Chapter 1147: A Sniper’s Straight Shot at Science

The file Principal Yang Runian of Ninth Center School handed to Xia Qing was an official notice sent out by the Huaguo Ministry of Education.

The ministry encouraged all base schools to launch a “Scientists Enter Campus” program to boost students’ interest in learning, scientific literacy, and sense of innovation.

Xia Qing read it calmly, then looked up at Yang Runian, waiting for him to continue.

Over the eleven years of calamity, one disaster after another claimed billions of lives and left many survivors disabled, disfigured, or frail.

It was Yang Runian’s job to comfort the wounded and motivate the military, keeping their fighting spirit alive. This attitude ran deep in his bones. So, when he first saw Xia Qing’s face—one that looked like it had nerve damage—he didn’t bat an eye. His only concern was how to get her back on her feet.

But now, looking at that face, Yang Runian finally felt pressure. It wasn’t just her scar; it was Xia Qing’s now-famous line: “I’m a sniper. I like things straightforward. I hate beating around the bush.”

Yang Runian was used to tackling issues big-picture first—aligning everyone’s thinking and getting their attitude right before talking practical steps. But facing Xia Qing, he decided to cut right to the chase. “Could you bring this up with Third Brother when he’s in a good mood? If possible, I’d like to invite an expert from Territory Seven’s team to give a talk or a live demonstration for the students. If Third Brother’s experts are all busy, I’ll figure something else out.”

The ministry’s directive had to be followed, but Section One in the north was way too far from the Safe Zone. Inviting scientists from there was nearly impossible, so Yang discussed it with Xia Qing.

While everyone in this territory was a farmer these days, Territory Seven was overflowing with scientists.

The real reason Yang turned to Xia Qing was that the Base Director had ordered that no other Hui Three Base department could reach out to the senior experts in Territory Seven without permission.

Among all the officials in the base, only Xia Qing—this top-tier sniper known for her directness—didn’t have to play by that rule.

Fifteen minutes later, the official notice sat right on the Senior Expert’s desk, and he wore a look of pure impatience.

Xia Qing was surprised to see his expression soften after reading the document. She’d planned to have Zhang Tao pay a visit to the school since he was Ninth Center’s technical advisor and could walk into their school without a hitch.

But reading her idol’s mood, Xia Qing changed her mind. “Third Brother, are you interested in dropping by the school? How about a face-to-face chat with the kids?”

These days, her idol was stuck in the lab ninety percent of the time. If digging up bamboo shoots and sweet potatoes could cheer him up, maybe meeting the kids would, too.

Zhang San let out a dismissive grunt. “Nothing worth talking about.”

Hearing that, Xia Qing knew he was tempted. She grinned. “True, not much to talk about. Just think of it as a little break—a chance to meet the new generation. Some of the kids you treated in July—Lu Fangchun, Wang Bo, Tan Qi, and Ye Shiyi—are all students at the school.”

Kids who grew up or were born during the calamity years lived and learned in a completely different world from before. Yet seeing them always filled people with hope and a sense of powerful vitality.

Sunk deep into his chair, Zhang San really did want to meet Zhang Shi’s daughter. He asked weakly, “When are you heading out hunting?”

“The first wave of migratory birds arrives tomorrow,” Xia Qing replied. “I’m on the night shift, Luo covers daytime. I’ll head out at six tomorrow evening and return at six the morning after. Two days in a row for now; after that, we’ll see how things look.”

The half-month-long migration wasn’t just moving season for the birds—it was a feast for hunters and beasts. Predators in the Evolved Forest fattened up to survive the winter, and people hunted the birds to stockpile meat.

Migration season was also when elite snipers from each base got to show off their skills.

Both the Hui Three Base Director and Luo Pei had called Xia Qing, stressing how important it was to flex their muscles during this window.

Everyone knew Luo Pei’s eyesight and range had taken a hit after being poisoned. His effective range was down to two thousand meters, weaker than snipers from Hui One, Hui Five, and Hui Six.

The Evolved Forest’s terrain and magnetic conditions were so treacherous that technology wasn’t much help. That’s why top-quality snipers—fast and immune to interference—counted for so much in this fight.

Only by keeping elite snipers stationed at the base could they scare off anyone thinking of sneaking into Hui Three’s forest for poaching or stealing.

With Hui One and Hui Three now at odds, other bases’ snipers weren’t going to risk working for Hui Three. So Xia Qing had to take the spotlight herself—making it clear to every base that Hui Three had another ace sniper besides Luo Pei.

Of course, Xia Qing wasn’t doing it for free. She’d get ten thousand credits for a single night’s mission, and no matter how much ammo she used, the base would foot the bill.

Zhang San looked surprised. “Your sniping range is even better than Luo Pei’s?”

He wasn’t a sniper himself, but Zhang San knew nighttime sniping was much tougher than during the day. That came down to three reasons:

First, even with advanced night vision goggles, visibility at night was much worse. Dew and fog could quickly mess with optics, upping the challenge. Second, without sunlight warming the air, nighttime winds shifted constantly, making shots harder. Third, night temperatures in September plummeted, cooling the gun unevenly and messing with the trajectory. You had to recalibrate everything.

So for her to have night duty, Xia Qing’s skills had to be better than Luo Pei’s.

Base Director Qi Zhongye must really believe in Xia Qing’s marksmanship to make this call.

Xia Qing saw no need to hide in front of her idol. “My effective range is twenty-one hundred meters. Luo’s is two thousand.”

Out-ranging Luo Pei by a hundred meters should be a good thing, right? So why did this guy look like he was suffering?

Zhang San rubbed his forehead, not in the mood to figure out Xia Qing’s thoughts. “Go handle your own business. I’ll make time for a campus visit, bring Zheng Chen and Zhang Jingwu with me—as myself.”

“Understood. Thanks, Third Brother. I’ll keep a close eye on things at the school so nobody spills your real identity to the students.”

With that settled, Xia Qing got to the real question. “Third Brother, did the python skin I sent over finish soaking?”

“All done. Ask Zhang Song for it.”

“Got it…”

Python skin could be picked up from Zhang Song. But who was in charge of the giant wasp droppings? She’d already passed the tests and could now ferment them in the lab.

Zhang San saw right through her. “Go to Da Ya!”

“Thanks, Third Brother. I really appreciate it!”