036 We are self-taught

036 We Are Self-Taught

"Do you value the first-place reward that much?" Prince Qu asked with a noncommittal, playful smile.

"I have no need for the first-place reward. It is just that I am unconvinced, and I have my doubts." Wen Liang did not flinch before Prince Qu. He was soon to become an inner-sect disciple of the True Martial Academy; once he emerged from there, his status would be exalted. He might even remain in the Northwest Empire, and by then, Prince Qu himself would have to bow to him.

Prince Qu seemed to have anticipated this mindset. He smiled faintly: "It is not impossible for you to challenge him. However, before you do, I should show you a recording. After you watch it, you may decide whether or not to proceed." With that, Prince Qu led Wen Liang to the strange mirror.

Prince Qu's subordinates had already made the necessary arrangements, and the mirror began to replay the footage from the assessment. Seeing that calm figure in the recording, Wen Liang's expression shifted instantly. He was struck dumb; the composed aura Zhang He displayed in the footage, combined with the power behind his strikes, proved beyond a doubt that Zhang He's cultivation was in no way inferior to his own.

Wen Liang's face turned pale. After watching the recording, he nodded silently and said bitterly: "I never expected Zhang He to possess such strength. It turns out my defeat was not unjust; my skills were simply inferior to his."

The strength Zhang He displayed in the recording made Wen Liang realize the gap between them.

"Do not be arrogant in victory, nor discouraged in defeat. As long as you are more diligent than him, there will come a day when you surpass him." Prince Qu smiled faintly.

Wen Liang nodded, a look of determination flashing in his eyes: "I will work even harder to surpass Zhang He!" A desire for competition suddenly ignited within him; in his heart, Zhang He had become the enemy he must defeat next. With his mind settled, Wen Liang did not linger and took his leave.

Prince Qu watched Wen Liang depart and shook his head slightly: "I hope he can learn from his shame and find courage. At the very least, he needs to cultivate a more balanced mindset. The world is vast and full of wonders; not everyone is inferior to you, young man." Prince Qu walked out slowly, where Zhang He and the others had been waiting for some time.

Outside, the City Lord of Mengyin City was speaking with Zhang He and his companions. When His Highness the Prince emerged, the City Lord immediately rose to offer a salute.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Zhang He and the others followed suit, bowing in respect.

"At ease." Prince Qu smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the three youths. "Your performance today was excellent. Especially you, Zhang He—as the first-place finisher of the Mengyin City Martial Child Assessment, you will be granted the status of a Cold Gate noble. I offer you my congratulations in advance."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhang He remained neither servile nor overbearing, showing no signs of being overwhelmed by the favor. This composure made Prince Qu's eyes light up with slight surprise. This young man is no simple character!

Fatty Tang and Wang Dachui stood to the side, feeling anxious and uneasy. They did not know why His Highness had summoned them.

"You two, there is no need to be nervous. I am not a tiger; I do not eat people." Seeing their tension, Prince Qu could not help but smile kindly.

"You may not be a tiger, but you possess the aura of one," Fatty Tang immediately flattered.

"Heh, you certainly have a way with words. You are Tang Risong, correct? Do you know why I have summoned you here?" Prince Qu looked at the pair with a relaxed air.

Fatty Tang and Wang Dachui shook their heads hesitantly.

"I watched your progress through the trials. I must say, the fighting style you displayed was quite unique." Upon hearing this, the two grew tense. Could it be that our fighting style was too crude, and His Highness found it disgraceful and intends to punish us?

However, Prince Qu's next words put them at ease.

"I am very interested in the martial arts you displayed while clearing the trials. Is this set of techniques complete?" Prince Qu asked kindly. In his eyes, Fatty Tang and Wang Dachui were talents capable of improving the individual combat prowess of his troops.

The two exchanged a glance, looking somewhat surprised. Fatty Tang hesitated before answering honestly: "I do not know if there is a complete set. When we learned them, they were just scattered moves."

"Oh?" Prince Qu became even more interested. "Who did you learn them from? These moves are very seasoned and sharp. Did you learn them from retired soldiers?"

Fatty Tang shook his head and looked toward Zhang He: "We learned them from Zhang He. These martial arts were all taught to us by him."

"What?" Prince Qu was stunned. He looked at Zhang He in astonishment, but Zhang He remained unmoved, standing there with a steady, calm demeanor that immediately earned him the Prince's favor.

"Zhang He, you taught them these martial arts? Where did you learn them yourself?" Prince Qu inquired.

"These are just some moves I pondered in my spare time. They are merely a playful creation, not fit for refined company," Zhang He said with feigned humility, thinking to himself, My apologies, but I have just become the founder of this military combat system.

