Black Wind Town, inside the Council Hall.
Lin Mo reclined sideways in the broad Tiger Skin Armchair, his fingers tapping idly against the armrest.
Lin Yi, Lin Er, Lin San, and Lin Xixi stood in ranks to either side, dressed in fitted black outfits with Horizontal Sabers at their waists, their expressions cold and stern.
Outside the hall, two rows of Poison Blood Guards stretched from the entrance of the Council Hall all the way beyond the fortification wall. Their armor gleamed brightly, blades and spears stood in dense ranks, and killing intent filled the air.
Sunlight fell over them, casting neat shadows across the ground.
Lin Xixi stood in the first position on the right below the hall. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the three faces of Lin Yi, Lin Er, and Lin San—faces identical to his own—and sighed inwardly.
Their positions were clearly arranged according to the order in which they had been created.
He had been made later than the other three, making him fourth in rank.
For the rest of his life, he would probably be crushed beneath those three ahead of him, with no chance of ever turning things around.
Cao Zhengchun stood half a step behind Lin Mo, his fly-whisk resting in the crook of his arm. His usual fawning smile hung on his face, but his gaze kept drifting toward the outside of the hall.
"Master," he leaned closer and lowered his voice, "the court's people have arrived at the foot of the mountain."
Lin Mo nodded and set down his teacup.
"Send a clone to receive them."
"Yes." Cao Zhengchun bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and gave a look toward the outside of the hall. A young eunuch standing by immediately hurried off to deliver the order.