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

Lin Tian looked up at the setting sun and glanced at the long shadow of the old locust tree. Knowing it was time, he took Zhao Ji's wrist and went out the door.

Before leaving, Zi Nu handed him a heavy brocade box, feigning reproach: "What kind of talk is it to go to a banquet empty-handed?"

It turned out that she and Nongyu had searched all over the markets of Xianyang and picked out several rare and precious medicinal herbs—Taiyi ginseng, Shuangxue Ling, and Yunling Zizhi, each of which were rare treasures that were hard to find in the Qin region.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji casually took off the white jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it in Lin Tian's palm: "This is my congratulatory gift."

The wealthy are indeed decisive in their spending. The jade was as smooth and lustrous as cream, and the carving was exquisite. She gave it away without hesitation, adding, "The palace has piles of these kinds of things."

On the way to the banquet, Lin Tian kept reminding her, "Your Majesty, please bear with me and play the role of this little cousin well. Don't give yourself away."

"Cousin?" Zhao Ji glanced at him sideways, lightly poking his chest with her fingertip. "You dare call me that? I might not even respond. By seniority, I'm at least your older sister. How dare you take advantage of me?"

Lin Tianquan pretended not to hear—after all, the face in front of him couldn't even be described as an "elder" or "aunt," let alone an "aunt" or "sister."

Zhao Ji knew exactly what was going on, so Lin Tian didn't bother to explain further. At their age, surely they didn't need someone to teach them how to tell a lie or set up a stage? She casually asked about Yan Dan, and Lin Tian had no intention of hiding it—since he'd brought her along anyway, why bother with secrecy?

He spilled the beans, telling the whole story in one go. After listening, Zhao Ji raised an eyelid, glanced sideways at Lin Tian, ​​and said with a mocking tone, "With the Grand Preceptor pressing so relentlessly, how can Yan Dan, a member of the royal family, be allowed to be manipulated by you?"

"Aren't you still the Empress Dowager? Can princes and nobles compare to the Empress Dowager who controls the harem?" Lin Tian retorted.

"Of course I can't compare to you!" Zhao Ji raised her chin, her voice crisp and clear.

Looking at her dignified yet delicate appearance, Lin Tian had already figured out her personality pretty well.

As soon as Lin Tian stepped into Yan Dan's residence, he saw Yan Dan and Yan Fei standing side by side at the door to greet him.

As soon as Yan Fei's gaze settled on Zhao Ji, she stared intently at her, looking her up and down before blurting out, "Grand Preceptor, is this your daughter?"

Oops!

Lin Tian felt a tingling sensation on the back of his neck, and the hairs on his neck stood on end.

He quickly chuckled and waved his hand, "Cousin! Lin Ji, my cousin, she came to Xianyang with me to relax, she's quite wild." Ha... If she really was his biological daughter, wouldn't Ying Zheng become his grandson from a different generation?

"The Imperial Preceptor's closest relative?" Consort Yan asked with suspicion, her gaze sharp as needles as she scrutinized Zhao Ji's face; Yan Dan also frowned, his face full of doubt.

The Mohists and the Yin-Yang School had thoroughly investigated Lin Tian's background—there was no such person in the Seven Kingdoms, so where did this cousin come from?

The two looked at each other, their minds filled with doubt, but in the end they didn't ask any further questions.

The banquet was simply set out, with the four of them seated around a table: Lin Tian and Zhao Ji on one side, and Yan Dan and Yan Fei on the other. After a few pleasantries, Yan Dan raised his glass in a toast three times, then abruptly changed the subject and got to the main topic.

He gave Yan Fei a wink. She rose to take her leave and returned a moment later, carrying an ebony box in both hands, which she placed steadily in front of Lin Tian.

"The Illusionary Sound Box, the thing the Imperial Preceptor desires." She lightly opened the box lid with her fingertips, her voice clear and melodious, "This is the treasure of the Yin-Yang School, I hope the Imperial Preceptor will cherish it."

The lid of the box was slowly lifted, and the contents inside were exactly as Lin Tian remembered them.

He didn't rush to take it, nor did he lean closer to examine it. He simply raised his hand to close the box lid and looked directly at Yan Fei: "Are you truly not regretful?"

Consort Yan returned to her seat, a slight smile playing on her lips: "If the Imperial Preceptor is pleased, then His Highness's wish has been fulfilled. What regret could I possibly have?"

Before she finished speaking, she leaned close to Lin Tian's ear and whispered, "This woman is lying—the sadness in her eyes just now was impossible to hide." Actually, even without Zhao Ji pointing it out, Lin Tian could guess seven or eight parts of it just by listening to her tone and looking at her eyebrows.

