Martial Arts Master: The Lin Family Sword God, who swept through the Five Mountains and Four Sects

Watching his retreating figure, Zi Nu's eyes flickered slightly. She knew Zhang Kaidi's temperament all too well—would he tolerate such an offense just because of a single sentence from Han Fei? Even stranger, Lin Tian actually knew Han Fei…

Interesting.

As soon as Zhang Kai left, Lin Tian immediately locked his gaze back onto Han Fei and said in a low voice, "So, when do you plan to pay me back? Otherwise, tomorrow I'll have those words splashed all over the palace walls with black dog's blood. What do you think?"

"No!!" Han Fei almost jumped up. "Brother Lin, please don't!" He knew this man too well—if he said it, he really did it!

"I spent half a month painstakingly collecting three thousand gold coins to repay you first. As for the rest... please grant me a few more days." He smiled obsequiously, his posture humble to the point of being utterly subservient.

"Alright." Lin Tian nodded. "Send the three thousand taels of gold to Zilan Pavilion for accounting tomorrow. The remaining three thousand taels of gold shall be settled within two months."

"Huh?" Han Fei's eyes widened. "Wasn't there 2,300 left? How did it become 3,000?!"

Lin Tian glanced at him sideways, as if looking at a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city: "You owe money and don't pay it back, and you're not allowed to charge interest? Nine outs and thirteen returns, don't you know the rules?"

"I understand...I understand! But could you have kept your voice down a bit? Now the whole Zilanxuan knows. Tomorrow, I doubt anyone in Xinzheng will be unaware that I, Han Fei, ran away with my sister while in debt! How am I supposed to face anyone after this?!" Han Fei was on the verge of tears.

"What are you afraid of?" Lin Tian patted his shoulder reassuringly. "You're thick-skinned. Even if you can't face people, you can still face them by keeping your head down."

He paused, then added, "And did I say something wrong? The money you owe me, isn't it from eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring? Hmm... I don't think you went to whoring, but it's pretty much the same."

"But why did you bring up Honglian in the second half of your sentence...?" Han Fei looked as aggrieved as a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"How is that not related?" Lin Tianyi said sternly, "Weren't you and Honglian entering the city together the day you returned to Xinzheng?"

"..." Han Fei was speechless.

Seeing his extremely frustrated expression, Zi Nu and Nong Yu couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.

"Brother Han, may I ask who this expert is?" Zhang Liang first bowed to Han Fei, then turned his gaze to Lin Tian, ​​a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"Zifang, this is Brother Lin, whom I mentioned before. He's an extraordinary person I met on the way back to Xinzheng. His temperament is... quite unique," Han Fei introduced with a smile.

"So it's Brother Lin. I am Zhang Liang. I've heard so much about you." Zhang Liang quickly greeted him.

While the two exchanged pleasantries, Lin Tian was also sizing up the young man in front of him.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, he possessed a refined and scholarly air, yet his brows already hinted at a shrewd and strategic mind.

This is the man who will one day be the one to "win battles a thousand miles away." He is only just beginning to show his talent, yet he has already given people a slight tremor.

"Zhang Liang? Zifang?" Lin Tian nodded slightly. "Indeed, indeed."

Even before he has taken flight, this young man already possesses the rudiments of a statesman. The theft of military funds was originally a deadly trap set by Ji Wuye against Zhang Kaidi, yet he skillfully defused the situation, not only bringing in Han Fei to break the deadlock but also allowing Zhang Kaidi to escape unscathed—a textbook example of a comeback. For Zhang Kaidi, it was an impeccable cleanup.

"Brother Lin, do you also think Zifang is outstanding?" Upon hearing this, Han Fei's eyebrows immediately lit up, as if he himself had been praised.

"Better than you, far better." Lin Tian showed no mercy, directly puncturing his smugness.

Han Fei's face fell, and he felt like he wanted to disappear into the ground.

Lin Tian ignored him and turned to stare at Zhang Liang, his tone calm yet unquestionable: "After the fall of Han, you should take a trip to Sanghai. You are still too green, your vision is not yet broadened, and your strategy is not yet established. Only by seeing the true world can you complete your transformation. Looking back three thousand years and forward two thousand years—you are enough to rank among the top five strategists in five thousand years."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

The sheer volume of information was overwhelming; even breathing seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Brother Lin, you flatter me. What virtue or ability do I, Zifang, possess to dare to be compared with the ancient sages and worthies?" Zhang Liang snapped out of his reverie and quickly declined.

Lin Tian chuckled lightly and waved his hand casually: "Believe it or not, it doesn't matter to me. If you want to take it as a joke, that's fine too."

He had no interest in any ambitions of imperial power, and naturally wouldn't bother to recruit or win over anyone.

The air was slightly tense. Han Fei coughed twice and forced a smile, "Brother Lin, I am, after all, a young master of the state of Han. You start by saying that Han is doomed... Could you at least be considerate of my feelings?"

"Oh," Lin Tian responded casually, but his gaze swept across the land like a blade. "Whether you believe it or not, the state of Han will perish within five years. Ten years later, Qin will conquer the six states and unify the world."

Although the timeline of Qin's Time is chaotic, the ending will only come sooner, never later.

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room suddenly plummeted to freezing point.

"Heh, who rules the world is none of my business." Lin Tian shrugged, then changed his tone, looking at Zi Nu, "Let's get down to business—Miss Zi Nu, how about we make a deal?"

"Oh?" Zi Nu's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled warmly. "Young master wishes to do business with my humble Zi Lan Pavilion?"

"A tiny Zilan Pavilion?" Lin Tian chuckled. "If Zilan Pavilion is considered small, then in the entire Korea, the only place that can be called 'not small' is probably Ji Wuye's 'Nightfall'."

The purple goddess's expression changed drastically, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

The Purple Orchid Pavilion was extremely well hidden, and even the Nightfall had not been able to uncover its secrets. Yet this person saw right through it at a glance, as if he had known everything all along.

Lin Tian ignored her reaction and continued, "The deal is simple: from today onwards, Nongyu will leave Zilan Pavilion. If you ever want to stir up trouble or establish your own factions, you are not allowed to let her interfere. In return—I promise to do three things for you in the future. Of course, that's on the condition that I'm in a good mood."

Before the words were finished, Nongyu stepped forward, her voice cold yet accusatory: "Young Master, joining Zilan Pavilion was my own choice. Please retract your words. Otherwise, from this day forward, I will no longer play the zither for you."

Each word, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, reveals an unwavering resolve that leaves no room for compromise.

Lin Tian looked at her, his brows showing no anger, only a soft sigh: "Alas, I knew you would react this way. But Nongyu, we are friends with our hearts, and you know my temperament—once I've made a decision, I never change it."

Nongyu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

She knew for certain that once this person opened his mouth, it was as immovable as a mountain.

"Miss Zi Nu," Lin Tian turned his gaze to her, "what is your choice?"

Zi Nu did not answer.

Han Fei and Zhang Liang stood quietly to the side; this was not a matter for them to interfere in.

At that moment, a cold and arrogant voice slowly rang out:

"When discussing a deal, you first need to look at the value of the assets. And the conditions you've offered—in my opinion, are worthless."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shark Tooth was drawn half an inch from its sheath, and Wei Zhuang stepped in, his killing intent surging like a tide, sweeping across the entire scene.

As soon as Wei Zhuang entered, Lin Tian's lips curled into a smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, a hint of mockery appeared.

Guiguzi once asserted that Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang were the most outstanding successors of the School of Diplomacy in the past few hundred years.

In Lin Tian's eyes, these words were utterly absurd and laughable.