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

Ying Zheng rode closer and saw Lin Tian gazing thoughtfully at Xianyang. He asked in a low voice, "Sir, is there something troubling you?"

Lin Tian simply waved his hand and said calmly, "It's nothing." He then turned his horse around and continued on with the group.

He suddenly turned his head and asked Ying Zheng, "When Han Fei enters Qin, what position do you intend to appoint him to?"

Ying Zheng replied respectfully, "Han Fei and Zhang Liang were both appointed as guest ministers."

Lin Tian remained noncommittal upon hearing this. As a newcomer, being a guest elder was a prudent choice—it showed courtesy while leaving room for maneuver.

As they were traveling, dust suddenly rose in the distance, and a rider galloped towards them like lightning. The young general dismounted, knelt on one knee, and shouted through the air, "Your Majesty! All officials are lined up outside the city gate, awaiting Your Majesty's return to the palace!"

Ying Zheng responded loudly, "Very well! Return to the city immediately and order a private banquet to be prepared—I wish to drink heartily with my dearest friend!"

"Yes, sir!" The young general mounted his horse and rode off into the distance.

Led by Ying Zheng, the procession headed straight for the main gate of Xianyang.

Upon reaching the city gate, Lin Tian realized that the phrase "all officials" was actually a humble expression—he saw a sea of ​​people, banners obscuring the sun, and drums and horns resounding from the city walls, creating a solemn atmosphere as if a sacrifice were being held.

A rough estimate suggests that over ten thousand people came to greet them.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows from the inside out, according to their rank; on both sides of the road, the common people prostrated themselves, their backs bent like full bows, and no one dared to raise their eyes to look directly at the king.

As soon as he reached the doorway, a man strode out to greet him. Lin Tian recognized him at a glance—it was Lü Buwei.

The officials bowed and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, while the bells and drums on the city tower resounded in unison, and the ritual music was resounding, all in accordance with the old rites of the Zhou Dynasty.

At this time, Ying Zheng was still the King of Qin and had not yet ascended to the throne, but he had already inherited the status of a feudal lord.

Although the Zhou dynasty perished, its ritual system remained and has endured for a thousand years.

Ying Zheng dismounted and personally helped Lü Buwei, who was kneeling to greet him, to his feet. His tone was calm yet measured: "Prime Minister Lü, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise and speak."

"How dare this old minister be disrespectful to Your Majesty! Your Majesty's safe return to court is truly a blessing for the nation and a boon for all the people!" Lü Buwei smiled warmly, and naturally grasped Ying Zheng's outstretched hand, his tone filled with just the right amount of relief and respect.

As soon as Ying Zheng dismounted, the people behind him quickly reined in their horses and dismounted. Lin Tian, ​​who always disliked such elaborate formalities, deliberately slowed his pace, lagging behind the rear of the procession by a dozen paces. Han Fei and Zhang Liang, however, stood steadily at the front—as envoys of Han, they were rightfully at the head of the formalities.

But when Lü Buwei stood side by side with Ying Zheng, his brows relaxed and his tone warm, presenting a heartwarming scene of a loving father meeting his son, Lin Tian felt a sudden heaviness in his stomach and almost vomited on the spot.

This old fox truly lives up to his reputation! Back then, he used the phrase "a rare commodity is worth hoarding" to shift the balance of power. Just look at his impeccable composure and his deep-seated shrewdness right now; even Lin Tian couldn't help but secretly admire him.

Ying Zheng then introduced the Qin delegation—Han Fei and Zhang Liang—to Lü Xiang and the officials.

Before the words were even finished, the air suddenly tensed. From the ranks of civil officials behind Prime Minister Lü, a man strode forward from the front row—it was Li Si.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

After bowing, he rose, raised his hand and pointed directly at Han Fei, his voice sharp and piercing: "Your Majesty, this man is a spy planted by the Han court!"

Ying Zheng's expression changed slightly, and his gaze swept sharply towards Li Si: "Isn't Han Fei your fellow student and classmate? Both of you studied under Master Xun, how could he be a spy?"

As soon as the convoy entered the gates of Xianyang, Lin Tian had already had all the girls board the carriage. At this moment, he was leaning against the side of the carriage, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the wooden wall.

