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

Chapter 172 Crimson-Eyed Dragon and Serpent—Tianze?!

Zhang Liang frowned and said in a low voice, "Princess, this trip is of great importance and should not be taken lightly."

Honglian simply covered her ears with both hands, tilted her head to the side, and drooped her eyelids—you can say whatever you want, I won't listen to a single word.

Han Fei sighed deeply and pleaded with her for a long time, reasoning with her and appealing to her emotions, until his throat was dry. How could a princess abandon the palace and travel thousands of miles? Not to mention the many passes and bandits along the way. He had protected this younger sister as she grew up; how could he dare let her take a single dangerous step?

But Honglian's ears were made of iron; no matter what he said, she just shook her head and wouldn't listen to reason.

Zhang Liang suddenly leaned close to Han Fei's ear and whispered a few words. Han Fei's eyes flickered, and his words of advice abruptly stopped.

Honglian tilted her head, her bright eyes unblinking as she stared at the two men whispering to each other, her gaze full of confusion.

"Want to go?" Han Fei shrugged helplessly. "Come with me to Zilan Pavilion tomorrow morning."

"This is my good brother, Honglian!" She instantly smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

-

The next morning, outside Zilan Pavilion, Han Fei was chased all over the courtyard by Lin Tian.

Behind Lin Tian was a sixteen-year-old girl – Princess Honglian.

"That bastard Han Fei is inhuman! He owes 800,000 gold coins and won't pay them back, so he's using his own sister as collateral!" Lin Tian shouted as he chased after him, his voice shaking the roof tiles.

Han Fei clutched his head and ran frantically, shouting in a disheveled state, "I really have no other choice, Brother Lin! Can you please put in a good word for my little sister?!"

"Say no to you!" Lin Tian almost fainted from anger on the spot.

Just as dawn was breaking, the door was flung open with a bang, and Princess Honglian swept in like a whirlwind, rushing straight to Lin Tian's bedside.

What happened next was swift and decisive—a piercing scream that tore through the morning light shattered the windowpanes. Zi Nu, Yan Ling Ji, and Li Wu rushed to the door almost simultaneously; in the blink of an eye, the rest of the group surged forward as well, leaving no one behind. But before they could even step across the threshold, Yan Ling Ji had already flashed to the side of the door, pushing it shut with a "click," effectively blocking everyone outside.

Black and White Xuanjian stood with his sword drawn, the blade gleaming coldly, his killing intent as sharp as frost. He thought Lin Tian had been attacked.

Yan Lingji covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her voice gentle yet undeniably authoritative: "Everyone, disperse. It was Miss Honglian who saw something embarrassing."

Everyone suddenly realized!

Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang's eyebrows twitched, their lips tightened; Ying Zheng lowered his eyes, only a faint smile remained; only Wu Shuang Gui scratched the back of his head, looking completely bewildered.

Han Fei and Zhang Liang rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Han Fei had just lifted his foot to slip away when Zhang Liang grabbed his wrist.

"Is that Honglian's cry? Aren't you worried?" Zhang Liang frowned.

Han Fei shook his head with a wry smile: "I'm the one who's anxious, Zifang!"

Honglian was pulled out by Li Wu, whose face was as cold as ice; Zi Nu stepped out afterward, her willow eyebrows raised and her skirt rustling in the wind. Honglian's cheeks were burning hot, her breathing was rapid, and her ears were burning red.

And then...

Lin Tian rolled up his sleeves and chased after Han Fei.

Honglian also took off to catch up, her steps quick and chaotic. On the rooftop, Yanlingji leaned against the eaves, watching the three figures rushing below, her eyes brimming with tears, her smile as gentle as spring water.

Han Fei was finally grabbed by the collar and lifted into the air by Lin Tian. Lin Tian gritted his teeth and growled, "You think you can run? Come on, try running again!"

Han Fei, tears streaming down his face and his voice hoarse, waved his hands repeatedly, pleading, "Brother Lin, spare my life! I never expected my little sister to be so decisive—if I had known, I would never have dared to instigate her!"

