Chapter 24

Liu Xiaotian arranged it this way not because he had already discovered something in that direction, but to avoid losing the trace of what he had just discovered. It was obvious that the opponent's camouflage was perfect.

Translation: Liu Xiaotian made this arrangement not because he had already discovered something in this direction, but to avoid losing the trace of what he had just discovered. It was obvious that the opponent's camouflage was perfect.

Liu Xiaotian made this arrangement not because he had already discovered something in this direction, but to avoid losing the trace of what he had just discovered. It was obvious that the opponent's camouflage was perfect.

Check if any extra: "It was obvious". Good.

They can only discover the opponent when it starts to move.

Translation: They could only spot the opponent when it started moving.

Moreover, even if Liu Xiaotian has now spotted a target, he must not fire immediately; he must wait until He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing also discover or confirm that there are no other enemies in the area before acting.

Translation: Moreover, even if Liu Xiaotian now spotted a target, he absolutely could not fire yet; he had to wait until He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing also spotted or confirmed that there were no other "enemies" in the area before acting.

Otherwise, once Liu Xiaotian fires, it will inevitably expose their current position.

Translation: Otherwise, once Liu Xiaotian fired, their position would inevitably be exposed.

He knows very well that their opponents must be experienced, highly accurate special forces soldiers, and moreover, they are veterans.

Translation: He knew their opponents were certainly experienced, sharp-shooting special forces, and veterans.

Once their position is exposed, the three of them are very likely to be wiped out by the enemy here.

Translation: Once their position was exposed, the three of them would very likely be wiped out by the opponent here.

For a full three minutes, Liu Xiaotian didn't dare blink, staring intently at the bush that had just moved slightly, fearing that even a blink would cause him to lose the target.

Translation: For a full three minutes, Liu Xiaotian didn't dare blink, staring fixedly at the bush that had just moved slightly, afraid that a blink would make him lose the target.

Obviously, as long as the opponent remains still, it is nearly impossible to lock onto the target.

Translation: Obviously, if the opponent didn't move, locking onto the target again would be nearly impossible.

Until He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing successively whispered to Liu Xiaotian that they had also spotted the target.

Translation: Until He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing each quietly informed Liu Xiaotian that they had spotted the target.

Speaking of it, half the reason they were able to make a discovery is due to their good luck.

Translation: Speaking of it, half the reason they could make a discovery was due to their good luck.

Fan Tianlei and his team only have nine people, and for nine people this area is quite large; each person's assigned sector cannot be completed merely by waiting passively.

Translation: Fan Tianlei's team had only nine people, and for nine people this area was really quite large; each person's sector couldn't be cleared just by waiting passively.

Of course, if this exercise weren't time-limited, they could rely solely on this near-perfect camouflage and sufficient patience to completely eliminate these newcomers one by one.

Translation: Of course, if this exercise weren't time-limited, relying on this near-perfect camouflage and enough patience would allow them to eliminate all the new recruits one by one.

But now that is not possible.

Translation: But now that's not possible.

Earlier, Fan Tianlei had said they needed to eliminate everyone within three hours.

Translation: Fan Tianlei had already said they had to eliminate everyone within three hours.

But he didn't expect that, right at the start, his two "cheats" would be broken by Liu Xiaotian to the extent of one and a half.

Translation: But he didn't expect that, just as they started, Liu Xiaotian would break one and a half of his two "cheats".

In situations where personnel are not densely packed, the effect of the nine soldiers' human-body thermal detectors is really rather pitifully small.

Translation: With the troops not densely packed, the effect of the nine men's human-body thermal detectors was pitifully small.

So far, the exercise has lasted over an hour, and they have eliminated only twelve people—just half of what they needed.

Translation: So far, the exercise had lasted over an hour, and they had eliminated only twelve people—just half.

This still includes the few people they eliminated smoothly at the very beginning.

Translation: This still counts the few eliminated smoothly at the very start.

One must admit that the growth speed of these "new recruits" in their eyes is rapid, living up to the term "elite troops."

