TNIBFT -Chapter 81 The original plot slowly deviates

Ye Yunting didn’t speak.

Jiang Yunxi felt as if she had punched a wall of cotton. Pouting, she sat across from Ye Yunting, keeping a good distance from him.

A lowly commoner from the Square City, and yet he dared treat her with this kind of attitude?

Jiang Yunxi lifted her head, her big, sharply defined eyes glaring at Ye Yunting. She thought that once her master came to rescue her, she would leave this brat stuck in the snow pit, giving him a lesson.

Today, she had come to Mingfeng Village to gather herbs, which was why she had brought her master along.

But she also had a selfish motive.

She wanted to see Shen Jie’s childhood home, the place where he had suffered, and those who had bullied him. She intended to find an opportunity to help her Brother Shen get justice.

Ye Yunting slightly raised his head and looked at Jiang Yunxi across from him.

This girl was different from others. Even though it was their first meeting, he felt an inexplicable familiarity. The sky had darkened, the light was dim, and it was hard to see things on the snow-covered ground—but just now, when she was at the bottom of the snow pit, he had been able to see her face clearly, even her features.

And her aura—he could sense it vividly in his mind. It was unique.

It was as if this girl carried a natural halo. No matter where she was, he would be drawn to her at first glance.

Ye Yunting didn’t understand why. This was a feeling he had never experienced before.

“What are you looking at?”

Seeing the silly boy sneaking glances at her, Jiang Yunxi frowned and scolded him angrily.

If it weren’t for this fool, she would have climbed up already. If it had been Brother Shen Jie here, he would surely have let her step on his shoulders to get up.

Thinking of Shen Jie, Jiang Yunxi’s eyes softened with sympathy.

Such a good person, yet subjected to such misfortune. And with Shen Jie’s talent—his genius, his noble appearance like orchids and jade trees, his proud character, his ambition—Jiang Yunxi understood all of it.

The more she interacted with Shen Jie, the more she realized just how exceptional he was.

Ye Yunting frowned irritably, finding this girl noisy and annoying. Without expression, he turned his head to look away.

…

“Why hasn’t the eldest returned yet?”

After half an hour of waiting with no sign of Ye Yunting, Ye Tian put down the chopped vegetables and frowned at the door. Nearby, Sun Wuji grinned mischievously, saying, “Your son must have run off out of anger.”

Sun Wuji sat on the table, one leg crossed, the other swinging along the edge lazily.

Quite at ease.

Seeing him so happy, Ye Tian felt a pang of jealousy. This old man ate and drank for free every day, didn’t have to work for money, and at critical moments even made snide remarks.

Ye Tian said, “I see you’ve put on quite a bit recently. For dinner, you can only have one bowl.”

“What?”

Sun Wuji jumped off the table excitedly, whining, “No! I won’t do it! I’m skin and bones already, and you’re too cruel.”

Ye Shuangxue looked up at her master, despairing. This master not only competed with her for food every day but also snatched her little trinkets.

“I’ll go look for big brother.”

Ye Shuangxue said, waving to Xiao Jiang, and the two of them went out together.

Ye Tian looked at the large copper pot over the fire. Beef was stewing inside, the thick white broth boiling and steaming, filling the room with the aroma of meat. The beef was nearly done.

“Old man, keep an eye on things here. I’ll go check outside.”

After giving instructions, Ye Tian went to the bed to grab his cotton jacket, ready to head out. Seeing Ye Tian flustered, Sun Wuji murmured, “So now you feel nervous? What happened to your earlier confidence when teasing the kid? Only five years old, and you’ve already educated him like he’s thirty-five…”

Sun Wuji shook his head.

Ye Tian felt ashamed. Thinking of the eldest, who was as tall as a little radish, he realized that because of Ye Yunting’s calm and reserved personality, he had never truly regarded him as a child.

In fact, thinking about it, Ye Yunting was only five years old.

No matter how cunning or capable he would become when grown, he was still a child now, facing many things beyond his understanding and ability.

He needed guidance.

Ye Tian rushed out in a panic…

…

In the village.

Ye Shuangxue and Xiao Jiang first went to Fang Shenghu’s house, only to find out that their eldest brother had never been there.

The two little kids immediately panicked. Ye Shuangxue ran quickly back home to notify Ye Tian.

Xiao Jiang stayed in the village, searching for their eldest brother.

The wind and snow howled around him, the thick snow making it hard to even open his eyes. Squinting, he held his small hand in front of his face and stepped carefully through the deep snow. “Big brother!”

“Big brother!”

The howling wind instantly drowned out his voice.

They had searched the entire village without finding any trace of their eldest brother. Xiao Jiang started looking further away. The sky had already darkened completely, and the path under his feet was hard to make out.

Not far ahead, it sounded like there was something.

Xiao Jiang’s heart leapt. Even though he couldn’t hear clearly, the thought that it might be his big brother made him rush forward without thinking.

“Big brother, is that you?” Xiao Jiang panted, his breath forming clouds in the cold air. He was small, needing to tilt his head to see further, and the surrounding tree branches were gnarled and menacing.

At the base of a tree not far away stood a middle-aged man, wearing a long cloak. It was so dark that his features were unclear.

Seeing someone approaching, the man turned his head toward Xiao Jiang. “Are you looking for someone too?”

“Yes.”

Xiao Jiang’s little face showed caution as he considered turning back.

At such a late hour, a little child was out looking for someone. Qiu Feibai narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the child before him. Clean and cute, he couldn’t help but feel fond of him.

For a child to dare go out alone at this hour, that courage exceeded that of most children his age.

The middle-aged man said, “I’m looking for someone too. Do you know the village chief’s house?”

“Yes.”

Xiao Jiang nodded. If he could find the village chief, this man could help him search, and at the same time, he could also help find his big brother—maybe he could enlist the man’s help.

“I’ll take you to the village chief’s house. Can you help me look for my big brother too?”

Xiao Jiang looked up at the middle-aged man stepping closer.

He had a gentle, refined face, a noble demeanor, and a pleasant herbal scent, giving off the impression of a good person.

The little child looked at him with hopeful eyes. Qiu Feibai smiled. “Sure.”

He really liked this child.

His speech was gentle and comforting. Most importantly, Yuxue (Jade Snow) was adorable—such a cute appearance made it impossible to dislike him.

Xiao Jiang followed behind Qiu Feibai, the two walking one after the other.

“Sir, are you a doctor?”

“How did you know?” Qiu Feibai asked curiously.

Xiao Jiang said shyly, “Sir smells of herbs. My father often buys herbs.”

“Often buys?”

That probably meant chronic illness.

Such a pitiful little child, yet so sensible. Qiu Feibai felt a pang of pity for Xiao Jiang.

Xiao Jiang didn’t finish his thought—the herbs Ye Tian often bought were mostly spices for cooking hotpot or for experiments. Ye Tian had called it a business secret, so Xiao Jiang didn’t know the full story.

“Who are you looking for at this hour?”

“My big brother. He went out to borrow firewood and hasn’t returned yet.” Xiao Jiang’s face showed worry. Qiu Feibai shook his head in regret; even firewood had to be borrowed. He could only imagine the kind of life this child had led.

In the Medicine King Valley, no one would go hungry. This clever and lively child had simply run into his own destiny.

Qiu Feibai had already made up his mind—to let Xiao Jiang survive and learn, even if it meant letting him come to Medicine King Valley for food.

“Do you want to learn medicine?”