Lady, let me explain.

Chapter 98 Lin Yi Establishes Authority in the Prince Xin's Mansion

Lin Yi followed Ding Baiying into the carriage, which headed towards the Prince Xin's residence.

The roads in Shenjing were flat, and the carriage traveled very smoothly.

Lin Yi listened to the sound of the wheels rolling over the stone road and smelled the fragrance of orchids and musk in the carriage. He closed his eyes and concentrated on thinking.

Halfway through the journey, Ding Baiying said in a cool voice, "His Highness is magnanimous, gentle, and respectful to scholars, like a spring breeze and gentle rain, nourishing things silently. Sect Leader Lin, there is no need to be nervous."

Lin Yi was speechless, his face expressionless... As a person from a later era, he looked down upon these natives.

Furthermore, now that his martial arts skills have reached a high level, he wouldn't be nervous even when meeting the emperor, let alone a mere vassal king.

He was simply thinking about the meeting, how to treat Prince Xin, and some matters to be done afterward.

It is absolutely impossible for him to be obsequious and humble to others.

But in this era, the identity of a martial arts sect leader is ultimately not respectable. The other party is a prince, so of course you have to give him face... But if you give too much face, you lose the initiative.

Lin Yi was simply considering the balance and how to manage Prince Xin.

He glanced at Ding Baiying and said indifferently, "When did I become Prince Xin's 'subordinate'?"

A true man lives between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long?
It's a bit ridiculous that Lin Yi, who has fallen to such a low point, would become a lackey of Prince Xin.

It can only be a cooperative relationship.

Ding Baiying remained calm and bowed respectfully, saying, "I misspoke."

They remained silent for the rest of the journey. The carriage arrived at the Prince Xin's residence and entered directly through a side gate, only stopping inside the residence.

Lin Yi followed Ding Baiying off the carriage, entered through the hanging flower gate, and walked along the long corridor towards the depths of the courtyard.

He kept a close eye on the terrain and the route.

Prince Xin, Zhao Zhen, grew up with Emperor Xuanzhi and had a deep brotherly bond with him, so he was naturally extremely honored.

The Prince Xin's Mansion was magnificent and splendid, several times more luxurious than the mansions of ordinary dukes and marquises.

The palace complex is majestic, and the gardens cover a vast area, featuring pavilions, terraces, and covered walkways, combining local characteristics with the charm of Jiangnan.

As Lin Yi traveled, he gained more knowledge and experience, and all he could think was, "This is the kind of place where people should live!"
After passing another artificial hill, we saw several people standing under a three-story pavilion in the distance.

The leader wore a winged crown and a yellow dragon robe. He was in his early twenties, with a handsome face and an elegant demeanor. He appeared very kind.

Prince Xin, Zhao Zhen.

Lin Yi was looking at Zhao Zhen, and Zhao Zhen was also observing him.

When Zhao Zhen saw Lin Yi walking towards him, he was initially surprised.

Although Zhao Zhen knew that Lin Yi was a few years younger than him and had seen Lin Yi's portrait, it was still hard to associate such a handsome and refined young man with the title of "the best martial artist in the world" when he saw him in person.

At this moment, Ding Baiying couldn't help but quicken her pace... This was to express respect for superiors. For example, according to etiquette, officials must walk quickly when entering the court, while "not having to walk quickly when entering the court" was a great honor bestowed upon officials.

But Lin Yi remained unhurried, strolling leisurely as if no one else was there.

Zhao Zhen was not surprised; it was normal for such a talented and extraordinary person to have a temper.

He took a few steps forward, bowed, and said with a smile, "Sect Leader Lin, it is an honor to have you here. I am sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Lin Yi smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Xin."

At this moment, a voice came from behind: "Sect Leader Lin, Prince Xin, being a prince of high status, personally came from afar to welcome you, a commoner. This is a great honor. It would be extremely impolite of you not to pay your respects."

Lin Yi looked at the man who spoke. He was dressed in a blue robe, with a long, flowing beard, and appeared to be around fifty years old.

Is this an attempt to intimidate him?

Lin Yi was not surprised. He was well-known and now valued by Prince Xin, so he was naturally at odds with the experts that Prince Xin's mansion had originally recruited.

