"You boast shamelessly. Let's see how you plan to pacify Stability Prefecture."
Yin Ke Ren rose to his feet and spoke with a cold snort.
Lin Xiao cast him an indifferent glance. "Trash like you naturally lacks that kind of strength."
"You..."
Hearing Lin Xiao's humiliating words, Yin Ke Ren was about to flare up when the old man stopped him.
This man's strength was terrifying. If the young master provoked him again, he might well be beaten to death. For now, they had to endure it. Once they returned to the Lineage, they could find a chance to take revenge later.
In any case, this man would be taking office in Stability Prefecture. There would be no shortage of chances for revenge.
The Yin Family was one of Stability Prefecture's top Lineages. Getting revenge on one person would not be difficult.
Lin Xiao glanced at the master and servant pair and said lightly, "Do you know why I spared your lives?"
"Why?"
Yin Ke Ren asked unhappily.
Lin Xiao said, "Take a message back to your family head. I intend to reorganize Stability Prefecture. I hope he knows which way the wind blows and submits to the court. Those who oppose the court will not meet a good end."
"This world speaks through strength. That depends on whether you have the strength to make my Yin Family submit."
Upon hearing that Lin Xiao wanted the Yin Family to submit to the court, Yin Ke Ren immediately sneered.
"I will show you my strength."
Lin Xiao stood at the very front of the deck, facing the wind. His Flying Fish Uniform fluttered around him, and an overbearing aura enveloped his entire body.
Yin Ke Ren and the old man stood behind him, furious yet afraid to speak. They only hoped the ship would dock soon, so they could get far away from this man.
The reason Lin Xiao had not directly killed the master and servant was that the time was not yet right. If word got out, he would immediately be pitted against the Yin Family.
His strength and influence were still insufficient. Having just arrived in Stability Prefecture, rashly going to war with one of its top powers would only disrupt his plans.
Of course, though he could not go to war with the Yin Family yet, he had a venomous plan in mind.
After traveling for another hour, they could finally make out the shore in the distance.
At that moment, another merchant ship approached from afar.
A large Su character was emblazoned on that merchant ship's flag.
Seeing the flag on that ship, Yin Ke Ren frowned slightly.
"Is that a ship from the Su Family?"
The old man, who had just finished bandaging his wounds, nodded. "Yes, Young Master. It should be a Su Family merchant ship. There can be no mistake."
"Who is the Su Family?"
Lin Xiao looked at the distant merchant ship and asked curiously.
Yin Ke Ren said, "Though the Su Family is not among One Sect, Four Gates in Stability Prefecture, they are the wealthiest merchants here.
The Su Family has a hand in every lucrative trade, from restaurants to cloth shops.
Eighty percent of all restaurants in Stability Prefecture belong to the Su Family. They can be called the richest family in the prefecture."
Meanwhile, aboard the Su Family merchant ship, a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a gentle temperament sat quietly inside the cabin.
"Miss, we'll reach Stability Prefecture soon. You'll be home before long."
A maid spoke respectfully to the woman.
The woman was Su Wan'er, the pearl in the Su Family's palm.
As the Su Family head's only daughter, she was given ample provisions every time she traveled, and countless guards accompanied her.
"We're finally almost home."
As she spoke, Su Wan'er rose happily and walked outside.
When she reached the deck, Su Wan'er took a deep breath, and a look of enjoyment appeared on her face.
Just then, the Yin Family's ship and the Su Family's ship happened to meet.
The maid beside Su Wan'er saw the Yin Family ship, and disgust appeared on her face.
"Miss, it's a Yin Family ship."
Su Wan'er glanced over curiously. "The Yin Family of One Sect, Four Gates?"
"Yes, Miss."
The maid nodded.
"Miss, the Yin Family acts domineeringly. It would be best not to deal with them. I'll have the crew speed up and keep our distance."
"Mm. Is that man the Yin Family's young master?"
Su Wan'er turned her eyes toward Lin Xiao, who stood on the deck of the Yin Family ship, and asked in confusion.
The maid looked over. When she saw Lin Xiao, whose domineering aura radiated in every direction beneath his Flying Fish Uniform, she was slightly taken aback. "Miss, that man is not Yin Ke Ren. The cold-looking fellow behind him is the Yin Family's young master, Yin Ke Ren. I have never seen this man before."
"However, he is wearing a Jinyiwei official uniform. He should be one of the Jinyiwei."
"How strange. Why are the Jinyiwei traveling with people from the Yin Family? Doesn't One Sect, Four Gates of Stability Prefecture dislike the court?"
"He's one of the Jinyiwei?"
Su Wan'er grew even more curious.
She had heard of the Jinyiwei's great reputation. It was said that they were one of the Wu Kingdom's five great martial forces.
