Chapter 22: Recovering the Rifles!

Qin Yuan glanced at the mirror in the dormitory and couldn't help but smile. "But Li Erniu, as soldiers, what matters is marksmanship and combat skills. What use is being handsome?"

With that, Qin Yuan and Li Erniu sprinted out of the dormitory. After all, this was a Level 1 combat readiness alert. Everyone, regardless of unit organization, was required to enter the battlefield and engage in combat as quickly as possible. Furthermore, Qin Yuan had to complete a system mission: to take out the commander of the Blue Force.

Rumble. Military vehicles roared past on the road. Soon, they were the only two stragglers left on the wide thoroughfare.

Li Erniu was completely dumbfounded, his face pale. "This is bad, Brother Qin! We've fallen behind! It's over! Failing to keep up with the main force during a Level 1 alert is a serious offense!" Li Erniu scratched his head, looking lost and frantic.

Qin Yuan chuckled; Li Erniu was honestly endearing. "Don't panic, Brother Li Erniu! The main force went down this road. We just need to catch up! Let's pick up the pace!"

Qin Yuan took the lead and dashed forward.

"Right! That's the only way!" Li Erniu gritted his teeth and followed suit.

The intense Red-Blue military exercise had officially begun with a thunderous start. The two ran for nearly ten kilometers in one go. Qin Yuan looked relaxed and composed, but Li Erniu was finally reaching his limit.

"Wait, Brother Yuan, let's take a break, okay? I really can't go on." Li Erniu was drenched in sweat, clutching his knees in agony. There was no helping it; that ten-kilometer stretch had been a full-on sprint, nearly costing him his life.

Qin Yuan gained a new perspective on Li Erniu's physical fitness. He was true to his name—while Li Erniu might not have the best marksmanship, his stamina was incredible. He had the physical endurance of a sturdy ox. Moreover, his character was impeccable. The fact that he had even collected equipment for Qin Yuan gave him a deep sense of respect. Qin Yuan had decided: this man was a brother worth having.

"Alright, Li Erniu, let's take a break." Qin Yuan smiled calmly, leaning against a tree as if nothing had happened. For him, the ten-kilometer sprint was child's play, as effortless as eating or drinking.

Li Erniu collapsed onto the ground, sprawled out, and began to pant heavily. He had been terrified to stop for even a second to keep up with the main force. Qin Yuan had suggested slowing down or resting earlier, but Li Erniu had stubbornly refused. Now, he was completely exhausted.

Taking advantage of Li Erniu's rest, Qin Yuan examined the steel rifle in his hands. It was a brand-new Type 95 assault rifle. The domestically produced Type 95 had many advantages: great stability, high precision, low production costs, and a wealth of accessories. Its bullpup design provided excellent balance, and, most importantly, its compact size made it convenient for all-weather combat. Its 5.8mm ammunition could penetrate an 8mm steel plate within 100 meters while still retaining lethal force. Even for special forces, it was more than capable of handling any mission.

"I am currently a complete novice when it comes to marksmanship," Qin Yuan thought with a self-deprecating smile, glancing at his system interface, where two slots remained unused. "These two slots are crucial! Not one should be wasted. I'll use the first one to improve my marksmanship!"

Glancing sideways, he saw Li Erniu gasping for air, completely oblivious to his situation. Qin Yuan adjusted his position, focused his mind, and tapped a command to "recycle" the brand-new Type 95 into his system slot.

"Ding! Please make a selection!" The crisp system prompt echoed. Simultaneously, three options appeared before him:

1. Obtain world-class rifle marksmanship.
2. Obtain world-class rifle design capabilities.
3. Obtain world-class rifle manufacturing capabilities.

"Holy..." Qin Yuan was stunned. World-class marksmanship, design, and manufacturing? The first was exactly what he needed right now, but the second and third involved massive potential interests. "Does this system want me to become an arms dealer?" Qin Yuan blinked, feeling incredulous.

However, he was ecstatic. In the global market, what business was the most profitable? Two words: arms. All other businesses were mere trifles by comparison. Of course, becoming a world-class arms dealer was a grueling path, not something anyone could achieve.

"The path to being an arms dealer is long and arduous. I should stay grounded and focus on improving my marksmanship first." Qin Yuan dismissed the thought. That path was too distant, and if he needed money, he could simply visit the world's major casinos. With his gambling skills, he could win endless wealth in a single trip.

"I choose option 1!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining world-class rifle marksmanship! Your marksmanship has been elevated to a world-class level. You will hit nearly every target within the effective range of your bullets."

In an instant, his mind was flooded with techniques for various rifles. Sophisticated and complex firing skills appeared, completely refreshing his understanding.

"My god! Is this how powerful world-class marksmanship is?" Qin Yuan closed his eyes and savored the sensation. It was simply too potent and terrifying. He felt confident he could defeat any soldier in the Iron Fist Regiment right now. With the Type 95's 600-meter range, he was certain he could hit 99% of targets within that distance.

Of course, the system had noted it was "nearly" every shot, not absolutely every shot. Qin Yuan wasn't entirely satisfied. He wanted every pull of the trigger to mean a target down—no exceptions, no room for error. He wanted one word: death.

"It seems I need to find a way to get more rifles and upgrade my marksmanship to a 'cosmic' level!" He set a clear goal: collect more rifles and store them in the system space to refine his skills.

Li Erniu was still resting. Qin Yuan looked at his comrade's rifle and had an idea. He took his own rifle, held it against his chest, and walked over to Li Erniu.

"Li Erniu, this rifle looks newer. Why don't you take it? Give me that slightly older one." Qin Yuan smiled and handed over his Type 95. His rifle looked brand new, likely because it had just been issued and well-maintained—it was shiny and cool. Li Erniu's, however, showed clear signs of wear.

Li Erniu's eyes lit up, and he replied in his honest, gruff voice, "That's great! But Brother Qin, don't you like the new one?"

"It makes no difference to me. The result is the same whether the gun is new or old." Qin Yuan laughed it off and swapped the rifles. Once Li Erniu's rifle was in his hands, Li Erniu grinned, "Haha, Brother Qin, you're the best! I'll rest for another ten minutes, then we move out!"

"Agreed!" Qin Yuan smiled, returned to the sturdy tree, and with a thought, he "recycled" Li Erniu's rifle into his system space.