Shangguan Qing’s eyes turned cold. His tall figure completely shielded Shangguan You, protecting her behind him. His gaze swept lightly over the twenty or so black-clad men surrounding them, his mind rapidly considering how to escape.
It would be easy for him to escape, but what about the girl? If he were to run, then the men in black would turn their focus to her, wouldn’t they?
"Who is your master?"
"You’ll naturally find out once you arrive. Please, this way." The man in black gestured invitingly, and his companions immediately parted to create a path. A black car had already come to a stable stop right in front of them, their guns still pointed.
"Brother Qing, since that’s the case, let’s go and see," Shangguan You whispered to Shangguan Qing. In our current situation, we can’t afford to clash head-on. Besides, I’m curious about the person who invited us.
After all, I’ve only been back a few days, and Shangguan Qing is often around here. These people are probably targeting me. With that in mind, it might be better to go and see for ourselves; I’m not afraid of being unable to escape later on.
"Girl, if you find a chance, escape," Shangguan Qing whispered into Shangguan You’s ear, his arm around her shoulder. He then nodded and raised his voice.
"Yes, the girl is right. Since it’s a gesture of hospitality, we should certainly see it for ourselves. We can’t miss a good show."
"Please, this way." The black-clad man who had spoken earlier stepped aside, allowing them to get into the car.
"Brother Qing, let’s go take a look. Even if we could run now, they’re sure to try again. It’s better for us to figure out who’s behind this, especially since they’re in the shadows and we’re in the open." Allowing Shangguan Qing to keep his arm around her, Shangguan You stepped into the black sedan.
"Alright, let’s go." Shangguan Qing nodded, scanning the surroundings one last time. I can fight alone, but if it comes to it, the girl will still fall into their hands. If that’s the case, I might as well do as she suggests and see what the situation is before making a plan.
As soon as they slipped into the car, two men in black also slid in, one on each side. Immediately, the car sped away. The other black-clad men quickly got into their vehicles and followed.
When Gui Jun and his brothers arrived, they only saw Shangguan Qing’s car parked askew in the middle of the road, a line of black sedans disappearing into the night.
Their car had been closely following Shangguan Qing’s vehicle the entire way. Suddenly, a few cars appeared, blocking their path. By the time they managed to pass those vehicles and catch up, the Shangguan siblings had vanished into the night.
"Brother Qing, where are they taking us?" Shangguan You asked, looking at the ever-narrowing alleyways. She furrowed her brow slightly. Weren’t these people abducting us? Shouldn’t they be heading to the outskirts or an abandoned factory? Why are they leading us in circles through the city, especially through these kinds of alleys?
These narrow alleys could only accommodate one car at a time, and the people living here were a diverse mix—the good and the bad, people from all walks of life.
Shangguan Qing shook his head, his own brows furrowing as he looked at the winding paths. What do these people want?
"There’s no need to worry. You will find out when you arrive. Our master merely wishes to invite you as guests," the man in black said coldly, his gun still trained on them.
"Who is your master?" Shangguan You’s hands formed a seal in the darkness. Before she could finish speaking, the car screeched to a halt. She had wanted to cast the Truth Curse but had to abandon the idea when the car stopped.
The car halted before an ordinary-looking gate, the kind one could find anywhere in Beijing. Given the labyrinthine alleys and the pitch-black night, even if they were released now and tried to return tomorrow, finding this place again would be extremely difficult.
"Please, this way." The man in black opened the car door and was the first to disembark. He then spoke coldly as the gate creaked open, revealing pitch darkness within.
"What do you want?" Shangguan Qing’s eyes grew colder. I regret following them here. We’re unfamiliar with this place; escaping will be difficult.
"Go inside, and you’ll understand. Our master is waiting for you. Please," the man in black snorted, pushing Shangguan Qing and pressing his gun barrel firmly against Shangguan You’s back.
"We can walk by ourselves." Feeling the hard gun barrel against her back, Shangguan You shot a cold glare at the man. An icy aura emanated from her, startling the surrounding men in black.
The man holding the gun to Shangguan You’s back trembled inexplicably, and his hand involuntarily lowered the weapon. He stared at Shangguan You’s retreating figure, dazed. How could I lower my gun just because of what she said? Was I that shocked by the aura she exuded?
"Girl, stay close to me," Shangguan Qing instructed softly, his concern evident as he faced the complete darkness before them.
"Brother Qing, have you forgotten? I’ve trained in martial arts with you all for several years. And with you here, I’m not afraid," Shangguan You retorted with a pout, her voice soft, as if she weren’t the one who had just emitted that icy aura.
"No matter what, stay close. If it gets dangerous, take any opportunity to escape on your own." Shangguan Qing squeezed her hand a bit tighter, then they stepped into the courtyard.
Warmth surged through Shangguan You’s heart. This is family. This is my dear Brother Qing, who, facing danger, would tell me to escape alone. In my previous life, only Grandfather cherished me like this, protecting me as if I were the apple of his eye. But in this life, I have Brother Qing, Uncle, and Auntie, who all treat me as their own, cherishing and loving me.
"Brother Qing, I’m not scared. I can protect myself," Shangguan You said with a confident smile, dismissing his concern. Of course, I’m not afraid. If it comes down to it, I can protect Shangguan Qing myself.