Famous General Zhang He

"Pardon my poor showing."

Ding Ling sheathed his saber and stood upright, addressing Gao Lan and Cheng Huan.

"..."

Gao Lan stared speechlessly at the sky. If that was your poor showing, then I might as well dig a hole and bury myself in it. Wouldn't that be better?

"Good, good, good!"

Cheng Huan applauded and laughed as he praised him:

"That was superb. With saber skills like that alone, Ding Ling, you'd be more than qualified to serve as a Military Secretary."

"You flatter me."

Ding Ling slightly reined in his aura.

Confidence was a good thing, but if he overdid it and aroused Gao Lan's resentment, it would have the opposite effect.

Neither arrogant nor servile—that was the proper approach, and it would make people appreciate him more.

Sure enough, Gao Lan's expression had initially turned unpleasant when he heard Cheng Huan's praise, but Ding Ling's humble words brought it back to normal.

Gao Lan himself was only a Military Secretary.

Ding Ling had been a new recruit for less than half a day, yet he had already leaped up to a position on equal footing with him. How was Gao Lan supposed to take that?

Cheng Huan also realized this. He coughed dryly and quickly changed the subject:

"Ding Ling, your talent is truly remarkable. What do you plan to do next? Will you come with me to find General Pan Feng, or will you continue learning from Gao Lan?"

"I'd like to continue learning from General Gao."

Ding Ling seized the opportunity without hesitation.

"..."

Gao Lan was speechless. He waved his hand in dejection:

"There's nothing more I can teach you. My greatest specialty is the Battlefield Spear Art, followed by saber techniques. But those two martial arts are family teachings. I made an exception by passing the Battlefield Saber Art on to you, but I can't teach you the Battlefield Spear Art as well."

"That's a shame."

Ding Ling sounded regretful.

Cheng Huan glanced sideways at him. "You want to learn spear techniques too?"

"If possible, of course I do."

"You think your talent with the spear is no worse than your talent with the saber?"

"Yes."

Ding Ling once again activated his maxed-out acting skills and put on a performance:

"I believe I can definitely master spear techniques!"

I need to appear more confident.

How else can I get Cheng Huan to take me to another general to learn spear techniques?

"Impressive."

Cheng Huan praised him instinctively, but he still seemed hesitant. After deliberating for a while, he said:

"Since Gao Lan can no longer teach you, wait here for a moment. I'll go ask Zhang He."

"I can put in a few good words for you with Zhang He."

Gao Lan seemed to admire Ding Ling greatly as well. He could not help interrupting:

"Zhang He specializes in spear techniques. From the Elementary Spear Technique to the advanced forms, and even his family's spear technique, he has mastered them all to perfection! He may not be able to pass on his family technique, but there shouldn't be much of a problem with the other spear techniques if we put in a word or two."

"That couldn't be better."

Cheng Huan was delighted. "Then, Gao Lan, come with me."

"All right."

Gao Lan waved to Ding Ling:

"Ding Ling, come along."

Almost at the same time.

A notification sound rang out.

Achievement Medal acquired: Gao Lan's high recognition!

Note: Your performance completely won Gao Lan over and even made him start questioning his own talent in martial arts. He now wants to see whether your talent with the spear is as formidable as your talent with the saber.

Another Achievement Medal.

Ding Ling grew increasingly curious about the purpose of these Achievement Medals.

They clearly were not something just anyone could obtain.

How easy was it to win over a famous historical figure?

Clop, clop!

Gao Lan and Cheng Huan walked ahead.

Ding Ling followed behind.

Gao Lan touched the silk scroll containing the Battlefield Saber Art in his robes, filled with boundless emotion. It was the first time a new recruit had struck such a blow to him that he began questioning his entire life.

He had a strong premonition.

Perhaps Ding Ling would create another miracle at Zhang He's place.

Soon.

They arrived at Zhang He's military camp.

He was also a Military Secretary in the Ji Province Barracks.

In terms of appearance and bearing, he was even slightly superior to Gao Lan.

He was training new recruits as well, and Ding Ling could tell at a glance that ninety-nine percent of them were players.

Zhang He would become one of the Five Elite Generals in the future, his reputation resounding throughout later generations and his name preserved in the annals of history!

Naturally, players loved practicing martial arts under a famous general like him.

Zhang He was also very responsible. He taught in a strict, methodical manner. Only after seeing Gao Lan arrive did he stop his "work" and have his assistant continue training the new recruits.

He then went with Gao Lan and Cheng Huan to the command tent to talk.

Ding Ling did not enter.

He waited outside the tent.

There were some things he could not conveniently say, and going in would be useless at this time.

But perhaps because his strength had increased, his five senses had become much sharper. Before, he would never have been able to make out a conversation from this distance.

Now, however, he could hear everything clearly.

Listening to Gao Lan, Cheng Huan, and Zhang He converse inside the tent, Ding Ling felt a little embarrassed.

But he quickly returned to normal.

After some time.

Gao Lan lifted the curtain and came out, waving for Ding Ling to approach.

Ding Ling entered the tent.

Before he had even steadied himself, a clear voice asked, "You're Ding Ling?"

"That's right."

Ding Ling instinctively nodded. Following the voice, he saw that it was indeed Zhang He and said:

"Greetings, General Zhang!"

"I'm only a Military Secretary. You can dispense with the title of general."

Zhang He smiled and waved his hand. "Just call me by my name."

Gao Lan felt somewhat awkward hearing this from the side. He had accepted the title of general without hesitation. Seeing Zhang He say this, he felt he ought to change as well—especially in front of a genius like Ding Ling!

"I'll dispense with the pleasantries."

Zhang He was clearly a swift and decisive man. He immediately went straight to the core principles of the Elementary Spear Technique:

"Watch carefully. This is the Elementary Spear Technique that every member of the Zhang Family learns."

He explained and demonstrated as he spoke, without avoiding Gao Lan or Cheng Huan.

After two repetitions.

He looked at Ding Ling.

"How does it feel?"

"Not bad."

Ding Ling closed his eyes slightly.

A book immediately took shape in the Library.

Elementary Spear Technique maxed out

Strength +0.1

Agility +0.2

Constitution +0.1

In the span of a breath.

The Elementary Spear Technique reached max level.

Ding Ling had completely grasped the essence and secrets of the Elementary Spear Technique, enough to effortlessly perform a set of spear moves.

"Oh?"

Zhang He was somewhat unconvinced:

"Although the Elementary Spear Technique appears simple, it is the foundation of all spear techniques. Only by mastering it well can one go further in the art of the spear. When I first learned it, it took me a full two years. I trained it until there was no room left for improvement before I began studying the Intermediate Spear Technique!"

He paused, then said:

"Are you sure you've mastered this technique? If you have, I'll continue teaching you the intermediate form. If not, you can leave now."

His eyes gleamed as he stared at Ding Ling:

"Don't lie to me!"

"There's no need for me to lie."

Ding Ling walked to one side, picked up a long spear from the weapon rack, then moved to an empty patch of ground and began practicing.

Whoosh!

The long spear was like an arrow breaking through the air, yet also like a coiling venomous snake. In Ding Ling's hands, it thrust and recoiled unpredictably, curling and folding, unstoppable wherever it went.

Whoosh, whoosh!

The long spear seemed capable of piercing the void. In an instant, it had thrust out three points of starlight.