TNIBFT -Chapter 151 Avalanche

“Master, something terrible has happened!”

The old steward was in a sorry state, his clothes disheveled and his withered face full of distress. Seeing Shi Shanxiang look over, his lips trembled as he stammered, “An avalanche! There’s been an avalanche!”

“Our estate and farmland in Lingfeng Village have all been buried under the snow…”

The old steward was so worried he was on the verge of tears.

Shi Shanxiang was stunned.

With a clatter, the chopsticks in his hand fell to the ground as he stared blankly toward the doorway.

Shi Xuan glanced at his father, completely indifferent, and continued eating with relish.

The old steward stepped forward, grabbing Shi Shanxiang’s clothes anxiously. “Master, many of the tenant farmers at the foot of the mountain have died. What should we do? And the granaries on the estate are all buried under the snow. Not only is this year’s harvest gone, but how are we supposed to answer to these tenants?”

“So many people have died…”

The old steward trembled as he spoke.

Only after a long moment did Shi Shanxiang come back to his senses. His face turned deathly pale as he shook his head blankly. “No… you said it was an avalanche? The estate in Lingfeng Village is gone?”

“Everyone’s dead?”

“Where is Shi Hao? He just went to the Lingfeng Village estate today. Did you see him?”

Grabbing the steward by the shoulders, Shi Shanxiang shook him frantically.

The old steward looked as if he might collapse at any moment. Tears filled his cloudy eyes as he said in disbelief, “Young Master Hao also went to the estate?”

“What a tragedy!”

He slapped his thigh and wailed, “The entire estate is buried under snow! Even if he had wings, he wouldn’t be able to escape!”

Hearing this, Shi Shanxiang collapsed onto his chair, muttering, “It’s me… it’s me who wronged you.”

“I’ve wronged you!”

Covering his face with both hands, grief overwhelmed him.

After returning home, he had listened to Shi Xuan without question and beaten Shi Hao. With the roads blocked by heavy snow, and just to please Shi Xuan, he had deliberately sent Shi Hao alone to Lingfeng Village as punishment.

But Shi Hao was his son too…

He was only eight years old!

How could this happen?

He had thought he would have plenty of time in the future—to make Shi Hao give in to Shi Xuan, to make things up to him later. Shi Hao was still young; there would be many chances to compensate him…

But now, Xiao Hao was dead…

Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, Shi Shanxiang felt a sharp ache in his heart. Had Xiao Hao eaten?

Was he hungry?

When he left, was he afraid? Did he resent him—his own father?

Thinking of this, Shi Shanxiang covered his face as his shoulders trembled.

Shi Xuan, however, was gloating. He slowly set down his chopsticks, glanced at Shi Shanxiang, and said, “Good thing you moved here. Otherwise, the one who died today would’ve been you. I’ve said it before—Shi Hao is a jinx. Whoever stays with him gets unlucky.”

“Well, now it’s perfect. Our Shi family is finally at peace.”

“Young Master, you…” The old steward looked at Shi Xuan in disbelief. No matter what, Shi Hao was his own brother. How could someone be this vicious?

Shi Xuan shot him a cold glance.

The old steward shut his mouth resentfully. He was just a servant—matters of the master’s family were not for him to meddle in.

Each of the three people in the room was lost in their own thoughts.

“Master!”

“Master!”

Shi Shanxiang hadn’t yet figured out what to do next when the sound of a woman crying came from the doorway. His head throbbed as he looked up—just in time to see Shi Hao’s mother, Su Rou, rushing in with tears streaming down her face.

With a loud thud, Su Rou dropped heavily to her knees, clutching Shi Shanxiang’s legs as she cried, “Master, please save Xiao Hao!”

“The estate has been buried—take people and go save him! Maybe he’s still alive! I beg you, Master! As long as you can save my son, I want nothing. I’ll leave the Shi family—my child and I want nothing at all, just please, alright?”

“Give me back my son! Give him back! My Hao’er…”

Her cries were heart-wrenching, her eyes swollen like walnuts from all the tears.

Shi Shanxiang reached out to help her up, but Su Rou refused to rise. Through streaming tears, she looked at him and said, “I’ve been married into the Shi family for ten years. I’ve followed every rule, never spoke out of turn, remained gentle and obedient. I taught Hao’er to yield to his elder brother and respect his father. But all these years—have you ever even looked at him once? You pity Shi Xuan for losing his mother at a young age and indulge him in everything. Then why can’t you pity Hao’er—for having no father?”

“It’s you—it’s you who couldn’t wait even a moment! In the middle of a blizzard, you sent Hao’er to the estate. You father and son couldn’t tolerate him. He’s only eight years old! Your own flesh and blood—and you killed him!”

Usually gentle and compliant, Su Rou now looked utterly unhinged, her voice filled with grief and accusation, her eyes burning with hatred as she stared at Shi Shanxiang.

Shi Shanxiang staggered, his footing unsteady.

Shi Xuan snapped angrily, “Is it your place to speak here? You’re just a stepmother—do you really think you’re the mistress of the Shi family?”

Su Rou let out a cold laugh. Slowly rising to her feet, she gave Shi Xuan and Shi Shanxiang a long, deep look before turning and rushing out into the storm.

“Su Rou—”

Shi Shanxiang moved to chase after her, but Shi Xuan stepped forward and said, “She’s leaving anyway—just let her go. Without the Shi family, she would’ve starved to death long ago.”

“Where are you going?” Shi Xuan shouted at his back.

Shi Shanxiang turned around. In that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years. His gaze was deep as he looked at Shi Xuan, who felt a chill and pressed his lips together uneasily.

“I’m going to save your brother.”

After saying that, Shi Shanxiang turned to the old steward and ordered, “Gather everyone in the household, and all the tenants who can still move. We’re going to rescue him together.”

“Yes!”

The old steward was so overjoyed he nearly cried, then hurried off in a panic.

Watching the bustling crowd, Shi Xuan’s eyes filled with malice. A sudden, intriguing idea surfaced in his mind.

…

The heavens roared.

It was as if mountains were collapsing and seas overturning—like the sky itself was splitting apart.

Standing by the second-floor window of the hotpot restaurant, Ye Tian looked out into the distance. The sky was pitch black, nothing visible. The deafening sound of collapse echoed continuously in his ears, like the wrath of the gods. The unknown filled everything with fear.

Fine, powder-like snow drifted down onto his face. Ye Tian narrowed his eyes.

“What is that sound?”

“That’s so scary… is Sun Wukong causing havoc in Heaven?”

Behind him, Ye Shuangxue and Xiao Jiang clung tightly to his legs, curled into a trembling ball.

Ye Tian casually shut the window, then picked up the two children. “It’s an avalanche.”

“It means the heavy snow has crushed the spine of the mountain.”

The thunderous rumbling continued without end. All across Sifang City, cries and screams filled the air.

The two children only half understood. Their frightened eyes darted around like startled deer before they buried themselves in Ye Tian’s arms.

“Will we die?” Ye Shuangxue asked in a muffled voice. Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “Let’s make a mark. If we really die, then next time I’ll be able to find Father, Big Brother, and Xiao Jiang again.”

Her big eyes shone brightly—not with fear, but with excitement at the idea.

Xiao Jiang wrapped her arms around Ye Tian’s neck and pressed her lips together. “Then… what about Mother?”

“What will Mother do?”