The man Wang Tianqing sent out hadn’t come back yet before Wang Yufei’s brother, Wang Yuxing, returned home.

Upon learning that his little sister had been bullied, he immediately ordered to gather troops to surround the Alliance.

"Nonsense!" Wang Tianqing stopped Wang Yuxing.

"Do you think you can just surround the Alliance as you wish? Are you trying to go against them with all these fuss? With their power, just a single expert would be too much for the Manor to stand against them!"

Wang Tianqing’s words made Wang Yuxing slightly calmer.

"So, what are we going to do? What if that kid runs away?"

"He can’t. I’ve already arranged for experts to block him at the Alliance," Wang Tianqing said with certainty, "If you’re worried, just block the city gate. People are allowed in, and those who leave must be checked, how hard is that?"

Wang Yuxing found the point valid and immediately went to arrange for the city gates to be closed.

"What if that kid hides in and doesn’t come out?" Wang Yufei also asked.

Wang Tianqing was even more confident: "Then he won’t escape at all! I’ll negotiate with the Alliance; they’ll definitely hand him over!"

They waited less than an hour in the Manor when someone reported that Ye Liuyun was not a local and had already checked into the Alliance’s inn.

"Haha, that makes things easier!" Wang Tianqing laughed upon hearing the news. "Just a rash youngster! My darling daughter, rest assured, I’ll go to the Alliance to get him, he can’t run!"

"I want him alive, I want to get my revenge personally!" Wang Yufei shouted.

"No problem!" Wang Tianqing agreed, heading directly for the Alliance, even arranging for a few martial practitioners to have an eye on Ye Liuyun from next door to prevent him from slipping away.

Once Wang Tianqing arrived at the Alliance, he went straight to the chief, claiming that someone had committed a violent act in broad daylight, and as the city’s lord, it was his responsibility to maintain law and order, urging the chief to hand over the person in question.

Shen Youcai, the chief steward of the Alliance, had no idea what was going on until he heard the story from Wang Tianqing.

After a general understanding, he called for the Market’s executive and Linger to inquire about the situation.

Upon seeing Wang Tianqing, the executive and Linger knew right away that he was here to make troublesome demands. Therefore, they dared not lie and explained the situation truthfully.

However, to Wang Tianqing, their truthful account sounded like they were covering for Ye Liuyun.

“Nonsense, do you dare to cover for that whelp?” Wang Tianqing berated.

“Chief Shen, please render me justice! I dare not utter a single falsehood. Many people were present at the time and can testify!” The executive immediately argued back.

Shen Youcai gave a nod and dismissed the two for now. He had got a clear picture of the situation, but one was a guest of the Alliance and the other, the local city lord. He didn’t want to offend either party.

“My Lord, please calm down! If you believe that their words are false, we can always ask others for clarification.”

Wang Tianqing didn’t wish to prolong this matter and said directly, “I don’t think there’s a need for that. Just hand over the lad to me, and everything will be clear once we make an inquiry back at my place.

I’ve already looked into it, the kid doesn’t have any significant background. I’ve taken the trouble to come here personally, surely you wouldn’t deny me such a small request?”

Wang Tianqing was blunt and clear, he was exploiting the fact that Ye Liuyun lacked support and wanted to take him away at all cost.

Shen Youcai held distaste for Wang Tianqing and his whole family. He usually kept his distance, trying not to cross paths with them. But now that Wang Tianqing had shown up at his doorstep, there was no place to hide.

After a moment of thought, Shen Youcai decided to make a monetary sacrifice to keep the peace and minimize the issue.

“My Lord, he’s our guest. If we were to hand him over, the Alliance will lose all credibility in future.

I’d say, this isn’t a big issue in the first place. How about you pick out a little something from the Alliance as compensation for Miss Yufei, what do you think?”

However, Wang Tianqing did not appreciate it. "What do you mean, Chief Shen? Do you think our City Lord’s Manor is in need of such help?

My daughter is the one injured, not your family. Of course you won’t feel the pain! But I cannot let that boy go so easily. Give me a straight answer, will you give him up or not?"

Shen Youcai knitted his brows, his face turned cold. "Is the city lord trying to tarnish the reputation of the Alliance of Merchants?"

He thought to himself, "He’s just a city lord, does he dare to confront the Alliance?"

Seeing Shen Youcai’s displeasure, Wang Tianqing knew that they were about to fall out. So he chuckled, "The Alliance values its reputation, how would I make unreasonable demands. But, I do have a solution that caters to both parties’ interests!"

"Oh?" When Shen Youcai heard this, his face relaxed slightly: "I’m interested to hear your glorious idea, Lord Wang."

Wang Tianqing, with a cunning smile, blinking his eyes at Shen Youcai, said,

"I don’t need the Alliance to personally hand him over. As long as that young man steps out of this place, I can catch him naturally. But since he’s hiding in your inn and not coming out, I can’t possibly keep my men outside all the time, can I?

My point is, if your inn can find an excuse not to host him, he will naturally leave. From then on, whatever happens is his business, it won’t concern the Alliance!"

But Shen Youcai asked, puzzled, "What’s the difference between driving him out and handing him directly to you?"

"There’s a big difference! As long as you have a suitable excuse, you won’t attract criticism! For example, the inn needs a full renovation, or all the rooms have been booked in advance. No one can say anything about that!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Youcai also began to think. If the excuse is appropriate, the plan is indeed feasible. However, this excuse cannot harm the Alliance’s reputation; it must go unnoticed and requires careful consideration.

Furthermore, he needed to further investigate Ye Liuyun’s background. If he really was just a nobody, he might as well do Wang Tianqing a favor and avoid this insignificant person from holding a grudge against him.

Having thought of this, Shen Youcai agreed.

"Hmm, well, okay! But, I’ll have to think of a foolproof excuse, I can’t leave any loose ends. You should go back first, Lord Wang. I’ll inform you when I have news!"

"Alright, I’ll leave now and wait for your good news!" Wang Tianqing promptly made his farewells and left.

He knew very well that the most he could do was to make a few verbal threats. He dare not truly make trouble with the Alliance.

Even if Shen Youcai placates him, he could only visit a few more times, there was no other way out.

However, since Shen Youcai had already agreed, he also thought that the Alliance wouldn’t offend a city lord for a nameless pawn.

He was the ruler of the Bloody Cloud City, after all. Although he didn’t dare to confront the Alliance publicly, setting some obstacles for them and making a little trouble in secret was something he could do.