TNIBFT -Chapter 69 Survival Rules in a Chaotic World

That single cry of “Father” shattered Tao Ling’er, and she broke down into uncontrollable sobs.

Her own disheveled state—her foolishness—did her father see it all?

Tao Lichun had spent his life caring about reputation. Gentle and refined, he never argued or quarreled with anyone. Yet for his daughter, at his age, with his hair already streaked with white, he had abandoned the academy and rushed over, openly cursing in public.

“Father, I’ve failed you.”

Tao Ling’er wept.

Tao Lichun shook his head and rushed forward, grabbing Xiao Tianyi’s hand: “Let go of my daughter! You are committing abduction! Let her go!”

“Hmph.”

Xiao Tianyi sneered disdainfully, swung his arm, and flung Tao Lichun a full meter away.

Tao Lichun, already frail, stumbled and fell against the wall.

Tao Ling’er struggled, crying out repeatedly: “Father!”

“Are you alright?”

“Let me go! Let me go!”

Xiao Tianyi remained unmoved, gripping Tao Ling’er’s wrist with one hand and sneering: “It’s your luck that I fancy your daughter. Others would kill to have her. You old fool, why pretend to be so noble? Today, your daughter is mine. You won’t leave, huh? Then open your eyes and watch closely! Watch how I make your daughter mine.”

Xiao Tianyi grinned wickedly, tearing at her clothes with a loud rip!

Tao Ling’er clutched her chest tightly, crying and shouting: “Beast! You’re a beast! Let me go, let me go!”

Tao Lichun’s eyes were bloodshot as he rose to intervene, only to be restrained by the attendants who had rushed up from downstairs.

“Father!”

Tao Ling’er reached out, clutching her father’s fingers as if holding onto a lifeline, her face full of panic and tears.

Tao Lichun was powerless. The attendants continued their ruthless work behind him. He held onto his daughter’s hand, but bit by bit they were separated—father and daughter utterly despairing.

Shen Jie stood to the side, silent and motionless.

……

“Where are the people?”

“Who’s causing trouble here?”

Meanwhile, in the hotpot restaurant’s first-floor hall, several government soldiers charged in like bandits, yelling loudly.

Ye Tian hurried forward, smiling: “What brings you here, gentlemen?”

“Oh, who reported this? There was nothing happening in my shop, and you’ve gone through the trouble for nothing.”

Seeing Ye Tian’s guilty expression, the soldiers exchanged glances.

Usually, when there was trouble in the city, government soldiers would handle it, and according to the rules of Sifang City, a service fee was required. Ye Tian clearly had no intention of paying.

“What’s that noise on the second floor?”

Someone asked.

Ye Tian, looking anxious, said: “Nothing, nothing! You must have heard wrong, sir. Do not go upstairs!”

“Really?”

The soldiers didn’t believe him, eyes suspiciously fixed on the second floor. The leader waved his hand and immediately rushed up, shouting: “Anyone causing trouble in Sifang City, bring them in!”

The first-floor customers had already heard the commotion.

With the soldiers here, no one dared to cause more trouble. Curious onlookers got up and followed the soldiers.

The soldiers reached the private room door. The few people who had been acting so boldly were instantly terrified upon seeing Xiao Tianyi and collapsed to their knees.

“Second Young Master!”

“We deserve death! We’ll leave immediately!”

“We didn’t know the Second Young Master was here and disturbed your leisure. We’ll leave right now!”

They prostrated themselves, begging for mercy.

Xiao Tianyi’s gaze could kill. Seeing dozens of townspeople gathered at the entrance, trembling and staring at him, with Tao Ling’er’s crying still ringing in his ears, he immediately felt irritated. He glared fiercely at Shen Jie and strode out, swinging his sleeve.

A few attendants followed him with cold, expressionless faces.

Xiao Tianyi whispered a few words, and immediately someone turned to take away the few city guards who had fallen to the ground.

“Second Young Master!”

Shen Jie called out, but Xiao Tianyi didn’t look back.

Ye Tian quickly ran out from behind the counter, cautiously following him. “It’s entirely my fault for not stopping a few of the city guards, please forgive me, Young Master.”

Xiao Tianyi paused briefly, then casually tossed a silver coin and left the hotpot restaurant.

Looking at the coin in his hand, Ye Tian finally felt relieved. In a feudal society, concepts like human rights, dignity, or equality were meaningless—those in power could act with impunity.

On the second-floor private room, Tao Ling’er and Tao Lichun helped each other to stand.

Father and daughter looked at each other, their hearts still racing, feeling as though they had survived a disaster.

“Master,” Shen Jie bent slightly and spoke.

Tao Lichun’s face was ashen, not even glancing at Shen Jie. “Don’t flatter yourself. Your heart is deceitful and your ambitions are malicious. I misjudged you. From now on, you are no longer my disciple in any way. Our relationship is severed completely.”

“Master…”

Shen Jie’s face filled with sorrow as he turned to look at Tao Ling’er beside Tao Lichun.

Tao Ling’er’s eyes were red, her head lowered, not daring to meet his gaze.

Shen Jie anxiously said, “Master treated me like a teacher and father, I…”

Tao Lichun almost laughed from anger. All his life, he had been upright and honest, and now he had taught such a shameless student?

Tao Lichun held his daughter’s hand and solemnly said, “Treated you like a teacher and father? Just now, when Ling’er was humiliated, you wouldn’t have stood idly by, and when I was beaten, you wouldn’t have been indifferent. Shen Jie, take care of yourself.”

After speaking, Tao Lichun, looking grim, led his daughter downstairs.

Inside the hotpot restaurant, the crowd murmured quietly.

It concerned the Second Young Master of the City Lord’s Mansion, so no one dared speak against them. When Tao Lichun and his daughter came down, curious eyes followed them surreptitiously.

“Master Tao,” Ye Tian stepped forward. “Why not go upstairs to the private room to rest for a while? I can buy a set of clothes for Ling’er so that it isn’t… well, quite so embarrassing to go out like this.”

Tao Ling’er lowered her head, sobbing softly.

Tao Lichun nodded, exhaling. “Today we owe you our thanks. If it weren’t for you, my daughter and I might not have even had the chance to speak again.”

“Ye Tian, thank you.”

Tao Ling’er bowed her head and spoke. From the moment she entered, Ye Tian had tried to persuade her. She had ignored his advice and even mocked him, nearly putting her father in danger.

“You’re still young and inexperienced, unaware of how treacherous people can be. Master Tao protected you well, so this is not your fault,” Ye Tian said, then gestured to an assistant to take Tao Ling’er to a private room to wait.

He himself took the eldest to a tailor shop to buy clothes for Tao Ling’er.

The streets were bustling with people.

Ye Yunting followed Ye Tian like a little shadow. Watching Ye Tian’s back, his thoughts were complicated. Ye Tian was truly remarkable—when he was around, it seemed there was nothing that couldn’t be solved.

“Eldest.”

Ye Tian turned, smiling at Ye Yunting. Ye Yunting’s heart raced as he pursed his lips and hurried forward.

Ye Tian asked, “You brought Master Tao here?”

“Yes.”

“You did well, but Eldest, next time before doing anything, think about the consequences—whether they’re something we can bear. If the city guards hadn’t come today, what would have happened to Master Tao and Ling’er?”

Ye Yunting froze.

He hadn’t thought about it. He didn’t care whether Master Tao would be harmed—he only cared whether Ye Tian’s hotpot restaurant would be affected.

“I didn’t think about that. I only wanted to make sure you wouldn’t get involved.”