allendalepharm Chapter 192 Those who break their oaths will be condemned to eternal damnation, their redemption imp
Chapter 192 Those who break their oaths will be condemned to eternal damnation, their redemption imp
Lin Tian stood in the courtyard, letting the damp night wind blow against his face, unwilling to step into the warm and cozy palace. He looked up at the starry river, his eyes growing darker.
How can we uproot Lü Buwei, pull out the poisonous vine of Miao Du, and even... shake Empress Dowager Zhao Ji, who sits high in the Jiaofang Palace and controls the harem?
A single sword strike is the most exhilarating, but the consequences of such a strike are far-reaching; a slight misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences.
At this time, it was roughly the last quarter of the Xu hour (7-9 PM) as people would say today.
"You're wounded and yet you try to be a sage, gazing at the stars? Your idle thoughts are more excessive than spring water."
A familiar voice sounded from behind him. Lin Tian turned around and saw Zi Nu standing on the steps in a purple dress, her beauty enhanced by the moonlight. He smiled and said, "Didn't you also drop everything to come and catch me in my leisure time?"
Zi Nu hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped forward, turned her face to the side, and asked in a lower voice, "Are you feeling better?" The night could not hide the faint blush spreading across her cheeks, like a drop of rouge spreading on rice paper.
"The one who can hurt me hasn't been born yet." He smiled easily, completely unconcerned.
She remained silent for a moment, then took out a jade bottle from her sleeve, placed it in his palm, and slightly averted her gaze: "Take it."
Lin Tian didn't ask any questions, and simply accepted the medicine—no need to guess, it must be a top-quality wound medicine.
Seeing that he had put it away, Zi Nu looked at him again, pausing slightly in her tone: "Nong Yu mentioned...you're going on a long journey?"
Lin Tian nodded and said nothing more.
She pursed her lips slightly, finally unable to resist asking, "...Is it dangerous?"
He smiled and said, "It's alright."
"Then..." Her throat moved slightly, but the words were swallowed back down, leaving only half of them hanging in the wind.
"What?" Lin Tian raised an eyebrow, his smile gentle. "This isn't like Zi Nu's temperament."
Zi Nu gazed at Lin Tian, her eyes lingering on his brows and eyes, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her sleeve. Her body went limp, and she involuntarily nestled into his arms.
Lin Tian froze instantly, his heart stopped beating, and he even forgot to breathe.
Zi Nu's voice was as soft as a feather brushing against your ear: "Fool—why aren't you holding me tighter?"
"Ah! Oh..." Lin Tian hurriedly raised his hand to put his arm around her shoulder, and only when his fingertips touched her slender shoulder bone did he suddenly realize: she was so thin that he had never noticed before.
She was so thin... My heart warmed, and I tightened my grip on her arm.
"You must return. The ten-year promise is not only tied to Nongyu—my sword is still stained with your blood; it is a blood oath. Those who break the oath will be condemned to eternal damnation, their sins unforgivable."
She climbed her hands onto his back, pressing her body gently against him, like a weary bird returning to its branch.
Lin Tian was stunned. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he ultimately didn't dare to make any promises. Dongfang, Long'er, Nongyu... each name weighed heavily on his heart. Ten years, not ten days, not ten nights, but a full three thousand six hundred dawns and dusks.
"If you don't speak, I'll take that as a yes." Zi Nu looked up, her voice so gentle it could melt water. "Now I understand—everything you did was to protect us."
Lin Tian sighed, "In this world, the only people I can protect are these few by my side. Not one of them will be lost, and not one of them can be harmed."
Zi Nu looked up at him, then suddenly smiled. Moonlight fell on the corners of her eyes, making them shimmer: "Aren't you a god? I believe in you, you can definitely do it."
That smile made Lin Tian's heart burn and his blood boil—Zi Nu's beauty was indeed breathtaking and beyond compare.
His breathing grew heavier, hotter, his nose almost touching her forehead. Their faces drew closer and closer, the air seeming to tremble slightly, like a taut string…
Zi Nu quietly closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, like startled butterfly wings fluttering in the quiet night, whispering her thoughts.
Just before the lips touched—
"Brother Lin Tian! There are distinguished guests requesting an audience at the door!"
