General Sky Lion was well aware of .what was going on. Through other-worldly means, Lin Jin was able to craft a brand new cloud body on the spot. What made it even more spectacular was the fact that this one was better than the one it had spent a hundred years cultivating.
General Sky Lion wasn’t an unreasonable fool. Having come across an expert, especially a beast appraiser who could potentially save its life in the future, it knew best how to behave.
It crouched down and prostrated before Lin Jin respectfully.
“General Sky Lion thanks Appraiser Lin for giving me another chance at life.”
It sounded sincere.
Indeed, it wouldn’t be untrue to say that General Sky Lion had just been given a second chance at life. Without the cloud body, General Sky Lion’s strength would be reduced by at least sixty percent. This meant that the hundred years’ worth of cultivation would have gone to waste. Now that Lin Jin had recovered its cloud body, General Sky Lion would be a fool not to thank him.
Moreover, the fact that Appraiser Lin could rebuild a cloud body proved how skillful he was. It may even need Lin Jin’s help someday, so General Sky Lion was most respectful and decided to let the matter rest.
Lin Jin nodded with a smile, musing, ‘General Sky Lion doesn’t seem like a stubborn monster who doesn’t know when to retreat after all.’
“Appraiser Lin, you have remarkable skills.” Feng Junwu couldn’t resist complimenting Lin Jin. After seeing General Sky Lion grow stronger than before, he knew the issue had been resolved.
They had been at fault in the first place. He even feared Lin Jin might try to get to the bottom of the issue and ask why General Sky Lion had wanted to provoke his pet beast.
To his surprise, Lin Jin never once mentioned that. He acted as if none of this had happened before. Bright as he was, Feng Junwu knew that Lin Jin merely decided not to press the matter so he felt great. He even started seeing Lin Jin in a better light.
Both sides never mentioned the incident after that. Being in a good mood, Feng Junwu began showing Lin Jin around the palace. During their stroll, they even ran into the second prince, Feng Zishan, and the third prince, Feng Ziqian.
Both princes were surprised to see Lin Jin walking alongside their father, conversing cheerfully as if they were old friends. The sight simply baffled them.
Those who had no idea might even think that they were old pals.
Feng Ziqian was naturally delighted while Feng Zishan grew fearful. He knew that Lin Jin belonged to Feng Ziqian’s faction. He feared that the scale had begun tipping in favor of his younger brother.
Both princes greeted them before taking their leaves. Once Feng Zishan returned, he quickly had his people prepare gifts so he could visit Lin Jin.
At this point, any negligence could well influence the final results of who would succeed the throne. Feng Zishan didn’t want to let the opportunity slip. Anyone his brother could befriend, he could too.
Feng Zishan didn’t believe talent couldn’t be poached. This had always been his way of doing things. Real men wouldn’t fret minor details and would stop at nothing to reach their goals.
Feng Zishan decided to act quickly. He departed from the palace and arrived outside Peach Blossom House before Lin Jin had even returned to the academy. Hence, Lin Jin was immediately greeted by the sight of the second prince standing there the instant he returned.
“Lecturer Lin!” Feng Zishan approached smilingly. He had put on no airs of a prince, greeting Lin Jin like he would an old friend.
Lin Jin found this impressive because if he was in Feng Zishan’s shoes, he would never be able to force himself to act so naturally.
“Greetings, Second Prince.” Unable to put up an act, Lin Jin chose to react in a normal way. He was aloof, calm, and he maintained his sincerity.
“Lecturer Lin, I’ve been wanting to visit you but I never had the time to do so. Today, I brought a few books on beasts of foreign lands for you. There’s also tea leaves from the most recent harvest this year. Although they’re not exactly expensive, I’m personally fond of the tea’s fragrance and strong taste so I brought some for you to enjoy.”
Feng Zishan was quite an exceptional talker. He managed to bridge the gap of unfamiliarity with just a few words, and in a way that wouldn’t induce irritation in the other.
More importantly, this guy was acting so naturally that Lin Jin was unable to detect any pretentiousness from him.
Amazing.
It’s no wonder he could force the first prince, Feng Ziyong into desperation. Thanks to his cunning, he even had the upper hand in the competition for the throne.
What’s more, Lin Jin too found Feng Zishan to be most suited to succeed the emperor. Of course, this was merely a transient thought. Comparing Feng Zishan and Feng Ziqian, Lin Jin still thought that the letter was better suited to lead the nation.
He didn’t think so because of his closer relationship with Feng Ziqian. Feng Zishan may indeed be well-rounded, but a character like him knew no boundaries. At times, practicality was better preferred instead.
There was a saying that ‘countries thrive on hard work but fail on empty promises’.
Since Feng Zishan had visited him with lavish gifts, it wouldn’t be right for Lin Jin to give him the cold shoulder. Hence, he accepted them politely and had a nice chat with Feng Zishan.
Feng Zishan came with the excuse of wanting to dine at Peach Blossom House. Lin Jin said he didn’t have sufficient ingredients to prepare a meal and Feng Zishan quickly summoned their imperial chef, along with a few others who brought in the ingredients.
His preparation was undoubtedly thorough. Lin Jin really couldn’t bring himself to despise such a person. His opinion of the second prince started improving. However, that wouldn’t be enough to reel him over from Feng Ziqian’s faction.
That was a different matter altogether.
Suddenly, Feng Zishan took out something to hand to Lin Jin.
“Lecturer Lin, I heard that your teacher, Curator, would like to read the hieroglyphic penned by the greatest expert from five hundred years ago, Daojun. I just happened to receive a painting personally drawn by Daojun a few years ago and specifically brought it here today so Lecturer Lin can help me present it to Curator. Perhaps some of the strange writings on this painting could help Curator in his research.” When Feng Zishan was done speaking, Lin Jin found himself dumbstruck.
He drew in a breath of cold air and mused, ‘He’s good.’
Now Feng Zishan was really scratching his itch.
Sure enough, Feng Zishan held a painting in his hands.
Truth be told, Lin Jin wanted to accept it, but he knew full well that Feng Zishan was trying to win him over. The tea and tiny little gifts from earlier could be easily accepted without commitment, but this was different.
If he accepted it, that would mean he had to take Feng Zishan’s side.
Lin Jin couldn’t do that.
He was a man with integrity. How could he switch camps just because of a few benefits? Still, now that he thought about it, he wasn’t obliged to side with Feng Ziqian either.
For a moment there, Lin Jin felt conflicted.
In the end, he turned down the gift.
Feng Ziqian was still a visitor of the Visitation Hall and had good character. He was sincere towards others too. While Lin Jin didn’t have to insist on supporting him, he found no reason to abandon him either.
‘It’s only a drawing. Even if there are words on it, they’re probably artsy poems to describe the piece, nothing important,’ thought Lin Jin in an attempt to comfort himself mentally.
He still didn’t take the painting.
Feng Zishan could tell that too. However, he still decided to place the painting on the table.
“I understand Lecturer Lin’s concerns. Although I’d love to befriend Lecturer Lin and gain your support in my campaign for the throne, I would never force you to accept my gift. Today, I’m merely here for friendship’s sake and this painting is a token of my sincerity. There is no need for Lecturer Lin to worry about hidden intentions. Even if Lecturer Lin chooses to fully support my third brother after this, I will have no complaints at all.”