Suddenly, a cold snort came from inside the curtain: "It's that scheming villain again! Back in Little Sage Manor, I always saw a burning jealousy in his eyes, his eyes fixed on my brother's talent!"

Zi Nu lifted a corner of the curtain, peeking out half her face, and said in a low voice, "I'm afraid Han Fei hasn't even warmed the cracks in the bricks of Xianyang City before he's about to be kicked out, right?"

Lin Tian remained silent for a moment, then looked up at her: "I expected this, no need to panic. Just stay calm."

He paused, his tone turning serious: "As for you, keep a close eye on the ladies in the carriage—especially Li Wu, make sure she doesn't peek out."

"Understood." Zi Nu lowered her eyes, lowered the curtain, and disappeared into the carriage.

These girls... they really give you no time to relax.

"Senior brother, why must you press this so hard?" Han Fei took a half-step forward, his back ramrod straight. "I am here on the orders of the King of Han to serve in Qin, carrying the trust of the state. How can I allow you to slander me with mere words!"

Li Si didn't even lift an eyelid. He simply pulled a roll of yellowed sheepskin from his sleeve and raised it high above his head: "Your Majesty, please read this! This is a record of Han Fei's various rebellious acts since he entered Qin, along with the recent unusual movements on the Han-Qin border. Every single one of these events proves that he harbors treacherous intentions—this is a carefully orchestrated scheme by the Han court. Your Majesty must not be blinded by hypocrisy!"

Ying Zheng unfurled the scroll and glanced at it. His face instantly turned ashen, and his gaze, sharp as a knife, pierced Li Si's face: "What a fine Minister of Justice... commendable for his loyalty and courage, and upright and incorruptible."

"Han Fei's entry into Qin must be to fathom the Emperor's intentions, plot for Han's benefit, and shake the foundations of our Great Qin! This action goes against the late King's dying wish that 'the six states must first defeat Han!'" Li Si's heart trembled—in just a few days, could it be that the King has already been won over by this junior brother?!

Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his Adam's apple bobbed, and alarm bells rang in his mind: if he didn't act soon, his position would be in jeopardy!

A thought flashed through his mind, and he slammed his knees to the ground, his forehead striking the blue stone hard: "I implore Your Majesty to execute Han Fei immediately to uphold the law! This man has long been wanted by the King of Han; he is a traitor, and keeping him alive will surely bring disaster!"

No one expected that Li Si's kneeling would topple the first domino. The ranks of civil officials instantly fell to the ground in unison, shouting thunderously, "The traitor deserves to die!"

Lin Tian watched the sudden storm in the court from afar, a slight twitch at the corner of his lips, and whispered like the wind: "Li Si... is even more daring than I thought. That old fox, he really dares to bet his entire fortune."

Lü Buwei remained silent until this moment, when he slowly raised his hand, gently stroking his beard with his fingertips. His voice was as calm as a still well: "Qin is founded on law, and officials and commoners are held equally accountable for their crimes. Even though Han Fei is the ninth son of the King of Han, he cannot escape the law. Your Majesty's love for talent is commendable, but given the perilous existence of Qin, we must not allow a tiger to grow into a threat."

"Senior brother, do you truly have no regard for our past friendship whatsoever?" Han Fei's voice wasn't loud, but each word seemed to be pierced by the wind. He looked around—the entire court, its officials bowing like rice stalks, stood alone before the steps, like a poisoned dagger. A chill ran through him: he had traveled thousands of miles, bearing the infamy, just to give Han a chance to survive; the old plan to assassinate the Qin emperor had long been discarded, only to be enlightened by Brother Lin; the King of Qin had even personally offered him wine, promising him brotherhood and a chance for Han's survival…

But now, that glimmer of light is teetering on the brink of extinction in the wind and rain.

As soon as they entered Qin, it was as if they had stepped into a quagmire—it was difficult to take a step, let alone gain a foothold.

"Laughable! They're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites in Taoist robes, harboring selfish motives!"

The loud laughter shattered the silence like a thunderclap. Han Fei felt a surge of warmth in his heart, as if a rush of hot blood was flowing back to his limbs and bones—he straightened his back, and even his breathing became lighter.

The speaker was Lin Tian. He walked with a steady gait, his clothes fluttering, and his gaze swept across the entire scene, as if he were a solitary peak standing atop a sea of ​​clouds, looking down upon all living beings.