TNIBFT -Chapter 226 Slashed to Death

Miss Xiao?

Everyone was startled, exchanging glances.

Xiao Wang panicked and said, “I’ll go call the master right away!”

With that, he ran toward the backyard.

Xiao Xun’er had lived under the same roof with several people in the shop, and they all had a good impression of this young lady. Suddenly hearing that she was seriously injured, everyone’s expressions turned anxious.

At the doorway, the steward paced nervously, craning his neck, hoping Ye Tian would come out quickly.

He would sigh one moment and slap his thigh in worry the next.

…

At this time, Ye Tian was in Fang Shenghu’s room.

Yesterday, Duan Yingying hadn’t left her room all day, neither eating nor drinking. Ye Tian wanted to ask what had happened. Seeing how Fang Shenghu usually protected Duan Yingying, it didn’t seem like he disliked her. If both felt affection, that would be a good thing.

After all, he had disrupted five of Brother Fang’s previous engagements; if he could make up for one now, he wouldn’t feel guilty later.

The room was empty.

The bed was neatly made.

All the daily supplies Ye Tian had arranged were intact.

“Where is everyone?”

Ye Tian was puzzled. Where could they have gone so early in the morning?

Thinking of Zhu Zhongyi, Ye Tian felt a bad premonition and quickly dashed toward the neighboring room, pushing open the door of the Zhu family. Inside, it was the same—everything neatly arranged, spotless—but the people were gone.

“Master!”

“Master!”

Before Ye Tian could think further, Xiao Wang shouted from downstairs.

Ye Tian stepped out of the room. Xiao Wang stood in the courtyard, and seeing Ye Tian, he anxiously said, “Master, Miss Xiao has been seriously injured… it might be bad.”

“What?”

Ye Tian was shocked.

Xiao Wang continued, “The steward from the city lord’s mansion has arrived and is waiting outside. He says Miss Xiao has been seriously injured and specifically wants to see you. Master, you should go immediately.”

Yesterday she was fine, waiting for me in the shop. Today she’s seriously injured?

As the daughter of the City Lord of Sifang City, if she hadn’t left the city, who could have harmed her so badly?

Ye Tian felt that something was wrong and said, “Alright, I’ll go right away.”

“You go ahead and take care of it!”

Xiao Wang then returned to the hall.

Hearing Ye Tian’s conversation with Xiao Wang, Duan Qingshan emerged from the room, looking exhausted.

Duan Qingshan had gone out at noon yesterday and only returned at dawn today. Ye Tian didn’t ask much and instead clasped his fists and stepped forward, “Master, I’ll go with you.”

“Have the tasks I gave you been completed?”

Ye Tian asked.

Duan Qingshan said, “Over a hundred people have been killed. The mansion troops are now under our control. We’ve selected a few tough men to supervise each other and cultivated some trusted aides. Everything’s absolutely fine.”

Ye Tian nodded, “Good.”

“Let’s go see what Xiao Haoyang is trying to pull.”

After saying that, Ye Tian led Duan Qingshan to the hall.

He entrusted the two children to Old Yang.

“Ye Tian, you finally came! Quickly, come with me!” The steward looked worried as soon as he saw Ye Tian, anxiously grabbing his hand to leave. Ye Tian turned to Old Yang and said, “Look after the two children; Old Sun might return any moment.”

“Don’t worry, Master!”

“Go see Miss Xiao now.”

Old Yang smiled lecherously.

Ye Shuangxue’s expression was serious, her small face solemn as she watched Ye Tian’s back thoughtfully.

Ye Yunting remained silent.

Once Ye Tian left, Old Yang gleefully turned to Ye Shuangxue and said, “You’re going to have a stepmother soon. Aren’t you happy?”

“When your father has a baby brother, you’ll have a little brother too. You’ll be the big sister then.”

Old Yang looked sly and obnoxious.

Ye Shuangxue delivered a flying kick, landing squarely on Old Yang’s face.

Caught off guard, Old Yang’s dark-skinned face twisted from the impact, now bearing a small footprint. “You little brat!”

Rubbing his face, he looked helpless.

He had only wanted to tease the two kids. Most children, if they heard their father had abandoned them, would cry uncontrollably. But his two? They only hit people to vent their anger.

“Bleh bleh bleh…”

Ye Shuangxue put her small hands under her eyes, stuck out her tongue at Old Yang, and pouted in defiance. “I don’t want a stepmother! We have our mother!”

“My dad will bring our mother back soon!”

“Shuangxue!”

Ye Shuangxue was about to continue when Ye Yunting interrupted, and she huffed coldly, strutting back to her chair to have breakfast.

Old Yang rubbed his face, grimacing from the pain.

“Hahaha…”

“Old Yang, aren’t you asking for trouble?” several people in the shop shook their heads.

Old Yang ladled porridge for Ye Shuangxue while speaking. “Miss, be gentler—don’t hit the face. You’re too young to understand.”

“And don’t expose anyone’s faults either. You’re at fault too, so we’re even.”

“Fine, fine, we’re even!”

…

Meanwhile, at the City Lord’s Mansion.

The mansion guards patrolled in neat, organized squads.

The atmosphere was tense, radiating the feel of a place on high alert. The steward led Ye Tian through the gates. “I have other matters to attend to. The servants will take you to see the young lady.”

Ye Tian nodded.

The steward’s legs moved like lightning as he hurried away, anxious to leave the scene.

Ahead, the head of the mansion guards saw Duan Qingshan and instantly narrowed his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Duan Qingshan cut him off coldly, “Don’t reveal anything yet. This is my master, Ye Tian.”

The guard saluted with a fist.

“Shopkeeper Ye, this way, please!”

“Our young lady is over here!”

A voice rose from a short distance, waiting for Ye Tian.

The guard captain warned, “Something’s off in the City Lord’s Mansion today. They’ve mobilized extra troops. Be careful.”

Ye Tian remained calm as he walked toward the guide.

…

Meanwhile, in Xiao Xun’er’s chamber.

Xiao Xun’er was tied tightly to an ornately carved wooden chair. The chair’s lacquer gleamed a deep vermilion, smooth and polished, a true work of art.

Xiao Haoyang said, “When Ye Tian arrives, the ambushed men will immediately strike and hack him to death.”

“Xun’er, your father wants you to see that in a chaotic world, those without power are nothing but prey, at the mercy of others. That Ye Tian is willing to risk himself for you shows how much he cares.”

Xiao Xun’er glared at Xiao Haoyang in anger, struggling in the chair.

Ye Tian was her only friend.

Her father was using her to trick Ye Tian—and then, in front of her, planned to kill him.

As the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder,

Xiao Xun’er grew anxious, eyes wide. “Wuwuwu…” She tried to call out, but her mouth was stuffed with thick cotton, making her voice muffled and faint, unheard outside. She looked at Xiao Haoyang, her eyes full of sorrow and pleading—why must Ye Tian be killed?

Seeing his usually resolute daughter shed tears,

Xiao Haoyang smiled faintly. “You know Zhao Guojiu, right? He contacted me earlier. So it turns out Ye Tian is Ye Zhengyang’s son.”

“He hinted that if I dealt with Ye Tian, our entire family could be transferred out of this wretched place. Xun’er, thanks to you—if it weren’t for you, I’d have had to think of another way to kill Ye Tian openly. Guojiu will arrive in Sifang City tomorrow; by then it would be too late.”

“You truly are your father’s dutiful daughter!”

Xiao Haoyang’s eyes were full of scheming malice.

Xiao Xun’er stared at the main door, eyes full of fear and sorrow.

“Young lady, Ye Tian has arrived!”