Although his reputation was at its peak, which master in the world wasn't arrogant and conceited?
It's perfectly normal to be unconvinced by his claim of being "the best martial artist in the world" if you haven't witnessed it firsthand and have only heard rumors.

From the perspective of Prince Xin, he would most likely tacitly approve of such a thing.

In addition, seeing is believing, and he could also use this opportunity to test Lin Yi's martial arts skills and attitude.

Lin Yi smiled inwardly. It seemed he still needed to establish his authority. "Who are you?"

The man said calmly, "Zhuo Bufan of the One-Word Wisdom Sword Sect."

Lin Yi nodded: "Although he is not famous and his martial arts are barely passable, the title of 'Sword God' is somewhat laughable."

His condescending tone drew angry glares from the others.

Zhuo Bufan said, "Is your reputation of 'the best martial arts in the world' truly well-deserved?"

Zhao Zhen said, "Sect Leader Lin has come from afar, why does Elder Zhuo say such a thing?"

Lin Yi smiled and looked at Zhao Zhen, saying, "I am a man of principle; I cannot kneel even before the emperor. Your Highness, please do not take offense. Since the rules of the Prince Xin's residence are so strict, I will not keep you company any longer."

After saying that, Lin Yi turned around and left.

The assembled experts were dumbfounded. It was normal for martial arts practitioners to disregard the emperor. They might boast about him in private, but to say it so openly—weren't they afraid of breaking a taboo?
Emperor Zhao Zhen was also stunned. All masters have tempers, but he had never seen one with such a strong temper before!

Zhao Zhen had a sudden thought. Lin Yi's reputation was renowned. Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but his influence in the martial arts world was also unmatched. If he could get Lin Yi's help, he could almost unify the power of the Central Plains martial arts world.

He gritted his teeth, quickly caught up with Lin Yi, and bowed deeply in front of him.

"Old Master Zhuo is a straightforward person, please don't take offense, Sect Leader Lin. Sect Leader Lin has come all the way to the capital, it's all because of my neglect."

"Besides, the title of 'Prince' is only for ordinary people. I have long admired the title of Sect Leader Lin. If Sect Leader Lin does not mind, we can address each other as brothers and there is no need to be so formal."

Zhuo Bufan and the others turned pale upon seeing Zhao Zhen's actions, but none of them dared to speak further and offend Zhao Zhen.

Lin Yi chuckled inwardly, but maintained a serious expression as he helped Zhao Zhen up.

"Your Highness's sincerity is truly touching... Well, since we're here, we should at least have a drink before we leave."

Lin Yi certainly didn't want to leave.

Zhuo Bufan wanted to give him a hard time, but he could do the opposite and establish his authority. He wanted to take advantage of Prince Xin's power, so open and covert struggles were inevitable.

If they simply walk away and quit, this approach is merely a temporary act of spite, and in reality, neither Zhuo Bufan nor anyone else wins.

He was playing hard to get, just to gain the upper hand.

The art of associating with powerful figures and influential people is a profound skill.

Many martial arts masters, despite their unparalleled skills, were sold to the imperial family, only to become lackeys at the beck and call of the powerful, at best serving as henchmen.

The Golden Wheel Monk treated Kublai Khan with utmost respect, considering himself his subordinate, which was considered quite good.

At this point, we must mention the role model in this regard—Ouyang Feng.

Wanyan Honglie, a powerful prince, practically fawned over Ouyang Feng.

Wanyan Honglie wanted the Wumu Legacy, and Ouyang Feng wanted the Nine Yin Manual. It was a mutually beneficial relationship between the two, not a subordinate relationship, but a cooperation.

On the contrary, Prince Wanyan Honglie was very polite and humble towards Ouyang Feng.

Lin Yi analyzed the differences between Jinlun Fawang and Ouyang Feng.

The biggest reason is that the Golden Wheel Monk is responsible for the entire Tibetan Buddhism, while Ouyang Feng has no weaknesses.

Secondly, the Golden Wheel Monk was polite and knew how to behave appropriately, making him easy for those in positions of power to control.

In Wanyan Honglie's mind, Ouyang Feng was just a rough and arrogant man from the martial arts world, who was ignorant of manners.

If he were to use his princely authority to intimidate Ouyang Feng, Ouyang Feng would not tolerate it and would simply turn on him and leave, or even turn around and poison him.

