TNIBFT -Chapter 291 Supplement

Inside the main hall, everyone looked at Ye Tian with puzzled expressions.

The messenger had originally been flustered, but upon hearing Ye Tian’s words, he quickly raised his head to glance at the City Lord. Seeing Ye Tian calm and composed even in the face of danger, the messenger seemed to swallow a pill of reassurance.

Kneeling on one knee with fists clasped, he responded, “Yes!”

Then he hurriedly exited the hotpot restaurant.

Tao Lichun’s brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a mosquito. His cloudy eyes turned toward the street outside. “Lin Xianzhong is a fierce general. We should prepare for both possibilities!”

Zhao Kang nodded in agreement.

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.

Everyone was filled with worry—if the city fell, it would mean the massacre of the people of Sifang City by the Great Zhou army.

Duan Yingying had just come from the backyard. Before even entering the hall, she overheard the conversation. Panic spread across her face. After a moment’s hesitation, she gritted her teeth and turned back toward the backyard.

She ran all the way, not even bothering to knock, and burst straight into Feng Jiaojiao’s room.

At that moment—

Feng Jiaojiao’s face was pale. She leaned against a pillow, her eyes hollow as she stared blankly at the wall.

Even when someone entered, she didn’t lift her head.

“Auntie?”

Ye Shuangxue sat at the bedside, gently shaking Feng Jiaojiao’s hand. “Auntie, Aunt Yingying is here.”

Only then did Feng Jiaojiao slowly turn her head with a numb expression.

Duan Yingying said, “Shopkeeper Feng, I just went to the hall and heard the report—Lin Xianzhong is already at the city gates, demanding entry!”

“Didn’t Shuangxue say he already recognized you? Could he be here to take you back?”

Her eyes lit up with hope.

If that were the case, Sifang City could avoid the suffering of war, and Brother Fang wouldn’t have to risk his life.

“Hmph!” Feng Jiaojiao let out a cold snort. “Between him and me, all ties are severed!”

“He knows I’m in the city, yet he refuses to wait even a moment. What does my life mean to him?”

Ye Shuangxue blinked her big eyes in confusion, unable to understand.

The next moment, Feng Jiaojiao gritted her teeth, threw off the blanket covering her legs, and put on her cotton shoes.

Duan Yingying exclaimed, “Shopkeeper Feng, you—you’re still ill! What are you doing…?”

Supporting herself with one hand on the table, Feng Jiaojiao said, “If he wants to attack the city, I don’t care. But if he wants to kill Ye Tian and all of you, then he’ll have to kill me first!”

The Great Zhou army was powerful—sixty thousand troops strong. In Feng Jiaojiao’s eyes, Ye Tian had no chance of victory at all.

After all, in the past, Sifang City had never been able to fight back.

…

By now, dusk had fallen.

A biting cold wind swept through Sifang City, sharp as knives against the skin, making it hard to even keep one’s eyes open. The torches atop the city wall flickered wildly in the freezing gusts.

The city guards, dressed in uniform armor, shivered, baring their teeth as they hunched their shoulders against the cold.

One of them said, “This Lin Xianzhong—he’s a dignified city lord and Great Zhou general, yet he’s down there cursing like a shrew. He’s been shouting for nearly an hour!”

“Yeah, I’d say he’s not number one in military merit—he’s number one in cursing! Hahaha…”

“Sixty thousand troops… just looking at them makes my head spin. Can we really hold them off?”

“We’ve got cannons and the City Lord! If the City Lord isn’t worried, what are you afraid of?”

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone nodded.

That’s right!

The City Lord wasn’t worried. He had already been invited several times, yet each time he told Lin Xianzhong to wait. Clearly, he had a plan.

Below the city walls, Lin Xianzhong sat astride his warhorse. After carrying weight for so long in the cold weather, the horse had grown restless, pacing irritably in place. Holding the reins in one hand, Lin Xianzhong circled around impatiently.

Damn it!

If Feng Jiaojiao weren’t inside the city—if he didn’t fear that Ye Tian might use her as a hostage—he would have already taken Sifang City by now.

“Despicable and shameless!” Lin Xianzhong shouted in frustration.

But no one responded.

He had cursed Ye Tian for an entire hour, growing angrier with each passing moment. He had exhausted every insult, every taunt, every threat—but the city remained completely silent.

Was Ye Tian certain he wouldn’t dare to attack?

From atop the walls, soldiers peeked downward.

Lin Xianzhong roared, “Coward! Ye Tian, if you open the gates and surrender now, I might still leave you with an intact corpse!”

“And you useless rabble—open the gates and surrender now, and you won’t be killed!”

“I’ll give you one last chance!”

Behind him, his deputies and trusted aides drew their weapons and shouted toward the city walls:

“Those who surrender will not be killed!”

“Our general shows mercy—why don’t you hurry and open the gates!”

Lin Xianzhong’s subordinates all wore expressions of contempt, like judges deciding life and death.

In the past, whenever Sifang City heard that the Great Zhou army was approaching, they wouldn’t even attempt to defend it—the city lord would flee, and even half the civilians would disappear. And now they dared to put on a show of defending the city?

