TNIBFT -Chapter 230 The Subordinate Arrives Late

His daughter’s words sent a shiver through Tao Lichun.

He stared blankly at Tao Ling’er, then turned to look at the citizens of the city, all brimming with joy. His eyes were filled with helplessness. His Daliang—the Daliang he had dreamed of reviving in this lifetime—had long been riddled with wounds, abandoned and despised by its own people.

“Forget it…”

Tao Lichun hung his head, utterly dejected, and turned away.

Tao Ling’er watched her father’s retreating figure. After a moment’s thought, she still couldn’t bear to leave him alone. With a few quick steps, she ran after him.

Under Ye Tian’s organization, the citizens gradually dispersed.

“Father!”

Standing atop the high platform, Ye Tian heard his daughter’s voice. Surprised, he turned to see a pair of children perched on Old Yang’s shoulders. Ye Shuangxue waved her tiny hands excitedly at him.

Her older brother’s eyes shone brightly as he stared at him.

Ye Tian stepped forward and took his daughter into his arms.

Ye Shuangxue stretched out her little arms, clutching Ye Tian’s neck tightly, her expression exaggerated: “Being the city lord is so impressive!”

“When I grow up, I want to be a city lord too!”

Ye Tian: …

Wasn’t this one supposed to aim to be the number one in the world? How come now it’s a city lord again?

Ye Shuangxue blinked her big eyes and pouted: “Father, didn’t you say I could be a rich second generation in the future? I don’t want to be a rich kid, I want to be a city lord! I want to be a female city lord!”

Ye Yunting quickly lifted his head and glanced at Ye Tian.

Actually, he thought being a city lord was pretty good. If his sister liked it, he could let her have it first.

“With your reading level, you can’t even understand documents, and you still want to be a city lord?”

“Write a hundred big characters at home every day, then I’ll consider it!”

After speaking, Ye Tian reached out with his other hand to take his eldest son.

“Hmph!”

Ye Shuangxue let out a tsundere snort: “Fine, then I won’t!”

“I don’t care at all!”

Compared to writing big characters every day, she felt that things as they were now were already good enough.

Ye Tian held his eldest son in one arm, looking down at him: “Eldest, from now on, this Sifang City is yours to manage!”

Ye Yunting’s eyes widened.

Give it to him? Was Ye Tian serious? He was only a few years old—Ye Tian was trying to slack off, wasn’t he?

Seeing his son’s puzzled gaze, Ye Tian laughed heartily: “I have blind faith in you. As the eldest, whatever it is, I believe you can handle it well!”

Ye Tian’s eyes were firm and unwavering.

Ye Yunting stared at Ye Tian, his small hands clutching his father’s clothes tightly, his heart overwhelmed with emotion.

“Let’s go home!”

“First, let’s go home and eat our fill; the rest can wait!” Ye Tian waved his large hand, taking Duan Qingshan and Old Yang, returning to the hotpot shop.

In the original story, Ye Yunting was a major villain who divided territories to rule. Managing Sifang City was nothing for him. In the original plot, Sifang City had already been within Ye Yunting’s sphere of influence—this was truly a return to rightful ownership.

Looking at Ye Tian’s raised lips and stubbled jaw, Ye Yunting lifted his small face, feeling warm inside.

Ye Tian trusted him.

Valued him.

And was giving him everything that others considered priceless.

Leaning against Ye Tian, the warmth and strength of his father’s embrace was something he would never forget in his life.

…

“Master, does that mean Old Duan will become the Ironclad General from now on?”

“Impossible, right?”

“What do you mean?” Duan Qingshan’s face darkened, his eyes fixed gloomily on Old Yang.

Old Yang was not intimidated at all.

In terms of strength, he was even a cut above Duan Qingshan. Why should this guy become a general? He could only wash dishes?

It must be something Duan Qingshan did behind the scenes.

All the way back, Old Yang and Duan Qingshan bickered constantly.

Ye Tian had nothing to say.

Old Yang had been noisy the entire way.

Originally, he had wanted to kick Old Yang over, but now was not the time for that—this was a time to make use of people. Ye Tian held the two children, paused his step, and pulled an exaggerated smile to his lips as he looked at Old Yang: “Being city lord was a temporary decision. Besides, what’s an armored general anyway?”

Old Yang’s eyes lit up, hope gleaming—perhaps Ye Tian would give him an even higher position.

Ye Tian continued, smiling: “What do I care about most?”

“What…?”

Old Yang’s mind raced, puzzled.

Ye Tian said: “My children!”

“Today I’ve entrusted you with such an important mission. You still think you have no place in my heart, no ability?”

Old Yang’s face flushed red.

Ye Tian’s words were no exaggeration. Old Yang suppressed his excitement, nodding repeatedly, rubbing his hands in anticipation: “So… then…”

Since this was so important, Ye Tian must have a special arrangement in mind for him.

Old Yang was beside himself with excitement.

“Hey!”

Ye Tian’s expression turned serious, cutting him off: “Our ambitions… are they limited to just Sifang City?”

“Think bigger…”

“Just wait, child. What about Grand Generals of the nation, Cavalry Generals—wouldn’t that be better?”

“Good!”

Old Yang nodded eagerly, imagining himself as a mighty, impressive general, riding atop a tall steed.

But then he hesitated—something didn’t feel quite right.

He wanted to say more, but Ye Tian said flatly: “Isn’t this enough? Focus on what you’re doing now. Tell me, isn’t your current mission important?”

“But…”

“No ‘buts’!”

“I’ve always thought you were different from others. You have vision, foresight, patience—you’re someone capable of great things!” Ye Tian’s tone was sincere, his expression serious.

Old Yang blinked, stunned.

He quickly reached out and took Ye Yunting, placing the boy carefully on his shoulders, and said earnestly: “Rest assured, Master! I’ll take good care of the child and not let even a single hair be harmed.”

Ye Tian nodded.

Ignoring Old Yang after that, he continued forward.

Duan Qingshan followed behind, barely able to suppress a laugh.

Ye Yunting sat atop Old Yang’s shoulders, little hands pressed to his forehead: “Uncle Yang, are you hot?”

The young master even cared for him.

Old Yang felt like crying from emotion, shaking his head repeatedly: “Not hot… not hot. I’m just… excited. Excited.”

By the time Ye Tian and his group returned to the hotpot restaurant, over a dozen unfamiliar people were already there.

All looked travel-worn, faces weathered by hardship.

Ye Tian scanned them, eyes sharp with caution. Duan Qingshan stood beside him, calm and composed. Old Yang carried the two children, ready for action at any moment.

Inside, the newcomers all stood up the instant Ye Tian appeared, sizing him up with scrutinizing gazes.

The atmosphere was strange.

No one spoke first.

“Master!”

Xiao Wang came out of the main hall. Seeing Ye Tian return—now the new city lord, a fact already spread through the city—Xiao Wang looked at him with a mixture of respect and awe.

Ye Tian nodded.

Only then did Xiao Wang say: “These people have been here for half an hour.”

His expression was flustered as he sneaked a glance at the group of burly men.

“May I ask, are you Ye Tian?”

A loud voice called out. Ye Tian instantly became alert, watching the speaker carefully: “Who are you?”

“Do you know Fang Shenghu?” Seeing Ye Tian hesitate, the man continued: “We’ve come looking for you.”

Before Ye Tian could speak, the man dropped to one knee, clasped his fists toward Ye Tian: “Heir, I am late in arriving. I beg your pardon!”