"Look how well-behaved it is."

"Ordinary cats learning from it is still better than learning from A Ju."

Inside the Calming Bell, Jianbing asked quietly:

"Who's A Ju?"

Meow Meow paused for a moment.

"A negative example."

White Dew seemed to understand and let out a soft meow.

The atmosphere in the Clear Radiance Pavilion relaxed a little.

But Meow Meow quickly pulled his focus back to business.

"Qinghe."

"Mm?"

"I want to hold an introductory cat net class in Heavenly Dou City."

Qian Renxue was taken aback.

"What?"

"Gather the usable ordinary cats from West City first."

"Teach them three things."

"Recognize the Black Eagle Crest."

"Sniff out pollution."

"Learn to run."

Qian Renxue: "..."

It sounded absurd.

But on second thought, it was actually useful.

Meow Meow continued:

"Add one more rule."

"No eating random things."

Qian Renxue finally couldn't help it and let out a soft laugh.

"Is that rule really that important?"

"Extremely important."

Meow Meow looked in the direction Numb Tail had left, his tone serious.

"A matter of life and death."

Qian Renxue didn't object any further.

"What do you need?"

"A quiet place, some food, and a few Small Bell Tokens that won't draw attention."

Meow Meow said.

"Also, help me look into the Black Eagle Family and the Star Luo Caravan."

"Cats will handle cat business."

"The Crown Prince does the Crown Prince's business."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"You do keep things clear."

"Of course."

Meow Meow flicked his tail.

"The Cat Net can't meddle in court affairs."

"But the court better not think it can hide from the cats."

He said it lightly.

Yet after hearing it, Qian Renxue found it quite intriguing.

A Cat Net hidden within the Crown Prince's Mansion.

A Young Master of Martial Soul Hall wearing the identity of Xue Qinghe.

One in the open, one in the shadows.

It fit well enough.

The system prompt chimed in right then.

[Ding, Heavenly Dou Cat Net prototype established.]

[Current range: Crown Prince's Mansion, West City Streets, Western Suburb Hunting Ground outskirts.]

[Reward: Meow Wish Value ×60.]

[Unlocked basic Cat Net courses: Scent Recognition, Stealth, Retreat.]

Meow Meow glanced at the prompt, his tail swaying lightly.

"Good."

"We have the teaching materials now."

He looked up toward the window.

The morning in Heavenly Dou City was already bustling.

People came and went through the streets and alleys.

No one knew that a few cats had already peeled off the first layer of the Western Suburb Hunting Ground last night.

And no one knew that a group of cats was about to appear in Heavenly Dou City—cats that could learn routes, tail people, memorize scents, and still not sneak a bite of their mission targets.

Meow Meow licked his paw.

"Starting today."

"The cats of Heavenly Dou are going to school."