After Li Yun finished speaking, he glanced at Zhang Qi.

In the past, someone like him would have never even entered Li Yun’s line of sight.

But now, he couldn’t help but pay attention.

’Who is this man? And what is his relationship with Yuan Niang?’

"Who is he?" Li Yun asked.

Ming Lingyi: "..."

Zhang Qi sensed the tense atmosphere between them. He noticed that this man, who looked like trouble, was actually being quite cautious with Miss Ming, not fierce or menacing at all. So, Zhang Qi tentatively spoke up. "Young Master, I’m here to help Miss Ming with a task. My wife told me to accompany Miss Ming to make sure she doesn’t get bullied."

When Li Yun heard Zhang Qi’s voice, his brows initially furrowed.

’When I’m talking to Ming Lingyi, what right does an outsider have to interrupt?’

But when he heard the plain-looking man beside Ming Lingyi say the words "my wife," Li Yun’s expression miraculously relaxed.

’So he’s not one of those blind, audacious street ruffians trying to flirt with my Yuan Niang.’

"Bullied?" Li Yun seized on the key word in Zhang Qi’s sentence. He recalled the report from the Hidden Guard tailing Ming Lingyi; his Yuan Niang had apparently been investigating something for the old woman next door these past few days.

Zhang Qi was an honest man. Seeing that Li Yun seemed to be a friend of Miss Ming’s and was unaware of Granny Wang’s situation, he volunteered, "We’re planning to go to Xinghua Alley. But it’s a rough area, and my wife was worried that Miss Ming, being a young lady, might get bullied. That’s why she had me come along."

Li Yun: "I’ll go with you."

He said this while looking at Ming Lingyi, then added, "This brother next to you doesn’t need to come."

In Li Yun’s eyes, Zhang Qi just looked big; he had no martial arts foundation whatsoever. If they ran into a group of hooligans, it was anyone’s guess who would come out on top.

Ming Lingyi: "My business is none of your concern."

’Didn’t I make myself clear enough the other day? I’m Ming Yao now. I have absolutely no connection to Li Yun anymore.’

’Besides, I already told him. I’ve been reborn. Li Yun is no longer someone I care about. The best outcome for this life is for us to stay out of each other’s way. No contact is the best ending.’

’Can’t this man understand what I’m saying?’

Li Yun: "Xinghua Alley, where you’re going... a few days ago, a drunk started a fight, which escalated into a brawl involving five or six people in the alley. They were all taken away by the Jingzhao Mansion. If the Patrol had been a step slower, someone would likely have been killed. Are you sure you want to go with someone who’s just a bit stronger than the average person but has no real fighting skills? If something actually happens, forget whether he can protect you—he’ll end up getting hurt himself."

Li Yun’s words hit Ming Lingyi right where she was most vulnerable.

In the past, Ming Lingyi’s greatest fear was getting others involved because of her, and it was still the same now.

Li Yun’s statement poked directly at the worries in Ming Lingyi’s heart, forcing her to reconsider.

’Brother Zhang is a carpenter. From years of labor, his strength is far greater than an ordinary person’s.’

’But he’s also just an ordinary, honest man. If he really ran into some thugs, it’s hard to say if he could get away unscathed.’

"Brother Zhang." Having realized this, Ming Lingyi couldn’t help but turn to Zhang Qi, who was still beside her, and say, "Why don’t you head back? I can actually handle this on my own."

Zhang Qi scratched his head. "But, Miss Ming, you..."

"She has me," Li Yun cut in.

Zhang Qi: "Huh?"

He looked at Ming Lingyi, then at Li Yun, completely unable to figure out their relationship.

However, looking at Li Yun’s build, Zhang Qi was rather skeptical.

Ming Lingyi sighed. "Brother Zhang, you should go back first. He... he’s actually quite capable."

After Zhang Qi was persuaded to leave, Li Yun produced a veil hat from somewhere and handed it to Ming Lingyi.

"There are too many prying eyes. Wear this."

The mere thought of men in those places staring at Ming Lingyi with lecherous eyes made murderous intent and hostility surge within him.

This time, Ming Lingyi didn’t argue with Li Yun.

By the time Ming Lingyi and Li Yun reached the entrance of Xinghua Alley, she still hadn’t figured out how she had agreed to let him tag along.

’But on second thought,’ she mused, ’setting other things aside, this guy Li Yun’s skills are truly impressive. If we do run into any trouble today, having such a capable "thug" around is indeed reassuring.’

According to the information Xiao Chun had gathered, a money-lender’s enforcer, who hadn’t moved in many years, lived next door to Madam Liu’s former courtyard.

After Shi Mingyue knocked on the door, a rather impatient voice soon came from inside.

"Who is it?"

As the voice faded, the courtyard gate opened, and a man with dark circles under his eyes and a debauched look on his face walked out.

Upon seeing the veiled Shi Mingyue, he sized her up with a roguish air. "Who are you? Why the hell are you knocking on my door? Don’t tell me you’re new from across the way?"

Almost everyone living on Xinghua Alley were unregistered prostitutes, and that naturally included the people across the way.

Shi Mingyue acted as if she hadn’t heard him and simply took out a piece of crushed silver. "I’m here to ask about something."

The moment the man saw the silver, he instinctively reached for it. But Shi Mingyue was quick. With a flick of her hand, the silver flew from her left hand to her right, and the man grabbed at empty air.

"Whether you get this silver or not depends on whether your answers are of any value," Shi Mingyue said.

This was what her lady had told her before they came.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the man’s expression turned slightly more serious. "What do you want to know? Some information can’t be bought with just a small piece of crushed silver."

This time, Ming Lingyi had decided to bring Shi Mingyue not only because her skills were much better than Xiao Chun’s, but also because when Shi Mingyue put on a cold face, she looked quite intimidating. Just like right now.

Shi Mingyue casually took out ten taels of silver. "If your information is valuable, this can all be yours."

A glint of greed flashed in the eyes of the man, who had a scar by the corner of his eye. "Alright. Come in and talk."

Seemingly recognizing that he had a big client, the man proactively opened the door wider.

Shi Mingyue instinctively glanced behind her.

Only then did Ming Lingyi and Li Yun appear.

"Let’s go in," Ming Lingyi said.

"Well, well, so this young lady is the real one buying information," the man said, his gaze circling Ming Lingyi twice.

Even though Ming Lingyi was wearing a veil hat, her figure was faintly visible through the knee-length white gauze. This created an illusion of her form swaying within the clothes, indistinct but all the more intriguing, making one want to take a second look.

But in the next moment, the man felt a sudden chill on his neck.