TNIBFT -Chapter 324 Miss Xiao

A deep male voice sounded from behind. Sun Wuji froze in place, both hands clutching his hat, completely motionless.

Footsteps approached from behind.

“Creak!”

“Creak!” The sound grew closer. Sun Wuji’s eyes darted around, already ready to smash anyone approaching with a palm strike.

“Sergeant, the general sent someone to find you!”

Just as Sun Wuji was about to act, another person spoke, diverting the approaching sergeant.

Sun Wuji exhaled in relief.

A laugh came from behind: “Little brother, the sergeant didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

“The general’s been in a bad mood these past two days. Life’s been tough for everyone, so be careful. Go patrol over there!”

“Understood!”

Sun Wuji nodded repeatedly.

Little brother?

Did he look that young?

Sun Wuji didn’t linger further. Covering his face, he moved aside. The flags bore the character “Xiao”—whose subordinates were these?

No matter. He’d have some fun for a few days first.

…

The next morning.

Yesterday, Ye Tian had sent people to look for Sun Wuji. They spent the entire day searching, but not a single clue appeared.

This morning, still no sign of him. That old man must have taken his things out to show off.

Ye Tian felt helpless.

Just as he was about to eat breakfast, the sound of a horn suddenly rang out in the city.

The horn blasted with an earth-shaking resonance. Its unique tone immediately threw the city into chaos. On the streets, citizens covered their heads and ran: “They’re attacking the city again!”

“Who could it be?”

“Doesn’t matter! Just hide! Saving ourselves is the priority!”

“Father… sob, wait for me…”

The once-bustling streets instantly turned into a scene of chaos. Ye Tian put down the large porcelain bowl in his hands. The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy; everyone looked anxious. Only Old Yang had a gleeful expression, eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Master, I’ll go find out!”

Old Yang spoke, about to leave, but Ye Tian said, “No need!”

On the streets, Zhu Huyu rode in at full speed. He leapt off his horse upon seeing Ye Tian standing at the shop entrance, lifted his armor, and kneeled on one knee: “Young Master, the Daliang soldiers are attacking the city!”

“This time, they’re coming in force, roughly sixty to seventy thousand troops.”

Sixty or seventy thousand?

Two of the cannons had been taken by Duan Qingshan. Four remained in the city. If a battle broke out, they could only hope to delay it temporarily.

“Who is the opposing general?”

Ye Tian asked.

Zhu Huyu replied, “Not clear. They’re too far to see. But someone is shouting from outside the city, claiming to be their general, and specifically demanding to see you!”

Demand to see me?

Could it be Xiao Tianchen’s troops?

But that didn’t make sense. Two days ago, Xiao Tianchen’s army had retreated fifty li. If he wanted to attack, he wouldn’t have waited until now.

Ye Tian nodded: “I’ll go take a look.”

“Gather your troops. This could be a tough fight.”

“Understood!”

Zhu Huyu respectfully clasped his fists, reported the news, and swiftly mounted his horse. In moments, his figure disappeared at the end of the street.

…

“I’m going with you!”

Seeing Ye Tian move to leave, Qin Fengyi immediately followed. Ye Tian turned, his gaze filled with warmth as he looked at her: “Watch the three children. I’ll be back soon.”

Qin Fengyi wanted to say more, but Ye Tian gave no chance. He called out to Old Yang: “Old Yang!”

“Here!”

All eyes fell on Old Yang, who looked unusually serious today, completely different from his usual self.

He knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and looked at Ye Tian. The gesture—honestly—looked pretty convincing!

“Come with me to the city gate.”

“Leave now!”

Ye Tian commanded. Old Yang didn’t dare delay, quickly bringing out two horses. Just as Ye Tian mounted, Qin Fengyi ran out and handed him a musket wrapped in red cloth.

“Take this too—it can protect you.”

“Got it!”

After a few brief words, Ye Tian and Old Yang rode off, one following the other, toward the city gate.

“Over here! This way!”

“Archers, fire-arrow men, over here!”

“Pitch, wooden spikes, place them here…”

“The city lord is coming! The city lord has arrived!”

Seeing Ye Tian, everyone saluted. Ye Tian nodded politely and, with Old Yang, climbed onto the city wall.

The north wind howled.

Snow flurried in the wind, and the soldiers guarding the city had red, chapped faces from the cold.

Ye Tian stood atop the wall, looking down from above.

Below, the densely packed Daliang soldiers stood in formation, well-trained. As soon as Ye Tian appeared, a general at the front lifted a bow, aimed at him, and shot.

Ye Tian barely had time to react.

“Whoosh!” The arrow flew fast. Old Yang casually caught it—an arrow only a punch away from Ye Tian’s chest—single-handedly.

Old Yang grinned and smirked. “Amateur tricks!”

“Just wait—watch me pierce him with one arrow!”

Ye Tian’s eyes narrowed at the ‘Xiao’ insignia across the field, his expression complex. The only person who could have arrived at Sifang City this quickly was Xiao Tianchen!

He shouldn’t have acted so fast.

Even if he took Sifang City, Shen Jie and Princess Leyang would still try to eliminate him—he knew that!

“City lord?”

“City lord, is it my turn now?” Old Yang was impatient; after all, experts were rare on the battlefield, and his presence was only to show off.

Ye Tian said, “Wait!”

Old Yang pouted but obeyed.

A moment later, a rider on a white horse emerged from the Daliang ranks, slowly approaching the city wall.

“Ye Tian!”

A hoarse female voice.

It sounded very familiar. Old Yang stared at Ye Tian in surprise, eyes wide, stammering: “X-Xiao… Miss Xiao?”

He couldn’t believe it.

Ye Tian frowned. Below the wall, the white-armored commander continued: “Ye Tian, you killed my father, took my city. Our hatred is irreconcilable!”

“Today… either you die, or I perish!”

Ye Tian couldn’t see Xiao Xun’er’s expression clearly, only her cold words.

He didn’t believe it.

If Xiao Xun’er really wanted to kill him, she would have had countless chances back at the hotpot shop—why wait until now?

“Miss Xiao, are you mistaken?”

“Just a few days ago, wasn’t everything fine? Could it be that all this was a disguise, and your purpose was to kill Ye Tian?” Old Yang asked, already numb. Xiao Xun’er was known for her loyalty and strong sense of justice—yet now she suddenly returned to attack Sifang City?

Silence fell over the scene.

Everyone exchanged glances. Old Yang whispered, “If we can convince Miss Xiao, maybe this war can be avoided… right, City Lord?”

Ye Tian shook his head.

This Daliang formation, for now, seemed to be led by Xiao Xun’er under the Xiao family banner. But a closer look revealed she was riding a white horse at the outermost line, her strength ordinary. Xiao Tianchen had done this to send her to her death!

Xiao Tianchen wouldn’t do that.

There was only one conclusion: this army was no longer under the control of the Xiao siblings.

“Ye Tian, you are treacherous!”

“I gave you my heart and let go of everything from the past. You married someone else! If you have the guts, kill me! If you don’t kill me today, I will tear you apart piece by piece someday!”