Did they really think that just because they had a new leader in Ye Tian, Sifang City could resist the iron cavalry of Great Zhou?

The next moment—

“Damn it, what is this?!”

“Are they insane? What are they doing?!”

“Those are eggs! They actually dare throw eggs at the general? These wretches deserve death!”

The once-arrogant Great Zhou soldiers scrambled to dodge the rotten eggs and various disgusting objects raining down from the city walls. Their faces twisted with fury.

On the walls, the Sifang City guards burst into laughter.

“Let them act arrogant! Once the City Lord gives the order, we’ll make them piss their pants!”

“That’s right! Let these bloodthirsty bastards see the power of our cannons!”

“Nice throw with those rotten eggs!”

“When is the City Lord coming? We can’t wait anymore!”

Everyone stared eagerly at the cannons beside them.

They firmly believed that once the cannons were revealed, Lin Xianzhong would be reduced to ashes. The guards of Sifang City had grown blindly confident—even somewhat arrogant—in their worship of Ye Tian.

Not only had their taunts failed, but they had also been humiliated by mere city soldiers.

This was something Lin Xianzhong and his men had never expected.

Teeth clenched in rage, his subordinates repeatedly requested permission to attack immediately and teach Sifang City a lesson.

But after careful consideration, Lin Xianzhong still didn’t dare risk Feng Jiaojiao’s life.

By now, night had fully fallen. Torches illuminated Lin Xianzhong’s face in a fiery red glow.

At that moment, Jiang Yunxi rode forward. Her gaze was cold and fearless as she said, “General Lin, have you forgotten the Empress’s decree?”

“You’re delaying the Empress’s grand plan for the sake of a single woman. Do you think the Empress will spare you?”

“You’ve brought sixty thousand troops. Do you really need to hesitate over a mere Sifang City?”

Lin Xianzhong froze.

His sharp gaze locked onto Jiang Yunxi. “Who exactly are you? How do you know about the Empress’s decree?”

Jiang Yunxi sneered, her eyes slightly raised. “All you need to know is that I’m here to kill Ye Tian. Feng Jiaojiao is nothing more than a tool Ye Tian is using against you. Even if you don’t attack, she won’t live long in his hands.”

Lin Xianzhong tightened his grip on the reins, his eyes turning resolute as he stared at the city walls.

“Pass down my order—beat the war drums. Attack the city!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Several subordinates rode out with command flags in hand, weaving through the ranks to relay Lin Xianzhong’s orders.

“Woooo—”

“Woooooo—”

The deep, resounding call of the war horns echoed through the air, striking fear into every heart.

Once the horns sounded, it meant the battle had officially begun.

“Not good—quick, notify the City Lord!”

As soon as the horns rang out, oil lamps lit up in households throughout Sifang City.

The sound of dogs barking from all directions threw people into unease.

At this moment, outside Qin Fengyi’s study, Nanfeng knelt with cupped fists. “Lord, Lin Xianzhong is about to make his move.”

After a long pause, a cold female voice came from inside the room: “I know.”

“Once the cannons are fired, Lin Xianzhong will panic. When he tries to flee in confusion, send the light cavalry to hold his forces back. Capture Lin Xianzhong—I have questions for him.”

“Yes!”

Nanfeng accepted the order and withdrew.

Qin Fengyi would never allow the three children to be put in danger. Even without Ye Tian’s cannons, Sifang City would still be safe against Lin Xianzhong.

Nanfeng left.

With a creak, the vermilion wooden door opened. Dim yellow lamplight spilled out along the doorframe onto the ground. Qin Fengyi stepped out, her slender figure wrapped in a loose, light-colored inner robe. Her long hair cascaded down her back, her delicate nose and red lips stunningly beautiful—softer and more gentle than her usual demeanor.

Her clear phoenix eyes lifted toward the pitch-black sky, lost in thought.

After pondering for a while, she decided to go check on the children.

…

At this moment, Jiang Yunxi had completely dropped her pretense. Once Lin Xianzhong captured Sifang City, she would kill Ye Tian and the others, then seize Lin Xianzhong as well—making the city entirely hers.

Watching the warhorses gallop and troops charge forward with all their might, Jiang Yunxi laughed triumphantly.

“What Xiao Xun’er? What city lord’s daughter—so arrogant? In my hands, she’s nothing but an ant!”

“And Ye Tian, Duan Qingshan, Sun Wuji—if you dare ruin Brother Shen’s plans, you’re my enemies! I’m no longer the soft-hearted Jiang Yunxi of the past. Qiu Feibai, I’ll make you return to Sifang City and watch how I kill your most beloved disciple!”

Her face twisted with malice, her eyes venomous.

“Kill!”

“Charge! Take Sifang City—the general will reward us!”

“End this quickly!”

Countless Great Zhou soldiers surged forward with weapons raised. The walls of Sifang City had been reinforced, and outside them were various convenient mechanisms designed by Ye Tian. Fireballs rained from the sky—blazing flames that no one could avoid—instantly pushing the battlefield into a frenzy.

