The next phase began seeing Ling Qingyu's training results, Tang Ziyi picked up the standard rifle QBU-192 and handed it over to Ling Qingyu.
Grasping the rifle and toughing the metallic touch, Ling Qingyu checked everything while listening to Tang Ziyi's introduction of its specs.
A relatively domestic assault rifle type, which Ling Qingyu had some trust issues, but upon hearing Athena's capability, her worries were gone.
Tang Ziyi also held another similar rifle and guided Ling Qingyu. Although she already knew the terminology, practical experience still must be done because nothing could replace this process.
Ling Qingyu watched as Tang Ziyi explained the components in detail. Despite the same purpose, the rifle's parts consisted of more separate components.
After Tang Ziyi fired a couple of rounds as an example, Ling Qingyu made her first try. Aiming down her sight, Ling Qingyu felt a little heavier than she was used to.
The muscles, solely for shooting guns hadn't been developed to the limit yet and the tiny strain began to appear.
As she squeezed the trigger, because she wasn't prepared, she didn't expect the recoil to shake her body. Ling Qingyu even wondered if the two planets on her chest trembled violently.
Tang Ziyi's eyes also captured the movement and she clicked her tongue. Of course, Tang Ziyi's reaction didn't go unnoticed by Ling Qingyu, who humphed and smiled.
"The difference is great though. The kickback force is incomparable." Ling Qingyu muttered.
"Naturally. Stronger penetration power and its weight comes at a cost and meant a great difference." Tang Ziyi said.
Ling Qingyu nodded. She used to see those special force members firing the larger caliber without losing control and withstanding huge recoil forces. Now that she experienced it personally, the feeling she attained from recoil rushed her adrenaline.
She became more excited and went through the same process as using her pistol. Tang Ziyi watched patiently from the side, sometimes making appropriate remarks to fix small errors.
Different postures, transitioning smoothly and reloading drills. The difference was Ling Qingyu had to tuck in the buttstock underneath her armpit so that the magazine's position was at the same level as her eyes and the feet placement where one stayed a little at the front and the other behind to cope with an extra kickback force.
Ling Qingyu nodded and Tang Ziyi stood by, watching her practice. Afterward, Tang Ziyi asked all of a sudden. "What are you thinking inside your mind, when you do the drills?"
"I don't know if it's a cheat but I put both my mind and body into the exercise. It increases my concentration and every gesture feels empowered by it." Ling Qingyu said. "Arnold Schwarzenegger, a famous bodybuilder and artist, once said. You must put your mind and effort together. Otherwise, a body exercising without a soul is meaningless."
Tang Ziyi agreed. "I bet he's comparing the new generation with the old one, seen in the gym. Most just complete the reps mindlessly, without full concentration. I'm glad you're aware, that the mind power is the most mysterious and powerful tool a human wields. I hope you always keep that in mind."
Ling Qingyu rolled her eyes at Tang Ziyi, who suddenly became a philosophy teacher. "I know, you don't need to remind me."
Tang Ziyi silently complimented Ling Qingyu's state of mind. Although her past life was a terrible nobody, with the current mentality, Ling Qingyu's peak success was within her reach.
"Alright, since we still have time and you aren't going to work today, let's train advanced exercise." Tang Ziyi brought the watch on her wrist to her eyes and said. She gave no means of refusal and Ling Qingyu could only nod.
When the two departed from the shooting range, her guards flashed Ling Qingyu, thumbs-ups, and she smiled back in return. From the corner of her eyes, Ling Qingyu saw small robots on wheels, cleaning the specific area, she just wasted ammo and down the range, collecting and cleaning.
The question she always wanted to ask had been answered. Why did she never see a responsible cleaner in the underground realm? Because everything was autonomous and under Athena's close system.
AI really facilitated and fastened everyday's life, though those who worked as cleaners might complain.
Tang Ziyi dragged Ling Qingyu to another training area, specifically design to test operators' response under stress, without losing control and accuracy.
Frankly, seeing Ling Qingyu's progress woke up Tang Ziyi to take in a disciple. In both martial arts and gun firing, Tang Ziyi noticed an outstanding trait of Ling Qingyu.
She was serious about learning new stuff and willing to be humble without the air of a high position. Though Tang Ziyi tried to suppress Ling Qingyu's arrogance, she must admit, it wouldn't be long before Ling Qingyu caught up with her.
Perhaps, her promise of selling herself to Ling Qingyu as a reward might be counter-productive. Who knew what this little guy was preparing to do to her once she achieved what Tang Ziyi asked for?
Fortunately, her life experience could still smother Ling Qingyu for now because there was one important factor which could never be sought or replaced—that was experience.