Therefore, Lin Yi came to the conclusion that when martial arts masters face the powerful and wealthy, it is better for them to be sharp and assertive than to be gentle, kind, respectful, and frugal.

You absolutely cannot let the powerful and wealthy feel that they have everything under your control... Of course, the premise is that the expert really has some skills, otherwise it's easy to make a mess of things.

The way two people interact is often determined at their first meeting. Lin Yi, of course, had to establish his persona and personality. Zhao Zhen put on a big smile, took Lin Yi's wrist, and appeared very intimate: "Sect Leader Lin, please."

The two entered the attic together, and for a moment the atmosphere seemed harmonious.

Zhuo Bufan and the others followed silently.

The attic is spacious and elegant, with exquisite and luxurious furnishings. The wooden stairs are covered with wool carpets, so going up and down the stairs is also very quiet.

As everyone went upstairs, the host and guests took their seats. First, maids served fragrant tea, and then, as they talked, the food and wine were served.

Although Zhao Zhen was gentle in nature, he was also good at managing his subordinates. After his courteous treatment of Lin Yi, the other experts in the Prince's Mansion knew his attitude and greeted Lin Yi warmly, offering plenty of flattery and compliments, creating a lively atmosphere in the pavilion.

Only Zhuo Bufan remained silent, his face cold.

As the banquet began, a group of women in palace attire slowly entered and started a song and dance performance.

The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and the dancers, dressed in bright and beautiful clothes, with hairpins adorning their skirts, danced gracefully. Their figures were as round and white as snow, radiant and beautiful as pearls and jade.

This was the first time Lin Yi had ever seen such a scene, and he didn't care about Zhao Zhen's observing gaze, casually enjoying the view.

Elegant, so elegant indeed.

After the song ended, a group of dancers sat down with the guests, and the most beautiful lead dancer naturally sat down next to Lin Yi.

This woman was truly a beauty of unparalleled grace. She wore a light white dress embroidered with plum blossoms, her hair styled in a morning incense bun, revealing her snow-white neck and delicate collarbones. Below her strapless bodice were her shapely breasts.

Lin Yi waved his hand and chased her away.

King Xin was puzzled, thinking to himself, "Wasn't he said to be a womanizer? How could he not be interested in such a beauty? Could the intelligence be wrong?"

Zhao Zhen dismissed the woman beside him and said with a smile, "Sect Leader Lin has refined tastes and is not moved by beauty. I am the one who has fallen into the trap of worldly ways."

Lin Yi shook his head and smiled, "Beauties are nice, but they are not to my liking. It would be better to have Miss Ding serve me."

“This…” Zhao Zhen hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ding Baiying standing in the corner.

Ding Baiying and her fellow disciples serve him for legitimate reasons, while Lu Wenzhao is merely a useful pawn. To have Ding Baiying use her beauty to please him is somewhat...

However, considering Lin Yi's importance, Zhao Zhen nodded to Ding Baiying.

Ding Baiying froze for a moment, then could only take a step and walk towards Lin Yi.

Lin Yi is unrestrained and can disregard Prince Xin's feelings, but she cannot... She still has to be responsible for her senior brother and several disciples.

Ding Baiying walked to Lin Yi's side, bowed, knelt down beside him, and poured wine for him, saying, "Sect Leader Lin, please."

Her face was expressionless, her voice calm, devoid of sorrow or joy.

Lin Yi took it and drank it all.

Zhao Zhen looked at this scene with a strange expression... The lead dancer was someone he had carefully selected, and with her light makeup and meticulous dressing, she was naturally more beautiful than Ding Baiying, who was plain-faced and dressed in men's clothing.

It can only be said that Lin Yi is indeed very temperamental and has a strong personality.

Zhao Zhen pondered, "They traveled all the way from Jiangnan to the capital. It's normal for Lin Yi to have developed feelings for Ding Baiying. This... is actually a great thing!"

Suddenly, with a whoosh, Zhuo Bufan stood up, sword in hand.

He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, Sect Leader Lin is a master of martial arts. Singing and dancing beauties, wine and food may not suit his taste. How about I perform a sword dance for Sect Leader Lin to appreciate?”

Zhao Zhen observed Lin Yi's expression and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Elder Zhuo. Since the sword dance is just for entertainment, you must be careful to keep it in check."

