Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

”I know,” Zhao Feng replied with a laugh, ”but what’s so great about a promotion? I’m going home after two years of service anyway. I have a mother and a younger sister at home, and they’re both waiting for me to take care of them. I can’t afford to die on the battlefield.”

”You really are different,” Wei Quan remarked with a sigh.

”It’s not that I’m different; I just fear death and cherish my life. No rank is better than just being alive.”

”Lieutenant, how long have you been in the army?” Zhao Feng asked.

In the army, Zhao Feng had a policy of not offending anyone, always greeting people with a genuine smile. There wasn’t much need for beating around the bush in the military, and Wei Quan was the only real friend he had made.

”I was conscripted at fifteen, so it’s been about eight years now, I suppose,” Wei Quan said slowly. ”If I could, I would want to stay on forever. That way, I could earn a large enough annual salary to support my family.

”It’s not an easy world to live in these days. If it weren’t for my salary, my family would have starved to death long ago.”

Zhao Feng did not reply.

In this era, there wasn’t enough food to go around, let alone enough for everyone to eat their fill. People starving to death was a common sight, especially in winter when countless people froze or starved. It was an unsolvable problem.

When Zhao Feng was in his hometown, his family owned just over an acre of land, which was enough for the three of them. Furthermore, Zhao Feng had a good constitution. He could hunt in the mountains and often return with a substantial bounty. He was also skilled in various hunting traps from a later age, which helped him gather even more. By bartering with the villagers, his life was carefree, as long as he didn’t crave luxury.

”Mr. Zhao,” Wei Quan spoke up again.

”Go ahead, Lieutenant,” Zhao Feng replied.

”Don’t keep calling me Lieutenant. I’m nearly a decade older than you. Just call me Mr. Wei,” Wei Quan said with a smile.

”Mr. Wei,” Zhao Feng called out immediately with a chuckle.

”There you go,” Wei Quan answered, quite content. He then moved closer to sit by Zhao Feng.

”In return for that ’Mr. Wei’ and for saving my life, I’m going to teach you a few things,” Wei Quan said, his face suddenly serious. ”Do you want to listen?”

”Go ahead, Mr. Wei. I’m all ears,” Zhao Feng immediately nodded.

”I saw it today—that sword strike of yours,” Wei Quan said, looking as if he’d seen right through Zhao Feng. ”Killing Bao Qiu accurately with a single strike from ten paces away... you’ve got some serious skill, lad.

”With your abilities, you’re stronger than those actual Sharp Warriors.

”During new recruit training, you were holding back, weren’t you? Otherwise, how would you have ended up in the Logistics Army?”

”Haha,” Zhao Feng neither admitted nor denied. ”It couldn’t be helped. I don’t want to die in battle. The Logistics Army doesn’t have to face the front lines or near-certain death. I came to the right place.”

Back in the new recruit camp, he had indeed concealed his skills. Outstanding performers were assigned to the main combat battalions to become Sharp Warriors. So, during training, if he was meant to use ten parts of his strength, he would only use five. In the end, he successfully managed to stay in the Logistics Army.

”Mr. Zhao,” Wei Quan began. ”As someone who has suffered under the boot of the powerful, I want to tell you something...”