The night fell, and the Ye family mansion was brightly lit.
In the dining room of the outer courtyard, Ye Zheng ate dinner on time as usual.
What was different from the usual was that there was one more person in the dining room today—Ye Feng.
As the captain of the Zhanlong Special Forces, Ye Feng was accustomed to military life, often leading his team on missions, eating ravenously. However, today he ate slowly, so slowly that it could be described as savoring every bite.
This was because he wasn't just eating today; he was accompanying someone while eating.
The addition of "accompanying" made a significant difference—he needed to adjust his eating speed to match Ye Zheng's.
A good half hour later, this not particularly lavish dinner finally concluded. Ye Feng rose and followed Ye Zheng to the study.
Upon entering the study, Ye Feng first prepared hot water for Ye Zheng to make tea before sitting down on the sofa, ready to receive Ye Zheng's guidance.
"Is the team assembled?"
Ye Zheng took a sip of tea and asked casually.
After the Global Martial Arts Conference concluded, Ye Zheng had asked Ye Feng to join the Martial Department and had specifically communicated this matter with Qi Wufu.
Now, Ye Feng's new assignment was arranged—Captain of the Southern Domain Legion Guard Squad in the Martial Department.
Similar to the Western Domain Guard Squad, the Southern Domain Guard Squad had no prior members from the Martial Department. All members were dispatched from the military, including the so-called protectors.
This was Ye Zheng's arrangement, aimed at paving the way for Ye Feng more effectively.
"Yes, Grandpa."
Ye Feng sat on the sofa, sitting upright with his hands resting on his thighs, in a soldier's posture.
"Have you reported to the Commander of the Southern Domain Legion?" Ye Zheng asked again.
"Grandpa, I have led the entire team to report to the Commander of the Southern Domain Legion via video conference. After the establishment ceremony, I will lead the team to the Southern Domain Legion headquarters to report in person," Ye Feng replied.
"Mm."
Ye Zheng nodded slightly and then asked, "What are your thoughts on the new job and the establishment of the Guard Squads by the Martial Department?"
"Grandpa, I believe that in the face of the new situation, it is very necessary for the Martial Department to establish Guard Squads to handle sudden crises. However, based on the information I've obtained about the members of the five Guard Squads, I believe the Martial Department's establishment of these squads is more geared towards tempering the younger generation and selecting future core strengths. My current position is more dangerous and challenging than my previous role in the Zhanlong Special Forces, and I must adjust my new combat and training plans..."
Ye Feng responded with composure.
Since receiving the order to serve as the captain of the Southern Domain Legion Guard Squad, he had been contemplating how to carry out his new duties.
This was a capability cultivated through his upbringing within the Ye family's environment.
In Ye Zheng's words, one must never fight an unprepared battle!
"Do you have confidence?"
After listening to Ye Feng's report, Ye Zheng nodded with satisfaction and then asked again.
"Grandpa, what aspect are you referring to with confidence?" Ye Feng asked after a moment of hesitation.
"With your capabilities and the squad members assigned, carrying out your duties smoothly and completing missions successfully should not be difficult. I'm asking if you have the confidence to lead the Sharp Blade Squad to stand out among the five squads and compete for the position of future Marshal of the Dragon Country's Martial Department!" Ye Zheng said.
"Grandpa, to be honest, I really don't have the confidence to achieve what you've said, but I will do my utmost!"
Ye Feng first shook his head slightly at this, then his face lit up with fighting spirit.
"Why no confidence? Is it because your strength is inferior to Jiang Wuming?" Ye Zheng asked calmly.
"Mm."
Ye Feng nodded, his expression complex, "Before, I thought that as long as I cultivated with all my might, I could narrow the gap with him, but now it seems almost impossible. Not only is he outstanding among the younger generation, but his strength gap with others is also very large, and his cultivation speed is even faster. Under such circumstances, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven for others to catch up with him!"
"Xiao Feng, the competition among the Guard Squads is not about individuals, but about the collective. Within this collective, while individual strength is undoubtedly important, capability is even more crucial. Strength and capability, though only a word apart, are vastly different. You should understand this. If you can leverage your advantages and lead your team well, you might not necessarily lose to him," Ye Zheng encouraged Ye Feng.
Huh?
Ye Feng's eyes lit up, feeling as if he had seen a ray of dawn in the darkness.
