A Contest of Painting Skill with Ju Shou

"..."

Ding Ling was speechless.

He was actually quite confused as well.

He might have been far more capable than other Players.

But that was only in the game. No one could possibly know that he had already converted all his strength and returned to the Real World, so why were these people so fanatical about him?

Especially those women. It was simply baffling.

Just a few days ago, he had still been a single nobody!

The kind of man the women at his company could not be bothered to spare a second glance at!

Now, everything had suddenly changed. The contrast before and after was so huge that Ding Ling was a little dazed.

Of course, he guessed it might have something to do with becoming more handsome, taking first place on the overall rankings, and his impressive performance just now.

But surely it should not have gone this far?

"Judging by that expression, could it be that you do not understand either?"

Zhang He gave Ding Ling a strange look and said,

"If not, you could ask those women yourself. Or I could ask them for you?"

"Forget it."

Ding Ling shook his head.

What the Players thought was none of his business.

All he wanted now was to complete the Path of Glory in Three Kingdoms World.

The Glory Medals offered enormous benefits. He could not afford to miss them.

More importantly, he had already rented a place in the countryside! It was at the foot of a mountain, somewhere ordinary people would never be able to find him.

With his safety assured, there was naturally no need to pay excessive attention to the Players' movements.

Some time later.

Governor of Ji Province's residence.

Han Fu sat upright in the seat of honor.

He was examining Ding Ling.

And not just him.

Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Geng Wu, Min Chun, Xun Chen, and the others were all studying Ding Ling closely.

Without exception,

they were all formidable figures whose names would be passed down through later generations.

Ding Ling only knew who they were because Zhang He, standing beside him, had quietly introduced them one by one.

"What you did was such a big deal that it alerted Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Geng Wu, and all the others. That is why they all came to this council meeting."

Gao Lan also quietly added from the side,

"Word of your defeat of Ju Yi just now has reached their ears as well. It looks like there will be far fewer people trying to make things difficult for you."

That was indeed the case.

At first, quite a few people had questioned Ding Ling's ability and martial skill.

But before everyone's eyes, Ding Ling had defeated Ji Province's valiant general Ju Yi head-on twice. With ironclad facts, he had shown them that his abilities were no empty boast!

"I have already inspected the heads of Guo Tai and the others."

After considering it for a long while, Han Fu said,

"I said earlier that if you killed the bandit leaders, I would promote you immediately. Now it is time to fulfill that promise."

"Lord."

Ju Shou could not help stepping forward in objection.

"Ding Ling is an Outsider and merely a new recruit. General Pan has already promoted him greatly. If you promote him again, it would be unfair and invite resentment!"

Ding Ling glanced at Ju Shou. This fellow's heart was not with Han Fu, yet he still called Han Fu Lord?

Compared with Tian Feng, Ju Shou was clearly much more tactful!

He just wondered whether Ju Shou had contacted Yuan Shao yet.

If he had, Han Fu's position as Governor of Ji Province was probably nearing its end.

Ding Ling thought, If that is really the case, I need to find another way out as soon as possible.

Serve as a general under Yuan Shao?

He might as well strike out on his own!

Ding Ling simply felt that going it alone would consume too much time and energy. Besides, he had chosen the Path of the War God, and being a general suited him best.

Since that was the case, he naturally had to serve as a great general under someone with the greatest strength and ambition.

Cao Mengde...

That name flashed through Ding Ling's mind.

Though Cao Mengde had plenty of flaws, at least he recognized talent and knew how to employ people. He would not look down on those from humble origins!

Besides, Ding Ling was not planning to remain in this Romance of the Three Kingdoms plane forever. Once he completed the Path of the War God, it would probably be about time for him to leave this plane.

How could he open up the other planes?

Ding Ling knew it was related to Achievement Medals, but he guessed it must also be connected to the Path of Glory.

Therefore, choosing a good leader was very necessary.

He had no regard at all for people like Han Fu and Yuan Shao.

"That is going too far, Cavalry Commandant."

Pan Feng could not help stepping out and angrily retorting,

"Ding Ling's military achievements are outstanding. The White Wave Bandits, who gave so many people headaches, were wiped out by him with just four hundred soldiers. Is that not enough to prove his martial skill and talent? He is fully qualified to be a general!

If anyone is dissatisfied, they can step out and have a match with Ding Ling. I believe Ding Ling will surely make them completely convinced!"

"..."

Ju Shou was speechless. How was a scholar like him supposed to compete with Ding Ling in martial strength?

He said as much.

Pan Feng asked,

"Then what do you want to compete in?"

"Chess, calligraphy, military strategy, statecraft, astronomy, Geography, playing the qin, calculation, or painting. Any of them will do."

Ju Shou was very confident. He cast a sidelong glance at Ding Ling.

"As long as you defeat me in any one of them, I will shut up."

He looked at Ding Ling, his eyes shining.

"I wonder what Military Secretary thinks?"

"Fine."

Ding Ling smiled faintly.

"Then let us compete in painting."

"Good."

Ju Shou was not intimidated. He immediately turned to Han Fu and clearly stated his position.

Han Fu was also very interested. He wanted to see how this contest would turn out.

After all, Ju Shou was a renowned scholar of Ji Province!

Yet in Han Fu's eyes, Ding Ling was merely an Outsider with no organization, no discipline, and no family background!

He came from the humble ranks of common soldiers and could be said to have no backing at all. How could he possibly confront Ju Shou head-on?

Han Fu seemed already able to see Ding Ling's embarrassment.

And not just him.

Many people present believed Ding Ling was bound to lose!

After all, Ju Shou's reputation was well known. His mastery of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting was no exaggeration!

Before long,

brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were prepared.

Perhaps because Players had entered the Romance of the Three Kingdoms game,

the development of paper in the Three Kingdoms had suddenly soared to modern production standards!

It was exceedingly exquisite!

The paper used by Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, was especially smooth and thick, like silk.

While silently marveling at how thoroughly Players had transformed Three Kingdoms World, Ding Ling did not hesitate. He wielded his brush with effortless ease, and in only a moment, a vivid landscape painting appeared before everyone.

When it came to painting,

Ding Ling's skill had already reached its limit!

Especially after returning to the Real World, he had thoroughly maxed out every painting-related skill in Network World just in case.

Now, it would not be an exaggeration to call Ding Ling a Great Grandmaster in painting.

A single painting,

was not only completed quickly,

but was also extraordinarily lifelike. If one did not look closely, one might think the mountains and rivers in it were real!

"Remarkable!"

Tian Feng, Geng Wu, and the others were highly learned. They understood at a glance and could not help being shocked.

"This painting skill! It is far too strong!! Ju Shou is certain to lose!"

"Who would have thought that a mere martial man could be so perfect at painting? This level has likely reached the Painting Sage realm of divine perfection!"

Min Chun, and even Han Fu, could not help clicking their tongues in amazement. The way they looked at Ding Ling began to turn solemn.

Achievement Medal obtained: Your painting skill has earned the high recognition of the scholars present!

Note: Tian Feng, Geng Wu, Han Fu, and the others originally believed you were merely a martial man and treated you with neglect and contempt...