After he fully recovered from his wounds, Zhang Fengxi focused on his martial arts training. Just as he requested, his father arranged for Commandant Jiang to come and train him.
The commandant in question did come to Longjing Palace on the agreed day, but it was not to begin the training. It was to apologize for being unable to train the Prince of the Longjing Palace.
"This subject is just a lowly commandant," he said while cupping his hands and bowing his head as low as possible. "Prince Zhang Fengxi is bright and talented. He has a bright future ahead of him. This subject cannot forgive himself if he fails to live up to Longjing Palace Master's expectations."
It was all naturally nonsense.
Palace Masters were not required to excel in martial arts. Sure, some palace masters did take on a second role in the Heavenly Empire, but it was not obligatory.
Take Jiang Muchen for example. That brat could have passed the Fire Guardian position to someone else, but he refused to. The same went with Zhang Fengxi.
No one expected him to be a supreme general.
Zhang Zhiyuan exchanged a brief glance with his son. The father and son shared the same view.
"Commandant Jiang, my son greatly admires you. He insists on having you as a teacher. Are you going to disappoint us by turning us down?"
Commandant Jiang bowed his head even lower. His forehead almost touched the ground.
"This lowly subject did not dare! But Longjing Palace Master, a lot more people are more talented than this subject. This subject will not take it to heart if the Palace Master and Prince Zhang Fengxi change their minds!"
"Oh, like who?"
Commandant Jiang lifted his head and spoke, "General Fu is one of the best swordsmen across the nine layers of heaven."
Oh, he was. Unfortunately, he was not interested in sharing his skills and knowledge. Fortunately, his unwillingness to develop Zhang Fengxi led the latter to a better path.
"Well, then you are in luck, Commandant Jiang," Zhang Fengxi laughed. "I am not interested in swordsmanship."
Both Zhang Zhiyuan and Commandant Jiang turned to look at Zhang Fengxi with amazement in their eyes.
"Eh?"
"I am interested in spearsmanship. Isn't spear your weapon of choice, Commandant Jiang?"
It was.
Commandant Jiang was stupefied.
Zhang Zhiyuan had a complicated look on his face. Spearsmanship was easier to learn than swordsmanship, but there were a lot more sword cultivation manuals than spear cultivation manuals.
Again, palace masters were not expected to slash and stab enemies in the future. Cultivation, on the other hand, was necessary.
Zhang Zhiyuan cleared his throat.
He wanted to tell Commandant Jiang to retreat for the day, but Zhang Fengxi remained stubborn.
"I wish to delve into spearsmanship," he decided. "Commandant Jiang, please become my master and teach me."
Zhang Zhiyuan barely prevented his jaw from falling to the ground.
Commandant Jiang gave the palace master a surreptitious, awkward glance. Clearly, he expected Zhang Zhiyuan to intervene.
Zhang Zhiyuan cleared his throat again.
"Fengxi, this is not a trivial matter. Please take time to choose your weapon. Until then, Commandant Jiang, we thank you for coming here. Let's meet again at the Golden Dragon Palace."
Commandant Jiang left after bowing many times before Zhang Zhiyuan.
Zhang Fengxi cupped his hands before his father.
"Father, I trust that I will be a proficient spear wielder in the future. I have no interest in pursuing swordsmanship."
Zhang Zhiyuan took three steps in his son's direction and gave him a smack on the head.
"Foolish! You have been practicing swordsmanship since you were three years old! Are you going to throw it all away in vain?"
Exactly. Zhang Fengxi did not want to waste more time with swordsmanship if he was not going to be the best.
"Father, Crown Prince Xie Jianyu is already a very capable, if not the best swordsman across nine layers of heaven at his tender age of sixteen. Your son is more useful to the Heavenly Empire if he can be the best spearman instead."
Zhang Zhiyuan sighed.
"Are you sure about this?"
"I am."
"Fine. I will give you one year to learn under Commandant Jiang. After that, you will fight a duel with an opponent of my choosing. If you lose, you must retake the sword."
"Yes, Father!"
Zhang Fengxi sneered in his heart.
One year? He only needed six months. Anyway, he remembered all the lessons from the past. What he needed from Commandant Jiang right now was the rest of the lessons. The ones he failed to share because he had a lethal confrontation with a ghost general in his last war.
The other six months would be used to prepare for his betrothal to Liu Wenyuan.