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

He knew what would happen next: at the bottom of the mirage, in a dark and deep prison, there was no dawn or dusk; she was nailed to the name of a traitor and imprisoned for life; Yan Dan died under the curse of the Six Souls, Gao Yue lost her parents at a young age, and her family and country were destroyed.

But Gao Yue is ultimately the protagonist, and there's still room for maneuver; while Yan Fei... is truly like that old poem that flashed through his mind—

He wasn't unmoved, but his emotion was extremely subtle, like a raindrop that hadn't yet fallen from the eaves.

"What an idiot!" Zhao Ji pouted. "When I return to the palace, you escort me!"

"Very well." Lin Tian nodded. "It just so happens that I need to personally report to the King and explain the matter of Yan Dan in detail."

The two entered the palace gates together. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Zhao Ji turned and headed towards the rear hall. Her steps were swift, clearly indicating her intention to avoid suspicion.

Lin Tian went straight to the study. It was almost late afternoon, and Ying Zheng was reviewing memorials as usual. Sure enough, he saw Gai Nie standing by the door with his sword, and the candlelight inside flickering.

Ying Zheng looked up and saw it was him, slightly surprised: "Sir, has something urgent come to visit at this time?"

Lin Tian didn't say much. He first took out the Illusionary Sound Box and placed it on the table, then recounted the whole story without missing a single word.

After listening, Ying Zheng simply smiled and said, "So it was for such a trivial matter. Yan Dan should have been sent back long ago, but King Xi of Yan refused to accept his own son—a mere abandoned son of a state poses less than one-tenth the threat to our Great Qin than the Wei Wuzu."

He glanced at the box again, his tone nonchalant: "What the Imperial Preceptor obtains belongs to him; I have no intention of interfering."

Lin Tian stared at him, his gaze calm, as if trying to penetrate that gentle facade—since the Empress Dowager incident, he felt that Ying Zheng had become increasingly unpredictable.

The answer he received was exactly what he had expected. Yet, a sense of emptiness welled up in Lin Tian's heart.

His prediction came true, but he was disappointed. He had wanted to see Ying Zheng frown, hesitate, or even show slight displeasure—that was the purpose of his frankness, and also the sharp edge of his test. But the man remained seated as before, calm and collected, leaving everything to his judgment.

It's all up to the Imperial Advisor...

For the first time, Lin Tian couldn't quite see through this king.

Lin Tian's heart sank slightly, but a calm smile appeared on his face: "His father is wary of the power of our Great Qin. After all, the alliance from back then still exists, and it was he who personally sent Crown Prince Dan here. Now we are willing to send him back, which is our benevolence; whether he accepts him or not is the choice of the King of Yan. Since Your Majesty has no objection, I will give the Yan envoy a definite answer within three days—to let him return to his country."

"Good! Leaving this palace vacant will bring some peace and quiet, saving us the trouble of sending guards to watch over it day and night." Lin Tian bowed and prepared to leave, but just as he stepped over the threshold, Ying Zheng's clear voice suddenly rang out behind him—

"Please wait a moment, sir."

Lin Tian stopped and turned around to look back. He saw Ying Zheng approaching quickly, his brows furrowed with seriousness: "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Ying Zheng stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "The matter with the Xiongnu is settled—astrologers predict that the auspicious time will be five days from now; General Wang Jian's provisions and supplies will also arrive at the northern frontier camp at the same time. If you have no objections, sir, may we muster the troops and set off in five days? How many troops do you intend to mobilize this time?"

"A northern expedition against the Xiongnu?" Lin Tian pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Agreed! I only need 30,000 elite cavalry for this battle, but I want Meng Tian as the commander."

"Li Xin volunteered first, and Meng Tian is loyal and brave, so he will naturally follow; Wang Jian will oversee the transport of grain in the rear, so you can rest assured, sir." Ying Zheng changed the subject and brought up another matter, "However, a secret report from the Donghu has arrived, saying that the Xiongnu have recently recruited a group of golden-haired, blue-eyed foreign warriors who are exceptionally fierce... Hehe, even so, they will not be able to withstand the swiftness of your sword."

"If that were the case, it would be rather dull." Lin Tian chuckled and shook his head. Slaying generals and seizing flags is exhilarating for a moment; but if one were to repeatedly slaughter thousands of troops, the resulting violence would be too great, and the karmic burden too deep—he had long since wanted to avoid getting involved in such matters.

After Lin Tian left, Ying Zheng summoned Gai Nie, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Did you discern the deeper meaning in what you just said, sir?"

"Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor intends to defeat the enemy using the orthodox methods of military strategy, rather than relying on a lone swordsman and a single decisive blow."

Ying Zheng remained silent for a moment, his eyes flickered slightly, and he murmured to himself, "He intends to distribute this military merit among those three generals."

