Chapter 350: She's More Like Qing An

These people were more steady and precise than the earlier masked men; at a glance they were the leader's elite.

Their goal was clear; they rushed straight to the rear car door, completely ignoring the bodyguards engaged in combat.

The black-clad woman sent by Jiang Liangjin's face darkened; she glanced around, seeing the remaining bodyguards entangled by the assassins, unable to free themselves, clearly at a disadvantage and unable to provide immediate support.

"Trouble." She muttered, not retreating but advancing, actively moving to meet them.

Her short blade clashed with the opponent's dagger, sending out a shower of bright sparks.

The black-clad woman fought five opponents alone, showing no fear, her movements so fast they left only afterimages.

The opponents were simply too many and well-coordinated; in moments a deep gash was cut into her arm, blood instantly soaking her black clothing.

No matter how skilled she was, she couldn't withstand their numbers, gradually falling into a disadvantage.

"Tsk." She clicked her tongue, her gaze turning even colder.

Mu Youyu watched, heart pounding, "You're hurt..."

"It's fine." The black-clad woman didn't look back, gritted her teeth and forced back one attacker, "Backup is coming..."

Before she could finish, a sudden change occurred.

In the chaos, someone quietly slipped to the side, taking advantage of the opening while everyone was engaged in front.

A kidnapper crept behind Mu Youyu, pulled out a towel soaked with anesthetic, and pressed it hard over her mouth and nose.

"Mmm—" Mu Youyu struggled to push it away, but the anesthetic took effect quickly; within a dozen seconds her consciousness began to blur.

The sounds of fighting grew distant, and her body instantly went limp.

Before losing consciousness completely, she felt herself being shoved, jostling, into another vehicle.

Darkness.

Plus a sense of jolting.

Mu Youyu was awakened by shaking.

A dull throb pulsed at the back of her head; she furrowed her brows and slowly opened her eyes.

Her vision blurred for a few seconds before clearing.

She lay on the ground, the surroundings dim, the air filled with dust and a musty smell, like an abandoned warehouse.

Around her lay stacked old wooden crates; the windows were sealed, leaving only a slit through which weak light filtered in.

Her wrists and ankles were tightly bound with coarse hemp rope, biting into her flesh, numb and painful.

Her mouth was not gagged, and her phone was nowhere nearby.

She twitched her fingers, forcing herself to stay calm.

She must not panic.

Mu Youyu slowly sat up, leaning against the wooden crate behind her, observing her surroundings without showing emotion.

Five or six people stood in the warehouse, all masked, revealing only pairs of sinister eyes that occasionally flicked to her, as if sizing up a piece of cargo.

The person who had knocked her out stood at the front, tall and broad, with a chilling aura, obviously the leader.

She had been brought here alone.

Mu Youyu took a deep breath, suppressed her fear, lifted her eyes to the leader, and said, "Speak. What do you want?"

She spoke in M Guo language, her tone betraying no panic.

They had expected to capture a spoiled, delicate princess who would sob and be terrified out of her wits.

They hadn't anticipated that her first words upon waking would be a demand for what they wanted.

The kidnappers exchanged glances, all somewhat surprised.

The leader snorted, took two steps forward, looked down at her, and said, "I heard you're Qing An's younger sister, greatly favored?"

He spoke in a stiff but barely understandable M Guo language.

Mu Youyu met his gaze, "No."

"Don't lie." The leader chuckled low, "We've investigated thoroughly; we couldn't have grabbed the wrong person."

She saw no need to beat around the bush, "So what do you want?"

"Simple." The man stood before her, stroking his chin, "Let Qing An come alone with cash, and I'll release you."

"How much?"

He extended a finger and waved it.

Mu Youyu's tone was flat, without hesitation: "One hundred million?"

The leader blinked, clearly not expecting her to be so straightforward, then gave a sinister smile, "Smart. Since you know, don't waste time—make the call."

That amount is nothing to Qing An.

But she knew in her heart.

These people were ruthless, well-trained, and their ambush precise—nothing like ordinary kidnappers.

Ordinary kidnappers seek money; they wouldn't resort to killing right away, nor deploy such a large force.

What they want is probably not money.

In a passive position, she had no leverage.

"I don't have my phone." Mu Youyu lifted her eyes, "I need to call my brother myself and tell him."

The leader tossed over an old mobile phone, its screen rough, obviously a disposable satellite phone.

"Call," he said harshly, "Don't play tricks; we're monitoring the signal here. If you say a word you shouldn't, I'll make you suffer right now."

Mu Youyu ignored his threat, her fingers steady as she pressed Qing An's number.

The phone rang twice and was answered.

The other side didn't speak first.

Mu Youyu spoke in standard M Guo language: "Brother, bring a hundred million in cash; I'll send you the location later. Remember, come alone."

Qing An had already received the message.

The few people on the other end of the phone involuntarily held their breath.

Qing An didn't pause, immediately responding in equally fluent M Guo language, tone indulgent, as if coaxing a temperamental sister: "Dear, short on money? Alright, I'm coming right away."

They hung up the phone.

A kidnapper lowered their voice, saying to the leader: "Boss, Qing An is spoiling his sister too much, huh?"

"As expected of the little princess hidden by the M Guo royal family since childhood, her spending is huge."

"One hundred million, without even asking a question—did we ask too little?"

They narrowed their eyes, staring at Mu Youyu, gaze deep: "Whatever, having a billion ready faster is better; asking too much is bad. When the person arrives, he might not be able to leave."

Mu Youyu lowered their eyes, long lashes covering the emotions in the depths.

The princess hidden by the M Guo royal family? When did she become a princess of the M Guo royal family?

Mu Youyu stopped thinking further, leaning against the wooden crate, quiet and unmoving, even slightly closing their eyes to rest their spirit, as if really just resting here.

The blue-and-white diamond necklace on her neck is not merely an item symbolizing the Mu family's status and identity.

Inside it hid a miniature tracker and listening device, always active.

What she needs to do now is to buy time.

This demeanor made the kidnappers increasingly unable to read her.

Those who originally wanted to scare her, for a moment, actually dared not approach her easily.

Someone stared at her delicate features, muttering: "Qing An's own sister, how does she look a bit like... that... Y Guo's Peiweika family's Ai Luoxiu?"

I don't remember Ai Luoxiu having any blood relation with the M Guo people.

I think she looks more like Qing An.

Pfft, I just saw online yesterday that someone ran into Ai Luoxiu's sister in Z Guo; even if so, she's in Z Guo, impossible to appear here.

Oh oh oh, that's just me misremembering.

""

After an unknown amount of time, the atmosphere in the warehouse grew increasingly oppressive, and someone began to lose patience.

A female kidnapper suddenly stepped forward, her eyes lecherous.

She reached out, her oily fingertips brushing Mu Youyu's cheek, tone frivolous: "As expected of the princess Qing An has kept by his side since childhood, her skin is tender, and she's quite pretty."