TNIBFT -Chapter 158 I Want to Become the Number One in the World

Shi Hao looked up at Ye Tian, his chubby face covered in tears. He was only eight years old—suddenly struck by a family catastrophe—and he didn’t know who he could rely on anymore.

There were so many refugees outside the city… was he going to end up like them too, huddled in corners, waiting for handouts?

He could wait—but Shi Shanxiang couldn’t.

Looking at Shi Shanxiang in his arms, pale-faced and barely breathing, Shi Hao felt as if his heart were being tightly clenched. No matter how Shi Shanxiang had treated him before, none of it mattered now, seeing him on the verge of death.

All he wanted… was a father.
All he wanted… was for him to live.

Shi Hao looked at Ye Tian with pleading eyes.

“Uncle Ye…”

His lips trembled slightly. Ye Tian narrowed his eyes, glancing at the tightly shut gates of the Shi residence, then said,

“Saving your father comes first.”

“Take him to a clinic first. We’ll talk about everything else later.”

“Okay!” Shi Hao nodded.

There was no other choice. Waking Shi Shanxiang up was the most important thing for Shi Hao right now.

Several servants of the Shi family stood by the gate, glancing at Shi Hao—but not a single one stepped forward. They all lowered their heads, pretending not to see anything.

They were just tenant workers, only concerned about getting paid.

Now that Shi Shanxiang’s life hung in the balance and the Shi household had been seized by Shi Xuan, there was no way they would do thankless work.

“Damn it, what about our wages?”

“Shi Xuan, open the door!”

“My wife died at the estate in Lingfeng Village—you have to give me an explanation!”

Holding torches, they cursed loudly, kicking at the Shi family gates—but there wasn’t a single sound from inside the courtyard.

Shi Hao’s small body simply couldn’t lift Shi Shanxiang. Gritting his teeth, he used all his strength—but the unconscious man didn’t budge at all. Lowering his head, Shi Hao began to sob quietly.

Seeing this, Ye Tian turned to Old Yang, who stood far away as if none of this concerned him.

“Old Yang, take Shi Hao and his father to a clinic and get them settled.”

Ye Tian took out a silver ingot from his robe and tossed it to him.

Old Yang expressionlessly caught the money, then roughly hoisted Shi Shanxiang onto his shoulder.

“Let’s go!” he said coldly.

Shi Hao immediately followed behind, nervously supporting his father with one hand while jogging to keep up. He didn’t forget to turn back and wave at Ye Tian.

“Uncle Ye, when my father gets a bit better tomorrow, I’ll come see you!”

“Alright!”

Ye Tian nodded.

In the wind and snow, Shi Hao trudged through the thick snow, turning back to look at Ye Tian every few steps. Then, under everyone’s gaze, he suddenly dropped to his knees and swiftly knocked his head three times against the ground in gratitude.

Just as Ye Tian stepped forward to help him up, Shi Hao quickly got back on his feet, wiped his tears with his sleeve, and hurried after Old Yang.

“That little Shi… what a hard life he has,” Yuan Heipang said quietly beside Ye Tian.

The others chimed in:

“Shi Shanxiang never imagined that after amassing such wealth, he wouldn’t even be able to enter his own home before dying.”

“Yeah… and who would’ve thought the son he disliked the most would turn out to be the most filial?”

They all shook their heads and sighed.

“Let’s head back too,” Ye Tian said.

“Ye Tian, wait!”

Just as Ye Tian was about to leave, Shi Xuan’s voice came from inside the courtyard. Ye Tian frowned and looked toward the source.

Shi Xuan continued, “Didn’t you want to buy the Shi family’s grain shop?”

“Have you prepared the money?”

Ye Tian was momentarily stunned.

“Shi Shanxiang isn’t dead yet—do you really think you have the authority to decide?”

“His legs are crushed. Do you think he’ll survive the night? I’ll give you a thousand taels off—how about it?” Shi Xuan pressed on.