His gaze sharpened, and he asked again, "Is there anyone else in Xianyang beside Prince Dan of Yan?"

"There was only one woman, whose title was Dongjun."

"Dongjun? That's the Yin-Yang School female disciple who handed over the Illusionary Sound Box." Ying Zheng's eyes flashed, and he immediately ordered: "Go to Crown Prince Dan's residence immediately to convey the imperial decree—I allow him to leave Qin and return to his country in three days, but he must bring Dongjun to the palace tonight to meet the Emperor."

"Yes, sir!" Gai Nie accepted the order and left.

Ying Zheng stood before the palace, gazing towards the western sky. The twilight was like molten gold being poured out, the clouds surging and turning half the sky red.

He pondered for a long time, his voice soft yet burning with intensity: "If I could utilize the secret arts of the Yin-Yang School, conquering the six kingdoms and subjugating the Baiyue would be twice as effective. And the secret of Yin-Yang duality and immortality… I must comprehend it! Only by grasping this great Dao can I lay the foundation for the Qin Dynasty for eternity, unifying the world for thousands of generations!"

Before he finished speaking, a blazing light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

Then, he whispered, "Since you are an immortal descended to earth, with a lifespan equal to that of heaven and earth, immortality is not a myth. I also wish to cultivate such power that reaches the heavens and the earth, so that I may stand shoulder to shoulder with you at the pinnacle of heaven and earth."

Yan Dan was still secretly pleased in his room when he suddenly heard that a palace messenger had arrived—Gai Nie had come in person and summoned Crown Prince Dan and Dong Jun to enter the palace immediately.

What stirred his emotions even more was that the King of Qin personally promised that he would be allowed to return to his country in three days!

This long-awaited news almost burned his heart. Finally... finally he could shed his status as a hostage and no longer have to live a life of subservience and humiliation!

Overwhelmed by ecstasy, he ignored even the hint of worry and doubt on Dongjun's face.

Yan Fei frowned slightly.

The King of Qin was not surprised to know she was here—this was Xianyang, his territory.

But why did he specifically ask her to come along?

This move was rather peculiar.

Just as Yan Dan was dressed in his finest attire, preparing to meet the King of Qin, his eyes brimming with barely suppressed joy, his long-cherished wish was about to be fulfilled, and even his breathing became lighter. Beside him, Consort Yan, who was adjusting his hairpins and crown, trembled slightly, but her smile was genuine—though the Illusionary Sound Box was no longer in her hands, wasn't this outcome precisely what she had orchestrated?

At this moment, she felt no hindrance, and even a sense of peace arose within her: it was worth it, and she had no regrets.

When Yan Dan smiled and promised that he would make her a concubine upon returning to Yan, officially calling her "Consort Yan," the light in her eyes shone even brighter than the rising sun outside the palace.

But this warmth was extinguished the moment the two stepped into the gates of Xianyang Palace.

Yan Dan led her to kowtow to King Ying Zheng of Qin. Ying Zheng's gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing straight at Yan Fei: "You are the wife of Crown Prince Dan?"

Before she could speak, Yan Dan quickly replied, "This is Dan's closest friend in the Yan Kingdom."

With strict social etiquette, traveling together before marriage could only be excused by this one pretext.

Ying Zheng laughed loudly three times, his voice shaking the pillars, brooking no argument: "Such a beauty is rare in this world! And she is a disciple of the Yin-Yang School, personally trained by the Lord of the East—you shall stay and become my new consort. The goddess by the Luo River in Qu Yuan's writings has now fallen into my Xianyang Palace. Five days later, when the Grand Preceptor goes to war, I will personally choose an auspicious day for the investiture ceremony."

This is nothing short of a bolt from the blue.

Yan Dan's throat tightened, and he was about to speak when he saw Ying Zheng's eyes darken on the high platform, his voice as cold as iron: "Crown Prince Dan, you... don't want to return to your country? Consort Luo staying in Qin is a joyous occasion for the Yan-Qin marriage alliance; if Your Highness is reluctant to part with your 'old friend,' you may stay in Xianyang for the rest of your life."

"Dan dares not!" Yan Dan bowed her head and prostrated herself on the ground, her voice low and hoarse.

"On the day I left the palace, I ordered the officials in charge of ceremonies to prepare three thousand yi of gold, three thousand yi of silver, and three thousand pieces each of pearls and jade—both as a generous gift to Prince Xi of Yan and as a betrothal gift to Lady Luo."

Before he finished speaking, Ying Zheng had already risen and stepped down from the high platform, stopping in front of Consort Yan. His tone was calm, yet every word was like a nail: "As for the Yin Yang School, I will send an envoy to inform them. His Majesty the Eastern Emperor has a long-standing relationship with our Great Qin. The Yin Yang School will certainly have no objection to Consort Luo entering the harem."