Sludge suction system

"Xiao Zha," Fang Xiaobei clutched her forehead, her face filled with anxiety and unease, her brows furrowed tightly. "I have a feeling this matter is far more complicated than it seems! For the past two days, I've had a very bad premonition, and my eyelids keep twitching, it's making me very restless! Please use the system to check for me, what kind of thing is going to happen?"

At that moment, a plump, snow-white kitten was lazily lying on a smooth bluestone slab, leisurely basking in the sun. Hearing Fang Xiaobei's urgent calls, it slowly opened its eyes, stretched, and then leisurely said, "Host, after my investigation, I've discovered that Ye Keke is gradually turning evil. She might soon do something bad to harm others!"

"Ye Keke actually turned evil? This is so unexpected! According to the original plot, shouldn't she have turned evil when the original owner was about to win the championship? How come it happened so early?" Fang Xiaobei stared wide-eyed, her face full of disbelief.

After hearing this, Xiao Zha gently turned over and continued to explain while lying on her side: "My dear host, have you forgotten what happened last time when we teased Ye Keke at Master Yan's mansion? Perhaps it was because of that experience that her resentment kept accumulating, which led to her turning evil prematurely."

Upon thinking of this, Fang Xiaobei's face instantly turned pale, and her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Then... then it seems that Ye Keke is about to attack me?" As she spoke, her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and a bead of cold sweat even seeped from her palms.

Seeing Fang Xiaobei's nervous expression, Xiao Zha quickly comforted her, "Host, don't worry too much. Based on the information I have, it seems that Ye Keke and Gao He have had a disagreement, and they are likely to split up and take action separately. However, you still need to be extra careful and stay vigilant at all times!"

"Little Zha, you'd better hurry up and check the mall to see if there are any powerful items that can help me avoid these deadly calamities! Or you can give me some advice on how to detect this big trouble in advance!" Fang Xiaobei's face was full of anxiety, and even fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

The little rascal stretched leisurely, then yawned and said, "Host, don't be so impatient. I'll activate a super special progress bar for you. Just stare at this progress bar, and you can clearly determine if the other party has developed evil intentions. This way, you can cleverly avoid those conspiracies that might get you into trouble and cause your mission to fail. But, this progress bar isn't something you can use whenever you want. You can only use it in extremely critical situations, and it can only be used a maximum of three times a month. You must remember that!" As soon as he finished speaking, the little rascal couldn't help but yawn again, and then drifted off to sleep.

Just then, a mysterious and strange light shot into Fang Xiaobei's body like a meteor. In an instant, Fang Xiaobei felt as if a strange, unprecedented button had appeared deep within her mind—the legendary progress bar button! She eagerly closed her eyes to try out this newfound ability, and to her surprise, she discovered that not only could she accurately sense Ye Keke and Gao He's current location, but she could also clearly sense the degree of darkness within them!

"Wow, this is incredible! I never imagined that Xiao Zha would have so many amazing treasures! Hehe, now that's great, with this powerful progress bar, I can wholeheartedly devote myself to the preparations for the culinary competition without any worries! Ye Keke and Gao He, you two just wait to tremble in front of me!" Thinking of this, Fang Xiaobei couldn't help but dance with excitement, her heart filled with boundless anticipation for the upcoming challenge.

At this moment, Ye Keke had just returned to her elegantly decorated boudoir. After dismissing the maids and confirming that no one was around, she closed the doors and windows tightly. The flickering candlelight cast dim and mysterious shadows in the room. She slowly unfurled a meticulously drawn map detailing the distribution of various forces in the Xiangmao Kingdom. Her eyes were cold and resolute, and a carefully planned scheme quietly began.

With a flick of her fingertips across the blueprints, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each family, she finally focused on the Niu family. The Niu family was renowned throughout Xiangmao Kingdom for its exquisite spirits brewing techniques. Their spirits, intensely aromatic and richly flavored, dominated the high-end liquor market in Baocheng, becoming the preferred choice for banquets of the powerful and wealthy, bringing the family immense wealth and prestige. Ye Keke's informant delivered a secret report: the Niu family possessed a closely guarded, exclusive spice-marinated meat recipe, a perfect match for their spirits, resulting in an unparalleled flavor profile. She knew that acquiring these two secret recipes would severely damage the Niu family, while allowing the Ye family to open new trade routes and rise to become the leading clan—a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.

With her mind made up, Ye Keke set out to "conquer" Niu Zhentian. She sent her most trusted confidant to infiltrate Niu Zhentian's social circle in disguise, secretly observing his preferences, daily routine, and social details. After several days of surveillance, she obtained the intelligence: Niu Zhentian was a lecherous and extravagant playboy who spent his days indulging in pleasure at the most luxurious restaurants in Baocheng, completely absorbed in sensual pleasures.

After a long period of meticulous preparation, with everything ready except for the final push, Ye Keke was finally about to launch this mysterious and anticipated operation. She spared no expense, generously spending a fortune to hire the most renowned and arguably the best tailor in the city. This master tailor was exceptionally skilled, renowned far and wide, and specialized in creating magnificent garments for high-ranking officials and nobles.

Under the master craftsman's skillful hands, a unique purple dress with gold embroidery gradually took shape. The fabric used for this dress was top-grade silk, a tribute from the distant Western Regions. Its texture was so soft and smooth that it felt like a dreamlike realm; a gentle touch revealed its silky, water-like feel. Moreover, whenever a faint light shone upon it, it would shimmer with enchanting brilliance, perfectly highlighting the wearer's graceful figure.

Moreover, Ye Keke was meticulous and refined in her makeup. The rouge and powder she used were all extracted from rare and precious flowers and minerals, resulting in vibrant and long-lasting colors. Her arched eyebrows were as beautiful as distant green mountains, and her lips were as luscious as ripe cherries. Paired with her captivating eyes, she was truly mesmerizing at first glance.

With all preparations complete, Ye Keke, dressed in her magnificent purple dress embroidered with gold thread, gracefully entered the luxurious restaurant frequented by Niu Zhentian. She deliberately slowed her pace, each step swaying and elegant, like a fairy descending to earth. As she lightly passed by Niu Zhentian's table, the long hem of her dress swayed gently like a flower in a breeze, releasing a rich fragrance blended with rare spices. This aroma assaulted Niu Zhentian's keen olfactory senses.

At that moment, Niu Zhentian, who was enjoying a hearty drink, inadvertently looked up, his gaze meeting Ye Keke's. In that instant, he seemed to be drawn in by an invisible magic, his soul almost being stolen away. The wine glass in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp due to his shock, but fortunately, he reacted in time to avoid an embarrassing situation.

Ye Keke feigned ignorance and sweetly requested a private seat. When the food and wine were served, she "accidentally" dropped a Suzhou embroidery handkerchief, exquisitely embroidered with mandarin ducks using a lost technique. Niu Zhentian quickly picked it up and struck up a conversation, to which Ye Keke replied shyly, "Thank you, sir. It's my good fortune to meet you today." Before long, the two became acquainted.