Ding Ling asked Hua Tuo to wait with a few horses and some supplies in the dense forest a dozen miles outside Wan City.
Hua Tuo had no objection.
This journey into the dragonâs lair and tigerâs den.
He himself would be a burden if he went. He understood this well, and simply urged Ding Ling to hurry back and stay safe.
As Ding Ling learned the Qingnang Scripture.
Hua Tuo became increasingly amiable towards Ding Ling! Closer! More appreciative!
Others could clearly see this.
Ding Ling was naturally no exception either.
After exchanging a few words with Hua Tuo.
Ding Ling and Zhao Yun, together with Yuan Yao, galloped straight towards Wan City.
Yuan Yaoâs mount was naturally his own.
It was a fine horse from Da Wan.
No less impressive than the mounts of Houcheng and Wei Xu.
But Ding Ling already had enough mounts, so he did not take his.
Clop-clop-clop!
The hooves pounded the earth, the clop-clop sounded resonating in all directions, while dust flew.
After a period of time.
The three persons and their horses arrived at the gate of Wan City.
Welcoming Ding Ling was a fully prepared force of three thousand Iron Cavalry.
In front of the Iron Cavalry stood a general.
He had a tigerâs back and a bearâs waist, was tall and broad, with a dignified face, and rarely smiled or spoke.
Covered in a layer of golden armor, holding a Three-Pointed Two-Blade, seated on horseback, with eyes that opened with imposing might as if a Celestial God descending to the Mortal World, intimidating anyone who looked upon him.
He seemed ready to go on an expedition.
But upon seeing Yuan Yao, he obviously was taken aback:
"Young Master! You, youâre alright?!"
"General Jii Ling!"
Yuan Yao seemed as if he had seen a relative, almost breaking into tears.
In the past one or two days, he had been on the verge of wanting to die!
Living in purgatory was an understatement.
Having finally reached Wan City and seeing the armyâs strongest general, Jii Ling, he was so overjoyed he almost leaped.
Upon hearing Jii Lingâs words.
He was eager to say, "Iâve almost died, how could I be alright?!"
But beside him were two gods of death, forcing him to endure the agony, nodding with a face full of grievance and repressed feelings:
"Iâm fine. Not a thing wrong."
His acting was so poor.
Jii Ling naturally did not believe him, his eyes swiftly moved to look at Ding Ling and Zhao Yun:
"Are you Ding Ling and Zhao Yun?"
"Yes."
Ding Ling could easily guess that it must be those few people who managed to escape and report.
At this moment, Jii Ling and the others knowing their Young Master was in danger and subsequently organizing the troops for revenge was only normal.
"I heard you two killed Generals Lei Bo and Chen Lan?"
Jii Ling glanced at Yuan Yao, seeing his face was very off, his mind racing, he quickly said:
"I donât care what youâve done in the past, as long as you release our Young Master now, and do not coerce him, all past grievances will be written off."
He pointed his blade to the distance:
"You can go now. I thank you for bringing back our Young Master."
Yuan Yao slightly breathed a sigh of relief, ready to leave anytime.
Though he feared Ding Ling, they were at the doorstep now.
His courage swelled!
His confidence soared!
The fear he had towards Ding Ling naturally faded quite a bit.
Ding Ling saw through it and chuckled:
"Iâm not here to reason with you."
He looked at Yuan Yao, lightly reprimanding:
"If you donât want to die, quickly tell Jii Ling to move his troops aside!"
Yuan Yao felt as if cold water had been poured over him, instantly recalling scene after scene of Ding Ling slaughtering mercilessly, he glanced at Ding Ling, saw Ding Ling staring at him expressionlessly.
His heart was chilled, his shoulder began to throb painfully again, he quickly turned his head away and did not look at Ding Ling more, instead saying loudly to Jii Ling:
"Jii Ling, quickly take your men and move aside, donât block the way!"
"Young Master!"
Jii Lingâs eyes widened.
"Are you deaf?!"
Yuan Yao vented with a shout.
Already so aggrieved to the point of death, and his own servant wasnât listening, Yuan Yao was furious!
"Yes."
Jii Ling sighed deeply, bowed his hand in compliance, and retreated with his troops to the side.
Ding Ling and Zhao Yun then coerced Yuan Yao into the city.
The scene fell in the eyes of many players, causing them to look at each other in shock, marveling at the Celestial Being:
"This guy, his courage is too big! This is Yuan Shuâs main base!"
âAlthough itâs said Yuan Shu will move to Shouchun later. But for now, his main force is stationed here. Does Ding Ling not fear death?â
"The man defeated LĂŒ Bu. Why should he fear these small soldiers? If I could defeat LĂŒ Bu, Iâd walk as if owning the place!"
"Do you really believe he defeated LĂŒ Bu? With LĂŒ Buâs stature, how is it possible for him to be defeated by him? Itâs definitely exaggerated stories!"
...
Clop-clop-clop!
Wan Cityâs high walls and deep trenches span vast areas.
Its internal roads crisscross, buildings densely packed.
Apart from the main road, other roads are crowded with people.
Evidently, the main road has been temporarily cleared.
Yet Ding Ling and the others sped down the main road, highly conspicuous and eye-catching.
Attracting many to glance sideways, pointing and talking.
Yuan Yao used to thoroughly enjoy such attention.
Now he only wished to find a crack and drill into it, his face burning like fire, seemingly swollen as if someone had slapped it, red like the sunset.
Especially upon seeing the bewildered and confused eyes of familiar faces, it felt more like being struck by lightning, appearing as though stripped naked, thrown onto the street for public viewing.
He increasingly felt oppressed and painful.
Pushed himself to urge the mount vigorously to speed up.
Ding Ling did not stop him, he also wanted to obtain the Great Medicine and other treasures and leave as quickly as possible.
Jii Ling, with a few loyal subordinates, followed from afar.
He kept an unwavering watch on Ding Ling, turning to a soldier:
"You say Ding Ling killed his way through from the Si Li Region?!"
The soldier was a player, eager to earn Jii Lingâs recognition, and poured out everything he knew.
Jii Ling frowned.
The more he listened, the more incredulous it seemed.
Especially hearing about Ding Ling single-handedly taking a city and chasing down the Wolf Cavalry, it felt to him like the soldier was playing a joke!
He was furious, about to lash out.
The player, observing his demeanor, immediately presented the prepared carrier pigeon, extracting a letter from its leg, handing it to Jii Ling:
"Court Officer himself wrote it, no falsity!"
Jii Ling skeptically accepted the letter and read through it carefully, reaching the stamped part, his eyelid twitched slightly, though instinctively he remained doubtful:
"Nowadays all lords oppose Dong. Court Officer is with Thief Dong. Itâs perfectly normal for him to deceive me."
"But earlier, Ding Ling single-handedly defeating Thunder Cavalry is indeed the bloody truth."
The soldier brought up this.
Jii Ling couldnât help but turn cold-faced.
He already looked down on the Thunder Cavalry assembled by a bunch of bandits and hoodlums.
Thus considered it normal for them to be scattered by someone.
But to say over 90% of Thunder Cavalry was killed by one person seemed too frivolous.
Did they truly think Ding Ling was a Celestial God descending from above?
Thunder Cavalryâs mounts had four legs, they couldnât escape?
The soldier was also helpless, finding achieving an Achievement Medal with Jii Ling far too difficult, he could only endure discomfort and analyze again for Jii Ling, saying:
"Does the General think he wouldnât possess such extraordinary Martial Power to dare come with just two men to this heavily guarded Wan City?"