C7 Zhou Forced a Side Quest!(2)

"Bang!" A gunshot echoed, sending birds scattering in all directions. Two more shots followed, but neither found their mark.

After breakfast, Chen Ye set out to practice shooting at a moving target a hundred meters away. The startled birds provided the perfect practice for him. Despite missing with his first three shots, Chen Ye honed his focus. His eyes tracked the crosshairs as they followed the target, observing the flight path of a sparrow. "Bang!" The fourth shot sounded, and a bird plummeted to the ground.

In this place, as long as you had enough ammunition, it didn't matter whether you were shooting birds or leopards; it was all commonplace. During times of scarcity, bullets were as good as gold. That's how Chen Ye managed to barter bullets for a spare set of clothes from the cook. It was a steep price, but he considered it a fair trade. He even threw in two extra bullets to curry favor with the cook. Having learned his lesson from a previous side quest, he realized that some basic skills, though not combat-related, could be quite useful. He was determined to master basic culinary skills as well.

Hitting a moving target at a hundred meters added a whopping 1,000 points to his Basic Shooting (B) proficiency. With newfound confidence, Chen Ye expended the rest of his ammunition, maxing out his proficiency in Basic Shooting (B). Without a moment's hesitation, he consumed a Basic Skill Upgrade Potion. A sense of clarity washed over him, and upon checking his attribute panel, he chuckled, "Was Cheng Bin right? I must be on a lucky streak; the first potion worked like a charm."

Basic Shooting (A): You've gained new insights into shooting, but you're just shy of reaching the next level. Proficiency 0/12800.

Chen Ye collected the downed birds and headed back to the cookhouse. Part of the cook's duties was to reclaim game, and the rewards varied. Whether it was food to replenish stamina, medicinal meals for health restoration, or even cigarettes and alcohol, Chen Ye was only interested in one thing: the hard currency of bullets.

Over thirty minutes passed, and relying on his years of experience shooting birds with an air rifle, Chen Ye managed to achieve entry-level results in basic skills. His proficiency soared, and he completely filled the Basic Shooting (A) meter. Gripping another Basic Skill Advancement Potion, he downed it in one swift motion.

Chen Ye took a deep breath as he downed the potion, which elevated his Basic Steps from F to E. He had deliberately tackled two additional achievement missions to avoid this very situation. Without a second thought, he used the last Basic Skill Advancement Potion at his disposal.

Basic Steps (E): Your pace is double that of an average person, making you an excellent candidate for a coachman. Proficiency 0/400.

Basic Shooting (Max): You temporarily possess the skills of a novice shooter. After one hour, your abilities will revert to their original state. During this time, your proficiency won't increase, but you can advance using other methods.

Beginner Shooting (G) (Temporary): +2 Accuracy; Proficiency 0/100.

Chen Ye was over the moon. He had acquired his first beginner skill. It was only a temporary boost, but the information confirmed his suspicion: basic skills indeed enhanced one's attributes. The Shooting skill, for instance, was linked to the elusive Accuracy attribute.

"Captain Lee! I'm ready!" Chen Ye called out to Lee Yunfei with excitement.

Lee Yunfei set aside his work and accompanied Chen Ye outside the camp. Scanning the area, he pointed to a target over a hundred meters away—a pair of sparrows frolicking on a pine tree. To the untrained eye, they were no bigger than sesame seeds. "There! You've got one shot," he instructed.

"Bang! Bang!" The gunshots rang out immediately after Yunfei's words, and the sparrows dropped from the tree.

"...Cough! It's not that I'm going back on my word; the sect's rules are strict. They've instructed me not to pass on skills without discerning the student's character. This means I might have to test you further..." Yunfei hesitated, but Chen Ye produced the token.

It was a jade pendant shaped like a swallow. Chen Ye had previously examined it and confirmed it was the only token of the Shadow Wings. He had no intention of claiming it for himself, but to prevent revealing his presence, he had concealed it inside a fish bladder and dried it, making it resemble a laminated photograph.

By completing the side quest "Lee Yunfei's Favorability," Chen Ye had significantly increased Yunfei's goodwill towards him. He was now entitled to receive special training. Alternatively, Chen Ye could forgo this training to pursue further missions and seek entry into the Shadow Wings.

Chen Ye didn't hesitate to choose special guidance. He was aware that joining the Shadow Wings could potentially bring him greater advantages, but he had a hunch that a faction confrontation was imminent. With a violent clash on the horizon, bolstering his strength was paramount.

Lee Yunfei's favorability towards Chen Ye was at 220/300 (Inseparable), with skills such as Scout (E) at 100 points, Beginner Weapons (G) at 20 points per grade, Beginner Fist and Foot (E) at 20 points per grade, Beginner Physical Fitness (G) at 20 points per grade, Beginner Footwork (G) at 20 points per grade, Beginner Shooting (D) at 20 points per grade, Stealth (D) at 120 points, Lightness Technique (E) at 200 points, and Throwing (G) at 220 points. Additionally, Bullets cost 2 points per shot, Gold Wound Medicine was 20 points per dose, and Flying Ropes were 50 points each.

Scratching his head, Chen Ye realized the perks of being part of the Shadow Wings. By joining, his favorability with Lee Yunfei could transform into something akin to sect contribution points. He could then spend these points with Yunfei indefinitely until there was nothing left to learn. It was likely that other senior figures within the sect would then become available for further training. Beyond the Shadow Wings' unique skills, he wouldn't have to seek out others to improve his favorability.

Chen Ye was well aware that if he managed to ally with the neutral faction during the third side quest, the final faction confrontation would be less daunting. He could then commit to the Shadow Wings with ease, working hard to boost his contribution and basic skill levels. But at present, he needed combat power to handle various special circumstances.

Chen Ye had many desires, but his favorability was finite. After much deliberation, he opted for the Lightness Technique (E). With the remaining 20 points of favorability, he upgraded Basic Shooting (Max) to Beginner Shooting (G), thus removing the word "temporary" from the latter.

Lightness Technique (E) — A signature skill of the Shadow Wings, requiring Basic Footwork (E) and Stealth (G). It lasts for one minute with a cooldown of one hour and consumes 20 stamina points. Using this skill grants two effects: 1. Lightness: Agility increases by 30%, and Stealth level goes up by one. 2. Swiftness: The first attack is guaranteed to hit, inflicting damage equal to 1.2 times the sum of current Agility and Strength.

Upon discovering the details of the Lightness Technique, Chen Ye finally understood how Lee Yunfei had managed to cripple the Silver-Ringed Snake with just a dagger thrust. Meanwhile, he lamented that he had to dismiss the equally green-tiered skill, "Shooting (G)."

Having completed the special training, Lee Yunfei resumed his usual demeanor, completely ignoring Chen Ye's attempts to cozy up to him. Upon returning to camp, he made a beeline for the barracks, leaving Chen Ye with no choice but to keep hunting birds and exchanging bullets with the cook, all in an effort to achieve the "Dead Shot" status. The advantages of mastering a beginner skill were something he had experienced firsthand.