TATSD Chapter 108

After a month apart, the two couldn’t get enough of each other. But as a student, Liu Yimian had to attend school, while Ji Wei also had missions to handle. So, Ji Wei would pass the time visiting his shop, making sure the workers prepared everything needed for the opening.

The two typically met after classes, with Liu Yimian seeking Ji Wei out so they could grab a bite together at a nearby restaurant.

Now that Ji Wei’s business was thriving, he no longer needed to scrape by selling items. He took Liu Yimian out to sample all the local eateries, never stingy with their meals.

After bidding farewell to Lin Tai, Ji Baoshan, and Wen Xuan, Liu Yimian slung his bag over his shoulder and set off to find Ji Wei. But before he left the alley, he noticed someone following him silently for quite a while. When they reached a secluded part of the alley, the follower, drunk, called out to him.

“You wretch! Stop right there!”

The voice froze Liu Yimian mid-step. He could never mistake that familiar, slurred voice—it was Liu Shan.

Slowly, he turned around, brows furrowing as he took in the sight of Liu Shan, who was stumbling toward him, face red from alcohol, hair disheveled, and eyes bloodshot. He looked even more haggard than last time.

“What do you want?” Liu Yimian quickly buried any trace of emotion and stepped back as Liu Shan got closer, creating a deliberate distance between them.

Seeing this, Liu Shan growled, “Are you avoiding your old man?”

Liu Yimian repeated his question, but Liu Shan didn’t answer. Instead, he squinted at him and reached for his collar.

Liu Shan moved unexpectedly, and even though Liu Yimian tried to dodge, his hand grazed his chest. Liu Yimian’s expression darkened, and he stepped back defensively. “What are you doing?”

Liu Shan, emboldened by the alcohol, lunged at him again, this time reaching for his waistband. But Liu Yimian was prepared. He swiftly sidestepped and gave Liu Shan a hard shove, knocking the drunken man to the ground. It took him a moment to stumble back to his feet.

“If you won’t explain, I’m leaving!” Liu Yimian, his face pale with anger, turned to go. Although Liu Shan was his father, his behavior was crossing a line.

Liu Yimian tried to leave quickly, but Liu Shan moved even faster, blocking his path with outstretched arms. His bloodshot eyes were filled with wildness. “I don’t believe it! I’ll search you myself!”

He grabbed for Liu Yimian’s coin pouch, and Liu Yimian, seeing his intention, slapped his hand away, shaking with rage. “I already broke ties with you. Even if I had money, I wouldn’t give it to you!”

“I brought you into this world and raised you! Blood is thicker than water—you can’t sever that! You’re giving me that money, whether you like it or not!” Though drunk, Liu Shan was strong and fit, with a rough laborer’s strength. He seized Liu Yimian’s hands and tried to pull off the coin pouch.

Liu Yimian’s knee shot up in defense, but Liu Shan dodged and shoved him, sending him sprawling to the ground as silver coins scattered.

Ji Wei, having waited a while at the shop, figured the school session should be over. Not seeing any sign of Liu Yimian, he decided to go looking for him.

As Ji Wei entered the alley, he saw the two struggling. Liu Shan was pinning Liu Yimian down, hands around his neck, face twisted with a crazed grin. “You wretched son! Ungrateful! Both you and your sister are the same—making me suffer! Is that what you want?”

Fueled by alcohol and rage, Liu Shan was out of control, beyond reason.

Ji Wei had never met Liu Shan but recognized Liu Yimian at once, and a surge of fury rose within him. He rushed forward, kicking Liu Shan hard in the shoulder and sending him sprawling.

“Ji Ge!” Liu Yimian gasped for air, coughing as he rose to his feet. “Ji Ge!” he called again, voice trembling.

At that moment, Ji Wei could think of nothing else. Some primal instinct took over, and he swung punch after punch.

Liu Shan, stunned at first, was defenseless. After a few brutal hits, his nose gushing blood, he turned to flee, sensing that if he stayed, he wouldn’t make it out alive.

Ji Wei lunged, grabbing his collar and yanking him back, delivering a vicious kick to the back of his knee. Liu Shan screamed in pain.

Liu Yimian rushed over, grabbing Ji Wei’s arm with both hands, his face pale. “That’s enough, Ji Ge! Please, that’s enough! You’ll kill him if you keep going!”

Fear flashed in Liu Yimian’s eyes, and that fear pulled Ji Wei back from the brink. He released his grip, took a few steps back, and put a hand to his forehead, looking slightly dazed.

What’s going on?

The complete loss of control just now, guided by instinct, was something he didn’t like.

