Since he wanted to help Feng Ziqian, Lin Jin already knew what he had to do.
Immediately, he scoffed and said, “You were rude enough to harass others first and now you’re trying to distort the story in your favor? If no one knew better, they’d assume that the first prince instructed a wretched servant like you to do this. Say, what are your intentions for doing this? Why are you trying to hurt the first prince’s reputation? Your actions are simply humiliating your employer.”
Lin Jin didn’t lower his voice, clearly intending to garner as much attention as possible.
Feng Ziqian’s subordinate was upset for having to endure a slap. Now that Appraiser Lin was actually speaking up for him and even pushed the responsibility back to the other party, he was overjoyed.
His gratitude for Lin Jin practically overflowed.
The other party hadn’t expected anyone to retaliate, and so shamelessly at that. Since when was he trying to hurt the first prince’s reputation?
Wasn’t this just nonsense?
So he lashed out, “Who are you, and how dare you spout such nonsense?!”
Lin Jin simply revealed his four-ringed beast pattern sleeve and scoffed. “How dare a mere servant speak so crudely to a Rank 4 beast appraiser? If the first prince ever finds out about this, how do you think he’ll punish you?”
At the sight of Lin Jin’s sleeve, the other party became overwhelmed by dread.
Due to how full of himself he was earlier, the man had spoken without thinking. In fact, he regretted even speaking at all.
Rank 4 beast appraisers had a superior status that warranted even the first prince’s respect. For him to issue such disrespectful remarks, wasn’t he just asking to be executed?
The man started sweating profusely as he found himself unable to come up with a reply.
Suddenly, a voice called from the carriage behind him.
“Which appraiser is this with such high-sounding sentiments? You’re pretty good at keeping up appearances, aren’t you? Even if the first prince is at fault, that shouldn’t have anything to do with you, right?”
His voice wasn’t loud but it nonetheless carried a hint of intimidation.
The servant’s back straightened up immediately when he heard that voice.
It was the state preceptor’s voice. If the state preceptor was speaking up for him, the first prince would never blame him. As distinguished as a Rank 4 beast appraiser was, they would never be more honorable than the state preceptor who was a Rank 5 beast appraiser.
The servant was clever enough to quickly pull the drapes of his carriage aside. He bowed respectfully as the state preceptor was allowed to view what was happening outside the carriage.
Inside the carriage sat a stern elderly man dressed in extravagant clothing and donned a hundred-beast crown on his head. The five-ringed beast pattern on his sleeve was strikingly visible.
No doubt, he must be Heavenly Spiral Kingdom’s state preceptor, Sima Qing.
Sima Qing wasn’t alone inside the carriage. Beside him sat another Rank 4 appraiser, but this man wore an awkward and helpless expression. He exchanged glances with Lin Jin then discreetly shrugged his shoulders.
It was Appraiser Yan.
So besides the state preceptor, the first prince also hired another Rank 4 appraiser, and that was Appraiser Yan.
Appraiser Yan was one of the academy lecturers whom Lin Jin became well acquainted with. It wasn’t a stretch to say that they were good friends, but Appraiser Yan clearly didn’t expect Lin Jin to be here as well. Worse, he never expected Lin Jin to be confronting the state preceptor here of all places.
He looked so innocent right now.
The state preceptor didn’t notice Appraiser Yan’s little gestures. He simply stood up and alighted the carriage to stare at Lin Jin.
Then, he frowned.
“This appraiser doesn’t look familiar.” The state preceptor had never met Lin Jin before.
It was only natural because Lin Jin was still a ‘new’ Rank 4 appraiser and Sima Qing never met him before.
Appraiser Yan finally found an opportunity to speak.
“Master State Preceptor, this is Lin Jin, Appraiser Lin. He just passed the Rank 4 assessment recently.” Having said that, he hinted at Lin Jin with his face before saying, “Appraiser Lin, quick! Greet Master State Preceptor.”
He hoped for Lin Jin to pay his respect to Sima Qing.
Not because Sima Qing was the state preceptor, but because he was a Rank 5 beast appraiser.
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As beast appraisers, that was the only thing they cared about.
Lin Jin understood Appraiser Yan’s intention and that manners were manners. So, he jumped off the carriage with a smile and gave a formal salute. “Pleased to meet you, Appraiser Sima. My name is Lin Jin!”
Sima Qing snorted without returning a salute.
He felt it unnecessary.
Rank 4 appraisers may be well respected, but he was a Rank 5 appraiser, who was higher up in the pecking order. Returning a salute would mean he found Lin Jin worthy, but choosing not to wasn’t odd either.
What’s more, Sima Qing knew that Lin Jin was hired by the third prince.
He mused, ‘This third prince Feng Ziqian really won’t do after all. After being rejected by everyone else, he decided to settle on a fledgling Rank 4 beast appraiser just to fill up the numbers.’
‘He must have paid a hefty price for his service too.’
Youth typically equated to inexperience for beast appraisers. Experience had to be accumulated with time, so no matter how remarkable this person was, reaching Rank 4 should be as far as a prodigy could go. At this level, talent would bring him no further. To advance, he needed experience.
That was something talent couldn’t replace.
For Feng Ziqian to hire someone so young, if the latter made a mistake, not only would he be humiliated, but even Feng Ziqian would be dragged down.
Sima Qing wouldn’t bother himself with this kind of people, and admonishment wasn’t necessary either.
As a great nation’s state preceptor and Rank 5 beast appraiser, ignoring the situation would suffice.
Hence, Sima Qing simply walked past Lin Jin without saying anything, as if Lin Jin didn’t exist at all.
Appraiser Yan used his eyes to hint at the young man, telling him not to let his emotions get the better of him, and that he had to endure this blatant disrespect from Sima Qing.
Lin Jin nodded.
He genuinely didn’t mind it.
Of course, that didn’t mean that other people would let Sima Qing off the hook that easily.
“Hmph! You call yourself a state preceptor but know no manners enough to return a salute. Are you blind?” A voice called from the third prince’s carriage.
This voice was too loud that everyone could hear him so long as they weren’t deaf.
Everyone’s eyes widened as a feeling of dread came over them.
Who was it?
Who in the right mind would have the audacity to speak to the state preceptor in such a tone? It was a blatant reproach.
‘Oh no, we’ll be in big trouble.’
Feng Ziqian’s subordinate knew that the situation had soured, and his tears started welling up again. This wouldn’t be easy to resolve, and once things got out of hand, he would surely be the most unfortunate character by the end of it.
Despite this, he was unable to speak up at all, due to his position in the hierarchy.
Whether or not he would survive this could not be changed by his own two hands, and he was completely helpless.
How tragic.
He was now trembling all over, thinking he would be a dead man.
Appraiser Yan looked dumbstruck as well. He glanced at the carriage, then at Lin Jin, probably trying to ask what was going on? That should have been the end of things so why start another conflict?
The one with the greatest response was none other than Sima Qing.
He practically stopped at once. With furrowed brows, he cast a murderous glare at the carriage.
As a nation’s state preceptor, Sima Qing had to suppress his anger.
“Who’s in there? I demand that you come out here and speak to my face!” his voice boomed.
Everyone else fell silent, including the guards who were stationed around them. They all held their breaths because the state preceptor was clearly angry now.