"Furthermore, you should also understand one thing: on the battlefield, the strongest person does not necessarily become the winner. Jiang Zhan back then, in terms of personal combat power, was already at the peak of human capability, surpassing Qi Wufu. However, Jiang Zhan is now dead, while Qi Wufu is still alive and is the Marshal of the Dragon Country's Martial Department!" Ye Zheng continued.
Ye Feng pondered.
"Xiao Feng, Grandpa has two requirements for you, or rather, expectations.
First, you must manage your team well. A Marshal of the Martial Department requires not the peak of combat power, but the peak of comprehensive capability.
Second, under any circumstances, ensure you survive. As long as you are alive, there is hope. The one who survives to the end may not be the winner, but they retain the hope of competition."
Ye Zheng's words were pearls of wisdom.
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
Ye Feng stood up and bowed gratefully.
Because of Ye Zheng's words, he had regained his confidence!
...
Meanwhile, in another courtyard in Yanjing, whose threshold was comparable to the Ye family mansion—the Gu family mansion—Gu Lu brought his son Gu Tianlong to the study of the Gu family head, Gu Zhengze, to receive his teachings.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa, I have disgraced you and the Gu family."
Upon entering the study, Gu Tianlong immediately apologized to Gu Zhengze.
"Shame and setbacks are not terrifying; what matters is how you perceive them and what they can bring you. What do you think you should do next?" Gu Zhengze asked gravely.
"To be ashamed and then courageous."
Gu Tianlong clenched his fists and said word by word.
"Be more specific." Gu Zhengze frowned slightly, displeased with this answer.
"Because of the Global Martial Arts Conference, both the Dragon Gate Master Zhuge Lingjun and Martial Department Marshal Qi Wufu have opinions of me. Under these circumstances, the competition for the Guard Squad is an opportunity I must seize! I must go all out in this competition to become the final victor! Only then can I compete for the position of Martial Department Marshal and continue the glory of the Gu family!" Gu Tianlong said word by word.
"It's not bad that you realize this," Gu Zhengze said, his brow relaxing. He then asked, "Then, what do you think you should do to have a chance of becoming the final victor?"
"Although my strength is inferior to Jiang Wuming, this competition is about the collective. As long as I can manage the team well and display excellent leadership, and successfully complete the tasks, there is hope!" Gu Tianlong voiced his thoughts.
"What does leadership rely on?" Gu Zhengze continued to ask.
"Personal prestige and management ability!"
Gu Tianlong answered crisply. Seeing Gu Zhengze remain silent, he added:
"In terms of personal prestige, strength is the foundation. Only when my personal strength commands respect will I have prestige. As for management ability, it means utilizing people well and leveraging each person's strengths. I will use my status as a tie to bind everyone closely together with mutual benefit."
"This is not enough; you are missing something crucial," Gu Zhengze stated.
"Please guide me, Grandpa!" Gu Tianlong looked puzzled.
"Charisma; this is a quality that an excellent leader must possess."
Gu Zhengze reminded him, "You come from the Gu family and possess excellent martial arts talent. With the Gu family's cultivation, you made a name for yourself in the martial arts field from a young age, then became the senior disciple of the Dragon Gate, and everything went smoothly. All of this has made you accustomed to being self-centered, selfish in personality, and overconfident in your actions! With such a disposition, even if you can make everyone in the team serve you for personal gain, you cannot unleash the team's strongest energy. To put it bluntly, if you don't change and cannot possess charisma, your subordinates will do their best to complete the tasks you assign for their own benefit, but they will never risk their lives for you! In such a situation, let alone competing with that Jiang Wuming, you will have difficulty even defeating Ye Feng!"
Swish!
Gu Tianlong's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. It seemed he had not expected his grandfather to look down on him so much.
"Tianlong, what your grandfather said is correct. Although Ye Feng's strength is inferior to yours, he has served as the captain of the Zhanlong Special Forces, and his management ability is no weaker than yours. Furthermore, Ye Zheng, in order to pave the way for him, all members of his squad were dispatched by the military. Even if Ye Feng lacks charisma, soldiers have always regarded executing orders as their duty and possess a spirit of sacrifice where they are not afraid of death, which is by no means comparable to the people in your squad," Gu Lu, sensing his son's indignation, quickly explained, his heart tightening.
"Tianlong will bear in mind Grandpa and Father's teachings and will not disappoint you!"
Gu Tianlong bowed gratefully and pledged with great conviction. However, his jealousy and resentment not only did not diminish but intensified!
...