TNIBFT -Chapter 130 You Can’t Kill Me

The firewood inside the room crackled as it burned, sparks flying in the distorted, shimmering air.

Ye Shuangxue and Xiao Jiang, each holding a little rabbit, glanced at Ye Tian and Fang Shenghu, knowing that the adults were about to discuss something important. The two little ones crouched in the corner and played quietly.

Sun Wuji couldn’t miss an opportunity to bond with Ye Shuangxue; excitedly, he squatted next to her, waving a small stick.

Ye Tian looked at the three of them, then turned his gaze to Fang Shenghu’s face and gestured for him to sit down. “Actually, I want you to help me rescue someone.”

“A girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old. She should currently be with a wealthy local family in Liuzhou. This household belongs to the prominent Jia family.”

Fang Shenghu nodded. “I’ll go home to pack some things and set out tonight.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to bring her back to you.”

Fang Shenghu didn’t ask any questions.

Ye Tian hadn’t even mentioned the girl’s name or the distance and difficulties involved. But as long as Ye Tian spoke, Fang Shenghu never refused.

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Ye Tian felt moved. He handed Fang Shenghu two prepared silver ingots, each worth a hundred taels: “This is the money. Once you get there, contact Madam Jia and buy Duan Yingying from her. You don’t need to go yourself; find someone deaf, crippled, and ugly to go in your place.”

“Madam Jia will guarantee her release.”

Fang Shenghu was surprised, but if Ye Tian said so, there must be a reason. “I understand.”

With the task explained, Fang Shenghu looked at Ye Tian, wanting to say something but hesitating.

He picked up a small stick and poked at the coals in the fire, flames flickering.

For a long while, neither of them spoke.

Ye Tian said, “Sister-in-law… she…”

Jiang Caiyun hated Ye Tian interacting with Fang Shenghu. If she knew that Ye Tian was sending Fang Shenghu to Liuzhou, she would probably go berserk. Ye Tian felt a little embarrassed—and also worried for Fang Shenghu.

There was no one else he could rely on; only Fang Shenghu was trustworthy.

Fang Shenghu’s face stiffened, his hand frozen on the stick. “Jiang Caiyun took the household things and ran away.”

Ah?

Ye Tian froze. When did this happen? Another one ran off?

Back when Fang Shenghu had rescued Jiang Caiyun from the heap of corpses, she had knelt and begged him to let her stay…

Fang Shenghu said, “It’s better this way. No one will hold grudges in the future, and I’ll be at ease too.”

Ye Tian glanced discreetly at Fang Shenghu’s profile. To him, Fang Shenghu was putting on a relaxed front, to prevent Ye Tian from feeling guilty.

“Brother Fang, find one or two reliable people to go with you. The journey is long, and it’s safer to have someone to watch each other’s back.”

Ye Tian changed the subject.

Fang Shenghu nodded. “There are a few dependable brothers in the city. I’ll ask them tonight.”

Ye Tian pulled out two golden leaves from his pocket and handed them to Fang Shenghu. At first, Fang Shenghu refused, but eventually he accepted. Seeing the golden leaves glinting in his palm, his heart felt warm. Excitedly, he looked up at Ye Tian: “Even if I die, I’ll make sure to bring her back safely.”

Ye Tian said, “If there really is danger, I hope it’s you who comes back.”

Those words brought tears streaming down Fang Shenghu’s face.

Even if he died, it wouldn’t be in vain.

It was worth it!

…

Outside the city, on a snowy plain.

“Don’t run!”

“Catch him! Catch him!”

A group of people, torches in hand, brandished shining long knives, chasing Shen Jie with murderous intent.

Shen Jie was in a pitiful state, his pale scholar’s robe covered in mud and bloodstains. His face was pale as he ran recklessly, glancing back in terror at the group behind him.

Who are they?

Why do they want to kill him?

After parting from Jiang Yunxi, he still couldn’t give up. He wanted to wait by the examination hall for Tao Lichun to come out, but unexpectedly, someone suddenly covered his head from behind and dragged him away, giving him a severe beating. He barely managed to escape from their grasp, only to be discovered again.

These people licked blood from their blades—they gave no chance for explanations. Once captured, there was only one way out: death. Panting heavily, Shen Jie ran through snow that buried his calves, his whole body numb from the cold.

Seeing that he was about to be caught, Shen Jie was nearly in tears.

Facing the river frozen with ice, he gritted his teeth and jumped straight onto it. The surface was wet, cold, and slippery. With each step, the ice seemed to crack beneath his feet. Shen Jie trembled with fear, but he couldn’t afford to think too much.

“He went down there.”

“Catch up to him! The Grand General said—let him accompany the young master in death.”

Several of them brandished long knives, and some held torches as they started moving down. Shen Jie was drenched in cold sweat. In the biting wind, he looked back toward the people on the shore—Grand General?

In his mind, Shen Jie immediately thought of Ji Zhengping.

It was him who wanted to kill him.

Surely all of this had been orchestrated by Xiao Haoyang, right?

Hatred surged through Shen Jie, and he gritted his teeth, running forward. The closer he got to the middle of the river, the thinner the ice beneath his feet became. He could almost hear the sound of the water flowing beneath the surface.

“Crack…”

“Snap!”

The cracking sound spread like a fracture. In the pitch-black night, he couldn’t see his own feet.

His foot slipped, and Shen Jie shouted in shock.

Before he could react, he was submerged by the river. He struggled desperately. The icy water pierced through to his bones, and his cotton-padded jacket felt like a thousand-pound weight in the current. Tossed by the waves, Shen Jie bobbed up and down in the water. He opened his mouth, about to cry for help—

A mouthful of ice water rushed in.

After a few more struggles, he was exhausted. His mind grew hazy, and his limbs no longer obeyed him.

In the darkness, he thought he saw tiny pinpricks of light above his head. Shen Jie, half-conscious, reached out, trying to grasp them…

Is this how my life ends?

He refused to accept it.

On the shore, the pursuers had caught up. One held a torch and called out, “Boss, the kid fell in.”

“The river is fast, and the ice above is thin. If he’s swept away, he’s dead for sure.”

“Yeah, it’s a deserted area. Who could save him in the middle of the night?”

“What do we do?”

The group stood on the riverbank, looking at the frozen surface. No one dared to venture onto it. The leader said, “Just say he was swept away in the icy river. Let’s go!”

The leader left first.

The underlings gradually followed. In no time, the snowfield returned to silence.

After dinner, Duan Qingshan felt somewhat recovered. He changed into an old set of clothes and went out to inquire about Shen Jie’s whereabouts. By the time he found him, Shen Jie had already been washed up on the riverbank.

Looking at the pale-faced boy before him, Duan Qingshan felt a strange sense of familiarity.

But since Ye Tian could save his sister, this man had to die!

Duan Qingshan’s gaze turned icy as he approached, hand on his sword.

“Where… is this?”

At the critical moment, Shen Jie slowly regained consciousness.

The surroundings were dark. The reflection off the snow only allowed him to make out a black silhouette ahead. Trembling in fear, Shen Jie pushed himself up from the riverbank. “Who… are you?”

“I have no grievance with you. Was it Grand General Ji Zhengping who sent you? I am Xiao Haoyang’s illegitimate son—you cannot kill me.”

Duan Qingshan frowned, stepping closer. In his eyes, there was no one he couldn’t kill—only whether he was willing to!