Translation: One has to admit, the growth speed of these "new recruits" in their eyes is quick, living up to the term "elite troops".

Well, now it's time to start the counter-kill.

Translation: Well, now they're about to start a counter-kill.

While the three gun barrels were each aimed at a target, the three people being targeted instinctively sensed the danger.

Translation: As the three gun barrels each aimed at a target, the three people being targeted instinctively sensed danger.

"Tianlong, we seem to have been targeted!" Song Kaifei's voice came through the headset.

Translation: "Tianlong, we seem to be targeted!" Song Kaifei's voice came over the headset.

"\"Octopus\", should we leave immediately? I also feel something's off." Song Kaifei then pressed the communicator.

Translation: "\"Zhangyu\", should we leave immediately? I also feel something's off." Song Kaifei then pressed the comm.

Actually, "Octopus" also felt the danger.

Translation: Actually, Zhangyu also sensed "danger".

Just a few minutes earlier, when Fan Tianlei notified them via the communicator to relocate, and he merely moved his body slightly, he felt as if an eye had fixed on him.

Translation: Just a few minutes earlier, when Fan Tianlei notified them via comm to relocate and he only slightly moved his body, he felt an eye fixed on him.

Yes, just a single eye.

Translation: Yes, just one eye.

Could anyone really aim with two eyes? "Octopus" stayed motionless, even deliberately slowing his breath, lying still for over three minutes before daring to move again.

Translation: Who could aim with two eyes? Zhangyu lay still on the spot, not daring to move, even deliberately slowing his breath for over three minutes before daring to move a second time.

Since he felt watched, he couldn't just stay put waiting like that.

Translation: Since he felt targeted, he couldn't just keep waiting there.

He had to retreat another 1.5 meters backward, to a cover he had previously constructed and camouflaged.

Translation: He had to retreat another 1.5 meters back to a cover he had previously built and camouflaged.

If he could get into that cover, he would be confident of leaving silently.

Translation: If he could get into that cover, he was confident he could leave silently.

Unfortunately, just as he thought the eye staring at him must have reached its limit—time to blink or even wipe away tears from not blinking—when he moved his body again, he went from being watched to being locked on.

Translation: But unfortunately, just as he thought that eye staring at him should have reached its limit—time to blink or even wipe away tears from not blinking—when he moved his body again, he went from being watched to being locked on.

At that moment, Liu Xiaotian's finger, resting on the trigger, exerted slight pressure, putting the trigger in a position where a tiny further touch would fire within 0.5 seconds.

Translation: At that moment, Liu Xiaotian's finger resting on the trigger exerted slight force, and within 0.5 seconds the trigger was in a position where a tiny touch would fire.

After He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing also successively locked onto the target, Liu Xiaotian lowered his voice and said softly, "Get ready, 3, 2, 1..."

Translation: After He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing also locked onto the target in turn, Liu Xiaotian lowered his voice and said softly, "Ready, 3, 2, 1..."

"Bang, bang, bang..." a total of six gunshots, all completed within three seconds.

Translation: "Bang, bang, bang..." six gunshots in total, all completed within three seconds.

This includes Wang Yanbing, who was using a Type 10 sniper rifle without ammunition.

Translation: This also counts Wang Yanbing, who had no ammunition for his Type 10 Sniper Rifle.

What he now holds in his hand is a Type 95 assault rifle.

Translation: What he now held in his hand was a Type 95 Assault Rifle.

By aiming through the Type 10 sniper rifle and firing the rifle at the aimed point, even though the target is only over a hundred meters away, Wang Yanbing still lacks absolute confidence if he fires just one shot.

Translation: Aiming through the Type 10 Sniper Rifle and firing the rifle at the aimed point, even though the target was only over a hundred meters away, Wang Yanbing still lacked absolute confidence with a single shot.

So, he showed no mercy and fired three shots in succession.

Translation: So he wasn't polite at all and fired three shots in succession.

Even after the second shot, a blue smoke rose in his sight.

Translation: Even after the second shot, a blue smoke rose in his sight.

