TNIBFT -Chapter 213 Ye Tian’s Speculation

Qin Fengyi’s voice was calm, yet carried a force that shook the heart. The anxious crowd instantly settled down.

Ye Tian glanced at Old Yang.

Only then did Old Yang step forward and open the main gate.

Creaaak… The wooden door let out a long, grating sound.

As soon as the gate opened, Ji Zhengping waved his hand. A squad of guards immediately rushed forward. One hand resting on the sword at his waist, his eyes dark and menacing, Ji Zhengping said,

“Ye Tian, are you coming out yourself, or do you want this general to invite you out?”

As he spoke, he took a few steps forward and arrogantly strode up the stairs.

“It’s him?”

The moment the door opened, Ye Shuangxue recognized Ji Zhengping. He was the same man who had stopped them from putting out the fire last time, trying to burn Ye Tian alive. Her little brows shot up. Seeing Qin Fengyi looking at her, she angrily explained, “It’s him! He tried to burn my dad and us alive last time!”

“He’s a big bad guy—I hate him!”

Burn Ye Tian alive?

Qin Fengyi looked up at Ye Tian in surprise. With the Ye family condemned to execution, no one in Sifang City could protect him.

Ye Tian wasn’t skilled in riding or archery, and his martial ability was average. As a criminal living in exile in Sifang City with three children, life must have been extremely difficult. Yet he had managed to open a shop, establish himself, and even ensure his children had food and clothing during years of disaster.

That alone was already remarkable.

At the very least, for the sake of his children, he had done everything he could.

Hearing the shouting outside, Ye Tian remained calm. He stepped forward and walked to the doorway.

Qin Fengyi quietly watched his profile. The once-blurry face in her memory gradually became clear again—familiar, yet somehow different. An inexplicable ache rose in her heart.

“Hahaha…”

Seeing Ye Tian appear, Ji Zhengping burst into arrogant laughter.

His son had died because of the enmity between Shen Jie and Ye Tian. Both of them were his sworn enemies.

Now Shen Jie was missing, but Ye Tian would surely die today!

Ji Zhengping drew the sword from his waist, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

The moment to personally kill his enemy had finally arrived!

No one understood the pain of a parent burying their child.

“Don’t bully my dad!”

Ye Shuangxue immediately spread her arms and stood in front of Ye Tian. Knowing how weak her father was, she feared he’d be bullied. The little girl glared fiercely at Ji Zhengping, her tiny brows tightly furrowed.

“Ye Tian’s daughter?”

“Little brat, your father killed a court official. When he dies, you’ll die too. Don’t worry—none of your family will escape!”

The expressions of everyone in the hall turned grave.

Old Yang and Duan Qingshan stood behind Ye Tian, ready to act at any moment.

A flash of killing intent passed through Qin Fengyi’s eyes.

Ye Tian sneered, “Oh? The one-armed general has arrived?”

“I happen to have a manual on one-armed sword techniques here. Want it? I hear it was specially developed for people with disabilities. Pretty thoughtful, right?”

“One-armed general?”

Ji Zhengping was so furious that smoke practically came out of his nostrils.

Recently, while following Xiao Haoyang, he had suffered plenty of exclusion because of his missing arm. He now hated being called the “one-armed general.”

And people with disabilities?

Seeing Ye Tian’s mocking expression, Ji Zhengping roared, “Ahhh!”

He was so enraged he wanted to stab Ye Tian on the spot.

“General, what’s wrong with you?”

“General, you’re not going mad and trying to kill me, are you?” Ye Tian shouted loudly.

The surrounding guards exchanged glances, their faces full of hesitation.

Recently, after Xiao Haoyang fled, it was Ye Tian’s plan that allowed Tao Lichun to properly settle the civilians, stabilizing the city. Thanks to that, these guards had managed to survive through the disaster year.

They felt grateful to Ye Tian.

“Seize him!”

“Execute him on the spot!”

Ji Zhengping roared furiously, his voice thunderous. The guards looked conflicted, holding their weapons but not a single one dared to step forward.

“Kill him!”

“Kill him!!”

“You bunch of useless trash!”

Ji Zhengping shouted frantically.

Qin Fengyi looked at Ye Tian’s back. Under the midday sun, the sunlight fell on his body, highlighting his tall, lean figure. His massive shadow stretched over her face, and in the air, she could almost smell the scent of carob pods clinging to him.

What had Ye Tian been through these past few years?

“I want your life!”

Seeing that no one stepped forward, Ji Zhengping became furious. He raised his long sword with one hand and swung it at Ye Tian.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Qin Fengyi acted swiftly, drawing the sword paired with Nanfeng that stood nearby.

Just as Old Yang and Duan Qingshan were about to make their move, a flash of cold light appeared before their eyes. A murderous aura spread instantly, a danger so palpable that both of them instinctively shrank their pupils, unable to react in time.

“Pfft!” A muffled sound of blade piercing flesh rang out.

Ji Zhengping, mid-swing, froze in midair, staring in shock at the long sword lodged in his chest. Terror filled his eyes as he looked up at Qin Fengyi behind Ye Tian.

What kind of eyes were these?

Cold.

Overflowing with killing intent.

And full of the arrogance of someone who looked down on the world, seeing him as nothing more than an ant.

“You… you…” Ji Zhengping’s brow furrowed in pain. The next second, his face twisted as he spat a mouthful of blood.

“Thud!” A muffled thump followed as he collapsed to the ground, dead.

Eyes wide open, unwilling to close them in death.

The group of city guards stared at Ji Zhengping’s corpse, their faces pale with terror, unsure what to do next. The Grand General was dead—what about them?

Seeing her daughter frown at the lifeless body on the ground, expressionless, Qin Fengyi guessed she must be terrified!

Without thinking, she knelt down and scooped up her daughter’s small body, holding Ye Shuangxue close. She pressed the little girl to her chest. “Don’t be afraid.”

“Don’t be afraid!”

“I will always protect you!”

“As long as I’m here, I’m always here. No one will ever hurt you again!”

The child’s soft body, delicate skin, so small and gentle—holding Ye Shuangxue in her arms, Qin Fengyi felt that nothing in the world was more important than her daughter. This was her own blood, her little girl.

It was the first time Qin Fengyi had been this close to her child.

She moved gently, careful not to hurt Ye Shuangxue.

Ye Tian looked back. At this moment, Meng Yuquan was squatting on the ground, his eyes glistening with moisture. His worry and protective instincts were evident even from his side profile.

Seeing Meng Yuquan’s straight, proud nose and side profile that resembled his daughter, Ye Tian’s suspicion started to solidify.

“You smell really nice.”

Ye Shuangxue grinned mischievously, her big eyes sparkling. “Sister, I’m not scared.”

Staring at Qin Fengyi’s face so close, Ye Shuangxue couldn’t help herself. She cupped Qin Fengyi’s face with her small hands, her gaze blank but filled with trust. Apart from Ye Tian, no one had ever cared for her like this—but this ‘Master Meng’ felt different.

Warm.

Gentle as the spring breeze. Being with him felt safe and comforting.

Even though it was clearly their first meeting.

Qin Fengyi looked at her daughter with relief, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. It seemed her daughter liked her as well—perhaps this was the bond of blood.

Ye Shuangxue said blankly, “Sister, we look so alike!”

Everyone present froze for a moment.

Ye Tian glanced at the fallen Ji Zhengping and then said to Ye Shuangxue, “Shuangxue, manners are important.”

“Come over to Daddy!”

“All right!”

Ye Shuangxue’s little face showed reluctant compliance as she followed behind Ye Tian.

Some matters needed to be resolved thoroughly!