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

Chapter 126 Han Fei VS Hong Lian

"Huh?!" Han Fei's face stiffened, and the breath he had just breathed out got stuck in his throat again—he thought he had gotten away with it, but who would have thought that Lin Tian had no intention of letting him off the hook at all!

"Yes! It's my brother!!" Honglian bristled instantly, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, looking exactly like a little leopard guarding its food.

"You think you can get my forgiveness by watching a play? No way! That was a gift from Brother Lin Tian himself! It has nothing to do with you! You want me to forgive you? Fine—accompany me to two plays every week! No bargaining! Too busy? Believe me, I'll go complain to Father and have him dismiss you from your post as Minister of Justice!"

Han Fei vs. Hong Lian – The outcome is already decided; Han Fei suffers a crushing defeat.

Finally, they signed a "treaty of surrender": he would accompany Honglian to the Corner Palace to watch plays twice a week without fail, which barely earned him Honglian's words, "I'll spare you this time."

"Ahem... Brother Han." Zhang Liang suddenly spoke softly, nodding slightly to the side.

The crowd followed the direction and saw a woman in a pink dress walking slowly towards them, her skirt swaying gently, her eyes sparkling, and every gesture exuding charm.

"Beautiful Lady Hu, what a coincidence!" Han Fei greeted her with a smile.

The visitor was none other than Madam Hu's younger sister, Lady Hu.

"Hu Meiren, vixen." Honglian muttered under her breath, her eyes full of wariness.

"It is truly an honor to meet the Ninth Prince. The whole city is now talking about how you are a brilliant judge and have an extraordinary talent for solving cases." Hu Meiren's tone was gentle, but her smile did not reach her eyes.

Her gaze swept over Honglian's face, which was filled with displeasure, then her eyes shifted, and she smiled brightly: "Oh my, Princess Honglian is here too? You've grown more and more beautiful—this dress makes you look like a cherry blossom in spring, especially the embroidered trim at the neckline, which echoes the jade hairpin in your hair, so elegant."

"You do have some discernment." Honglian's tense face relaxed for a moment, the corners of her lips subtly turned up, and her eyes brightened slightly.

Lin Tian remained calm, but sighed inwardly: No wonder she was able to navigate the treacherous courtesan's ways in the harem for so many years—her keen observation and her perfectly timed words were truly impeccable.

"Ninth Brother, is Honglian here too?" A clear male voice came from afar.

As everyone turned around, a young man in brocade robes and a jade belt strolled over. He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with an upright posture, a reserved expression, and a calm demeanor as immovable as a mountain between his brows.

"Fourth Brother," Han Fei said, bowing.

The visitor was none other than the Fourth Young Master, Han Yu.

Lin Tian knew perfectly well: this person was as shrewd as the sea, his strategies far surpassed Han Fei's, and he was decisive and meticulous in his actions. It was just a pity that he was born in the wrong place.

"Greetings, Fourth Brother." Honglian gave a perfunctory curtsy, her voice soft and weak, but devoid of any warmth. She had never liked this Fourth Brother.

"Honglian, you call me 'Fourth Brother,' but it sounds like you're calling me 'Dead Brother.' Are you favoring Ninth Brother because you think I'm too old?" Han Yu wasn't annoyed; instead, he teased him with a smile, his tone revealing no hint of resentment.

"Greetings, Fourth Young Master." Zhang Liang bowed respectfully.

"Hmm, the Zhang family is indeed renowned for its scholarly tradition. I heard that your recent success in solving cases was entirely due to your strategic planning?" Han Yu's gaze was intense, his words full of probing.

"Fourth Young Master is too kind. It was actually the Ninth Young Master who saved my Zhang family from peril. I have only done my bit." Zhang Liang lowered his eyes, his humility impeccable.

"Old Ninth, impressive! You've already won over such a figure as soon as you returned to Xinzheng, and you're faster than anyone else at making your move." Han Yu laughed loudly, his words carrying a hidden barb.

Han Fei's heart tightened, and he immediately stepped forward: "Fourth Brother, your manor is filled with thousands of guests and heroes, so let me serve Zifang."

