Chapter Twenty: Kirin Child? A Failure

Upon seeing Lin Yin, Old Jiang’s face immediately lit up with joy, a stark contrast to the calm and indifferent demeanor he displayed before Lin Zhengyang and Lin Tianjiao. In that instant, Lin Tianjiao felt a surge of intense jealousy. Clearly, I am the royal prodigy of the Wang family—so why, why is it that Lin Yin is allowed to take precedence over me?

“Yin’er!” Yang Huier smiled with delight and hurriedly stood up, reaching to hold Lin Yin’s hand, only for Lin Yin to silently shake it off without leaving a trace.

“Yin’er, what are you doing...” Yang Huier’s expression stiffened, her composure faltering.

“Do I know you?” Lin Yin looked at Yang Huier calmly.

This!

In an instant, Lin Zhengyang’s anger surged; he rose abruptly, glaring at Lin Yin. Lin Yin did not flinch, returning his gaze with composed steadiness. The atmosphere became unbearably tense.

At this moment, even the onlooker Yang Baihu finally realized that Lin Yin’s identity was far from simple.

“Brother Lin Yin, am I not stating the truth?” Lin Tianjiao suddenly chuckled lightly. “Three years ago when you entered the Lin family, did Father not try to cultivate you? But have you ever truly lived up to Father’s painstaking efforts? No matter what resources were invested, Brother Lin Yin’s martial talent never changed. Isn’t that an ironclad fact?”

Lin Zhengyang then returned to his seat, his face completely clouded over. Clearly, Lin Yin’s open defiance was a blow to his pride. No matter how close father and son may be, should they not maintain a lord-subject relationship in public?

At this thought, any hint of excitement about Lin Yin joining Old Jiang’s tutelage vanished instantly. Yet, Yang Huier seemed unwilling to see her two sons quarrel and quickly pulled Lin Tianjiao behind her, like a mother protecting her chicks.

“Yin’er, as the elder brother, don’t quarrel with your younger brother. Focus on the important matters,” Yang Huier signaled with her eyes. “Go talk to your master and have Tianjiao also become Old Jiang’s disciple.”

At this moment, Yang Huier publicly acknowledged Lin Yin’s identity, causing a substantial uproar.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yin’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile. So the thousand-mile journey was all for Lin Tianjiao after all. You truly are “dedicated parents.”

Old Jiang also glanced at Lin Yin. In truth, if Lin Yin were to ask, he could not refuse. After all, his beloved sole disciple had spoken; taking one more symbolic disciple would not hurt.

Yang Baihu and the officials had now completely grasped the situation, their faces drained pale, frozen in place.

Good heavens, Lin Yin was actually Lin Tianjiao’s elder brother, Lin Zhengyang’s firstborn! The true heir of the Imperial Capital’s Lin family, the royal crown prince!

Outside the door, Lin Xuetao was utterly dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at Lin Yin, his eyes glazed over.

Sen Yang, Sen Yang... Lin Yin, Lin Yin... you are Lin Tianjiao’s real elder brother?!

Yet, they were all puzzled—they had never heard of Lin Zhengyang having an eldest son. Could he be the Lin family’s hidden trump card?

But judging by this tense and hostile scene, there was no brotherly harmony here; this was pure animosity! Moreover, King Lin Wu seemed to favor the younger son, Lin Tianjiao!

Indeed, even outsiders could see Lin Zhengyang’s partiality.

Yet now, Lin Zhengyang stared intently at Lin Yin, radiating a paternal authority as vast as the heavens, a majestic pressure demanding Lin Yin consent to the family’s wishes.

In the silent room, Lin Yin’s lips twitched into a cold smile as he regarded Lin Tianjiao like a clown.

Finally, he spoke.

“What? The royal prodigy of Heaven’s Moon can’t rely on himself and must depend on his parents?”

“Trash.”

That single word ignited the entire room like a massive explosion.

Those last two words, uttered from Lin Yin’s thin lips, struck like two enormous bombs, completely shattering the atmosphere.

Lin Zhengyang slammed the table in fury, his black hair flying wildly as the King’s aura erupted!

Even Yang Baihu, the strongest warrior in Tianhe City at the General Ascension level, felt a metallic taste of blood rise in his throat.

The Lin family was known for brotherly harmony and parental kindness—how dare he publicly insult his own younger brother like this?!

Yang Huier staggered backward two steps, stunned.

Lin Xuetao trembled all over, having lost the courage to eavesdrop any further, not daring to glance at Lin Yin again.

Meanwhile, numerous warriors from the Tianhe City martial base had gathered nearby. With their keen ears, they naturally heard the commotion inside the banquet hall... and the exchange between Yang Huier and Lin Yin.

“Oh my! The elder brother of Lin Tianjiao, heir of the Imperial Capital’s Lin family!!”

“The elder brother of the royal crown prince... should he not also be the crown prince?”

“Shocking! The true royal crown prince is someone else entirely!”

“Shocking! The true crown prince berates the false crown prince!”

“Who really is the crown prince? Does the Imperial Capital’s Lin family have hidden secrets?”

“Are we going to be silenced?”

“I didn’t hear anything, I didn’t see anything, just passing by, nothing to do with me today.”

Most Tianhe City warriors knew each other well. Hearing this, the only figure they connected it to was the mysterious prodigy disciple Old Jiang had recently taken in.

“I always wondered why Old Jiang suddenly accepted a disciple—it turns out it was the royal crown prince!”

“Well, now I feel balanced. Old Jiang’s action doesn’t seem so sudden anymore.”

As the noise outside grew louder, Yang Baihu hastily stepped forward to take control. He glanced at Lin Zhengyang’s expression, then strode outside, sternly addressing the hundred or so Tianhe City warriors gathered:

“Nothing that happened today is to be spoken of without my permission! Not even to family members! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“Understood, understood!” The warriors exchanged knowing looks and waved their hands.

“Who would dare to blab?”

“No one dares to gossip about royal family matters—unless they want to die.”

“Don’t worry, I saw nothing and heard nothing. My eyes and ears are broken.”

...

Inside the banquet hall, Lin Tianjiao’s face fell into stunned disbelief. The once narrow-minded frog in the well now dared to call him trash?

His whole body trembled slightly.

“Lin Yin, how dare you insult me like this! Do you deserve it?!” he roared hoarsely, eyes bloodshot, fists clenched tightly, as if about to strike.

“Hahaha, Tianjiao is angry? The prodigy of Heaven’s Moon cannot bear disdain?” Lin Yin laughed heartily before suddenly calming. “But I have endured this contempt ever since I entered your Lin family—three whole years.”

Old Jiang’s heart tightened sharply, his gaze filled with sorrow.

My beloved disciple, whom I could hardly care for enough, was treated like worthless trash by the Lin family.

Three years of scorn!

Yang Huier stared blankly at Lin Zhengyang.

Hadn’t he always said he valued Yin’er dearly?

Then why would Yin’er feel he had suffered three years of contempt?

In his own home?

Sensing Yang Huier’s gaze, Lin Zhengyang quietly averted his eyes, refusing to meet her stare.

Upon seeing Lin Yin, Old Jiang’s face once again brightened with joy.

Completely unlike the calm neutrality he showed before Lin Zhengyang and Lin Tianjiao.