“City Lord!”

“City Lord!”

The soldiers on the wall lit up with hope and reverence when they saw Ye Tian arrive.

Hearing the war horns, Ye Tian rushed to the city gate on horseback, with Duan Qingshan close behind.

Standing atop the wall, Ye Tian narrowed his eyes and looked below.

The night was pitch black, faint torchlight barely illuminating the surroundings. As far as the eye could see, there were people everywhere—some carrying ladders, some on horseback, others sprinting forward.

“Zhu Zhongyi!” Ye Tian called out.

“Here!”

From the shadows, Zhu Zhongyi stepped forward immediately. Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

Lowering his head, Zhu Zhongyi felt, for the first time, the weight of being taken seriously. It made him uncomfortable—his muscles tensed, as if thorns were at his back.

“Have the artillerymen prepare,” Ye Tian ordered. “Bring out all the ammunition. Let them witness the power of Sifang City.”

“Prepare the tung oil barrels as well—do not let them climb the walls!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Morale surged.

Seated on horseback, Lin Xianzhong looked toward the city wall. Seeing a group surrounding a young man, he immediately knew—it must be Ye Tian.

That coward finally shows himself. Today will be his death.

“Whoever captures Ye Tian will be rewarded with platinum!” Lin Xianzhong shouted.

“Charge!”

As soon as he spoke, the soldiers beside him erupted in cheers, their morale soaring.

The next moment—

In the pitch-black night, something shot toward the crowd at an unimaginable speed. Many soldiers below instinctively looked up in shock.

“General, what is that—?”

Before the deputy could finish—

The black sphere hit the ground.

In an instant, blinding light burst forth like daylight.

Lin Xianzhong was shaken. Raising his arm to shield his eyes—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion followed, its echo reverberating endlessly.

It sounded as if the heavens and earth were collapsing; even the ground beneath their feet trembled violently.

“Hrrr—!”

“Neigh!” Lin Xianzhong’s warhorse panicked, rearing and kicking wildly. He gripped the reins tightly, shouting in alarm, “Don’t panic!”

“Continue the attack! Sifang City doesn’t have enough troops—they’re nothing to fear!”

His words were meant to rally the soldiers—but even more to reassure himself.

At the site of the explosion, small flames still flickered. Someone in the crowd screamed:

“It’s divine thunder—no bodies left intact!”

“Ah! I can’t see—I’m blind!”

“My leg! My leg!”

“Help me—help—!”

In the darkness, with chaos and sheer numbers, people trampled over one another in panic.

The battlefield below fell into utter disorder.

When Lin Xianzhong personally arrived at the explosion site, the ground was littered with corpses—severed limbs scattered everywhere, blood staining the earth in a horrifying scene.

What… is this thing?

Terrified, Lin Xianzhong looked up at the city wall.

From above, Ye Tian spoke, “Duan Qingshan, tell Lin Xianzhong—this is the price of attacking Sifang City.”

“Take one more step forward, and you’ll bear the consequences.”

Duan Qingshan circulated his inner energy and projected Ye Tian’s words clearly, word by word, for Lin Xianzhong to hear.

But Lin Xianzhong refused to believe it. Ye Tian was not only despicable—he was cruel, slaughtering soldiers with such demonic methods.

Drawing his sword, he roared:

“Kill!”

“There are no soldiers in Lindong City who fear death!”

The second wave of assault began.

On the city wall, the defenders burst into arrogant laughter.

“City Lord, if Lin Xianzhong isn’t afraid to die, we’ll blow him to pieces!”

“Let them taste the power of our cannons!”

“This is the most glorious moment of my life!”

Morale skyrocketed. Every face was filled with excitement.

At this moment, Feng Jiaojiao climbed onto the wall with Fang Shenghu. Seeing the dark mass of the Great Zhou army below, she scanned the battlefield frantically, searching for Lin Erniu.

She wanted to tell him not to oppose Ye Tian—to repay her debt of gratitude.

But before she could find him—

“Fire!” Ye Tian ordered again.

The next instant—

Four cannons fired simultaneously.

Thunderous explosions erupted beneath the city gate one after another.

With each blast, brilliant flames lit up the world like daylight.

From the wall, the defenders could clearly see the fear and despair on the faces of the Lindong soldiers below. The earth was blasted skyward, and wherever the explosions struck, limbs were sent flying—bloody and brutal beyond words.

Death itself wasn’t the most terrifying thing.

What truly terrified them… was the unknown.

They had no idea what this weapon was.

And worse—no one knew when the ground beneath their feet might explode next.

The soldiers of Lindong City began to retreat. Many gathered together, clutching their weapons, staring fearfully at the walls of Sifang City.

“Charge!”

“Go kill Ye Tian! Aren’t you soldiers of Great Zhou? Aren’t you invincible? Can’t you even take a mere Sifang City?!”

Jiang Yunxi, seated on horseback, lashed nearby soldiers repeatedly with her whip, her face full of vicious fury.

“My soldiers are not yours to command!”