Han Yu smiled but remained silent, slowly shifting his gaze to Lin Tian, ​​who stood quietly to the side, and said in a gentle tone, "Fourth brother, won't you introduce this friend to me?"

"Oh, this is Lin Tian, ​​Brother Lin," Han Fei said hurriedly.

"I've long admired Brother Lin's name. If you have some free time tonight, why not come to my humble abode for a drink? That would allow me to extend my hospitality." Han Yu's smile was sincere and full of goodwill.

"Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Young Master. However, I am a free spirit and am used to a life of leisure. I am afraid that I might be too strict with your family's rules." Lin Tian said calmly, but his words completely blocked any possibility of a confrontation.

"Fourth Brother, please don't bother—I've invited you three times and four times, and I've been rejected every time." Han Fei shook his head with a wry smile, looking helpless.

"Oh?" Han Yu's eyes flashed, and his smile deepened—the more Han Fei tried to stop him, the more he wanted to see clearly what kind of strength Lin Tian was hiding.

He knew his ninth brother all too well—he was exceptionally talented and ambitious. The person he had personally recruited time and again was no ordinary person.

He immediately bowed respectfully, his tone earnest: "Han Yu sincerely invites you; I earnestly hope you will not refuse."

"Never mind," Lin Tian chuckled and shook his head. "If I truly intended to enter officialdom, I should have paid my respects to the Fourth Young Master long ago. At least—the Fourth Young Master is more like a wise ruler than Han Fei."

Before the words had even finished, Han Yu, Han Fei, and Zhang Liang all shuddered. The King of Han was still alive, and the Crown Prince had not been deposed; if such words were to reach the King's ears, it would be an instant catastrophe.

"Brother Lin, be careful what you say!" Han Fei hurriedly lowered his voice.

"Sir, your words sound like those of someone who is untouched by worldly affairs," Han Yu quickly interjected, his tone full of nervousness.

Lin Tian merely smiled and turned to Hu Meiren beside him: "Is this Madam Hu's younger sister? May I ask if we can speak in private? It concerns your sister's safety."

He then turned his gaze to Han Yu: "Would the Fourth Young Master permit this?"

"It depends on Consort Hu's opinion," Han Yu replied cautiously. Consort Hu was the King of Han's favorite concubine; how could he dare to make decisions on his own?

"I will certainly grant my sister's request." Lady Hu nodded. She only had one older sister, Madam Hu, and in Xinzheng City, she missed her eldest sister the most.

Lin Tian naturally wouldn't take her into a private room for a private talk—Han Yu would never feel at ease with that. He only led her to a secluded corner of the pavilion, where Han Yu could see her but couldn't hear her clearly.

"Young Master Lin, does my sister have something to ask you to pass on?" Hu Meiren asked directly.

"As expected of Lady Hu, you are very perceptive. You recognized her as being sent by Madam Hu at a glance." Lin Tian smiled. "She only asked me to pass on a message: she is well and as usual, so there is no need to worry."

"Sister...are you really alright?" Hu Meiren frowned slightly, her eyes revealing doubt.

"Absolutely true," Lin Tian said frankly. "Li Kai is alive, and our daughter has been found. How could life not be good?"

As Hu Meiren's younger sister, how could she not know about the past between Madam Hu and Li Kai?

"How do you know all this?!" Her pupils contracted slightly.

"Because Madam Hu's daughter is my wife," Lin Tian said bluntly.

Hu Meiren stared at him intently for a moment, then suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, "Heh... so it's my eldest nephew! Now that my sister is safe and sound, I can finally relax."

Lin Tian added, "In a few days, I will find a way to make Madam Hu fake her death and escape. If word gets out, please don't be alarmed, Madam Hu."

She nodded slightly, and the two said nothing more.

Lin Tian couldn't understand the opera sung by the actors from Qin at all. He left quietly after sitting for less than half a cup of tea's time—someone was waiting for him on his warm couch at home.

The moon rises over the eastern eaves, inside the Purple Orchid Pavilion, in Lin Tian's bedroom.