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

-

"Your subordinate greets the Master."

No sooner had Lin Tian left than a deep voice sounded outside the door.

"Come in."

Dongfang Bubai's voice turned cold, all traces of the previous gentle and tender tone replaced by a sharp and imposing aura, each word exuding an unquestionable imperial authority.

The door opened, and a man dressed in the attire of the Sun Moon Cult bowed and entered.

"Master, this is a summary of intelligence from various factions in the martial arts world recently. Please take a look." He presented a booklet with both hands.

Dongfang Bubai took it, casually placed it on the table, and didn't even look at it.

After a long pause, he suddenly said calmly, "Hasn't a 'Deadly Sword' recently appeared in the martial arts world? Within seven days, I want all his secrets, down to the last detail."

"Yes, Master!"

The man was slightly taken aback, a chill running down his spine. Dongfang Bubai had actually given orders to someone personally—this was unprecedented. Though surprised, he dared not ask, much less hesitate.

"Step back."

"yes!"

With a flick of his sleeve, a chill spread.

-

Hengyang City.

While not as grand and ancient as Xi'an, it is nestled at the foot of Mount Heng, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, and is under the jurisdiction of the Hengshan School. The town is safe and secure, its residents live peacefully, and although small, it is bustling with activity, its streets teeming with life.

Just a few steps into the city, Lin Tian saw the plaque hanging high above the restaurant – “Huiyanlou”.

He tossed the reins to the approaching waiter and strode up to the second floor. The rules of the restaurant were clear these days: the first floor for commoners and laborers, the second for dignitaries and important figures.

But as soon as they stepped onto the stairs, the atmosphere became a little awkward.

Tables and chairs were overturned, and cups and plates were scattered everywhere, as if a fierce battle had just taken place. The shopkeeper huddled behind the counter, trembling like a leaf, not daring to lift his head.

Looking around, there were only two intact tables in the entire place, one occupied by an old man and a young boy. The old man was drinking slowly and calmly, while the boy's eyes darted around, his face mischievous and cunning, as if he was up to some naughty scheme.

At another table, two people were drinking heavily, while a nun with long hair and ordination scars stood beside them, her face anxious and her eyes fixed on one of the men.

A nun with long hair...

It's probably Yilin.

That's true. Now that Dongfang Bai has shown his face, it's only natural that Yi Lin is Dongfang Lin.

Lin Tian's mind raced, and he picked up his sword and walked over, heading straight to the table.

Ignoring Tian Boguang, he looked at Linghu Chong and said casually, "The second floor is so badly damaged that there's not even a place to sit. It's not good to disturb the grandfather and grandson over there. Since the three of you are all江湖人士 (jianghu figures), sharing a table shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Before he finished speaking, he had already sat down.

"Hurry up, hurry up!" Linghu Chong frowned, his face full of impatience. "Brother Tian and I are having a great time drinking. Having another person would spoil the fun!"

The tone was touching, yet utterly unceremonious.

But Lin Tian laughed instead.

This reaction, on the contrary, made him feel a little favorably towards her.

To be honest, he didn't really admire Linghu Chong, the protagonist of *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*. In his eyes, this guy was a typical example of someone with late-stage adolescent delusions and an insatiable rebellious streak—

Yue Buqun raised you for over a decade; he's shown you immense kindness. And yet, just because of a promise made by Feng Qingyang, you refuse to reveal the origins of the Dugu Nine Swords? Promises must be kept, but can't you take a roundabout approach?

For example, casually mentioning: "It was taught on the back mountain of Mount Hua by a senior who had a very deep connection with Mount Hua."

Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun, being no fool, would naturally guess that it was Feng Qingyang. And as a senior like Feng, offering guidance would only bring Yue Buqun comfort and even gratitude.

Furthermore, after only a few drinks on the road and a pleasant conversation, Linghu Chong was easily swayed by Xiang Wentian to go to Plum Manor in West Lake to rescue Ren Woxing, almost getting himself caught in the crossfire.

If it weren't for the protagonist's halo, anyone else would have been killed off in the first episode.

Of course, these are all from an outsider's perspective. To be honest, having a friend like Linghu Chong wouldn't be bad at all—loyal, unpretentious, even if he occasionally has a mental lapse.

……

"This benefactor, you should leave quickly," Yilin advised softly, her voice full of worry.

"Hey, hey, hey, Linghu Chong, why are you chasing people away? We've ordered too much food. We martial arts people shouldn't be so fussy. Since this young master is here, why don't you sit down and eat with us?"

Tian Boguang grinned, showing no politeness whatsoever. He glanced at Lin Tian's clothes and knew he was a rich young master. He had already planned in his mind that he might be able to mooch off a drink later.

As for whether he would run into a brick wall, Tian Boguang hadn't even considered it.

Lin Tian looked to be only in his early twenties. Even if he had started practicing martial arts since birth, he would at most be a first-rate expert. But he himself was a genuine peak acquired expert. He had just injured the self-proclaimed "demon-slaying and righteous" Taoist Tian Song of the Taishan Sect with a single palm strike. Why would he be afraid of such a young upstart?

"This brother understands the rules of the martial world better than you," Lin Tian said with a smile, glancing at Linghu Chong.

"What did you say?!" Tian Boguang's eyes turned icy as he stared intently at Lin Tian. "Say it again if you dare!"

"Want to hear?" Lin Tian didn't even lift his eyelids, slowly picking up a piece of food with his chopsticks. "I'll keep you company once I'm full."

After saying that, he poured himself a drink and started eating, enjoying himself immensely.

"you--"

Tian Boguang's anger surged, and he was about to explode when Linghu Chong grabbed him, saying, "Brother Tian, ​​don't be angry! Let's drink! Ignore him; he's obviously a newbie. Let's just have a good drink!"

At this moment, Linghu Chong was inwardly groaning. He hadn't even settled the little nun Yilin yet, and now this arrogant rich young master had suddenly appeared?

"snort!"

Tian Boguang glared at Lin Tian, ​​but ultimately said nothing more. He simply picked up his wine bowl, clinked it against Linghu Chong's, and downed it in one gulp. For a moment, the atmosphere at the table was as heavy as the calm before a storm.

The wine was finished and the food was left uneaten; a long silence followed.

Finally, Tian Boguang couldn't sit still any longer. He slammed his hand on the table and said in a cold voice:

"Kid, you've eaten and drunk your fill—shouldn't you repeat what you just said?"

"Oh?" Lin Tian raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "You want to hear me scolded a second time? You're a rare breed. But since I've already eaten and drunk your food, I can't refuse—fine, I'll give you another scolding."

He put down his chopsticks and smiled faintly:

"I'd say you're better at talking and dealing with people than this guy... and by the way, you're much smarter than him."

"Are you looking for death?!" Tian Boguang's murderous aura surged, his right hand instantly gripping the hilt of his knife, his eyes like knives.

"Hey, hey, hey! Brother Tian, ​​calm down!" Linghu Chong quickly intervened. "Didn't you hear? They're praising your intelligence! They're not insulting you!"

He quickly turned to look at Lin Tian, ​​frantically gesturing with his eyes: Quick! Take advantage of this opportunity!

Lin Tian remained calm and composed, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"You know, beauty is revealed through ugliness, and good is highlighted through evil. To show how clever this Brother Tian is, we must first talk about how stupid you are."

He turned his gaze to Linghu Chong, his tone casual.

"Me?!" Linghu Chong was stunned on the spot, his face full of confusion.

"Otherwise what?" Lin Tian chuckled. "Could it be this adorable little master next to me?"