They served the Emperor exclusively, ruthless and cruel, specializing in deeds that enraged heaven and embittered the people, such as confiscating families and exterminating clans.
People of the martial world called the Jinyiwei the court's running dogs and spat upon them.
At that moment, Lin Xiao's gaze also turned toward her and met Su Wan'er's eyes.
Su Wan'er was just about to look away when she saw Lin Xiao smile and nod to her.
Lin Xiao was already exceptionally handsome, though his temperament was somewhat cold. Combined with the Flying Fish Uniform, he gave off an imposing air that made him hard to approach.
Yet this smile made him seem unexpectedly approachable.
Su Wan'er was naturally shy. Caught off guard by Lin Xiao's gesture, her face reddened, and she hurriedly lowered her gaze.
"He's quite handsome."
Su Wan'er's heart pounded wildly, and she did not dare look over again.
The maid, however, was deeply displeased with Lin Xiao.
"Miss, let's leave quickly."
Whether it was the Yin Family or people from the court, it was best to provoke neither.
The Su Family merchant ship swiftly sailed away.
On the other side, Yin Ke Ren watched the Su Family merchant ship's retreating figure, a sharp gleam flickering in his eyes.
The Su Family was a juicy piece of meat, and One Sect, Four Gates all wanted a bite.
Who could blame them? The Su Family was rich.
If any of One Sect, Four Gates could swallow the Su Family, their power would surely rise to the next level.
After another hour of travel, the ship finally docked slowly.
The pier was extremely lively.
Fishing boats had just returned with their catches, while merchants had just come back from their trading journeys.
The moment the Yin Family ship arrived, it drew the attention of many people.
After all, the Yin Family was a top power in Stability Prefecture and had quite a reputation.
"Yin Ke Ren, the Yin Family's young master, should be back, right?"
"No doubt about it. Yin Ke Ren went out to train. He should have returned for the Ding Province Martial Meet."
"I wonder how Yin Ke Ren's cultivation has progressed. I heard Liu Yuyang of the Azure Cloud Sect has vaguely become the leading figure of Stability Prefecture's younger generation. I wonder whether Yin Ke Ren can contend with him."
"I doubt it. Liu Yuyang has suppressed the entire younger generation of Stability Prefecture since childhood. His talent is unmatched and his strength formidable. I'd say Liu Yuyang will definitely take first place at this Ding Province Martial Meet."
"Don't underestimate the other geniuses of Stability Prefecture either. Someone might emerge as a dark horse."
"Huh? Who is that man?"
When the Yin Family ship docked, a young man was the first to leap ashore.
Yin Ke Ren, who came behind him, could only yield the place of honor, leaving many people puzzled.
But once Lin Xiao jumped from the ship and everyone saw his attire, they recoiled in a rush, all retreating backward in fright.
"He's from the court. He looks like one of the Jinyiwei."
"A court hound."
Lin Xiao paid no attention to their reactions. Turning around, he looked at Yin Ke Ren and said, "Brother Yin, until we meet again. I hope Brother Yin will faithfully relay my proposal when you return. I will await good news."
After speaking, Lin Xiao turned and left. Wherever he passed, the crowd hurriedly opened a path for him.
But Lin Xiao's parting words made the crowd erupt.
The Yin Family's young master was actually mixed up with someone from the Jinyiwei?
At that moment, countless people looked at Yin Ke Ren with suspicion in their eyes.
Yin Ke Ren's face darkened. This Lin Xiao was utterly shameless—he had even set a trap for him before leaving.
If news spread that the Yin Family was colluding with the court, they would immediately be isolated and might even become the target of a joint attack.
Yet they could not explain themselves now, or they would only paint themselves blacker and blacker.
In the distance, the Su Family members were chatting happily.
A refined middle-aged man looked at Su Wan'er with affection.
"Wan'er, you're finally back. You worried your father to death."
"Oh, Father, I only went to see Sister Qing'er. She'll be entering seclusion soon, and who knows when we'll meet again."
"Miss Qing'er is entering seclusion?"
Su Cheng looked surprised.
This Qing'er was named Ye Xuanqing. She was the Sword Pavilion master's disciple and ranked first on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
It was said that her strength had already reached the Peak Innate Realm, only one step away from breaking through into the Grandmaster Realm.
Most importantly, Ye Xuanqing was only twenty years old.
Across the entire Zhenwu Continent, she could be called a peerless talent.
Moreover, the Sword Pavilion's cultivation techniques were incomparably powerful.
Once she broke through into the Grandmaster Realm, even some veteran Grandmasters would be no match for her.
After all, a saying was widely passed around.
When it came to sword arts under heaven, look to the Sword Pavilion.
Before you continue