TNIBFT -Chapter 127 Recruiting a Little Brother

“Oh, good, good!”

After taking the money, the men dropped Duan Qingshan and turned to leave.

In front of silver, sympathy was worth nothing.

Watching their backs, Ye Tian frowned, pondering how to deal with the situation next. Leaving Duan Qingshan at home could endanger himself and the children, but killing him now seemed a waste.

After all, he was a major supporting character in the book, and his abilities and aura weren’t something ordinary NPCs could match.

If Duan Qingshan could be loyal, having him by his side would be a huge asset.

In the story, he stayed with Shen Jie initially to hide his identity, then out of gratitude for Shen Jie’s recognition. Over time, a genuine bond formed, which made him loyal. But if he was rebellious at heart, Ye Tian would deal with him immediately—strike while the wound is fresh.

With that in mind, Ye Tian opened the door and prepared to go inside.

“Is he dead?”

Ye Shuangxue stretched out her small feet in her red lion shoes and gently kicked Duan Qingshan.

Xiao Jiang craned his neck and said, “Not dead. I saw him open his eyes just now.”

“Look! His eyes are moving!”

After speaking, Xiao Jiang squatted and reached out with little hands, trying to open Duan Qingshan’s eyelids.

The man, who had been pretending to faint, could no longer maintain the act. He opened his eyes, and when he saw the two little kids staring at him with curiosity, his face flushed. Feeling awkward, he looked around nervously.

That bastard Ye Tian—he was supposed to save me, right? And yet he just left me at the gate?

“You two go ahead. Shuangxue, call Grandpa Sun out.” Ye Tian instructed. Shuangxue immediately got up and ran toward the courtyard, calling, “Master! Master, wake up! There are visitors!”

“Ye Tian brought him home…”

“Master!”

“Grandpa Sun…”

The two children chattered excitedly. Soon, Sun Wuji’s voice came from inside: “Does Ye Tian really think he’s some kind of Bodhisattva reincarnate?”

“Disturbing an old man’s sleep…”

Sun Wuji grumbled impatiently, but his footsteps were growing closer.

Ye Tian looked at Duan Qingshan on the ground and smiled helplessly.

Meanwhile, Duan Qingshan, lying on the ground, stared at Ye Tian like a beast locking onto its prey. His gaze was full of mockery and sarcasm. Though unarmed, with his skills, killing an ordinary person would be effortless.

“My… my wound… seems to have split open!”

Duan Qingshan spoke.

He fixed a dark glare on Ye Tian, ready to kill him if he came any closer.

“My wound split?”

Ye Tian frowned. As he bent slightly, he noticed Duan Qingshan staring at him. Pausing, Ye Tian sneered, “You don’t really think I brought you home to nurse your injury, do you?”

Duan Qingshan was stunned.

The mockery in Ye Tian’s eyes ignited his murderous intent. His face darkened as he prepared to attack.

“Bang!” A loud crash.

Duan Qingshan, who had just shifted slightly, was kicked with immense force. His body flew like a rag, sliding several meters across the snowy ground. Pain struck him as if a boulder had hit him, and he coughed up blood while struggling in the snow.

Ye Tian retracted the dagger from his sleeve.

Sun Wuji looked at Ye Tian speechless, blowing his beard and glaring in anger. “If I hadn’t arrived in time, you’d already be toast!”

“You really… at your age, how can you be so ready to save anyone?”

“Also, what if someone harms my good disciple? Who’s going to take responsibility? Who’s responsible?” Sun Wujie placed his hands on his hips, tilting his head back, interrogating Ye Tian’s soul.

“This bastard dares to kill people in front of me? Does he really think I’m a vegetarian?” Sun Wujie cursed as he stepped forward.

Feeling the intense killing intent, Duan Qingshan, lying on the ground, tried to struggle to get up.

He had thought Sifang City was just some remote frontier town, but upon entering, he was beaten nearly to death. Surviving nine lives was one thing—but encountering Ye Tian as well? He was cursed with the worst luck in eight generations.

On the dazzling snowy ground, Duan Qingshan supported himself with both hands.

He didn’t believe an unknown nobody like Ye Tian could have any real power. He saw a chance to kill Ye Tian and escape. He looked up—and saw a white-haired old man walking toward him, pants rolled up, wearing straw sandals, with a crane-like hair and childlike face. This wasn’t…

This wasn’t…

Duan Qingshan’s lips trembled, eyes full of terror.

Earlier in the forest that morning, this old man had chased him, demanding his life. Impatient, Duan Qingshan had drawn his sword to end it, only to be beaten nearly to death by the old man—barely surviving.

And now… how was he here?

Duan Qingshan felt utterly helpless.

“It’s you?” Sun Wujie bent slightly, hands behind his back, frowning as he stared at Duan Qingshan, his gaze cold: “I spared your miserable life, and you dare to come back looking for death?”

“Back for revenge?”

Sun Wujie spoke while imagining the scene, madness in his tone: “You knew I have a good disciple, and you want to kill him? You dog! I’ll make you pay with your life!”

His white hair fluttered in the fierce wind, eyes burning with murderous intent.

“N… no…”

Before Duan Qingshan could finish, Sun Wujie’s hand clamped around his neck. Duan Qingshan felt as if he could hear his bones cracking, suffocation making his eyes bulge. He struggled with all his strength—but the gap in power was immense. A seventh-rank expert like him was nothing more than an ant before this madman.

Duan Qingshan’s face contorted in horror, lamenting that he hadn’t even found his sister before dying.

“Wait!”

Ye Tian spoke, and Sun Wujie loosened his grip slightly. Gasping for air, Duan Qingshan finally felt alive again.

“What are you doing?”

Sun Wujie looked at Ye Tian, speechless, and continued: “Anyone who threatens my disciple… I’d rather kill a thousand by mistake than let a single one go.”

“He didn’t come to kill Shuangxue.”

Ye Tian spoke. Duan Qingshan immediately nodded, struggling to say: “Mis… misunderstanding… it’s all a misunderstanding… please, let me go, Senior…”

Seeing Ye Tian nod, Sun Wujie released Duan Qingshan with a cold face.

No one in this world had ever killed someone in front of him; Sun Wujie was confident in that.

“Cough… cough…”

Duan Qingshan slumped to the ground, clutching his neck, coughing violently. One thing was certain: the old madman before him was a peerless master—not someone he could provoke.

“Duan Qingshan, the reason I rescued you is actually to have you serve me. If you refuse, there are only two paths before you: either die by the old man’s hand or die by mine.” Ye Tian looked coldly at Duan Qingshan, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Duan Qingshan froze.

So from the very beginning, Ye Tian hadn’t rescued him out of kindness.

Ye Tian wouldn’t be fooled—if Duan Qingshan made a move, Ye Tian could kill him at any moment.

Serve him?

Duan Qingshan had roamed the Jianghu for years; how could he be subjugated?

He frowned, thinking: if he refused, Ye Tian and the old man would surely kill him immediately. But if he pretended to agree, he might escape later…

Ye Tian’s gaze seemed to pierce through his very heart. Duan Qingshan quickly looked away.

Ye Tian smiled: “We’ll take care of anyone chasing you.”

“And your sister… the whole world, only I know where she is. How’s that for a condition?”