What college student hadn't undergone military training? Strict ones had military training throughout the first academic year. The ancient scholars' Six Arts—rites, music, archery, charioteering, literature, and mathematics—had long been revived. Even if not mastering all, mastering one was essential.
Rites: socializing, negotiating, foreign languages
Music: singing, playing instruments, lyric writing, composing
Archery: firearms, bows and arrows, artillery
Charioteering: horse riding, vehicle driving, boat piloting, aircraft piloting
Literature: soft and hard pen calligraphy, writing
Mathematics: mental arithmetic, abacus, logic, statistics, reasoning
If one couldn't master even one, let alone graduate, they couldn't even get a certificate of attendance.
The college students, selected through stringent assessments from elementary to high school, were called the "pride of the Ivory Tower." This was no exaggeration. Those with slightly weaker learning abilities were directly eliminated and relegated to vocational schools at most obtaining an associate degree.
Nowadays, it was no longer an era where undergraduates were as common as dogs and PhDs roamed the streets; after all, the population base was right there. Even with strict demands on higher education quality, there was still a sufficient number of talents available.
For Chen Fei, firearms operation was a basic military training subject for college freshmen, although it was almost never used at home, so it wasn't too unfamiliar.
Teacher Shen Fei was the same. Upon arriving at the elementary school in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, she had automatically locked in this skill, extremely proficient in firearms operation, and had chosen a replicated version of the Type 95 automatic rifle for self-defense.
Once the nation's precious flowers went abroad, they all turned into man-eaters. The true high elimination rate of elite education started to show its effectiveness.
"Qiong En! Qiong En?"
The person who heard no response started to get suspicious, and just then, Chen Fei suddenly appeared within his line of sight.
The man's eyes abruptly widened, and his mouth opened as if to shout.
"He..."
Bang, bang, bang!
Three consecutive gunshots rang out in the cave, exceptionally ear-splitting.
The distance between them wasn't even three meters, no shots missed, and seeing three blood spots bursting from the other person's chest, taking advantage of the warmth, Chen Fei hurriedly rushed over to frantically search him.
He gained another pistol, two magazines, an AK-47 of unknown origin, and several hand grenades. Right there, he switched from the pistol to the automatic rifle, upgrading his armament, which made him feel even more secure.
According to the information revealed by the guy who had whipped him with a belt earlier, not only he, but also Teacher Shen Fei and perhaps the elementary students, had been tied up here.
What exactly did these guys want to do?
Very aware of the advantage of striking first but knowing it wouldn't last long, Chen Fei didn't have time to think much longer and planned to rescue Teacher Shen Fei before those unidentified armed people could react.
If there were others, he'd have to play it by ear. He'd save whoever he could. If he couldn't save them, he could only blame his own misfortune.
"Don't just stand there, help me untie these ropes."
Shen Fei delivered another kick to the head of the unfortunate guy whose lower half she had kicked earlier.
Chen Fei quickly used his tactical dagger to cut the ropes binding Teacher Shen Fei.
Shen Fei picked up another AK lying in the corner of the stone chamber, swiftly pulled the slide, gathered a few hand grenades, walked over to the chamber entrance, and fired several shots blindly outside before saying to Chen Fei, "Shall we fight our way out?"
"Yes... be careful!"
Chen Fei was about to agree when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadow moving at the chamber entrance. Without thinking, he stepped forward, shielding Shen Fei with his body while he raised his gun and pulled the trigger at the chamber entrance.
Suddenly, a figure with an AK-47 jumped out at the chamber entrance.
The gunfire violently flashed as Chen Fei and the figure chose to engage in a fight to the death, firing at each other at such close range, neither able to dodge the bullets, both subconsciously squeezing the trigger, emptying a magazine in seconds.
Shot!
As the gunfire ceased, the only thought in Chen Fei's mind was,
Damn... I'm screwed again!
Only a month into the job, and I've died twice already—my luck is cursed!
The unexpected shootout caught Shen Fei off guard, and by the time she reacted, the gunfire had already died down. She saw the man outside the chamber propped against the rock wall, helplessly seated on the ground, blood gushing out in great spurts, his chest mangled by 7.62mm bullets—beyond saving, even by a Daluo Golden Immortal.
The unhesitating Chen Fei, facing the enemy alone, was not much better off.
It was clear to her that his trembling body amid the gunfire had definitely taken hits.
If it weren't for Chen Fei shielding her, then by now...
"Chen Fei!"
Shen Fei cried out in agony, hurrying to embrace the staggering Chen Fei as he collapsed.
"Chen Fei, Chen Fei, are you alright?"
No living being, not even an elephant, could survive unscathed after taking so many bullets.
Only upon hearing Shen Fei's voice did Chen Fei finally come around and honestly admitted, "Uh... I'm fine, just a bit dizzy from your shaking."
He couldn't understand why in movies, those close to death always grimaced painfully with fierce expressions, yet when it came to his own imminent death, he felt nothing at all?
Was it really so painless that one could die just by closing their eyes?
He was completely unaware that he was being held in a full embrace by the soft and gentle Shen Fei.
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