Zhuo Bufan agreed, drew his sword and stepped into the arena. He drew his longsword, its cold light flashing, and began to wield it with the grace of flowing clouds and water.

His sword aura was chilling, and his every move was devoid of any hint of a banquet performance; on the contrary, it exuded a menacing killing intent.

Zhuo Bufan suddenly slashed his sword down at the table several times, and a half-foot-long, flickering blue light suddenly appeared from the tip of the sword, neatly dividing the table into several uniformly sized pieces.

The other experts from the Prince Xin's Mansion at the banquet exclaimed in surprise: "Sword light! Sword light!"

Prince Xin, Zhao Zhen, was also taken aback. Zhuo Bufan was the number one expert in his palace, but he realized at this moment that he had underestimated him.

Zhuo Bufan stopped his stance and stood still, his longsword humming incessantly.

Zhao Zhen clapped and cheered: "Master Zhuo's swordsmanship is extraordinary and superb. I admire him greatly."

The others also voiced their praise.

Lin Yi smiled. Zhuo Bufan's purpose was to entertain, but in reality, it was to show off his skills and intimidate him.

He had already gained the upper hand in the psychological battle.

Now it's time to establish authority through strength; otherwise, it will be difficult to convince others.

However, establishing authority is also a skill.

It's a banquet now, so a duel in the ring is not an option.

If I were to retaliate against Zhuo Bufan with the same sword technique, even if I won, it would be beneath my dignity.

Lin Yi took the jade flute from his waist and said with a smile, "Your Highness has hosted a banquet for us, so I will also perform a piece to express my gratitude."

He didn't need to ask Zhao Zhen for permission; he picked up the jade flute as soon as he finished speaking.

Zhao Zhen hurriedly replied, "If Sect Leader Lin has such an interest, I will certainly listen attentively."

The next moment, the melodious sound of a flute rang out.

After listening for a while, Zhao Zhen felt as if he were listening to a beautiful poem. He appreciated the music and thought to himself that Lin Yi was a refined scholar.

Suddenly he realized something was wrong... He heard rapid breathing from the banquet, like horses panting. Zhuo Bufan and the others sat cross-legged on the table, their bodies tense and covered in sweat.

Zhao Zhen was stunned, not understanding why.

The sound of the flute was gentle and melodious, yet one person trembled and collapsed to the ground...

Several more people covered their ears with their hands, their faces contorted in rage.

Zhao Zhen realized that the sound of the flute... was not right.

"what--"

The sound of the flute gradually became more urgent. One person could not bear it and screamed. Immediately afterwards, screams echoed throughout the banquet, and several people fell to the ground and rolled around.

Zhao Zhen was stunned. These people were all martial arts masters recruited by the Prince Xin's mansion. They were all skilled in martial arts and usually valued their reputation the most. They would never cry out even if they were stabbed twice.

But at this moment, he was tormented by this seemingly ordinary flute music to the point that he didn't care about his dignity and screamed repeatedly? How much pain must he be in?

One person knelt on the ground, screaming and shouting, "Sect Leader Lin, withdraw your supernatural powers!"

After he started, several others shouted, "Sect Leader Lin, please stop your supernatural powers! I admire you!"

At this moment, only Zhuo Bufan was still sitting there cross-legged, blood streaming from his nostrils, his face terrifying, still gritting his teeth and struggling to hold on.

The sound of the flute suddenly changed, and Zhuo Bufan suddenly tilted his head back and spat out a mouthful of blood, crashing to the ground unconscious.

Zhao Zhen stood up in a daze, his jaw dropping in utter shock...

Lin Yi didn't even make a move; with just a melody on his flute, he subdued all the experts from the Prince Xin's mansion, torturing them to the point of wishing for death, until they begged for mercy.

Is there such profound martial arts in the world?

The song ended.

Zhao Zhen swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly, and said, "What a fine piece of music... Master Lin, your music is too sophisticated for the masses, I am ashamed."

Lin Yi smiled, pulled Ding Baiying into his arms, and raised his wine glass, saying, "Please."

Ding Baiying's body stiffened, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her face was flushed.

Zhao Zhen quickly picked up his wine cup, "Sect Leader Lin, please..."

(End of this chapter)