Liu Xiaotian fired two shots because the first missed.

Translation: Liu Xiaotian fired two shots because the first missed.

Only He Chen Guang hit with a single shot, clean and neat.

Translation: Only He Chen Guang hit with one shot, clean and neat.

Hearing the gunfire, Fan Tianlei was first startled, then pressed the talk button and asked, "Who fired? How many were eliminated? Did those little guys gang up together?"

Translation: Hearing the gunfire, Fan Tianlei first stared, then pressed the comm button asking, "Who fired? How many were taken out? Did those little guys gang up?"

…… (ellipsis) We need to output the ellipsis as is? The line is "……". We should translate as "……" maybe keep as "……". Since it's just punctuation, we can output "……". Probably keep same.

No one answered.

Translation: No one answered.

After a while, the communicator crackled with "Octopus's" somewhat bitter voice:

Translation: After a while, the comm crackled with Zhangyu's somewhat bitter voice:

"\"Chief of staff, we three have been wiped out in one pot. \""

Translation: "\"Chief of Staff, we three have been wiped out in one pot. \""

He was indeed very bitter, bitter to the extreme.

Translation: He was indeed extremely bitter, bitter to the extreme.

"\"Octopus\" instructor!"

Translation: "\"Zhangyu\", Instructor!"

In the Wolf Fang Special Forces Brigade, he is no less significant than Chen Shanming, just teaching a different subject.

Translation: In the Wolf Fang Special Forces Brigade, he was no less prominent than Chen Shanming, just teaching a different subject.

But now he has been eliminated just like that.

Translation: But now he was just eliminated like that.

Xu Tianlong and Song Kaifei are somewhat better off; after all, among the nine people playing the Blue Force, they have the lowest ranks, and now with "Octopus" accompanying them, they can save face.

Translation: Xu Tianlong and Song Kaifei were somewhat better off; among the nine playing the opposing force, they held the lowest ranks, and now having Zhangyu with them saved face.

Actually, if he were given just another second—or rather, another 0.5 second—he could retreat into that cover.

Translation: Actually, if he were given just another second—or rather 0.5 second—he could retreat into that cover.

At the moment Liu Xiaotian's first shot was fired but missed, "Octopus" locked onto the firing position.

Translation: At the instant Liu Xiaotian's first shot was fired and missed, Zhangyu locked onto the shooter's position.

He immediately planted his hands on the ground and shoved his body backward sharply.

Translation: He immediately planted his hands on the ground and shoved his body backward.

Even though both knees had already entered the cover, a slight push would have fully removed the danger, but unexpectedly the opponent fired another round...

Translation: Clearly both knees had already entered the cover; a little effort would have fully removed the danger, but unexpectedly the opponent fired another shot…

This, this really leaves the "Octopus" instructor with an indescribable sense of helplessness and bitterness.

Translation: This, this truly left Instructor Zhangyu feeling helpless and bitter beyond words.

He now really wants to know who eliminated him.

Translation: He now really wants to know who eliminated him.

If it were one of those three guys from the Sharpshooter Squad Four, who are said to be the most accurate shooters of this cohort, he would accept it.

Translation: If it was one of those three sharpshooters from the Sharpshooter Fourth Company, famed as the most accurate shooters of this batch, he would accept it.

After all, even a horse can lose its front hoof.

Translation: After all, even a horse can lose its front hoof.

A sufficiently excellent shooter, after missing a shot, immediately fires a follow‑up shot; that too counts as standard procedure.

But, when he saw Liu Xiaotian like a gecko 'swimming' through the grass to his front, that feeling... was really indescribable.

Since it was still not possible to be 100% sure there were no other enemies nearby, Liu Xiaotian, after hitting his shot, immediately notified He Chen Guang and Wang Yanbing to change positions, and after finding cover, immediately set up his gun on guard.

As for himself, he immediately risked crawling to Zhangyu's position.

The reason he took such a risk was because Liu Xiaotian had realized that their opponent this time must be using some equipment far more advanced than their own 'high-tech' gear....

(End of chapter)