Luo Zheng expressed his gratitude and listened attentively. These were life-saving techniques on the battlefield, skills that were said to be learned only by special forces. It was a rare opportunity, and Luo Zheng certainly wouldn't miss it. He studied earnestly, and after half an hour, Lan Xue was so tired that she could hardly speak. Luo Zheng kindly urged her, 'Take a break. The food is just about done. It's a pity there are no condiments, but please make do with what we have.' Saying this, he stirred the bonfire and dug out the wild chicken from the ground, breaking off the dirt and tearing off a chicken leg to pass to her. Lan Xue didn't fuss and took it to eat. In no time, the plump wild chicken was reduced to a skeleton, and the two ate until they were half full, desperately thirsty. Luo Zheng planned to find some water to drink, but there was none around. At this moment, Lan Xue suddenly said, 'I'm tired. I'll tell you how to find water later. Do you see those grapevines? The water inside contains rich vitamins. Just get a few vines and that will be good.' 'Okay.'

Seeing the vines entwined on the large tree not far away, Luo Zheng responded, drew his Type 65 army knife, and walked over. He climbed the tree, cut a few vines, and sure enough, a considerable amount of water flowed out. After tasting it and finding it somewhat sweet, he was overjoyed. He cut several more vines, jumped down from the tree, and ran to Lan Xue to hand them over.

Seeing that Luo Zheng did not drink first but only tasted it before offering it to her, the soft spot beneath Lan Xue's strong exterior seemed to be touched, and a strange sensation surged up, her face blushing as she lowered her head. Luo Zheng did not notice and, after handing all the grapevines to Lan Xue, he turned back, drank his fill high up in the tree, and looked out at the seemingly endless forest from above, his expression becoming solemn. He jumped down from the tree and said, 'Are you feeling better? Shall we rest for a while before we continue on our way?'

'No problem,' Lan Xue replied calmly, looking up at the sky with a slight frown and saying softly, 'It looks like it's going to rain tonight; we must cover some distance.'

Luo Zheng looked up at the sky, which was clear and boundless, showing no signs of rain. However, thinking that Lan Xue might be an all-powerful special forces soldier, he said convincingly, 'If that's the case, it will be troublesome. What about your illness?'

'No problem.'

Lan Xue resumed her cold and proud expression, walking forward with the help of her cane, while Luo Zheng hesitated to speak and then followed her. Along the way, Lan Xue kept teaching Luo Zheng military hand signals. When they saw wild fruits, Luo Zheng would pick some for Lan Xue, as a person who had just recovered from a serious illness needed vitamin supplements. When they spotted prey, he would shoot it to serve as food for the night. Upon finding the herbs needed, Lan Xue would pick and chew them to apply on the wounds herself, especially for sensitive areas, preferring not to rely on Luo Zheng for help. Neither of them inquired about the other's identity any longer, but trust deepened between them unknowingly. Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, night had fallen. They hadn't encountered any danger, but they discovered traces left by the enemy—a pile of burned-out campfires. The campfires had not been cleaned up, perhaps because the enemy thought Luo Zheng and Lan Xue would not pursue them any further and saw no need to bother. Seeing that it was getting late, Luo Zheng simply lit a fire on the spot where the enemy's campfire had been, leaving the task of cooking to Lan Xue. He used a machete to cut trees and build a rain shelter. Although it wasn't raining, Lan Xue predicted it would, so Luo Zheng dared not be careless. A person who had just recovered from a fever could not afford to get wet. The rain shelter was not large, built under a big tree with four stakes, horizontal sticks placed on top, covered with a thick layer of branches and broad leaves, then a layer of soil, followed by another layer of branches and leaves, and another layer of soil. It took over an hour to complete. They drew the campfire under the shelter and quickly gathered a lot of dry wood for the night. After eating their fill, the two sat on the dry wood under the shelter and continued to learn combat skills. Watching Lan Xue, who was pouring out her knowledge without reservation, Luo Zheng found her especially charming in the firelight. His heart was filled with gratitude, without a trace of improper thoughts. After a day, he had basically mastered military hand signals, and Lan Xue began to teach him how to use a gun. 'Luo Zheng, you said you've played with a 'soil sprayer' since you were a kid, I've played with those too. They have an effective killing range of a hundred meters, but the maximum range of a sniper rifle can be as high as eight kilometers. The effective range of a typical sniper rifle is between eight hundred and one thousand meters, which is completely different from a 'soil sprayer.' A sniper cannot be trained overnight, but you have a foundation, so start by using the sniper rifle like a 'soil sprayer.' Don't worry, your primary task is to learn counter-sniping. Only by understanding counter-sniping can you stay alive, and only by staying alive can you seek revenge.'

As Lan Xue spoke, her complexion turned ashen. 'I understand, the owner of this gun is your companion?' Luo Zheng pointed to the gun in Lan Xue's arms and asked. 'This QUB88 sniper rifle is a domestically developed small-caliber sniper rifle. Its advent signifies that our country's sniper weapon development has entered the forefront of the world. It has excellent performance, with high precision, powerful impact, high reliability, safe use, concealment, good serviceability, and adaptability,' Lan Xue explained while dismantling the gun. Under the glow of the fire, the coldly beautiful Lan Xue carefully explained the performance and usage of the QUB88 sniper rifle, exuding a unique charm. Luo Zheng was so captivated that he didn't hear a word she said, lost in his thoughts. Lan Xue, with her keen perception, immediately realized something was amiss. She glared at Luo Zheng, her face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, and said, 'Assemble the gun.' 'Uh, ah?' Luo Zheng felt awkward and quickly cast aside his distractions, humbly asking for instruction, 'Could you say it again? This is my first time encountering such an advanced weapon, I didn't catch it, I won't dare to do it again next time.' Lan Xue withdrew her cold gaze, yet she couldn't help but feel amused inside, a strange sensation. Her expression remained unchanged, cold as ever, and she continued, 'As the world's first to incorporate 5.'

The QUB88 sniper rifle, chambered in 8mm caliber for sniper use, features a bullpup design without a grip, cheek rest, or handguard, which sets it apart from similar firearms abroad. It is compact, measuring only 920mm in length, with a barrel about 620mm long, and has a magazine capacity of ten rounds. It is equipped with a 3x-9x daylight scope and also features mechanical sights...

As time slipped away amidst Lan Xue's endless explanations, it wasn't until the rain began to fall that the two realized it. Luo Zheng noticed Lan Xue's complexion was very pale and wished he could slap himself for not noticing sooner. He quickly said, 'You should rest for a while. You've just recovered from a serious illness and shouldn't overexert yourself. I'll keep watch.' Saying this, he added some dry wood to the bonfire.

'That's a good idea. I've just covered a lot, including locating the enemy sniper by listening to sounds, determining the direction of smoke, assessing possible hiding spots for snipers, analyzing bullet entry angles, understanding the rifle's range, and identifying suspicious terrain and features in the surroundings. Take your time to digest all this,' Lan Xue said before closing her eyes to rest.

Watching Lan Xue as she rested, Luo Zheng silently vowed to himself that even if it cost him his life, he would ensure her safety. He lit two more bonfires and went to chop some branches nearby to dry by the fire for future use. Afterwards, he sat by the bonfire, lost in thought.