Footsteps approached from afar, startling the two who abruptly separated. By the time Han Fei stepped into the courtyard, they were five steps apart. His sleeves were still neatly arranged, and his expression remained unchanged, leaving only the lingering moonlight and ripples on the ground.
Han Fei glanced at the two men, slightly surprised, and then said to Lin Tian, "A guest has come to our door late at night, specifically requesting to see the Imperial Advisor."
"Who?!" Lin Tian blurted out in a low growl, his tone agitated.
He grabbed Han Fei's arm and pulled him outside. Han Fei wondered as they walked, "Why is Brother Lin Tian's face so red, like he's drunk three jars of liquor?" But he still answered clearly, "Prince Dan of Yan. He's a hostage in Xianyang, and his residence is only half a street away from us."
Yan Dan? Lin Tian paused, his heart pounding – this man was a key figure who would later stir up trouble! He had been so negligent, almost overlooking these crucial figures intertwined within the Qin Kingdom!
As soon as Lin Tian and Han Fei turned to leave, Zi Nu, like a little girl who had stolen some honey, skipped a few steps on the wet cobblestone path after the rain, her hands behind her back. Her skirt fluttered lightly, the corners of her mouth turned up high, and her eyes were filled with a star-like smile that she couldn't hide.
"Ahem—the spring night is too short, master, you may leave early."
A soft laugh suddenly rang out, and Zi Nu stopped abruptly. She turned around and saw Yan Ling Ji leaning against the eaves, a wisp of fire swirling around her fingertip, smiling as she looked down at her.
Yan Lingji was clearly there to tease, her words tinged with a hint of mischief: "Oh, so Sister Zi Nu looks like this too? Yan Lingji has certainly seen something new today."
Zi Nu was so embarrassed that she covered her face and ran into the house, forgetting even to straighten her skirt.
Yan Dan—Gao Yue's father and the future leader of the Mohist school—is currently staying in Xianyang as a hostage of the Yan state.
Upon first seeing this man, Lin Tian's mental image of him became increasingly clear: a cold and stern face, lips as sharp as a knife, and eyes so deep they remained unwavering. Though in the prime of his life, he seemed to carry a thousand pounds on his back, every gesture exuding maturity and composure.
"Your Highness, please have a seat. This is Zhang Liang, and this is Han Fei. I presume you already know them," Lin Tian said, gesturing for them to sit.
Yan Dan bowed deeply to Lin Tian. Lin Tian glanced at Zhang Liang, who nodded in acknowledgment, and then asked directly, "Your Highness's visit at this late hour must be of great importance. Have you not yet explained your purpose to your two friends?"
Yan Dan smiled – that smile, floating in the candlelight, actually cooled the warmth of the room by three points.
He knelt upright, his back slightly leaning forward, his voice low and steady: "I have long heard that the King of Qin has appointed a new Grand Tutor, and Yan Dan has come to pay his respects."
His voice was deep and resonant, each word like a bell or chime falling onto a jade plate; when he spoke, his chin was slightly raised, and his short mustache fluttered lightly, exuding an air of authority that commanded respect.
Lin Tian stared at him, knowing that the other party had not yet revealed his trump card.
There was no rush. Han Fei personally poured a bowl of clear wine for Yan Dan, while Zhang Liang quickly went to fetch a basin of charcoal. The flames crackled and danced, illuminating the room with a gentle warmth.
Yan Dan's heart tightened, and he quickly stood up, bowing deeply to Han Fei and Zhang Liang: "Both of you gentlemen are members of the royal family of Han, of equal status to Yan Dan. How could I dare trouble you to do it yourself?"
Lin Tian's lips curled slightly, his mind clear—this Yan Dan appeared humble on the surface, but was actually extremely shrewd. Right now, he was just a young man showing his talent, and didn't yet possess much of a sophisticated mind.
He laughed loudly, his gaze sweeping over Yan Dan, his tone relaxed yet carrying an undeniable weight: "Not to mention the two of them, even if the King of Qin himself came, he would have to sit quietly to the side and listen to me finish speaking." As soon as he finished speaking, he waited quietly for Yan Dan to respond—what exactly was he after? Let's see what he had to say.
Yan Dan's body stiffened abruptly!