TNIBFT -Chapter 104 The Cannon Fodder Villain Gets Eliminated Early

“Mm!”

The eldest child’s words made Ye Tian’s eyes sting. He was so moved that he couldn’t speak.

He held the two children tightly, silently swearing that in this world, he would make something of himself—becoming someone they could rely on and be proud of.

“Clatter…”

“Bang!”

Chaotic, hurried footsteps drew closer, mixed with deafening sounds of smashing and crashing.

Ye Tian froze.

What’s going on?

He had just lifted his head when—bang!—the wooden door of the room was kicked open from the outside. Ye Shuangxue’s little face immediately fell, and she peeked out from Ye Tian’s arms, secretly looking toward the door.

Ye Yunting frowned as well. The father and his two children had no idea what was happening.

The people who rushed in were dressed in dark red uniforms of the city guards. They drew the sabers from their waists, shouting excitedly, “Ye Tian is here!”

City guards—the official troops of Sifang City.

What the hell?!

Ye Tian was completely speechless.

Did these people get it wrong? His shop had been burned down—he was the victim! Why were they charging in with weapons, looking so excited?

Instead of catching the arsonist, they came for him? Were their brains broken?

Ye Tian shielded the two children behind him and was just about to argue.

In the next second, a burly man in iron armor stepped in from outside. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with hatred as he stared at Ye Tian, as if he wanted to tear him apart on the spot.

“Y-you…”

Ye Tian swallowed, not even finishing his sentence.

With a sharp whoosh, Ye Tian flinched in fright. Ji Zhengping, his face twisted with fury, had drawn the sword at his waist, the gleaming blade pointed straight at him.

Instinctively, Ye Tian raised his hands and cautiously looked at Ji Zhengping. “Big brother, we have no grievances between us. Let’s talk this out.”

“Talk this out…”

Seeing Ye Tian’s cowardly, life-clinging expression, Ji Zhengping’s anger flared even higher. Trash like this—he wouldn’t equal Shaobai even if there were a hundred of him. Why did he deserve to live?

“Talk this out?”

Ji Zhengping sneered coldly, stepping closer and closer.

Ye Tian instinctively retreated, pushing the two children farther behind him. His mind raced—who is this guy?

Was he even in the original story?

What’s going on here?

“You lowly commoner, how dare you! When you killed my son Ji Shaobai, why didn’t you think about this day?”

With that, Ji Zhengping’s expression turned savage as he raised his sword to strike.

Ye Tian suddenly shouted, “Ji Shaobai?”

“Ji Shaobai is already dead? Impossible! How did he die?”

In the original story, Ji Shaobai was Xiao Xun’er’s devoted admirer. After the protagonist Shen Jie entered the City Lord’s mansion, he grew close to Xiao Xun’er. At this stage, Shen Jie was still hiding his identity as the illegitimate son, using it to win favor from important figures—

Of course, the key was Xiao Xun’er’s affection.

The author focused heavily on the regretful, unfulfilled love between Shen Jie and Xiao Xun’er.

As the only son of the Iron Armored General, Ji Shaobai naturally played the major antagonist in their relationship. He couldn’t stand Shen Jie. Relying on his status, Ji Shaobai repeatedly tried to get rid of him, only to be protected by Xiao Xun’er time and again, humiliating Ji Shaobai.

His interference even accelerated Shen Jie’s recognition of his lineage.

So how could he have died already at this point?

Ye Tian was a little stunned.

His son had been killed because of Ye Tian, yet Ye Tian still dared to ask how Shaobai died?

This was provocation—an outright insult.

Ji Zhengping’s anger surged to his head. His hands trembled uncontrollably as he gripped the sword. “Ah!” he roared, gritting his teeth as he slashed down at Ye Tian.

“Don’t hurt my dad!”

Ye Shuangxue shouted, grabbing a buckwheat pillow from the side and hurling it at Ji Zhengping.

“Rip—!”

In an instant, the small room filled with dust.

The pillow was split in two, scattering brown buckwheat husks all over the floor. Ye Shuangxue’s little brows shot up, and like a tiny iron warrior, she stood firmly in front of Ye Tian without moving an inch.

The strike missed.

Ji Zhengping narrowed his eyes, staring at the little girl before him. Only four or five years old, yet her reflexes and awareness were far beyond ordinary.

A good seed for martial arts.

But she was Ye Tian’s child. Ye Tian had killed his son—so killing Ye Tian’s daughter was only fair, wasn’t it?

“You lowly wretch. You caused my son’s death. Even if I kill you ten times, it won’t ease the hatred in my heart.”

“Since you’re Ye Tian’s little bastard, then go die with your father!”

With a crazed grin, Ji Zhengping raised his sword, his cold gaze locked onto Ye Shuangxue as he stepped forward.

Gritting his teeth, Ye Tian forced himself up, shielding the two children behind him as he shouted at Ji Zhengping, “Get a hold of yourself!”

“Your son was murdered, and instead of avenging him, you’re letting yourself be used like a pawn here. Is your brain full of shit?”

At this point, survival came first—there was no room to hold back.

Ye Tian continued, “I’ve never even met Ji Shaobai. What grudge could I possibly have with him? You say I killed him? Look at me—I’m like this. I couldn’t even step on an ant in front of me. Who could I possibly kill?”

Ji Zhengping paused mid-step.

Clearly, Ye Tian’s words had gotten through to him.

A flicker of joy rose in Ye Tian’s heart.

Just as he was about to continue, Ji Zhengping’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, “Even if it wasn’t you, Shaobai still died in your shop. Perfect—I’ll send you down to accompany him.”

“Are you fucking insane?!”

Ye Tian cursed loudly.

Just as Ji Zhengping’s second strike was about to fall—

“Stop!”

A sharp female voice rang out.

Ye Tian looked up and, seeing Xiao Xun’er entering, immediately lit up with relief. He shouted, “Save me!”

When Ji Zhengping saw Xiao Xun’er, his raised hand paused briefly. But then, snapping back to his senses, his face turned grim as he continued his attack toward Ye Tian.

The snow-white blade gleamed coldly against Ye Tian’s face. He could swear this was the closest he had ever been to death in his life.

“Clang!”

With a crisp sound, Ji Zhengping’s sword was caught by Xiao Xun’er’s whip, which coiled around it and slammed it into a nearby wooden rack.

Xiao Xun’er’s face was cold as she flicked her wrist, sending the sword back into Ji Zhengping’s hand. She said, “General Ji, without evidence, slaughtering civilians is my father’s greatest taboo. Ye Tian’s shop was burned, and he himself was trapped inside. How could he have killed your son?”

Ji Zhengping’s face remained dark, not even looking at Xiao Xun’er.

She was the city lord’s daughter, so he could give her some respect. But with war between Great Zhou and Great Liang imminent, Xiao Haoyang would never let his generals feel disheartened over such a trivial matter. A lowly commoner’s death meant nothing.

With that thought, Ji Zhengping said calmly, “The young lady is right.”

“Men, take Ye Tian away. I will personally interrogate this matter at length.”

“Dad…”

Ye Yunting rushed forward at once, hugging Ye Tian’s waist. His small face was filled with anger as he stared at Ji Zhengping, his deep eyes seeming to burn the image of his enemy into his mind.

Ye Shuangxue spread her arms, standing protectively in front of Ye Tian and Ye Yunting, angrily shouting, “Bad guy!”

“Your son died, and you won’t even let us live—you’re the biggest bad guy in the world!”