Museum of Deadly Beasts

Inside the main hall, after his conversation with Tan Xun, Lin Jin learned about the situation at the headquarters. Although Jade Dragon Kingdom had just experienced a catastrophe, the impact on the Beast Appraisal Association in comparison was relatively small. Headquarters even expanded quite a bit.

“And it’s all thanks to you, Appraiser Lin,” Tan Xun said with a chuckle.

He was being honest. Because of Lin Jin, the headquarters had attracted many appraisers over, and some were even appraisers of other countries.

According to the ranking, the Beast Appraisal Headquarters of these countries were actually stronger than Jade Dragon’s. Still, they came.

They surely didn’t come for Tan Xun, so the plausible reason could only be Lin Jin.

Lin Jin was quite surprised to hear this. He didn’t expect people to transfer over to Jade Dragon’s Beast Appraisal Headquarters because of him. So it was no wonder he saw so many unfamiliar faces just now. The number of appraisers in headquarters had doubled.

So this was the reason.

Seeing Lin Jin in deep thought, Tan Xun said something he had been wanting to say earlier. “There are quite a few good seedlings among the young appraisers. Old folks like me can’t keep up with them sometimes.”

There was an underlying meaning to his words.

Lin Jin was aware that Tan Xun couldn’t handle this influx of talent. After all, the latter was only Rank 3, and some of the young newcomers were also Rank 3.

In terms of talent and future potential, Tan Xun and the other old-timers were feeling immense pressure. Aside from experience, they had nothing else to compete with the youngsters.

So, feeling pressured was a given.

And what Tan Xun was implying here was that he hoped Lin Jin would take over the headquarters.

Lin Jin would surely not agree to that.

As this job required a lot of time, Lin Jin couldn’t possibly spend all his time at the headquarters. But if it was only in name and giving lectures from time to time, he could do that.

Back at Heavenly Spiral Academy, Lin Jin had served as a lecturer before, so he was okay with sharing some beast appraising knowledge back home.

When Lin Jin brought this up on his own, Tan Xun was pleased.

He also knew that the possibility of Lin Jin taking charge of the headquarters was slim. But so long as Lin Jin was willing to help, even if it meant that he was chief only in name and giving simple lessons from time to time, that would be enough.

Everyone was happy this way.

As the two chatted, news of Lin Jin spread quickly inside the imperial capital.

First, it was about Appraiser Lin’s return and his phenomenal act of bringing a dead pet beast back to life. This news obviously didn’t escape the nobles’ ears, much less the emperor, He Qian.

The instant he received word, He Qian had ordered his men to move toward the Beast Appraisal Association Headquarters at once.

He couldn’t help it as Lin Jin’s status was too prominent right now. Even as the country’s emperor, he had failed to meet Lin Jin several times. So upon hearing this news, He Qian knew he had to seize this opportunity to meet him.

And risk of lowering his social status by doing so?

Nonsense. He Qian knew that even emperors from premium countries wouldn’t be able to meet Lin Jin if they wanted to, much less himself.

Those living closer to the water would catch a glimpse of the moon first, so He Qian had to grab this chance.

Unlike before, Lin Jin was no longer an average man. He had to be treated like an immortal, so even if He Qian had to go and meet him, he wouldn’t harbor any ill thoughts.

He Qian arrived quickly. Afraid of letting Lin Jin slip away again, he didn’t even ride his carriage and instead came here on horseback. He brought only a few personal guards and came wearing normal robes.

Smart as he was, He Qian knew Lin Jin wasn’t the man he was before. If He Qian continued to put on airs as an emperor, Lin Jin would surely be annoyed. And once Lin Jin was annoyed, He Qian’s requests would never be fulfilled.

Upon arriving at the headquarters, He Qian led the way inside. Many people recognized him at once and quickly bowed. But He Qian didn’t have time to respond to them.

Once inside the inner courtyard, He Qian was surprisingly stopped.

The people stopping him were a few young Rank 3 beast appraisers. They definitely knew who He Qian was but still refused to let him pass.

“Appraiser Lin is in a discussion with Appraiser Tan and they are not to be disturbed,” said one of the Rank 3 beast appraisers. He had spoken respectfully but with a sense of pride.

All of headquarters now felt the same way as they had a massive backer, someone so profound that even the emperor couldn’t afford to provoke.

He Qian was absolutely infuriated for being stopped but he dared not act recklessly.

If he were anywhere else, he would have barged in directly without a care. But he couldn’t do that here.

The hall up ahead seemed to be overflowing with a powerful energy that even he had to tread carefully and show respect.

After steadying himself, He Qian said, “My good man, please help me pass on word that I would like to meet Appraiser Lin.”

The almighty emperor had just personally made the request to meet with Lin Jin. This was an act of lowering himself and showing Lin Jin respect, so the young appraiser was shocked.

He wouldn’t dare ignore this request to pass on word. And whether or not Appraiser Lin would meet the emperor was not up for him to decide.

The young appraiser went inside immediately.

Soon, he returned excitedly to say, “Your Majesty, Appraiser Lin invites you to come in.”

He Qian nodded. He actually felt nervous now. After straightening his robes, he went inside. His guards dared not come along and He Qian wouldn’t allow it either. Only the main eunuch could come along.

This main eunuch was acquainted with Lin Jin too.

By now, Lin Jin was walking over to receive them. Upon seeing He Qian, he smiled and bowed as usual. This startled He Qian and he quickly hurried forward to stop Lin Jin.

“Appraiser Lin, you mustn’t. You mustn’t,” said He Qian. But Lin Jin answered seriously, “I am a citizen of Jade Dragon so why can’t I salute my emperor?”

He Qian smiled in response, feeling warm on the inside.

Lin Jin was surely aware of his current social standing but he refused to put on airs. He didn’t meet He Qian prior to this because he had just too much to do. Also, Lin Jin wasn’t exactly a stickler for rules and customs.

However, some rules had to be observed and Lin Jin wasn’t that much of a rebel.

Lin Jin could be casual with He Qian but Tan Xun couldn’t. Hence, Tan Xun was most nervous right now. Logically speaking, there were only a handful of people in Jade Dragon Kingdom that would make him tense up, and two of them were sitting here right now.

Finally, he found a good time to escape, or else he would feel so suffocated staying here.

Lin Jin knew that He Qian must have important business with him to have come so urgently. So he nodded and let Tan Xun excuse himself.

With this, only He Qian, Lin Jin, and the main eunuch, Yao Sheng, were left in the room.

“Yao Sheng, go and stand watch outside!” He Qian instructed.

Yao Sheng got up immediately to go outside, leaving Lin Jin alone with He Qian..