Yan Dan, however, could not contain himself and leaned forward, eagerly asking, "May I ask the Grand Preceptor, when will you petition the King of Qin to grant me permission to return to my country?"

A hint of contempt suddenly rose in Lin Tian's heart—for his own selfish gain, he was actually using the most precious treasure others had poured their hearts out for his future. He smiled calmly and shook his head, saying, "Since ancient times, devoted hearts cannot be kept, and deep affection is the most tragic weapon. Very well, in a few days, I will petition the King to send His Highness back to Yan."

He casually picked up the box, placed it on the corner of the table, and didn't look at it again. What was supposed to be a rare treasure was now nothing more than a piece of chicken rib in his eyes—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away.

He casually recited a line of poetry, which Yan Dan paid no attention to, but Yan Fei was suddenly startled. She lowered her head and concealed her expression in the shadows, making it difficult to see her face.

Who is Zhao Ji? What hasn't she seen? Though she may look young, her heart has already weathered countless storms.

Lin Tian remained unmoved, but Empress Dowager Zhao Ji frowned and rebuked him in a low voice: "No! We absolutely cannot let him go! A woman was willing to give up her most precious possession for him; even I could see the pain in her eyes. Why is he pretending to be oblivious? Lin Tian, ​​if you agree to this, you will be aiding and abetting evil!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian pondered for a moment and understood a bit—it was probably because Zhao Ji, being a woman herself, felt a tightness in her heart and felt sorry for Consort Yan.

But this was a mutually agreeable transaction, and Lin Tian had no intention of interfering. Besides, now that the Illusionary Sound Box had been presented, his promise to Yan Fei could be considered fulfilled.

Zhao Ji seemed to sense that he had made up his mind. She snorted coldly and rolled her eyes quickly and fiercely—the meaning was clear: I am not pleased, do not disturb me.

Lin Tian pretended not to see it, his gaze sweeping over Yan Dan on the main seat, and said, "I will inform His Majesty and personally escort Your Highness back to Yan."

"Very well! Then thank you very much, Imperial Preceptor—I offer you a toast, Imperial Preceptor, and hope you will not hesitate to go to your troubles!" Yan Dan laughed loudly, raised his cup and drank.

"Taking money to do a job is just my duty." Lin Tian downed his drink in one gulp, then turned to leave. Yan Dan paused, her brows furrowing slightly: "Does the Imperial Advisor harbor some resentment?"

Lin Tian couldn't say it directly—just seeing you makes my heart ache.

With a slight lift of his lips, he said calmly, "Today, palace affairs are piling up, and His Majesty is waiting for me to discuss important matters. It is inconvenient for me to stay at the Eastern Palace residence for long, so please excuse me."

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken Zhao Ji's wrist and walked straight outside. Zhao Ji's steps were slow and her eyes were unwilling, but he didn't slow down at all, and didn't even bother to look back at the person behind him.

As always, Lin Tian never compromised, was perfunctory, or fawned over anyone. Before leaving, he casually picked up the Illusionary Sound Box from the table, his movements as practiced as if he were taking a handkerchief from his sleeve.

"Dongjun, see the Imperial Preceptor off for me!" Yan Dan ordered loudly.

"Yes, sir." Yan Fei quickly chased after him. Lin Tian walked to the vermilion gate, then suddenly stopped, loosened his grip on Zhao Ji's fingers, held the box in his palm, and turned to look at her.

He smiled faintly: "Dongjun, this box... you really gave it to me?"

Consort Yan lowered her eyes, a forced smile curving her lips, her voice as soft as the wind rustling through bamboo: "I only hope that the Imperial Preceptor will keep his promise and release the Crown Prince back to Han—Dongjun, I will remember this."

"Alright! We'll get back to you in three days." Lin Tian nodded.

"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor," she said softly.

After Lin Tian's figure disappeared around the street corner, he silently returned home, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the box, his expression growing somber.

Zhao Ji took out a rainbow candy from her sleeve, tore off the wrapper, put it in her mouth, glanced at him sideways, and snorted, "It's just an old box, is it worth you giving such a big favor? No matter how mysterious the Yin-Yang School is, it's just one of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Can it be more profound than Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, and Legalism? Making this deal with Yan Dan for it makes one feel sorry for that girl from earlier."

Huh? Girl?

Lin Tian glanced sideways at the little empress dowager beside him, who barely reached his shoulder on tiptoe, and was speechless for a moment.

But he could tell that there was a barb in her words, that she was speaking out for Yan Fei—he knew this very well.

He sighed softly, "If she's willing, then it's worth it."