C4 The Reward of the Side Mission(2)

Chen Ye, in possession of the silver ring snake egg, was unconcerned about depleting his stamina. He persistently used his scouting ability on the surrounding vegetation. As his stamina was nearly exhausted, he stumbled upon a notification for wild fruits: "Quantity 4, consumption increases health by 10 points and stamina by 30 points within 5 minutes."

Lagging a few steps behind, Chen Ye seized the opportunity while unnoticed, snatched a couple of fruits, and quickly rejoined the group. It was his first encounter with an item that could restore health points. He had come to understand that low health points could hinder the recovery and expenditure of stamina. Without hesitation, he ate one of the wild fruits and, within minutes, noticed his health points had increased by 11, bringing his total to 37. Reflecting on "Basic First Aid (G)," he realized that the wild fruit was classified as a medicinal item.

After consuming two wild fruits, Chen Ye's health points had substantially recovered, and the effects of the snake venom had vanished. His scouting proficiency (G) was now maxed out. He could have learned scouting (F) from Wang Jianguo, but considering Wang Jianguo's blue skill, Chen Ye refrained and kept moving with the team. By the time they reached their destination at around 8 a.m., Chen Ye's proficiency in basic steps (F) was also complete.

They had arrived at a shooting range over thirty kilometers from the border inspection station. To maintain the combat readiness of the border troops, they trained here periodically, and now it was Chen Ye's squad's turn. Holding the Type 56 Automatic Rifle, excitement surged within him. During his service, he had the privilege of being a firearms manager, with the Type 81 Automatic Rifle—modeled after the Type 56—being his specialty. Regrettably, in these peaceful times, live ammunition was rare. Over his two-year service, he had only participated in one shooting drill, firing a total of three bullets—scoring two tens and one nine. His company commander had even remarked on his natural marksmanship.

"Prepare to fire!" Lee Yunfei commanded. "Free shooting at the 100-meter fixed target!"

His fellow soldiers quickly raised their rifles, took brief aim, and fired. A tremendous volley of gunfire erupted, ringing in everyone's ears. Amidst the chaos, Chen Ye remained unaffected, prone on the ground, aligning his sights in a straight line. With a deliberate aim and an effortless trigger pull, he drew upon decades of wartime shooting experience etched into his memory. Unlike his peers who fired haphazardly, Chen Ye's shots were composed and cool-headed, reminiscent of a seasoned veteran weathered by years of combat. Particularly after ingesting the gall of a Silver-Ringed Snake, which granted him a +1 vision attribute, Chen Ye surmised it to be a hidden bonus that now allowed him to see his target with exceptional clarity.

Chen Ye methodically fired all ten rounds from his magazine, finishing last among his group but only by a mere breath's delay.

"Cease fire! Report your scores!" Lee Yunfei ordered.

Wang Jianguo emerged from the trench beneath the targets, calling out the scores from left to right: "Target 1, six hits, 22 points! Target 2, four hits, 17 points... Target 11, eleven hits, 101 points! Ten shots scored ten points, with one stray shot scoring one point."

Misfires were not rare, but the score of eleven hits for 101 points certainly caught Lee Yunfei's attention. He called out, "Number 11, step forward!"

As Chen Ye moved forward, he caught the flicker of astonishment in Lee Yunfei's eyes. It was then that he noticed a string of notifications:

You have mastered "Basic Shooting (G)"... Your "Basic Shooting (G)" proficiency has significantly improved through training and insight... Your exceptional skill, combined with a profound understanding, has elevated "Basic Shooting (G)" to (F) level... Your "Basic Shooting (F)" proficiency has greatly increased through training and insight... "Basic Shooting (F)" has advanced to (E) level... "Basic Shooting (E)" has progressed to (D) level... "Basic Shooting (D)" has moved up to (C) level... "Basic Shooting (C)" has ascended to (B) level!

You have completed the achievement task "Sharpshooter," 10/10, and have been awarded "Basic Skill Advancement Potion 1."

Begin the achievement quest "Deadshot," requiring precision hits on moving targets from over 100 meters away, 0/100, with the reward of an "Entry-Level Skill Book."

Basic Skill Enhancement Potion: Quantity 1. Upon use, a basic skill will randomly advance to full proficiency. If proficiency is incomplete, it will increase by 20%.

Basic Shooting (B): You're likely to hit your target, but don't expect it to just stand there and take it. 280/6400

"Ever fired a gun before?" Lee Yunfei inquired.

Chen Ye responded, "Reporting to the platoon leader! No, I've only ever shot birds with a slingshot."

Lee Yunfei nodded without further questioning and pointed to the fixed target range, "Scoring 100 is impressive, but it's not practical. It only proves you're good for taking hidden shots from the back."

Far from discouraged, Chen Ye was actually pleased; he sensed Lee Yunfei had more to say and eagerly replied, "Captain! I welcome any guidance you can offer!"

Lee Yunfei's lips curled into a slight smile as he gestured toward a tree some meters away, where two black dots were visible. Upon closer inspection, Chen Ye realized they were sparrows flitting about the treetops.

"When you can hit those from beyond 100 meters, come find me! If you run out of bullets, go see your squad leader!" Lee Yunfei instructed.

Side mission two unlocked: Lee Yunfei's Approval — 24-hour limit. Your platoon leader sees potential in you and has resolved to put you to the test. You need to hit a specific target under certain conditions, Sparrows 0/2; defeat your squad leader, Wang Jianguo, in hand-to-hand combat 0/1; and due to a mentorship bond, locate his sect's lost token at the farmland at the mountain's base, Token 0/1. Failure to complete on time will lead to profound disappointment from your platoon leader, resetting your favorability to zero.

Chen Ye now wished he could kick himself. He had anticipated a tough challenge but hadn't imagined it would be this daunting. Had he known, he might have opted to spend favorability points on learning some useful basic skills instead. Regret was pointless now, as a subtle countdown had already begun in the lower left corner of his field of vision.

Lee Yunfei ceased further training exercises. Once the camp was established, he instructed the cook to whip up breakfast. The Silver-Ringed Snake was skinned and made into a hearty stew. The famished group eagerly devoured the snake soup with steamed buns, clustering in small groups. Chen Ye joined one such group alongside two fellow soldiers, Cheng Bin and Gong Dachang.

Chen Ye had previously employed his scouting skills to learn about these comrades. Cheng Bin, a clerk, had a refined and clean appearance and was skilled in calligraphy. Uniquely, his skill set included a special basic skill named Basic Culture, which others lacked. Chen Ye was determined to acquire this skill for himself. Gong Dachang, on the other hand, was a robust man with basic hand-to-hand combat skills (D) and a blue active skill titled Bloodbath. Although Chen Ye hadn't mastered it yet and thus didn't know the details, he sensed it was a highly valuable skill.

It wasn't just these two; many other comrades possessed unusual basic or active skills, such as "basic weaponry" and "basic cooking." But Chen Ye was aware that biting off more than he could chew would be unwise. Therefore, he focused on building rapport with the two comrades who were most beneficial to him at the moment.