TNIBFT -Chapter 184 The Nameless Old Yang

Sensing the gaze from behind, Ye Tian turned his head.

A dazed Shangguan Ning finally reacted.

Their eyes met.

At this moment, Ye Tian was reclining in a rocking chair, holding a small purple clay teapot in one hand. His gaze was casual yet carried a hint of laziness, carefree and unrestrained. His features were strikingly handsome, and his long hair flowed loosely down his back.

When Shangguan Ning looked at Ye Tian, it was as if he were enveloped in a halo of soft white light, making it impossible to look directly at him.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang bang!

Shangguan Ning’s heart raced, her mouth dry. She pressed her lips together and looked away, glaring fiercely: “What are you staring at?”

“I’m a man, you shameless fiend!”

With that, she spun around and fled, dashing out the back door.

Ye Tian was speechless. Had this woman been pretending to be a man for too long? Was her mind twisted?

If she’s sick, she should get it treated.

“Master!”

“Master, here’s the list I’ve recorded. Take a look first, and put up anyone useful right away.” Old Yang came in enthusiastically from the doorway, holding a stack of yellowed papers and handed them to Ye Tian.

Ye Tian took them and began examining them carefully.

In the hall, it was just Ye Tian and Old Yang. The surroundings were quiet, only faint, indistinct noises coming from outside the door.

Ye Tian’s expression was serious. Old Yang stood beside him, craning his neck: “Actually, doing business is pretty interesting. At least it’s better than being an assassin—no licking blood off your blade, no sleeping in the wind and rain.”

Ye Tian looked up, surprised, at Old Yang, whose dark face flushed slightly.

Ye Tian lowered his head and continued scanning the papers. “Do you have any family?”

“No.”

Old Yang replied, continuing: “Before I was even born, my father had died. I didn’t have a name. When I was a kid, people called me Xiao Yang. Now, everyone calls me Old Yang.” His eyes reflected on the past, a faint smile on his face.

“Later, my mother remarried. My stepfather wanted to change my surname, but I refused. He sold me instead. I was only four years old that year, and my mother didn’t even look at me once.”

Ye Tian hadn’t expected Old Yang to have such a background.

He thought Old Yang was just avoiding revealing his name, but in truth, he had none. He spoke of it lightly, but Ye Tian couldn’t help but sigh.

A four-year-old child—he must have been utterly desperate.

No father from birth, and later, no home.

“This person’s not bad. Strong body, can work hard.” Old Yang nonchalantly pointed at the list in Ye Tian’s hand.

Ye Tian nodded: “You go through these and select them. Recruit 200 workers first. Keep whoever you think is suitable.”

Old Yang was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected Ye Tian to trust him so completely. He knew Ye Tian didn’t have much silver, and this investment was significant—but Ye Tian simply handed such an important matter over to him.

Old Yang stared at the papers Ye Tian had handed him. His expression turned serious. After a long moment of thought, he reached out: “You’re a good person. You’re the only one in my life I’ve protected without asking for money.”

Ye Tian smiled: “Then it’s my honor?”

Old Yang’s dark face broke into a wide grin, showing his large white teeth: “I never do things without benefit. If we recruit 200 workers, I could even be store manager?”

Store manager?

Yuan Heipang, who was just about to enter, reacted sharply to the words “store manager.”

His foot froze mid-step, his face turning pale as he looked at Ye Tian and Old Yang in alarm.

Sure enough, Old Yang’s attentiveness had a purpose.

He couldn’t beat them in a fight, and he dared not speak up—it was impossible.

Yuan Heipang pouted slightly, then stepped inside, forcing a casual smile: “Master, there are so many people—I estimate half the city is here. Should we start the registration this morning?”

“Fine.”

Seeing that his suggestion had been adopted by Ye Tian, Yuan Heipang looked at Old Yang with pride.

After finishing the matter, he showed no intention of leaving. Old Yang sensed the atmosphere was off and spoke first: “I’ll get back to work.”

Ye Tian nodded.

As Old Yang’s figure disappeared, Yuan Heipang bowed and smiled obsequiously. “Master, what did Old Yang just say?”

“He’s a very cunning man.”

“He…”

Ye Tian was speechless. Seeing Yuan Heipang reporting everything, he interrupted: “Go get back to work.”

“Have you finished all your tasks?”

Only then did Yuan Heipang awkwardly leave.

No sooner had he gone than Old Yang returned, standing in front of Ye Tian again, his expression serious, possibly speaking ill of someone.

“Damn it!” Yuan Heipang stood outside the door, glancing over, fuming and stamping about.

One day, he swore, he would make that dog Old Yang cry for mercy.

Nearby, Xiao Wang and the others whispered among themselves, seeing Yuan Heipang like this: “What’s wrong with Brother Yuan?”

“Speak up if there’s something—we’ll help you figure it out.”

“Yeah, three ordinary minds together can match a Zhuge Liang.”

…

Meanwhile, inside the shop’s main hall.

“Gone out?” Ye Tian frowned, looking at Old Yang in surprise.

Old Yang said, “That woman first approached Shuangxue. Shuangxue was on guard, and Yunting didn’t give her any chance. Seeing that the two kids ignored her, she went back to her room for a while and then sneaked out. From her cautious movements, she’s not an ordinary person. And her skills—they are not inferior to mine. A young woman with such cultivation must be extraordinary.”

“Don’t know whose side she’s on, or what her goal is?”

Ye Tian nodded. “Follow her quietly. Don’t let her notice you.”

Old Yang nodded, then quickly headed toward the second gate.

…

Border of the Great Zhou.

The howling north wind carried snowflakes, the storm so fierce that one could barely open their eyes.

Meng Yuquan and his party set up camp. Servants busied themselves on the snowfield, boiling water and cooking meals, soldiers fed the horses and packed up gear, while small groups sat together, chatting quietly.

Inside the massive tent, the light was dim.

A fire burned brightly nearby, casting the silhouettes of people onto the cowhide walls of the tent, their bodies bending and warping.

“This journey should’ve taken half a month, yet Lord Meng forced it into over a month.”

The speaker shook his head helplessly.

Another said, “Keep it down. If he hears you, you’ll be in trouble.”

The complaining soldier immediately shut his mouth.

“Is it just this kind of person?”

“Everyone out!”

“Out!”

From inside the large tent came Meng Yuquan’s furious voice, scaring the soldiers outside. One by one they tensed, craning their necks to look at the huge cowhide tent. Traveling abroad, Meng Yuquan lived in luxury—food, clothing, lodging, and travel—all the best, with no compromises.

He lived in a warm cowhide tent, thick blankets spread inside. Soldiers following him had to endure the hardships of rationing, walking and stopping repeatedly, half a month’s food stretched thin, exposed to the elements.

“Bang!” A crisp sound.

One after another.

The soldiers at the door were used to it. Someone murmured, “Lord Meng probably dislikes that the peasant girls are coarse-looking, unworthy of his sight?”

“Got bored of the maidens he brought along. Out here in the wilderness, where would he find beauties?”

Everyone shrank back, afraid to approach.

Inside the tent.

Several peasant girls knelt, then carefully retreated outside the tent. In a corner, another figure remained—a slender woman, wearing a veil, her eyes deep as she stared at Meng Yuquan.

“Beauty…”