TNIBFT -Chapter 271 Strike While the Iron is Hot

At this moment, inside the hotpot restaurant.

Zhu Heyu was reporting on the work that Ye Tian had assigned over the past two days.

Ye Tian was lying back in his recliner, swaying slightly as he spoke. “The new recruit training method I mentioned earlier… it’s already in use, right? For ordinary soldiers, besides having quality weapons, the most important thing is physical fitness. That part absolutely cannot be neglected. Soldier assessments need to happen every month.”

Zhu Heyu nodded. “Yes, following the city lord’s instructions, the soldiers are training nonstop. They’re exhausted and complaining constantly, but I can see that each one is full of energy and spirit!”

“In less than three months, they’ll be completely transformed. Did the city lord learn this training method from an old general?”

“How come I’ve never heard of it?”

Zhu Heyu asked, puzzled.

Ye Tian’s ideas were eccentric, but they all worked surprisingly well. Not just the Ye family’s personal guards, but the people of Sifang City as a whole were now completely convinced of him.

Ye Tian’s eyes flickered as he explained, “I read it in a book!”

“By the way, Uncle Zhu, the city’s secret escape tunnels need to be repaired as soon as possible, just in case.”

Zhu Heyu nodded.

Nearby, Zhao Kang hurried a small step forward. It was finally his turn. He cupped his fists in salute, but before he could speak, someone shouted from behind, “Move aside!”

“Move aside!”

The voice was urgent, laced with panic.

Zhao Kang turned his head and saw a short man carrying a drenched figure on his back. Wet hair hung messily over the person’s face, making it impossible to see clearly. The man had already stepped into the hotpot restaurant. The person on his back hung limply, arms dangling at their sides, life uncertain.

Ye Tian was stunned.

Everyone panicked and crowded around.

“Dad, quickly call Xiao Jiang back! Save them!”

“It’s Sister Xun’er!”

Ye Shuangxue panted, running behind and shouting.

Ye Tian sprang up in shock and rushed toward Old Yang. Through the gaps in the wet hair, he could see the wound on Xiao Xun’er’s jaw—pale flesh torn open, the wound so deep that bone was visible.

“Miss Xiao?”

Ye Tian’s pupils constricted. He exclaimed in shock. There was no response, so he said, “Let’s go, get them to the guest room immediately.”

“Boil hot water!”

…

In the guest room on the first floor.

By now, Xiao Xun’er had changed clothes and taken Xiao Jiang’s medicine, lying pale on the bed.

Xiao Jiang held a small amount of slightly yellowed medicinal powder and sprinkled it over the treated wound. “The person who attacked her was ruthless, probably aiming for a killing blow. Sister Xun’er barely escaped with her life.”

Looking at the wound near the throat, Xiao Jiang spoke in a low voice.

“Will this wound heal?”

Ye Tian asked. Xiao Jiang looked up at him. “It’ll be difficult.”

Everyone’s faces fell.

Xiao Xun’er was proud and elegant. If her appearance was disfigured, waking up to that reality would be unbearable. After all, she was an unmarried young lady—who could truly not care about their looks?

“Who could have done this?”

“Could it be Xiao Haoyang’s enemy?”

“Most likely. Xiao Haoyang is cunning and treacherous. His enemies, even if not a hundred, would be at least eighty!”

Old Yang and the others spoke.

Ye Tian’s eyes were deep and serious as he looked at Xiao Xun’er lying on the bed, her face pale and twisted in pain. A wave of guilt surged within him. Back when he first met Xiao Xun’er at the market, she was the daughter of the city lord—untouchable, sitting gracefully atop a fine horse. Because of Shen Jie, he had teased her then.

Later, when the hotpot restaurant was set on fire, Xiao Xun’er had stood in front of him, blocking Ji Zhengping.

When Xiao Haoyang fled like an avalanche, Xiao Xun’er stayed behind alone in the city, holding back the townspeople at the city gates with her horse, fighting against the Great Zhou forces.

Back then, she had been righteous, willing to risk everything for her friends. Back then, she would never have imagined that she would one day have to kill Xiao Haoyang, leaving herself helpless—leading to the situation she faced now.

“My husband must be a man among men. At most, you’re just a toad!”

“Ye Tian, you’re my only friend now, so I’ll have to live at your house!”

“When I make money, I won’t even care about my own child. What’s so great about men anyway?”

Her coquettish, assertive voice echoed in Ye Tian’s mind, her heroic, smiling face flashing before his eyes. Ye Tian felt a tightness in his chest. Xiao Xun’er had been one of his few friends across two lifetimes, and now she had become like this. He took a deep breath.

“Xiao Jiang, Sister Xun’er has always treated us well. We have to sincerely help her recover.”

Xiao Jiang nodded.

“No… no, don’t come… don’t come…”

Xiao Xun’er on the bed began to speak incoherently, frowning in pain. She shook her head violently, her arms and legs flailing wildly.

“Get away!”

“I won’t spare you!”

Fear contorted her face, her lower lip bitten to the point of bleeding.

Xiao Jiang was startled and quickly hid behind Ye Tian. “Sister Xun’er is having a nightmare. We need to wake her—she might bite her tongue!”

Everyone in the room exchanged anxious glances.

Ye Tian stepped forward and sat at the bedside, grabbing Xiao Xun’er’s shoulders and shaking her. “Xiao Xun’er, wake up!”

“Wake up! I’m Ye Tian. What happened to you? Who did this to you?”

As he shook her, he spoke urgently.

Cold sweat covered Xiao Xun’er’s forehead. She waved her hands, trying to reach for Ye Tian, sobbing continuously. “Wuwu… wuwu…” Huge tears streamed down her cheeks.

Xiao Xun’er had always been strong—this was only the second time Ye Tian had seen her cry.

What had she endured?

“Dad, Sister Xun’er’s hand!”

“Her hand…”

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes widened, her hands covering her small mouth in shock. Ye Tian turned his head and saw Xiao Xun’er’s hand resting on his arm—her right hand’s little finger and ring finger had been severed at the base.

“Who could be so cruel?”

Ye Yunting’s face was stern and cold.

Though Xiao Xun’er was proud, she was simple and kind-hearted. To disfigure and then sever the fingers of such a young woman—what grudge could justify this?

The three children’s faces were filled with pity.

Xiao Jiang quietly drew a silver needle from his pouch and crept forward. Taking careful aim, he pierced Xiao Xun’er’s temple.

The moment the needle struck, Xiao Xun’er went limp, collapsing weakly into Ye Tian’s arms.

“Xiao Xun’er?”

“Xiao Xun’er, I’m Ye Tian. Wake up, wake up!” Ye Tian spoke urgently. Xiao Xun’er had been injured in Sifang City; whoever harmed her was likely still in the city, and there could be further complications. He had to strike while the iron was hot.

“Ye… Tian?”

Xiao Xun’er’s eyelashes trembled. Her pale lips quivered. The sound of Ye Tian’s name seemed to calm her.

After a moment, drenched in cold sweat, she looked weakly at Ye Tian. “Go save people… Grandpa Sun risked his life to save me, and those people have control over him… those people… those people aren’t human… ah… ah…”

She clutched her head, crying heartbreakingly, trembling all over in extreme fear, repeatedly saying, “We have to go. Let’s go quickly!”

“Ye Tian, we can’t stay here. It’s not safe. We have to leave now!”

Xiao Xun’er shrank her neck, holding tightly onto Ye Tian’s right hand. Her voice was low, as if afraid of being overheard.