Chapter 2130 - 2123: Toast with Milk Tea
"This new deputy general actually defeated Boss Gang!"
"My God, he sent Boss Gang flying with just one move! How strong must he be?"
"I heard that Boss Gang inherited his grandfather’s gift, naturally gifted with immense strength. Even some more seasoned First Grade Transcenders might not match his raw power, yet this Deputy General Zhang is even more impressive!"
"It’s not just about strength. His speed is also incredible, didn’t you notice? Boss Gang barely had time to react, and this is without any formal training. The future of this new deputy general is limitless!"
It wasn’t just the observing warriors; even General Xiwat’s expression was one of utter shock.
In just one move, he defeated the battle-hardened Boss Gang. Not even the most experienced deputy general of his, an old First Grade Transcender, could do that, but Zhang Menglong did. Such a gift is truly astonishing.
Boss Gang crawled up from the crowd, looking a bit disheveled yet unharmed. Zhang Menglong had held back most of his strength, otherwise, Boss Gang would probably have been a corpse.
"Boss Gang!" Others, seeing Boss Gang’s aggressive demeanor, were worried about further conflict between him and Zhang Menglong.
However, everyone seemed to overthink. Boss Gang, indeed proud, was not narrow-minded. He could lose gracefully and move on.
He walked up to Zhang Menglong, "Deputy General Zhang, I lost. I take back what I said just now; you truly deserve to be deputy general!"
Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. Boss Gang indeed had some grace, not a bad person, just a bit arrogant due to his noble origins.
Since Boss Gang extended the olive branch, Zhang Menglong would have appeared lacking in emotional intelligence if he didn’t accept it.
"Thank you, Deputy General Boss Gang," Zhang Menglong graciously accepted.
"To have a person as outstanding as Deputy General Zhang emerge from the Slave Camp is a blessing for the Mansha Kingdom." This time, Boss Gang did not emphasize the word "slave." From another perspective, such lowly origins producing such talent further highlighted Zhang Menglong’s extraordinary nature.
This joyful scene made General Xiwat very pleased. He gained a formidable subordinate and even earned recognition from the once-difficult Boss Gang, which was not a common occurrence.
Xiwat clapped the table, "Today, the Mansha Kingdom has won a great victory and gained Deputy General Zhang as a great asset. Send word down, reward the entire army today!"
...
Under General Xiwat’s command, they gained another great asset, even though this deputy general was of slave origin. Today, he showcased his mighty prowess on the battlefield for the first time, and the news spread quickly throughout the camp. Deputy generals from other fronts heard the news and returned to the military fortress by evening.
Initially, they harbored a bit of skepticism; never before had a slave become a Transcender.
Usually, when such slaves exhibited extraordinary abilities, their masters either granted them freedom to forge goodwill or exercised their rights as masters to kill them, as most would not treat a slave well.
Thus, such a rise to power was considered possible only in the sensational writings by authors of the Mansha Kingdom.
In their minds, even if this slave achieved the realm of a Transcender, he wouldn’t control his strength well, at most defeating some elite warriors through brute force.
However, upon learning that Zhang Menglong not only shone brightly on the battlefield but also defeated Boss Gang with one strike, they immediately changed their opinion of him.
"Let me introduce you," Xiwat said, seating Zhang Menglong next to him at the table, "This is Deputy General Zhang, Zhang Menglong. He is the most gifted and promising person I’ve seen. He will become a pillar of our Mansha Kingdom."
"Menglong, these are my five deputies; you’ve already met Boss Gang," Xiwat introduced his other deputies one by one.
From their conversation, Zhang Menglong also learned about the basic situation of the entire Mansha Empire.
The Mansha Empire had 45 Transcenders; with Zhang Menglong now, it was 46.
Among them, eight were Second Grade Transcenders, including General Xiwat beside Zhang Menglong. The remaining generals either guarded different locations or stayed in the capital of the Mansha Empire, protecting the Royal Family’s safety.
As for the entire Mansha Empire, its strength was considered weak, merely a small border kingdom.
They existed under the patronage of a powerful country called the Qinglan Empire, which boasted tens of thousands of Transcenders, immense might, and even a Sixth Grade Transcender, holding absolute authority in the region!
During the banquet, Xiwat’s son, Karon, also came to the table to toast the deputy generals one by one.
Karon had grown up on the battlefield alongside Xiwat; these deputy generals were like his teachers, and now he had one more.
"Menglong, this is my only son, Karon. If you’re interested, you could occasionally guide this brat," Xiwat joked.
Initially, Karon was also somewhat disdainful of Zhang Menglong, mostly due to his slave origins.
But when he saw Zhang Menglong wield a large machete, moving effortlessly in the sky, dismantling battleships as easily as eating and drinking, that image ingrained deeply in his heart.
Unexpectedly, Karon suddenly knelt on one knee with his wine cup before Zhang Menglong, "Deputy General Zhang, if you don’t mind, I hope you can accept me as your disciple and guide my training!"
Xiwat was equally surprised; his son had good gifts and was as proud. He never sought learning so respectfully, not even from him, his father.
He knew it must have been something about Zhang Menglong’s performance that sparked a sense of admiration in his son.
"This...," Zhang Menglong was at a loss.
He had taught many people but had never seriously taken on a disciple before. Karon had a talent for picking mentors!
"Hahaha, Deputy General Zhang, since Major Karon has this thought, why not fulfill it?"
"Yes, even the general has no objections; perhaps it’s fate between you and the major general!"
"You don’t mind my slave origins?" Zhang Menglong laughed.
"A disciple does not dare to mind the teacher!" Karon seemed to have already decided, "I’ve seen the teacher’s great prowess today. The disciple is genuinely impressed and hopes the teacher can accept me!"
"Pretty sincere," Zhang Menglong carefully observed him, "Also quite handsome, won’t embarrass me. Alright, get up, I’ve accepted you!"
"Thank you, Teacher!" Karon rejoiced immediately, ready to toast.
"Wait!" Zhang Menglong said and pulled out a cup of milk tea, "I don’t go for that; if you really want to toast, do it with milk tea!"