After some inquiries, Qin Yu had a general understanding of the situation.
Having connections is more beneficial than harmful after all!
In essence, the situation was much as Aunt Wang had described. The young man who had been harassing her had, through family connections, acquired a tall, burly accomplice who seemed intent on getting physical with her.
According to Qin Yu's inquiries, this accomplice had a criminal record, had served time in prison, and was skilled with knives.
As for the specific crimes involved, that remained unknown.
All Qin Yu knew was that this man was not only dangerous but also ruthless.
Why he was after her remained a mystery. She could only speculate that perhaps he had invested too much in her, and now, unable to win her over, he was resorting to desperate measures, obsessively trying to force her submission.
Only someone like him would take on such a task.
It sounded like a cliché from a third-rate novel—a damsel in distress being forcibly taken. But with the situation already unfolding, she couldn't afford to dismiss it as mere fantasy.
Not long ago, she had resolved to eliminate this threat once and for all, and that resolve hadn't wavered.
This clarity of purpose sharpened her focus on how to grow stronger.
First, she would upgrade her skill, advancing "Firearm Proficiency 1" to "Firearm Proficiency 2." This would significantly enhance her firearm handling capabilities, allowing her to wield certain weapons effectively.
Next, she turned her attention to selecting new weapons.
A single revolver might not suffice. Her opponent was no ordinary thug; he was physically imposing and possessed combat skills. Underestimating him could prove fatal.
She couldn't rely on anyone coming to her rescue this time.
Considering that the "Simp Man" was still an ordinary civilian, it would be best to choose at least one weapon with low or non-lethal capabilities.
Her assistant was more casual, but considering the likelihood of future close-to-mid-range combat, choosing a shotgun-type weapon for her second choice was a prudent risk management strategy.
Just avoid danger? Not necessarily. Crisis never announces its arrival beforehand. Being thorough is always wise.
While her points seemed plentiful now, preparing for this mission had already nearly exhausted them.
For her first weapon, she selected a special firearm:
[Anesthetic Rifle—A customized weapon that fires anesthetic darts. Modified from a sniper rifle, it deals no lethal damage, has a moderate range, high accuracy, a five-round capacity, and requires manual reloading after each shot. It's easily affected by wind but produces minimal noise. Perfect for those who want to exact revenge without getting their hands dirty.]
The dark, heavy gun felt reassuring in Qin Yu's hands. If she could sleep with it, she'd probably sleep like a log.
Even if it went off accidentally, it would just make her sleep better!
What if I can't fall asleep one night? Could I just shoot myself? But how would I pull the trigger...? Ah, maybe with my toes? Stand the gun upright and press the trigger with my big toe...
Since it won't cause any harm anyway, maybe I'm a genius.
Her second choice was a heavyweight contender.
[Double-Barreled Shotgun - A firearm that fires multiple pellets, delivering high damage at close range with moderate accuracy. It holds two rounds and can be loaded with various types of ammunition. A timeless classic.]
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The king of alley fights—a staple in every shooting game—the shotgun has arrived.
And it's the classic double-barreled model. With this, Qin Yu could handle situations that her revolver couldn't.
Look at those sleek barrels, that solid grip... It's like the neighborhood grandpa who's past his prime but can still take on ten guys at once—utterly reassuring!
Though it only holds two rounds, when used properly, it can deliver devastating results.
With these two new weapons, Qin Yu felt utterly confident.
All that remained was to prepare her outfit.
She had already commissioned a friend to order a set of clothes, which were said to be arriving shortly. Qin Yu rested briefly at home before venturing out again.
This time, Qin Yu had an unsettling feeling of being watched.
Is someone spying on me...? Qin Yu's heart tightened slightly, but she forced herself to act nonchalant.
Now wasn't the time to reveal her awareness. If her stalker realized she was onto them, they might become more cautious.
The only way to turn the tables later was to pretend she hadn't noticed a thing—to play the part of a tempting, unsuspecting prey.
Still, she needed to confirm who it was first.
Qin Yu stood before the shop, closing her eyes and pretending to ponder her purchase while secretly activating Wave Detection to scan for lifeforms in the vicinity.
Pushing through the crowd, she "saw" the man leaning against the corner wall. Muscular and with a menacing face, he kept craning his neck to peer at her—likely one of her targets.
Bingo.
Qin Yu exhaled softly, opened her eyes, and smiled at the shop owner. "I've decided! I'll take this!"
"Alright, Little Yu! I'll give you a discount."
"Really? Hehe, thank you! Then I'll buy a little more—your food is so delicious."
"Haha, just don't get too chubby!"
"N-no way!"
Don't say such scary things! If my figure goes out of shape, then my greatest and strongest weapon—the "Beautiful Young Girl" card—and my get-out-of-death-free pass will be gone!
Lost in her internal monologue, Qin Yu accepted the bag.
"Ah, do you have paper and a pen? I forgot mine and wanted to write a quick note."
"Sure, here you go."
Qin Yu took the paper and pen, first writing her note, then scribbling a separate sentence on another sheet and handing it to the shop owner.
The owner glanced at it and raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you so much! Goodbye, and I'll definitely be back!" Qin Yu said, flashing a polite smile and waving as she left the shop.
The shopkeeper chuckled. "Alright, you're welcome anytime!"
The man who had been tailing her emerged from his hiding spot around the corner and resumed his pursuit, blending into the crowd.
But as he passed the shop, the owner suddenly stepped out. "Hey, young man! Want to try some sweets? We've got a special discount for new customers—ten percent off!"
The man decided to ignore him.
Undeterred, the shopkeeper feigned being bumped by the crowd and stumbled against him, grabbing his arm. "Ouch!"
The man's attention had been entirely focused on Qin Yu. Tracking someone through Liyue's bustling streets was challenging enough, even for him, requiring his full concentration.
But the sudden physical contact reflexively snapped his focus away. "Don't touch me! Get off!"
"Tsk, so hostile? Fine, fine, we don't need your business anyway." The shopkeeper waved dismissively and retreated into his shop.
The man clicked his tongue, annoyed by the unexpected interruption. When he tried to find his target again, her presence had vanished.
"Tch, lost her!"
Unbeknownst to him, his target stood quietly in the flowing sea of people, watching him.
Trying to hide in the crowd? Useless. I know everyone here. With a word, they'll become stumbling blocks, constantly thwarting his pursuit.
He thought he was the one doing the tracking, unaware that her eyes were everywhere.
A web of human connections... I never intended for this, but I'm pleased my methods of self-protection have expanded.