Some of his classmates were already preparing to leave Sifang City. Shi Xuan wanted to sell off the Shi family assets and run far away with the money. He remembered Shi Shanxiang mentioning before that Ye Tian wanted to buy the grain shop. At a time like this, a fool willing to buy property in Sifang City—someone like Ye Tian—was hard to come by.

“One thousand taels. If you’re buying, we sign the contract now. If not, I’m leaving.”

Ye Tian’s face darkened as he turned and left.

Shi Xuan was still shouting in the courtyard, “At least five thousand taels! If not, four thousand—one thousand? Ye Tian, do you take me for a fool?!”

“Ye Tian, come back! Come back!”

Shi Xuan didn’t dare step outside. Listening to the fading footsteps, he kept shouting from the courtyard.

…

On the other side.

Shangguan Ning’er moved like the wind, drawing the flexible sword at her waist and charging toward Sun Wuji.

In the blink of an eye—

Sun Wuji slightly turned his body to dodge. Moving like a phantom, he struck out with a palm toward her back. Shangguan Ning’s pupils shrank as she felt a domineering, scorching force like a wave of heat surging toward her. Reacting swiftly, she gathered all her strength and raised her palm to meet it.

Boom!

The air exploded like an invisible shockwave, instantly sending Shangguan Ning flying. She staggered as she landed, her footing unsteady as she was forced to retreat again and again.

The entire arm that took the blow felt as if it had been crippled, trembling uncontrollably. The piercing pain made cold sweat pour down her face.

She barely steadied herself, unease rising in her heart.

There were few people in this world who could defeat her. Yet she couldn’t even withstand a single move from this madman—who exactly was he?

And what was his relationship with Ye Tian?

Before she could think further, the crazy old man attacked again.

Before she could react, Sun Wuji kicked her in the lower abdomen. Her body slammed heavily onto the ground, sweeping away several meters of snow in the courtyard. Standing above her, Sun Wuji clapped his hands and said, “Boring.”

“Boring. You little doll can’t even take a hit—so boring.”

“You look quite pretty. I heard it’s trendy these days to make human-skin drums. How about making one for my little disciple to play with?”

Sun Wuji spoke casually, treating cruelty as entertainment.

Shangguan Ning gritted her teeth, struggling on the ground. One hand reached for the signal flare at her waist as she nervously watched him.

Just how did Ye Tian raise his children?

How could he entrust them to such a brutal person?

Or… had Ye Tian sold the children to this mad old man?

Creak—

Shangguan Ning turned her head to see the door open. A little girl with a small topknot stepped out, holding a wooden sword.

She wore a small dress embroidered with Chang’e flying to the moon. Shangguan Ning suddenly remembered—the vicious little girl she had encountered in the alley that day. Her mind buzzed.

Could this be the little princess?

Had she already met her before?

That vicious little girl… was actually the princess?

Under the dim candlelight, the chubby little girl’s face was round and soft. Her bright, ink-like eyes sparkled with intelligence. She frowned slightly as she looked at Shangguan Ning on the ground and said in a soft voice, “You again.”

Her voice was gentle, but her expression was cold and stern.

The way she looked at people resembled the Empress by eight parts.

Her features and expressions were practically a miniature version of the Empress. Shangguan Ning felt a surge of joy. Clutching her chest, she was just about to speak—

Ye Shuangxue rushed forward and suddenly kicked Shangguan Ning in the face.

“Master, have I improved?”

“How was that move?”

Shangguan Ning’s mind nearly short-circuited. She stared blankly at the proud little girl before her, her face burning with pain.

“My disciple has truly inherited my teachings—so impressive! In the future, you’ll definitely be the number one female swordmaster in the world!”

Sun Wuji praised her without restraint.

Ye Shuangxue frowned and said, “I don’t want to be a female swordmaster—I want to be number one under heaven!”