Ji Wei had always been rational. Even when he was extremely angry, he would never act impulsively.

At this moment, Liu Shan’s nose was bleeding profusely, his eyes were darkened with bruises, his cheeks swollen, and his right knee, which Ji Wei had forcefully kicked, couldn’t straighten, obviously broken. He looked pitiful. When Ji Wei’s gaze fell on him, the arrogance from earlier was completely gone. Liu Shan was now trembling behind Liu Yimian. “You… you hit me… I’m going to report this to the authorities!”

“Report to the authorities?” Ji Wei paused, speaking to himself, “I have a very close relationship with Magistrate Lu. I wonder, when Magistrate Lu hears about this, will he help you or will he help me?”

Liu Shan trembled and didn’t dare say another word.

“Ji Ge, just now you…” Liu Yimian bit his lower lip, unsure how to begin.

“Let’s put this matter aside for now. Don’t let me see you again. If you cause trouble for Yimian again, I’ll break your other leg—” Ji Wei didn’t finish his sentence, but the threat was enough to frighten Liu Shan, who limped away quickly.

“Ji Ge, thank you for arriving on time. Otherwise…” Liu Yimian paused, carefully observing Ji Wei’s expression. When he saw that Ji Wei’s face had returned to its usual calm and no longer showed the frantic look from earlier, he finally sighed in relief.

Of course, Ji Wei noticed this. He asked calmly, “Was I really that frightening just now?”

Liu Yimian hesitated, then wrapped his arms around Ji Wei’s arm. “Ji Ge, I was so scared.”

Ji Wei embraced him, gently patting his back.

“You looked just like before,” Liu Yimian said quietly, “like that master who would often hit and scold me… you didn’t seem like my Ji Ge anymore.”

Those words brought Ji Wei back to reality like a splash of cold water.

He suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that something was wrong.

Even if he was truly enraged, he would never lose his composure. If Liu Yimian hadn’t stopped him, who knew what he might have done?

That brief loss of control seemed like an instinct deeply ingrained in his bones. His body acted instinctively, striking at the weak points with lightning speed and without mercy!

He had been living in this body as Ji Wei for several months now. Could it be that some remnant of the previous consciousness was still influencing him? That would not be good. Ji Wei disliked the feeling of being unable to control himself.

Not to mention, it had triggered some unpleasant memories for Liu Yimian.

After comforting Liu Yimian for a moment, Ji Wei noticed someone approaching, and they parted.

“Don’t worry, this won’t happen again. I promise,” Ji Wei took Liu Yimian’s clammy hand and gently squeezed it.

He would never let anyone influence him like that again!

Liu Yimian nodded quietly.

The two of them fell silent, walking hand in hand down the street, moving aimlessly with the flow of people. After a while, Liu Yimian’s stomach growled loudly, and Ji Wei smiled, pointing to a nearby restaurant. “You can smell the roast chicken from here. Let’s go to this one.”

Liu Shan returned home in a sorry state, banging on the door so hard it shook. Recently, in order to avoid creditors, the door of the Liu household had been tightly shut, and they rarely opened it unless someone was coming or going.

When You Guizhi heard Liu Shan’s voice, she quickly ran to open the door, cursing under her breath, “What are you shouting for?”

As soon as the door opened, Liu Shan stormed inside. However, his other leg was almost useless, and his movements looked more like hopping than walking, strangely awkward.

You Guizhi closed the door and hurried after him. “Old man, what happened to your leg? Did you fall into a pit?”

“What a damn disaster!” Liu Shan’s face turned pale with anger. The fear and pain had completely sobered him up. He briefly explained what had just happened, and You Guizhi slammed the table in anger.

“It must have been that Ji guy who beat you! No way! We can’t let this go!” You Guizhi thought of the humiliation from two days ago, and the fire of anger burned in her chest.

But Liu Shan was terrified by Ji Wei’s ruthlessness, so he dared not entertain any further thoughts. “Forget it, we only owe a couple of silver. Let’s look around and see if there’s anything left we can sell. Don’t think about them anymore. Just pretend that bastard was never born!”

You Guizhi pushed against the table, still unwilling. “He dared to hit you. We should hit him back!”

“How? You hit him or should I?” Liu Shan roared.

“There’s not just the two of us anymore…” You Guizhi muttered.

“Do whatever you want, just stop bothering me. My head hurts a lot. I’m going to sleep for a while. We still need to gather some money and go see a doctor later.” Liu Shan limped off.

You Guizhi spat angrily. “Drinking all the time, you’ve already wasted all the money. Where am I supposed to get more for you? Why don’t you go ask those two brats for it?”

She suddenly had an idea and turned to run out the door.