Challenge from Ju Yi

Because they had been delayed here for quite some time, quite a few White Wave Bandits took advantage of the night to flee.

"General, should we set out now?"

"Set out."

Ding Ling nodded.

There was nothing he could do about those White Wave Bandits who had already escaped.

But now that he was back, he would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen again. He immediately summoned several officers for a meeting and declared that collective punishment would be enforced.

If one White Wave Bandit escaped, an entire squad would be executed. If an entire squad escaped, then a whole company would be beheaded!

The method proved highly effective.

After the heads of no fewer than several hundred men had rolled.

Seeing that Ding Ling meant business.

Every White Wave Bandit was gripped by fear. Some had considered resisting, but the moment they saw Ding Ling seated atop his horse, they could not help but tremble inside and lose their courage.

Some Players hidden among the White Wave Bandits quietly logged off and left upon seeing this.

Each of them cursed inwardly:

"Ding Ling really is a butcher. He kills without blinking! He's a ruthless man! If I run into him on the battlefield in the future, I'd better take a detour!"

Ding Ling paid no attention to these Players.

He could not possibly stay where he was and wait for Players to log back in.

He did not have that much time, nor did he have any interest in fighting Players.

He had already embarked on the Path of Glory.

Now, he needed to become a war god for his own glory.

More than ten hours later.

Ding Ling arrived at Yecheng almost by driving the White Wave Bandits into a run.

Countless White Wave Bandits had died of exhaustion or collapsed dead along the way.

Those who truly made it alive to Yecheng were also so exhausted that they collapsed not far from its gates.

The four hundred cavalrymen all looked at Ding Ling differently now. Several Players among them were especially thinking:

"Ding Ling has no mercy whatsoever for his enemies. His heart is hard as iron. He really is a born general! Someone like him is suited for this Romance of the Three Kingdoms battlefield. War is no game, after all! If you're too much of a Holy Mother, the enemy might devour you without leaving even your bones behind!"

The Players had been shaped by all kinds of experiences in modern society.

They had almost zero tolerance for Holy Mothers.

Therefore, although Ding Ling's treatment of the White Wave Bandits made them extremely uncomfortable, they still approved of it from the bottom of their hearts and even praised his actions.

They also understood that sparing the White Wave Bandits might lead to the deaths of even more innocent civilians.

Just like Zhongqiu Ancient City not long ago—how many families had been destroyed overnight?

"General Ding has returned!"

"Welcome back, victorious Military Secretary!"

Pan Feng personally led Zhang He, Gao Lan, Cheng Huan, and the others out of the city to welcome Ding Ling.

He had received news of Ding Ling's great victory ahead of time.

How had that happened?

Yecheng's scouts had already made contact with Ding Ling's troops. After learning everything, they galloped back to Yecheng and reported the news to Pan Feng.

After hearing it, Pan Feng was overjoyed and loudly praised Ding Ling before everyone.

Zhang He, Gao Lan, and the others repeatedly echoed him, affirming Pan Feng's wisdom as well!

Pan Feng became even more delighted, feeling that Ding Ling had brought him great honor.

He felt that although he had taken a risk, the returns he would gain would surely be even greater!

It was precisely because of this that Pan Feng decisively led everyone out to welcome Ding Ling and cheer for him.

"Greetings, General Pan, General Zhang, General Gao..."

Ding Ling leaped gracefully from his horse, hung the Fangtian Halberd at the side of his fine steed, then strode over to Pan Feng and the others to greet them one by one.

Seeing that Ding Ling remained neither arrogant nor servile, neither startled nor delighted, even after such a great victory, Pan Feng, Zhang He, and the others could not help but praise him inwardly:

"This boy's temperament is becoming more and more steady. He will surely achieve great things in the future!"

Achievement Medals obtained: You have won the recognition of all officers at the Ji Province Barracks

Note: Under the deliberate embellishment and promotion of Pan Feng, Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Cheng Huan, news of your great victory has spread throughout the Ji Province Barracks. Every general knows of your deeds and is curious about you! They want to know more about you!

The notification sounded at just the right moment.

Ding Ling paused slightly, then calmly continued chatting with Pan Feng and the others.

Pan Feng was clearly extremely satisfied with Ding Ling. Before everyone present, he praised Ding Ling lavishly:

"As far as I know, Guo Tai, Hu Cai, Han Xian, and their gang of White Wave Bandits have run rampant through Bing Province and other regions. Wherever they go, they spread like wildfire, leaving almost nothing behind. They are a gang of utterly vile scoundrels. Yet many officers have been unable to do anything about them.

For Ding Ling to defeat them in a single battle is truly remarkable!

It is beneath his talents to serve as a mere Military Secretary! I will soon recommend Ding Ling to the Governor of Ji Province and have him serve as a general guarding one region in Changshan Commandery!"

The moment these words were spoken.

The entire army erupted!

Other than Zhang He and a handful of others, everyone present felt Pan Feng's decision was far too excessive!

After all, Ding Ling had been nothing more than an ordinary soldier two or three days ago!

How many days had it been?

And he was being promoted again!

It was simply absurd!

Quite a few people voiced their opposition.

Among them, the opposition from Ju Yi's side was the loudest.

Ju Yi—that is, Qu Yi—had a resolute face and a burly build. He was renowned throughout Shifang for his skill in battle. In the future Battle of Jie Bridge, he would use eight hundred soldiers to crush Gongsun Zan's twenty thousand infantry and ten thousand cavalry! That battle would make his name resound across the land!

But because he became arrogant and overbearing in reliance on his achievements, Yuan Shao would have him killed.

Ding Ling had not recognized such a Fierce Person at first.

Later, after becoming familiar with Cheng Huan, Zhang He, and the others, Zhang He and the others voluntarily introduced him to several officers of Ji Province.

Only then did Ding Ling come to know Ju Yi.

Seeing Ju Yi oppose him so fiercely now, Ding Ling could not help but be stunned and somewhat confused. But after thinking it over briefly, he understood.

His promotions had indeed come a little too quickly. It was perfectly normal for Ju Yi to envy and fear him.

"Ju Yi."

Pan Feng frowned and looked at Ju Yi displeasedly. "Do you think you're stronger than Ding Ling?"

"We'll only know after we fight."

Ju Yi raised his head and stepped forward, a crossbow in one hand and a spear in the other, staring directly at Ding Ling.

"If I had wanted to fight you before, people would have said I was bullying the weak and throwing my weight around. But now, our positions are equal, and our reputations are equal. If I wish to spar with you, you wouldn't refuse me, would you?"

"Of course not."

Ding Ling was courteous and composed, his bearing naturally apparent.

"If General Ju Yi wishes to spar with me, I could not ask for more."

That was the truth.

The Path of the War God required him to defeat more than twenty powerhouses from different planes.

Ju Yi most likely qualified as such a powerhouse.

Once the two had made things clear.

Pan Feng could no longer stop them.

He only said that the city gate was not the place for a sparring match and that they needed to go to the arena.

Neither Ju Yi nor Ding Ling objected.

Thus, the group headed for the arena.

As for the White Wave Bandits, they were assigned to hard labor. Guo Tai and the others' heads had already been sent to the residence of Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province.

They were proof of Ding Ling's military achievements and could not be lost.

Naturally, Pan Feng had arranged for them to be delivered to Han Fu at the first opportunity.

Some time later.

The arena.

Players who had heard the news packed the place so tightly that not even water could pass through.