Meeting the Crown Prince

As night fell, Lin Jin happily had dinner with his younger sister, took a stroll around the estate with her, then personally saw her back to her room to rest.

Standing outside his younger sister's door, Lin Jin frowned slightly.

The joy of their reunion had made him careless for a moment. Now that he had calmed down, he noticed that Lin Xue's complexion was overly pale from a lack of blood and vitality, and her aura occasionally seemed somewhat weak.

This was highly abnormal!

Not to mention a Soul Master—even an ordinary healthy person should not suffer from insufficient blood and vitality or weak breathing.

Lin Jin walked into the courtyard and lightly snapped his fingers. A Human Shadow appeared before him.

"General, what are your orders?" the newcomer asked respectfully.

"Go investigate whether my younger sister has had any unusual physical conditions in recent years," Lin Jin ordered coldly.

"Yes!"

As an intelligence agent he had trained at the Northern Border, this man possessed a very special Martial Soul: Shadow.

That was why he could always obtain the intelligence Lin Jin wanted.

Lin Jin was very much at ease leaving Lin Xue's physical condition to him.

The next morning, after settling his younger sister in, Lin Jin headed alone to the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Lin Xue had originally wanted to come along, but Lin Jin explained that the Crown Prince had requested to meet him alone to discuss matters. Only after much persuasion did she agree not to follow him.

The Crown Prince's Mansion stood east of the Imperial Palace, majestic yet elegant.

Led by an attendant, Lin Jin passed through courtyard after courtyard before finally meeting Qian Renxue in a secluded study.

The two guards he had seen Eight Years ago were still stationed at the door.

Entering the study, Lin Jin saw Qian Renxue dressed as usual in the Crown Prince's everyday attire, seated behind her desk and reviewing documents.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Seeing Lin Jin enter, she set down her brush and smiled warmly. "General Lin, you are here. I hope I did not interrupt your reunion with Xiao Xue."

"No matter," Lin Jin said evenly. "If Your Highness has something to say, please speak freely."

Qian Renxue studied Lin Jin's eyes for several seconds. Eight years of military life had completely transformed his bearing.

The childishness of the Six Years Old boy from back then could no longer be found in those deep Dark Eyes. In its place was the composure and sharpness forged on the battlefield.

Qian Renxue then gave the two Dulo at the door a meaningful look.

Understanding her intent, the two closed the door.

"General, you truly were raised in the military. You have a soldier's forthrightness," Qian Renxue said airily as she moved to the Tea Table beside her and took a sip of tea.

When Lin Jin did not respond, Qian Renxue found it rather dull and said, "Fine, then I will not beat around the bush."

A trace of amusement flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes as she suddenly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, when I sent you to the Northern Border back then, you said something. Do you still remember it?"

"You said you were willing to become the sharpest blade in my hand." Qian Renxue looked straight into Lin Jin's eyes. Her tone remained gentle, but her gaze carried scrutiny.

"Now that General Lin has achieved both fame and success, are you still willing to fulfill that promise?"

"Of course. I said before that I would never forget Your Highness's kindness." Lin Jin's expression was steady. "As long as Your Highness gives the order, I will carry it out."

"Oh?" Qian Renxue became curious. "Anything?"

Lin Jin said calmly, "Of course. If you wish to deal with Prince Xue Xing, or even ascend the Imperial Throne now, I can go kill Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing immediately.

"Kill them, and you will become the Great Emperor."

Lin Jin spoke as lightly as if he were discussing something utterly ordinary.

Qian Renxue's hand holding the teacup suddenly froze, and the tea nearly spilled.

She raised her head, revealing a truly shocked expression for the first time.

"General... do you know what you are saying?" Her voice remained calm, but Shocking Waves surged in her eyes.

"More clearly than ever." Lin Jin's expression did not change. "If Your Highness wishes to ascend the throne now, This subordinate will handle it at once. With my current Strength and Your Highness's cooperation, changing dynasties overnight would not be difficult."

The air in the study seemed to freeze.

Qian Renxue stared fixedly at Lin Jin, trying to find even the slightest trace of a joke on his face. Yet all she saw was a terrifying seriousness.

At that moment, she finally realized just how frighteningly powerful the youth before her had become.

Not only was his strength unfathomable, even his thoughts were completely impossible for her to grasp.

"General, you jest." Qian Renxue barely maintained her composure. "Regicide and usurping the throne are acts of supreme treason."

"The victor becomes king and the loser a bandit. History has always been written by the victors," Lin Jin said lightly. "If Your Highness had no intention of taking that path, why did you send me to train at the Northern Border in the first place?"

Qian Renxue fell silent for a long time, then suddenly chuckled. "Are you testing me, General?"

"Your Highness is overthinking it." Lin Jin met her eyes. "This subordinate is merely stating my position. Since I intend to repay your kindness, I will fulfill Your Highness's wishes by any means necessary."

Those words made Qian Renxue's heart tremble.

She finally understood that Lin Jin was displaying his value and resolve in the most direct way possible.

But at the same time, it was also a warning. Since he dared speak of regicide, it meant he had long since cast Life and Death aside.

"I understand the General's intentions." Qian Renxue slowly set down her teacup. "However, there is no need to take that step for now. I prefer... proceeding gradually."

"This subordinate will obey Your Highness's orders." Lin Jin bowed slightly. "But Your Highness, proceeding gradually is not always a good thing. If one wishes to ascend the throne, sometimes one must resort to thunderous measures."

"Historical experience tells us that being the Crown Prince for too long is not necessarily a good thing."

"Historical experience? Being Crown Prince for too long is not a good thing?" Qian Renxue could not help but ask in confusion. "Which period of history has the General been studying?"

"Nothing. I was merely sharing my opinion. Your Highness has your own considerations, and This subordinate would not dare say more." Qian Renxue still wanted to take the gentle path from the original story, and Lin Jin could not really say anything about it.

Could he possibly bring up the joke from his previous life that several ancient great emperors could not piece together a single Crown Prince?

"Then why did Your Highness summon me today?" Lin Jin quickly changed the subject.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and finally stated her true purpose. "Prince Xue Xing has been making frequent moves recently. Not only has he recruited Dugu Bo, he has also placed quite a few confidants in the military. I would like to ask the General to... give him a warning."

"To what extent?" Lin Jin asked directly.

"Just make him behave himself," Qian Renxue said meaningfully. "However, if some 'accident' happens during the process, I can understand."

"Of course." Qian Renxue rose to her feet. "If you can recruit Dugu Bo for our use, that would be best of all."

Lin Jin immediately understood her meaning. "This subordinate understands. Before long, I will give Your Highness a satisfactory answer."

"I will leave it to you, General." Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction.

Seeing this, Lin Jin left the study and departed the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Qian Renxue watched his retreating figure in silence for a long time.

"Pufferfish, do you think what he said just now was true?" she asked softly.

Pufferfish entered the study and said in a low voice, "This man... is very dangerous. The look in his eyes when he spoke of regicide did not seem like a joke."

Qian Renxue played with the Jade Pendant in her hand, her eyes revealing a trace of helplessness.

"It seems that what I picked up back then was not a blade, but a ferocious tiger."