Prince Qu's eyes flashed with brilliance. He was shocked by Zhang He's words, and even more incredulous: "You created them yourself?" Anyone capable of creating martial arts was a master. Although these moves were concise, surely this was not something a youth under eighteen could devise on his own?

If this were true, it could only mean that the boy before him was a genius!

"Do you realize the value of this fighting style?" Prince Qu took a light breath to steady himself before looking at Zhang He and asking calmly. He felt that if Zhang He truly could create such a technique, he must surely understand its worth.

Zhang He looked at the Prince. Although the man was dressed elegantly and appeared scholarly, his eyes emitted a piercing light. It was like a tiger staring at its prey, giving off an aggressive, imposing aura. Zhang He knew this was not intentional, but rather an aura cultivated over a long period.

It was an aura Zhang He had seen before. A soldier!

"Ordinary people without internal energy, when using these techniques to face enemies stronger than themselves, will have a much greater chance of victory," Zhang He said in a deep voice.

"Exactly! In this world, ordinary people make up the majority, while those who cultivate internal energy are the minority. Even in the army, ordinary soldiers make up the vast majority. If they can master these techniques, they will have a better chance of winning in close-quarters combat. This increased chance of survival will allow more ordinary soldiers to live!" Prince Qu's eyes blazed with light.

"Your Highness, if you find these techniques useful, I will not hide them. I am fully willing to hand over everything I have realized to make a contribution to our Western Chu Kingdom." Seeing Prince Qu's attitude, Zhang He knew the man valued this military combat system. He wanted to apply this modern military fighting style to the army and teach it to the common soldiers!

"Very good! Very good! Truly a loyal heart!" Seeing Zhang He's stance, Prince Qu was immensely gratified. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he said, "You are the first-place finisher in this Martial Child Assessment. According to the rules, you will be granted Cold Gate status; this is your first step into the ranks of the gentry. If you can refine this martial art into a complete system, I can grant you certain benefits. For instance, I can grant you the authority to maintain a certain number of private troops. How does that sound?"

The City Lord of Mengyin, standing nearby, widened his eyes in shock and gasped. My heavens, what is His Highness doing? Granting a mere Cold Gate commoner the right to keep private troops? That is a privilege reserved only for the nobility! The City Lord's gaze could not help but fall upon Zhang He.

In the history of the Western Chu Kingdom, there was absolutely no precedent for a Cold Gate noble to possess the right to maintain private troops. If Zhang He were the first to receive such a privilege, it meant he could practically walk sideways through Mengyin City!

Furthermore, the fact that Prince Qu would allow Zhang He to keep private troops showed just how important he had become in the Prince's eyes. After all, wasn't the purpose of private troops, to a certain extent, the protection of one's own safety?

"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness! I will certainly produce a complete set of martial arts!" Zhang He immediately bowed. The right to keep private troops! Once I become a Cold Gate noble, having this qualification will be like having a protective talisman. Even the powerful aristocratic families won't dare to provoke me!

"Haha, do your best. I have high hopes for you. By the way, in a short while, the entrance selection for the True Martial Academy will take place. As the first-place finisher of Mengyin City, you have already secured your qualification! I hope you achieve great results and bring glory to our country!" Prince Qu said with a smile, finding Zhang He more and more pleasing to the eye.

"Greetings, Your Highness." At that moment, Zhao Wencai happened to enter. As the Dean of the Mengyin City Martial Child Academy, he had to witness this moment and pay his respects to the Prince.

Seeing Zhao Wencai, Prince Qu's face beamed with a radiant smile. He praised him sincerely: "You have done a fine job as Dean, cultivating such an excellent martial child for the country. This is truly a blessing for our Western Chu Kingdom. I will report this truthfully and request a reward for you. I see that you have been working diligently in Mengyin City for many years; it is time for you to move up to a higher position."

"Your Highness, actually... the three of us are no longer students of the Martial Child Academy. We were expelled by Dean Zhao a month ago," Zhang He suddenly interjected. As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Wencai.

Zhao Wencai's face turned deathly pale. He bared his teeth in a dry, awkward laugh: "Actually, this is..."

Prince Qu froze, his brow furrowing immediately. He realized at once that there must be more to this. Such an excellent martial child had been expelled from the Academy? The Martial Child Academy was the state's dedicated institution for cultivating talent among the youth. If a gifted child were expelled, it would inevitably leave a shadow in his heart. He might even grow to resent the country!

"Dean Zhao, what is the meaning of this?" Prince Qu's expression turned grim.

Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Wencai's forehead. At this moment, he felt immense regret. Why did I expel them back then? Now I have brought this trouble upon myself!