: The Warrior Returns

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-12-28

The Ten-Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon now coiled around Ning Zhuo's waist once more.

Most of the spoils inside had been sold off, exchanged for spirit stones that filled several cabins.

Now, Ning Zhuo no longer needed to worry about the cost of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon traversing the void—

He was rich!

Sun Lingtong, small in stature, sat cross-legged on the ground, donning the Soldier's Shared Helmet.

The oversized helmet sat on his tiny head, its back covering a good portion of his small back, creating a stark contrast between the two.

Sun Lingtong's physical foundation was far stronger than before.

Though the helmet was heavy, he could effortlessly balance it on his head.

While supporting the helmet, he flipped through the military manual "Gao Sheng's Posthumous Writings."

The manual was tattered and incomplete. Without any military expertise, Sun Lingtong could read the characters but struggled to grasp their combined meaning.

The further he went, the more profound the strategies became. Misunderstanding a single character could lead to vastly different interpretations.

Crucially, the manual was riddled with gaps—missing words and sometimes entire passages.

As a military artifact for combat, it was excellent. But as a teaching tool, it posed quite a challenge for the reader.

However, the situation now was different from before—Sun Lingtong had put on the Soldier's Shared Helmet!

As he continued reading, his consciousness delved deep into the manual. His eyes grew vacant as he entered a state of enlightenment.

In a daze, he became an ordinary soldier in the army, his steps heavy and sluggish. During a night raid, he suddenly couldn't hold back a loud fart, alerting the enemy and causing the entire operation to fail.

He then became a squad leader. His temper was fiery, and though he had stealthily approached the enemy, he couldn't restrain himself, charging prematurely at the wrong moment. This allowed the enemy to react and fend off the raid.

He also became a commander. Indecisive and timid, he hesitated even after seizing the perfect opportunity for a raid and closing in on the enemy. Unwilling to commit fully, he held back during the assault. By the time he decided to go all out, the enemy had already stabilized their formation, and it was too late.

Sun Lingtong gained various insights.

"For a raid to succeed, soldiers must conceal their traces, squad leaders must exercise restraint, and commanders must be decisive! At the moment of the raid, one must go all out, investing everything. Only then can the raid achieve its maximum effect."

A full two hours later, Sun Lingtong slowly opened his eyes.

His consciousness nearly depleted, he removed the helmet, stood up, and raised an eyebrow at Ning Zhuo with a proud expression, clearly having gained much.

"I've comprehended a battle formation called the Thief's Light Breeze Formation."

"This formation allows soldiers to march swiftly, as if treading on a light breeze. At the same time, it conceals their traces."

"Through stealth and disguise, after closing in on the enemy, they launch a full-scale raid!"

"Like a gentle breeze stealing lives, it's especially adept at attacking enemies after they've fallen asleep!"

After Sun Lingtong finished sharing, Ning Zhuo looked puzzled. "That's it?"

He had expected to see much more, but there was only one battle formation.

Sun Lingtong stroked his chin, analyzing, "The 'Gao Sheng's Posthumous Writings' is too fragmented. It's hard to understand through normal reading."

"My own military knowledge is practically zero, which makes the situation worse."

"As for the power of the Soldier's Shared Helmet, it allows the wearer to gain the experiences of the soldiers who once wore it."

"Combining the two, based on my own nature and preferences, I receive the right guidance and summarize the result most suitable for me."

"Obviously, my result is the Thief's Light Breeze Formation."

Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Sun Lingtong's perspective was broader than Ning Zhuo's, especially in practical experience.

His thinking was also meticulous, having deduced the truth after just one use.

"Xiao Zhuo, why don't you give it a try too?" Sun Lingtong suggested. "I've tested it for you; there shouldn't be any risks."

"Thanks, boss." Ning Zhuo had been interested earlier. Before entering the camp, he imitated Sun Lingtong's earlier posture, sitting cross-legged to comprehend military strategies.

He became a soldier escorting a large group of civilians during a retreat. As a result, he was burdened, leading not only to his own demise but the entire army's destruction.

