Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 182: It’s An Acquaintance

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: It’s An Acquaintance

Cai Yun felt a sense of self-imposed shame under her radiant gaze, and lowered her eyes, murmuring in a soft voice, "May I ask what the young master would like to discuss?"

Qi Yu put away her fan and replied, "I came here to inquire about something."

"What matter?" Cai Yun’s thoughts were led astray, and she asked further without thinking.

Qi Yu softened her tone slightly, "Today, did any unusual guests visit the Manchun Building?"

A flicker passed through Cai Yun’s eyes as she avoided her gaze, "None."

Qi Yu, taking that in stride, stood up and turned her back to her, "In that case, I will take my leave first."

As she spoke, she moved towards the door.

For some reason, Cai Yun reached out and tugged on her sleeve. Qi Yu turned around and saw her eyes filled with shyness as she timidly asked, "Young master... don’t you want me?"

Qi Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. Was she being admired?

With a light laugh, Qi Yu said to Cai Yun, "I am preoccupied with matters and must excuse myself."

Cai Yun watched her sweep away, her gaze lingering until Qi Yu reached the doorway; then suddenly she spoke out, "I’ve seen them."

Qi Yu paused in her steps, a smile appearing on her face. She turned around, her expression questioning, "Seen whom?"

Anxious to be believed, Cai Yun hurriedly said, "The... unusual guests you just mentioned."

"Oh?" Qi Yu stepped close, her gaze eager, "Really?"

Cai Yun nodded firmly, her lips slightly pursed, "At noon, when there are usually few guests, today several men dressed in black arrived. My mother thought they didn’t look respectable. Initially, she wanted to reject them, but they were generous with their money so we reluctantly agreed to serve them."

Qi Yu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Have those people left?"

Cai Yun shook her head, "They should still be here; I’ve been watching the outside, and no one has left."

Pleased with the answer, Qi Yu nodded in satisfaction and then said to her, "Aren’t you afraid that I will betray you?"

Cai Yun’s gaze was intense, "Young master wouldn’t do that."

Qi Yu felt slightly embarrassed under her gaze—she was only here to deceive for information; if she genuinely hurt her feelings, how could she justify it?

Unfortunately, she was a woman, destined to not have any story develop with Miss Cai Yun.

After thinking it over, she pulled out the remaining gold, "This is your payment, you can use it to buy your freedom."

Cai Yun looked at the gold but pushed it back somewhat angrily, "I don’t want your silver!"

Without further discussion, Qi Yu left the gold behind and quickly departed.

For now, capturing the assassin was the priority.

As for this bad debt, she would settle it another day.

She opened the door and said to Shi Zhou and Gu Jingping, "The assassins are here."

Gu Jingping perked up and eagerly asked, "How should we go about finding them?"

With numerous rooms in the Manchun Building, a room-by-room search might startle them and they might even be kicked out.

Qi Yu thought for a moment and said to Shi Zhou, "Go and call Shen Xiheng to bring a team here to search."

Shi Zhou nodded slightly and hurried down the stairs.

She moved swiftly, disappearing from sight in no time.

Qi Yu then turned to Gu Jingping, telling him, "You go guard the back door; don’t let anyone escape from there."

"Yes." Gu Jingping nodded seriously and walked towards the back door.

Qi Yu stood in a secluded corner on the second floor, observing every move inside the Manchun Building with a calm demeanor.

Soon, Shen Xiheng burst in with his men.

The guests, who had been jesting, froze in fear upon seeing the constables enter with swords drawn.

Shen Xiheng commanded sternly, "Thoroughly search upstairs."

"Yes!" The constables responded vigorously and hurried upstairs.

Mom, still reveling in the joy of having made money, exclaimed "Oh my," and hurried forward, saying, "Sir, what is this all about?"

Shen Xiheng cast a cold glance at her and said, "Catching an assassin."

Daring even to earn the money of assassins, ignorant of her own peril.

Mom, feeling somewhat guilty, remembered the people who had come at noon and repeatedly waved her hands, "Sir, please understand, there are no assassins here!"

Shen Xiheng had no time to deal with her and carried his sword upstairs himself.

At the corner, he encountered Qi Yu, who frowned and said, "You go downstairs and wait."

Qi Yu shook his head, "You won’t catch the assassin this way."

Shen Xiheng paused and said, "Wasn’t it you who told me to bring people here?"

Qi Yu smiled, "Take your men to the back door and block it; the assassin will definitely run from there once he hears the noise."

Shen Xiheng grunted and turned back downstairs.

Shi Zhou wanted to run after him but was stopped by Qi Yu, who said, "You go to the rooftop and keep watch."

Among them, Shi Zhou had the highest martial arts skills and was the only one capable of such a crucial task.

Shi Zhou leapt onto the rooftop and coldly surveyed the chaotic scene below.

When Miss Cai Yun stepped out in a different outfit, she noticed that Manchun Building was filled with constables carrying swords, and her expression faltered momentarily.

Quickly, she realized it was the work of the man who had been questioning her earlier.

Before she could find him, her path was suddenly blocked by a blade held in front of her.

From behind, a rough male voice warned, "Don’t move unless you want to die!"

Cai Yun trembled all over, not daring to move a muscle.

The man in black, holding her hostage, shouted fiercely, "Step aside, or I kill her!"

Hiding in the shadows, Qi Yu slightly frowned, watching the panicked crowd below and sighed, putting away the silver needles in his hand.

The sword was so close to Cai Yun; if the man fell, she would certainly die.

Downstairs, Shen Xiheng had already rushed over upon hearing the disturbance and fixed his gaze on the man in black.

Just as he was about to move, he saw Qi Yu shake his head slightly at him.

He lowered his sword and commanded, "Let him go outside."

The man in black smirked triumphantly, pressing the sword against Cai Yun’s neck as he led her outside.

At the doorway, just as the man in black was about to abandon her, a sword from above suddenly pierced his arm, causing the blade to fall to the ground as he winced in pain and looked upward.

Shi Zhou kicked the man aside and after Cai Yun was rescued, Qi Yu pulled her back.

She leaned against the door in a fright, and Qi Yu shouted to the people inside, prompting a few brave ones to help Cai Yun inside.

Not far off, Shi Zhou was fiercely battling the man in black.

Qi Yu had Shen Xiheng go to the back door to catch people, and in no time, they had captured a few with mediocre martial arts skills.

The man in black, having been injured, soon found himself at a disadvantage and attempted to flee towards the city outskirts, but Shi Zhou blocked his path and subdued him after a few exchanges.

She roughly kicked the captured man, and he couldn’t endure it—spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Seeing this pitiful sight, Qi Yu averted her gaze and couldn’t help but worry about Shen Xiheng.

With his slight frame, he couldn’t even withstand one of Shi Zhou’s fingers.

After capturing the assassin, Qi Yu took him back to their residence and ordered Shiqi to tie him up and watch over him.

She sat in the front hall to catch her breath, and had Shiqi bring the man in black to her.

Shiqi forced the bleeding man in black to kneel and pulled off the cloth covering his face.

Qi Yu saw his face, raised her eyebrows slightly.

It was an acquaintance, after all.