TNIBFT -Chapter 170 Is There a Misunderstanding?

Is it him?

Ye Yunting furrowed his brows. The security in Sifang City had been getting worse recently—how could there suddenly be so many child kidnappers?

“Yunting…” Tao Ling’er, pressed behind Ye Yunting for protection, was so scared her legs went weak. Tears streamed down her face, and her mind went blank.

She had never witnessed a scene so terrifying.

Daring to kill people in broad daylight, Tao Ling’er looked at the large bloodstains on the ground and the severely injured lying in pools of blood. Trembling, she spoke.

Ye Yunting slightly tilted his small head. “Sister Ling’er, while they’re fighting, you go first. Run as fast as you can to the hotpot shop and call Grandpa Sun.”

“Tell him the person who burned his eyebrows has been found.”

“I…”

“Yunting, what about you?” Tao Ling’er cried, her face streaked with tears. How could she leave Ye Yunting alone in such a dangerous place?

Several more people in the fight were pierced by the elegant young man’s sword. The air was thick with the smell of blood, and endless screams filled the area. Tao Ling’er instinctively raised her hands to cover her ears.

“Go, quickly!”

“Otherwise, the two of us will die here.” Ye Yunting pushed Tao Ling’er aside, then ran in the opposite direction to draw attention.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Ning, who was still fighting, thought Ye Yunting was trying to escape and shouted, “Zhao Mingyuan!”

People from the Great Zhou army who had just arrived suddenly surged from all directions.

Each of them exuded a powerful aura. Ye Yunting looked up in terror at the approaching figures and nervously retreated.

Shangguan Ning shouted, “Protect the young master! Finish this quickly!”

“Yes!”

Following orders, several of them quickly surrounded Ye Yunting. Zhao Mingyuan and another soldier rushed to assist the still-injured Shangguan Ning. In less than two rounds, Sun Cang’s men were already down on the ground.

“Whoosh!”

Shangguan Ning retracted her soft sword, stepped forward a few paces, and cupped her fists toward Ye Yunting. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

Her tone was respectful and gentle.

Ye Yunting’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. His expression remained calm; he didn’t understand why this ruthless young killer was treating him with such respect.

Ye Yunting tugged the corner of his mouth. “Thank you for saving me. When I get home, I’ll inform my father and have him personally express his gratitude. May I ask your honorable name and where your residence is?”

Ye Yunting imitated Shangguan Ning’s gesture, cupping his fists in thanks.

Shangguan Ning looked at the child in front of her: small yet upright, movements dignified, a youthful face that still could not hide the aura of nobility. Truly, a prince of Great Zhou, the emperor’s own flesh and blood. Shangguan Ning’s eyes softened with approval, and she reached out to help the little prince to his feet.

Ye Yunting subtly avoided her hands.

Shangguan Ning froze for a moment.

The surrounding Great Zhou soldiers glanced at Ye Yunting, each with their own thoughts, then lowered their heads, unwilling to look directly at him.

“You were just scared, weren’t you?” Shangguan Ning was not embarrassed. Her expression remained gentle as she continued, “No need to be afraid. We won’t harm you.”

After speaking, she glanced at the group of Sun Cang’s men lying on the ground and continued, “This place isn’t safe. We must leave immediately.”

She reached out to grab Ye Yunting’s hand.

Ye Yunting dodged. “I appreciate your kindness, but I can’t leave yet. If my father finds I haven’t returned home, he’ll come here. I’ll wait for him.”

“Why not leave first?”

“Your father?”

Hearing the little master call Ye Tian “father,” Shangguan Ning’s face changed drastically. Even with a scumbag like Ye Tian, the little master still refused to leave him.

She shouted angrily, “Don’t worry! Sooner or later, I’ll kill Ye Tian to vent my hatred!”

Ye Yunting’s expression turned icy.

This person had a grudge against Ye Tian; perhaps saving him was just a way to threaten Ye Tian. If she wanted to kill him, Ye Yunting looked at Shangguan Ning with a dark, ruthless gaze, cursing his own lack of strength to eliminate this threat.

“What are you people?”

A low, deep male voice rang out.

Shangguan Ning immediately moved to shield Ye Yunting behind her. Several warriors of the Great Zhou quickly drew their weapons, forming a tight circle around him.

Ye Yunting looked up and saw a figure on the rooftop opposite. Dressed in a dark green cotton robe and wearing a straw hat, the person’s face was obscured. The wind stirred his hair and robe as he silently stood on the roof, watching.

He gave off a bit of an aura of a reclusive master.

Zhao Mingyuan gripped the hilt of his sword. “Sir, his aura is terrifying—he’s a master!”

Shangguan Ning nodded. “Everyone, be careful. Quick strike, quick victory. Our goal is to get the little master out safely.”

“Protect the little master with your lives!”

“Yes!”

The group watched the man on the rooftop warily. Zhao Mingyuan let out a fierce shout, stomped the ground, and leapt, using the wall to scale toward the rooftop.

“Move!”

Shangguan Ning pulled Ye Yunting along.

The others retreated while keeping their eyes on the man atop the roof.

Ye Yunting was speechless. Looking at the still-posing Duan Qingshan, he shouted, “Duan Qingshan, aren’t you coming to save me?!”

“They’re going to kill Ye Tian!”

Only then did Duan Qingshan leap from the rooftop, grabbing a long sword from the ground. He fought fiercely against Zhao Mingyuan. After just a few rounds, Zhao Mingyuan was no match and was steadily pushed back. Shangguan Ning gritted her teeth. Among this group, she was the strongest; if no one were injured, they should have been able to defeat Duan Qingshan.

But now…

Shangguan Ning frowned. Several other Great Zhou warriors rushed forward to cover her retreat.

Acting decisively, Shangguan Ning pulled out a signal flare from her chest pocket. Once ignited, a bright yellow smoke shot up into the sky.

Moments later, a yellow cloud appeared in the air.

Shangguan Ning pulled Ye Yunting back with one hand while instructing her subordinates, “Within a moment, someone will come to assist. We have to hold them off until then.”

Who were these people exactly?

They even had a network of connections and so many helpers. Ye Yunting shook off Shangguan Ning. “My father already knows I’m here. Duan Qingshan is my father’s chef. My family has many masters. With me, you can’t get away. Even with Grandpa Sun and all of you together, you’re no match for him.”

“I advise you to let me go, and we’ll call our feud even.”

A chef?

Shangguan Ning looked up. Duan Qingshan wielded his bronze sword with exquisite skill. Several of his men were already injured, yet they were desperately buying time.

“Uncle Duan!”

While Shangguan Ning was momentarily distracted, Ye Yunting ran toward Duan Qingshan. With a fierce look, Duan Qingshan struck down the man grappling with him, grabbed Ye Yunting’s small hand, and Ye Yunting anxiously said, “Hurry! They have more reinforcements. Let’s head back to the hotpot restaurant quickly.”

“Got it!”

Duan Qingshan didn’t linger. He tossed his long sword aside and carried Ye Yunting as he ran along rooftops.

Shangguan Ning watched Duan Qingshan’s retreating back, grinding her teeth in fury. “Chase them!”

“Lady!”

Zhao Mingyuan held his arm and stepped forward, pulling Shangguan Ning back. “The entire Sifang City is full of government troops. If we chase them now, we’ll be trapped. Ye Tian is surrounded by masters—not the helpless, child-abusing man the villagers claim. Could it be… there’s some misunderstanding?”