She found that the other party was a skilled martial artist, a practitioner of martial arts. Although her group was strong, they probably couldn't defeat the opponent even if they surrounded him.
However, the opponent didn't use lethal moves, but chose to escape in the least harmful way.
Gu Qingcheng had a premonition that there would be opportunities to confront him again.
This person was likely not a significant figure; the mastermind was probably behind him.
Everyone followed Gu Qingcheng's lead, not daring to object.
What Gu Qingcheng didn't say was that she suspected the target of surveillance wasn't Mi Guo, but herself.
Previously, Mi Guo was probably monitored because she wasn't on Tea Blossom Island.
"Mi Guo, this place is not safe to linger. Let's leave."
As soon as Gu Qingcheng returned to her mansion, she said to Mi Guo.
"Alright."
Mi Guo didn't ask why her sister wanted to leave. Since Gu Qingcheng wasn't in the mood to talk, she silently packed her belongings.
The next day, Du Lanyue appeared at Gu Qingcheng's mansion early in the morning.
"What? Young Master Gu has already left?"
When Du Lanyue asked the doorman if he had seen Gu Qingcheng, she received the shocking news.
"Yes, Young Master Gu and his group left in a hurry. Young Master Gu returned to the inn quite late yesterday and didn't say he was leaving today.
Who knew that before dawn today, he packed his bags and left."
The doorman, who woke up early, yawned as he spoke.
"Did they say when they would return?"
Du Lanyue initially felt a little upset with Gu Qingcheng for leaving without informing her.
Perhaps they didn't have a vow of eternal love that required Gu Qingcheng to report to her, but they had shared a period of hardship together.
This shared experience was enough for Du Lanyue to feel entitled to such a courtesy.
Therefore, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.
However, the doorman's mention of their hasty departure offered some comfort to Du Lanyue.
Young Master Gu must have encountered some trouble, which led to his hurried departure. In that case, it was understandable that he didn't leave a farewell message.
"No, they didn't. But I saw them leave in such a rush, something big must have happened, and they might not be back for a while."
The doorman, looking at the beautiful Du Lanyue, imagined a hundred dramatic stories.
Of course, he didn't dare to show it on his face.
It was obvious that Young Master Gu and Du Lanyue had an unspoken affection, otherwise, why would the young lady Du Lanyue, a prominent figure, come looking for Young Master Gu herself?
Could it be that Young Master Gu had wronged Miss Du and run away?
Seeing Du Lanyue's disappointed expression, the doorman's heart skipped a beat.
Thus, the doorman's tone became one of consolation.
Du Lanyue, uninterested in others' comfort, turned and left with a dejected look.
However, at that moment, she didn't notice a fleeting figure disappear near the entrance.
Since she had come out without her parents' knowledge, Du Lanyue hadn't brought Steward Zhu with her and had come alone. She completely failed to notice that someone had been following her since she left Gu Qingcheng's residence.
After boarding the ship, Gu Qingcheng suddenly remembered that she hadn't handed over the chest of gold to Du Lanyue before leaving in a hurry; it was still with her.
Du Lanyue had gone to the manor in a hurry yesterday. Perhaps she was eager to get home and rushed towards the manor as soon as she alighted from the carriage.
Gu Qingcheng had also forgotten that the gold was in the carriage and didn't stop her.
As a result, the gold was brought home.
They had decided to leave last night on impulse, and Mi Guo packed the luggage. Gu Qingcheng was distracted. When they boarded the ship, Mi Guo asked her why two boxes were so heavy, and only then did she suddenly remember:
"Oh no, I forgot to give the gold to Du Lanyue."
Gu Qingcheng slapped her forehead, thinking she must have been made foolish by being trapped in the cave, her mind not working properly, to forget such an important matter.
Du Lanyue walked down the street in a daze after leaving the mansion. Although she had thought of a thousand reasons to explain Gu Qingcheng's unannounced departure, her heart still ached intermittently.
She didn't realize that her eyes were red and her heart was heavy, and she had unknowingly walked into an empty alley.
At that moment, someone tapped her shoulder from behind.
Du Lanyue was startled and turned around to see an unfamiliar man.
"What is it?"
Du Lanyue took a step back and asked him distantly.
Men and women should maintain a proper distance. How could he dare to touch her by coming so close?
If there had been any servants, they would have thrown this person aside long ago.
Du Lanyue saw that the man's expression was indifferent, and he actually stepped forward, closing in on her.
Du Lanyue looked around and felt a sense of threat.
"Don't come any closer!"
Du Lanyue took another step back, her voice rising slightly as she commanded.
The man, with disdain, produced a white handkerchief from his sleeve...
As the white handkerchief was pressed over her mouth, Du Lanyue's fleeting thought was: Is the handkerchief clean?
Then, the handkerchief was pressed over her mouth and nose, and instantly, she lost consciousness.
"Ah! Kidnapping!"
A plump woman, carrying a basket of vegetables, was passing by the mouth of the alley. She happened to see the man hoist Du Lanyue onto his shoulder and was about to walk away when she let out a startled cry!
The woman's scream was piercing!
As Gu Qingcheng and Wang Dapeng's group passed by the alley, they saw a woman slumped on the ground, pointing at the alley with a look of terror.
Gu Qingcheng stopped and casually asked:
"Auntie, what happened?"
"A young lady was kidnapped in the alley."
Gu Qingcheng quickly went to the mouth of the alley and was greatly surprised. Wasn't the man who kidnapped her the same man who had been following Mi Guo?
And the woman on his shoulder, didn't she look familiar?
"Young Master Gu, I'm taking Du Lanyue away. When we are trusted, my master will talk to you!"
As the man spoke, he used his Qinggong, carrying Du Lanyue, as if walking on flat ground, ascended the wall, and in a blink of an eye, he was far away.
Gu Qingcheng and her group hadn't even reacted before the man had vanished.
Gu Qingcheng was speechless.
It seemed that the forces behind him, unable to find an opportunity to deal with her directly, had instead abducted Du Lanyue, who was close to her.
But how did they know that Du Lanyue was close to her?
Since Gu Qingcheng had encountered this, she couldn't leave immediately. She had to rescue Du Lanyue.
At this moment, she felt fortunate that she had forgotten to give Du Lanyue the gold, which led her to turn back. Otherwise, Du Lanyue might have been abducted for nothing.
When Gu Qingcheng returned to the mansion, the doorman's eyes widened upon seeing her and he hurried forward to report:
"Young Master Gu, Miss Lanyue came to look for you early this morning. She only left a while ago. If you had come any earlier, you would have met her."