TNIBFT -Chapter 108 What Are You Doing Here?

“But…”

Looking at Shen Jie’s fierce expression, Jiang Yunxi felt a little scared.

She might be willful, but she had never killed anyone, nor had anyone died because of her. As a healer, she had been taught by Qiu Feibai since childhood to save lives and respect them.

No matter how much hatred she felt inside, she would never scheme to have someone killed.

Jiang Yunxi’s eyes widened, her face full of panic.

Hearing no response behind him, Shen Jie turned around. Seeing her fragile appearance, he grabbed her shoulders with both hands, his expression serious.

“There are no ‘buts’!”

“Yunxi, I know you’re kind, but kindness is never weakness. Ye Tian has killed and set fires—he deserves to die. Ye Hanjiang took everything from you. This is all what they deserve.”

“Mm…”

Jiang Yunxi stared at him blankly, then nodded in a daze.

Satisfied, Shen Jie curled his lips into a faint smile. He gently patted her shoulder, his movements soft, his voice alluring: “I know you’re kind, Yunxi. I swear, I’ll protect you forever!”

“Really?”

Looking at Shen Jie so close to her, at his handsome profile, Jiang Yunxi’s gaze was fixed only on his moving lips—rosy and well-formed.

In the pharmacy, the medicine pot bubbled and boiled.

The room was thick with smoke and heat, the mixed scent of herbs pungent and suffocating. Shen Jie glanced around with undisguised disgust.

One day, he would have everything.

Instead of being trapped in this small apothecary.

“Where is Physician Jiang?”

“Is Physician Jiang here?”

An anxious male voice from outside startled both Shen Jie and Jiang Yunxi. From the hurried footsteps, it was clear something had happened.

They exchanged a glance.

“Let’s go take a look!” Shen Jie said, quickly pulling Jiang Yunxi outside.

At that moment, four or five government soldiers were pacing anxiously in the courtyard. Many physicians from the medical hall had been gathered in the center, all looking terrified, unsure of what was going on.

“What happened?”

“No idea, I was treating a patient when I got dragged here.”

“I heard General Ji is injured?”

In the middle of the courtyard, the physicians whispered among themselves.

Government soldiers?

Seeing their dark red uniforms, Jiang Yunxi frowned and looked around. Noticing a few soldiers still rummaging through the house, she became furious and rushed forward, shouting: “What are you doing?”

“This is Huichun Hall—how dare you search it recklessly?!”

Hearing the reprimand behind him, the leading soldier turned around. He sized her up—a young girl of about ten, delicate features, yet carrying an air of dignity. Clearly not an ordinary person.

With that thought, he cupped his fists respectfully. “May I ask who this young lady is?”

“Jiang Yunxi.”

“Daughter of Jiang Huichun.”

She spoke impatiently.

The leading soldier immediately bowed. “Miss Jiang, please forgive the offense. We came to find Physician Jiang, but heard he is not here. So we gathered the physicians to treat General Ji.”

“General Ji?”

Jiang Yunxi was startled and turned to look at Shen Jie.

Shen Jie narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

“My father went out. It may take a while before he returns,” Jiang Yunxi said.

The soldiers looked troubled, but quickly made a decision. “General Ji cannot wait. We’ll take these physicians first—”

Before he could finish, Shen Jie quickly stepped forward. Looking at Jiang Yunxi, he said solemnly: “General Ji has fought and bled for Sifang City. Now that he’s injured, Huichun Hall must do everything it can to treat him.”

“Don’t worry, big brother. When Divine Doctor Jiang returns, we’ll inform him immediately and have him head straight to General Ji’s residence.”

The guards nodded quickly, bowing to Shen Jie. “Thank you, brother.”

“I’ll pass along your goodwill to General Ji.”

Since Shen Jie had spoken, Jiang Yunxi had nothing more to add. Seeing the guards leading a group of physicians away, Shen Jie followed them and said to the leading guard, “Brother, Miss Jiang is a disciple of the divine doctor Qiu Feibai. Why not have her come along? She might be of help.”

“After all, only if General Ji is well can we live in peace in Sifang City.”

The guard nodded at Shen Jie. “Rare to see such foresight. Thank you.”

Shen Jie felt a surge of joy.

He quickly pulled Jiang Yunxi along and followed behind the group.

“What’s going on?” Jiang Yunxi turned her head and asked cautiously.

Walking at the rear of the group, Shen Jie glanced around the streets. “In Sifang City, aside from the City Lord, who would dare injure General Ji?”

“Judging by how urgent they are, General Ji must be seriously wounded. Something big must have happened. We should go take a look—only by understanding the situation can we respond accordingly.”

“Mm!”

Jiang Yunxi nodded.

Shen Jie was indeed smarter than her—he could always grasp the bigger picture from the smallest clues. Leaving things to him was the most reassuring choice.

Today, the atmosphere on the streets felt strange. Patrols had clearly increased.

Teams of armed guards marched in neat formations, moving through the streets and alleys. Something major must have happened. Wasn’t Ji Zhengping supposed to arrest Ye Tian?

So how did he end up injured?

Could it be… Ye Tian was the one who hurt Ji Zhengping?

At that thought, Shen Jie felt his blood surge with excitement. If that were true, Ye Tian would be as good as dead!

After about half the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Shen Jie followed the group into the general’s residence.

Because of Ji Shaobai’s death, all the lanterns in the residence had been replaced with white ones. White mourning decorations hung everywhere, and the servants were dressed in plain mourning clothes.

“Miss Jiang, this way.”

The steward and several of Ji Zhengping’s trusted aides led Jiang Yunxi and the physicians forward.

Following behind Jiang Yunxi, Shen Jie passed through several courtyards before finally reaching where Ji Zhengping was recuperating.

Before even entering, they saw servants carrying out basin after basin of bloodied water, hurrying along. The water sloshed onto the ground, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

It seemed Ji Zhengping was gravely injured.

“This way!”

The steward spoke and pushed open the door. As it opened, a wave of heat mixed with a pungent smell of blood rushed out, making one’s stomach churn.

“Everyone out, out!”

Ji Zhengping’s voice came from inside. Once booming like a great bell, it now sounded weak and strained.

“General, the physicians have arrived,” the steward said.

There was no response from inside. The steward looked at Jiang Yunxi. She nodded, and only then did she enter, with Shen Jie following behind.

The room was dimly lit, the windows tightly sealed, candlelight flickering.

Passing behind a screen, Shen Jie saw Ji Zhengping leaning weakly against the bed, his face deathly pale, lips as white as paper, hair disheveled, beads of sweat the size of beans covering his forehead.

In this miserable state, where was the imposing iron-armored general of the past?

Hearing footsteps, Ji Zhengping turned his head.

Only then did Shen Jie see clearly—Ji Zhengping was dressed in white undergarments stained entirely with blood. Around his right arm, the fabric was stuck together with shredded flesh.

At the sight, Shen Jie’s stomach churned violently—he nearly vomited. The most horrifying part was that a section of Ji Zhengping’s arm was already gone.

Shen Jie’s breathing quickened, the shock too overwhelming to bear.

“Shen Jie… what are you doing here?”