He became a squad leader unwilling to abandon the wounded in his unit. While dragging them to escape, they were overtaken and killed by the enemy.

He became a commander who couldn't bear the casualties in battle, unwilling to sacrifice any part of his forces. He kept deploying reserve troops, but in the latter half of the battle, the front lines, lacking reinforcements, faltered. Once one section collapsed, the entire line quickly crumbled. As the commander, Ning Zhuo was defeated and died.

Thus, Ning Zhuo comprehended a military strategy—the Sacrificial Comrades Annihilation Method!

Once activated, this method would sacrifice the bodies and souls of comrades as materials, temporarily enhancing the remaining soldiers' power.

Therefore, the more comrades died, the greater the combat boost for the survivors.

Seeing Ning Zhuo looking exhausted as he opened his eyes, Sun Lingtong asked curiously, "Xiao Zhuo, what did you comprehend?"

Ning Zhuo: ...

He remained silent for a moment before speaking. "I comprehended a military strategy."

Sun Lingtong pressed, "What strategy?"

"It must align with your nature, follow your preferences, and be the most suitable thing for you."

Ning Zhuo: ...

Boss, if you hadn't said that, we could still be good friends!

Seeing Ning Zhuo remain silent for so long, Sun Lingtong grew impatient with his own curiosity. "Hey, Xiao Zhuo, out with it!"

Ning Zhuo could only nod and reluctantly say, "This strategy is called... the Warrior's Return Technique!"

"What does that mean?" Sun Lingtong didn't understand.

Ning Zhuo murmured softly: "As the saying goes, 'The wind whistles cold over the Yi River; the warrior departs, never to return.'"

"This strategy allows the warrior to return."

"Comrades fight side by side. If a warrior falls on the battlefield, their remaining strength is transferred to those still standing."

"Though the warrior dies, their residual power still aids their comrades in battle."

"I really like this strategy. It fully reflects my understanding of the brutality of war—the dangers of conflict—and my preference for peace!"

"At the same time, it aligns with my belief that 'sacrifices must have value, and the higher the value, the more worthwhile the sacrifice.'"

"Additionally, it embodies my unyielding spirit—even in death, I would leave behind my remaining strength to continue fighting—and my perseverance and courage!"

Sun Lingtong stared blankly at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo stood tall, chest out, smiling at him with righteous dignity.

For a moment, Sun Lingtong was genuinely fooled, muttering, "Something feels a bit off."

Ning Zhuo hurriedly said, "Hey, why bother overthinking it? Let's head back first."

"Huh? Aren't we going to continue comprehending?" Sun Lingtong wondered.

Ning Zhuo shook his head. "On one hand, we've been out for a long time. There might be urgent changes on Mu Lan's side, so it's safer to guard her."

"On the other hand, since using the 'Gao Sheng's Posthumous Writings' and the Soldier's Shared Helmet is based on our nature and preferences—though that claim is debatable..."

Ning Zhuo quickly added that last part before continuing, "Then, only after we truly master a battle formation or strategy can we better comprehend the next one, right?"

"If we don't fully grasp it, what we trigger will still contain a lot of repetitive content."

Sun Lingtong nodded. "Makes sense, makes sense. As expected of Xiao Zhuo."

Ning Zhuo smiled. "Of course, this is just a hypothesis. But it's simple to verify—you just need to comprehend it yourself."

Sun Lingtong nodded. "I'll definitely do that."

Immediately, Sun Lingtong stayed behind in the mechanical wandering dragon, while Ning Zhuo, with the dragon coiled around his waist, returned to the Three Generals Camp.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Er hurried out of his tent to greet him.

Seeing Ning Zhuo's beaming face, Liu Er's smile grew even warmer. "Adviser, you look radiant. Your trip must have been highly fruitful."

Ning Zhuo clasped his hands in salute. "My clan has granted me more authority. Now, I can offer greater support to the Three Generals Camp."

Liu Er clapped his hands joyfully. "Truly good news! Adviser, please come to my tent and sit for a while."

(End of )