"Not decisive? Then is she still Chi Lian?" Lin Tian was too lazy to explain. Before he finished speaking, he didn't even realize that the name "Chi Lian" had been branded into Hong Lian's heart like a brand, taking root in the moment he lifted Han Fei and raised his hand to strike.

Lin Tian was careful with his strength, beating Han Fei until he was bruised and swollen, kneeling and begging for mercy, before finally letting go and stopping.

As for the matter of Honglian? Lin Tian refused to budge, determined to vent his anger.

He knew perfectly well that this idea most likely came from Zhang Liang—the strategist who would later become a master strategist—who had calculated that as long as he tried to persuade Honglian, the matter would almost certainly fall through.

After this morning's commotion, Lin Tian simply waved his hand, his gaze fixed intently on Honglian, like a big bad wolf eyeing a little white rabbit: "Don't panic! Master will take you to Xianyang—even if your father sends 100,000 iron cavalry to block the way, it won't stop you from coming to Qin with me!"

Han Fei froze on the spot, his face turning deathly pale.

He got a severe beating, but all his efforts were in vain. He suddenly turned to look at Zhang Liang, only to find that the man had turned his back and was staring up at a crooked willow tree outside the wall, looking more serious than anyone else.

The matter of entering Qin was now a done deal.

This morning's farce actually became the catalyst—Nongyu was casually taken along by Lin Tian; Zinu, with a simple "I'm worried about her," went along without hesitation; and Yanlingji only said, "Wherever Master goes, Yanlingji will go."

Li Wu? She can't leave either—she promised to protect Zi Lan Xuan, and the people in Zi Lan Xuan are just these few in front of her.

Wei Zhuang goes without saying; Han Fei was an envoy; and how could his close friend Zhang Liang be absent?

Well, in the end, Lin Tian had no choice but to hang his head and resign himself to his fate... He followed them all.

Even Hei Bai Xuan Jian bid farewell to his wife and children, willingly following along—Lin Tian had saved his entire family's lives that day, and he had kowtowed and sworn to serve him to the death; now he finally had a way to repay the debt of gratitude.

After settling his wife and children in, he became more lively, his eyes regained their warmth, and his spine straightened. As for the other matter Lin Tian had entrusted to him, that would have to wait until after he entered Qin.

Along with Honglian, the women of Zilanxuan, and everyone from Liusha, not one was missing; they were all packed up and set off with Lin Tian.

Ying Zheng, on the other hand, couldn't stop smiling after hearing the news. No one knew what he was thinking, but he was filled with joy.

The Marquis's Mansion in Bloodstained Robes.

Bai Yifei was reviewing military texts when he heard his subordinate's report. His fingers paused, and he slowly put down the bamboo slips, asking in a cold voice, "You mean—they all went to Qin? Even those women went?"

"Yes, my lord! Zi Lanxuan's Zi Nu and Nong Yu, Ba Linglong's Li Wu, Yan Ling Ji, and even Princess Hong Lian are accompanying us."

Bai Yifei's eyes darkened: "Where is Wei Zhuang?"

"Let's go together," the subordinate replied, bowing his head.

Everyone has to set off for Qin? Han Fei, oh Han Fei, you're heading straight for your doom! Your father has probably already engraved your name on the execution register!

Bai Yifei's lips curled into a cold, venomous smile, and he waved his hand: "Bring them in."

"Red-browed Dragon-Snake—Tianze?!"

"Um."

After his subordinate withdrew, Bai Yifei stared at the empty space in front of the hall, slowly curving his lips into a smile as sharp and cold as a drawn blade.

He lowered his voice, as if talking to himself, or perhaps whispering to a shadowy figure: "I'll see how many breaths you can manage under the weight of a thousand armies! As for Han… it's time for a change of masters. The treasures of Baiyue are mine to keep; I'll use Tianze's hatred for the Han dynasty as leverage—this empire will be mine sooner or later. Han Fei, you even dragged a bunch of people down with you when you left; even Heaven is paving the way for me!"

Before long, several armored soldiers escorted a man into the hall.

The man had fiery red eyebrows, a straight back, and robes stained with blood; it was Tianze.

Bai Yifei's gaze was like a nail, piercing straight ahead: "Yan Lingji betrayed me, which is completely contrary to what you said back then."