Chapter 40: Initial Assessments

“So this is ability guidance and enhancement?”

Chen Jing and the professors’ explanations helped Lu Xin understand quite a bit.

So Mentally Altered Persons also needed training to better use their abilities. But he should be different right? After all his Ability was borrowed from his Sister. So how could he make his own Ability stronger?

Though still harboring some doubts he decided to listen to them and undergo the assessment properly.

Firstly after the Qin Ran incident he realized that even the Special Pollution Cleanup Department needed to research many mental pollution incidents. Research required data. While his own situation was difficult to grasp cooperating with them might provide data that could help them find the root of his problem.

So after a moment’s thought he asked, “How will the assessment proceed?”

Chen Jing paused slightly before answering, “One step at a time!”

Saying this she picked up a file casually checked a few boxes then led Lu Xin towards an office. The old professors and expert-looking individuals followed behind chatting and laughing. Gecko shadowed them closely. Though wearing sunglasses it was hard to hide his curiosity about Lu Xin or rather about a fellow Ability User.

“The first thing we’ll assess is your shooting ability!”

As she spoke they arrived at a large room enclosed by transparent bulletproof glass with several targets at the far end.

Staff members brought over several pale green iron boxes placing them on a table near the wall.

When the boxes opened the contents made Lu Xin’s scalp tingle slightly.

They were filled entirely with guns neatly arranged in slotted linings emitting a chilling aura.

Lu Xin didn’t know much about guns but he could recognize the variety: classic pistols Desert Eagles semi-automatic rifles submachine guns and light and heavy machine guns. Their unique sheen indicated they were definitely not toys.

“You probably haven’t received professional firearm training!”

Chen Jing turned to Lu Xin, “So I will begin training you now!”

As she spoke she took a black handgun from a nearby case disassembled it checked it loaded bullets inserted the magazine flipped off the safety then held it single-handedly and fired a shot at the opposite target. The display screen showed the result: 8th ring.

Chen Jing handed the handgun to Lu Xin, “Alright training’s over.”

Lu Xin looked utterly bewildered, “That’s it? What did you train me in?”

An old man wearing glasses beside them smiled at Lu Xin, “Theoretically you people don’t need training!”

“You just need familiarization!”

Gecko interjected timely, “For us as long as we know how to flip the safety and aim at the opponent training is complete!”

Lu Xin took a breath trying hard to follow their line of thinking.

He took the handgun under everyone’s gaze and aimed carefully at the target across the room.

The target was easily two hundred meters away. Lu Xin could only see a blurry shape.

“Bang!”

He fired.

The display screen lit up and everyone crowded around to look:

“Hmm third ring…”

“No wait it’s the third ring on the target next to it…”

Everyone around looked at Lu Xin strangely.

The third ring on the adjacent target… this was a Spider-type Ability User?

That’s it?

…

…

Lu Xin’s face flushed red. This shot was even worse than the one back at Sifang Transport Company…

“Don’t be nervous!”

Gecko standing nearby chuckled at Lu Xin, “It’s hard to hit accurately at first. You need to adapt. There’s strong recoil when the bullet leaves the barrel. Also your stance muscle coordination strength etc. all affect the bullet’s accuracy. You need to first feel the gun’s own precision then adjust your muscle strength to cooperate with it…”

Lu Xin took a deep breath and raised the gun again.

But as he held the gun his arm began to tremble involuntarily; the gun wasn’t light.

And no matter how hard he tried to focus the target remained a blur.

Lu Xin didn’t know how to cooperate with this gun to fire the bullet he wanted.

So feeling rather awkward he subconsciously glanced around looking for his Sister’s shadow…

“What’s this thing?”

A small cold hand gripped Lu Xin’s gun-holding hand.

Lu Xin turned to see his Sister had appeared beside him at some point curiously examining the gun in his hand.

At that moment Lu Xin felt a strange change in his body. It was as if every muscle and bone even his heartbeat and breathing were completely under his control. With each breath this feeling intensified. After three breaths he felt like his entire being had become a precision machine.

He looked at the target opposite him his pupils constricting slightly. The target became exceptionally clear.

Then his hand steady as a machine gently pulled the trigger. The recoil barely caused his arm to visibly shake.

The display screen showed the result: “Third ring!”

But before the surrounding people could show surprised and confused expressions Lu Xin had already pulled the trigger again.

Bang bang…

Two more bullets flew out one hitting the 8th ring position one hitting the red dot at the center.

Swish swish swish…

Everyone nearby turned simultaneously their eyes filled with surprise anticipating Lu Xin’s next move.

But after firing those two bullets Lu Xin didn’t shoot again. Instead he lowered his head thought for a moment then suddenly crossed his hands dismantling the gun. Immediately followed the barrel slide recoil spring frame receiver firing mechanism and magazine. Even the bullets were removed one by one. The entire gun instantly became parts scattering onto the table with a clatter.

“This is…”

The onlookers watched looking rather astonished.

Even Lu Xin was a bit puzzled looking curiously at his Sister.

“Shooting guns isn’t fun…”

Sister pouted looking disdainfully at the parts on the table, “Taking them apart is kind of okay though.”

“Well…”

Lu Xin shook his head helplessly and turned back to the others, “I don’t really like using this. Can we test something else?”

The others exchanged glances somewhat unprepared for Lu Xin’s response.

Gecko looked especially surprised, “Bro we’re born gunfighters! How can a Spider-type not use guns?”

Lu Xin just smiled without answering.

“Alright alright he’s actually already shown an aptitude for adapting to firearms. Let’s try another type now!”

A bald old man nearby chuckled smoothing things over. He had the few fully armed soldiers standing by the door come in and stand ready by the wall then smilingly gestured for Lu Xin to stand opposite them. His small eyes twinkled seeming very expectant.

“What’s this for?”

Looking at the cold menacing firearms in the hands of the three armed soldiers Lu Xin instantly became wary.

“Dodging bullets of course…”

The bald old man smiled beamingly, “Theoretically Spider-type Ability Users possess astonishing perception and reaction speed. So at distances over three meters you should be able to dodge bullets.”

He even comforted Lu Xin, “Don’t worry the soldiers are very experienced. They won’t aim for vitals so even if you can’t dodge you won’t die…”

“This…”

Lu Xin seriously looked at the three tall burly soldiers and the guns in their hands then slowly shook his head.

He thought about the consequences of getting injured and how his family might react.

“Let’s just skip it!”

Looking at the somewhat bald old professor he said sincerely, “Theoretically I might not die but you on the other hand might not be so lucky…”