Chapter 9: 9, If you don't understand something, just ask

Ren Xiaosu stood at the entrance of the tent, watching the band depart, while Lao Wang continued apologizing to the other party: "Ren Xiaosu may have a sick mind, but not like this. You should listen to me explain..."

The band's staff had no patience for his explanations: "Wang Fuqi, I give you six hours to find a suitable candidate. Even if this kid isn't sick, we don't need him. We set off at dawn. Don't cause us trouble!"

Ren Xiaosu grinned and stood at the tent's entrance, watching the commotion as if nothing had happened. Yet at that moment, the girl with the duck-bill hat from earlier turned back to glance at Ren Xiaosu, and he suddenly felt as though he had been seen through.

He didn't even see the expression beneath her hat, but an inexplicable tremor stirred in his heart.

Instinctively, Ren Xiaosu activated his own learning skill map, and a voice echoed from the palace: "Randomly select a target skill to learn."

"Random learning?"

"A random selection of the opponent's firearms skill has been made. Do you wish to learn it?"

"Learn!" Ren Xiaosu, seeing that the skill map was already gone, figured it was better to learn than to waste it.

"Learning successful. You have mastered advanced firearms proficiency."

"Wait, wasn't the basic level skill map supposed to grant me only primary skills? Why did I learn advanced firearms mastery instead?" Ren Xiaosu wondered in his mind.

"There are two types of learning skill maps. The first, basic level, allows direct learning of any skill below advanced. The second, master level, enables learning others' master-level techniques after your own skill reaches advanced, and may even grant a chance to acquire their supernatural abilities," the palace's voice replied.

Ren Xiaosu froze. Others' supernatural abilities could be learned too?! At that moment, he thought of the girl and suddenly asked: "Can you tell me the level of that girl's firearms mastery?"

"Information on learned targets can be provided."

"What level is her firearms mastery? Master?"

"Perfect."

...

The basic level learning map allows random acquisition of skills below advanced on a target, while the master level, building upon one's advanced skills, enables learning others' master-level techniques or even their supernatural abilities.

This level is entirely determined by the palace, and though it claims there's a certain chance of success, Ren Xiaosu felt a thrill at the thought of copying others' supernatural abilities.

Previously, Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liuyuan had discussed whether supernatural abilities had hierarchies—some were naturally stronger, others weaker.

As someone who needed to survive in the wild, Ren Xiaosu naturally believed that powerful supernatural abilities were superior, while Yan Liuyuan, blessed with luck, was physically weak, so he insisted supernatural abilities were merely different in utility, not in strength.

But now, what level would a power that could replicate others' abilities be?

However, Ren Xiaosu's thoughts lingered more on the girl with the duck-bill hat.

When he received the advanced firearms technique, a flood of gun knowledge surged into his mind, as if directly merging into his instincts—a profound enlightenment.

What he mastered was not merely knowledge of various firearms' models, disassembly, maintenance, and use, but also an almost instinctive aim.

Ren Xiaosu even understood the recoil of each gun. If given one now, as long as it fell within the scope of his advanced firearms mastery, he could handle it like a veteran with ten years of experience, without any difference.

In terms of accuracy, scoring over 95 rings within a hundred meters seemed to be the standard for advanced firearms skills.

These revelations pleased him, but not to the point of ecstasy, for he still had no gun in hand. What truly stunned him was the palace's assessment of the girl's firearms mastery—perfect.

Ren Xiaosu couldn't fathom how formidable master-level would be, let alone perfect.

Such a person existed in a band?

It seemed the mercenaries and band staff were unaware of such a terrifying presence among their ranks. Previously, Ren Xiaosu had noticed they treated her as an ordinary employee.

The girl probably hadn't realized that Ren Xiaosu had already obtained her secret through some mysterious means.

It was indeed wise to avoid getting involved with this group, Ren Xiaosu mused, savoring the thrill of uncovering others' secrets.

"Bro, why are you staring at her back?" Yan Liuyuan's head popped out of the tent to ask.

Ren Xiaosu immediately adopted a joyful demeanor, turning to face Yan Liuyuan, about to assert his brotherly authority when the curtain of the adjacent tent lifted, and a woman's voice called out: "Whose back? Where?"

Both Yan Liuyuan and Ren Xiaosu froze. The person emerging from the adjacent tent was Xiao Yu!

"Xiao Yu, why are you in the next tent?" Yan Liuyuan asked curiously.

Xiao Yu smoothed her hair and smiled: "I'll be moving here from now on. We'll be neighbors."

"What happened to the family of three who lived here before?" Yan Liuyuan pressed. "Where did they go?"

"I swapped my place with theirs," Xiao Yu explained.

Yan Liuyuan pulled Ren Xiaosu aside and whispered: "Bro, Xiao Yu's really gone all out. Her old place was a stone house!"

Ren Xiaosu remained silent, ducking directly into the tent, while Yan Liuyuan smiled at Xiao Yu and withdrew his head.

"Bro, you're still a virgin, aren't you?" Yan Liuyuan asked.

Ren Xiaosu glared at Yan Liuyuan: "You're not young anymore. I want to discuss some educational issues with you."

Yan Liuyuan immediately sat up straight, all seriousness: "Sure, bro. Ask away..."

Before he could finish, Ren Xiaosu kicked him down, though Yan Liuyuan just laughed heartily without anger.

"You've really grown bold," Ren Xiaosu arranged the bedding: "Try not to provoke Xiao Yu. Don't talk nonsense about red threads. We've got enough on our plate without worrying about others."

"Oh," Yan Liuyuan replied meekly: "But she's given us potatoes and medicine, and she cares so much about you. Are you really going to ignore her?"

Ren Xiaosu considered: "The most important thing is to act with integrity and a clear conscience. But if there's guilt, convince yourself not to have any."

Yan Liuyuan: "???"

When Yan Liuyuan heard the first half, he looked like he was listening to a lecture, but the latter half left him bewildered.

Perhaps, this was Ren Xiaosu.

In this era, people like Ren Xiaosu might fare better. Yet Yan Liuyuan didn't mind what kind of person Ren Xiaosu was. Every cautious vigilance and meticulous calculation of Ren Xiaosu's stemmed from the scars and lessons of the past.

But Yan Liuyuan also knew that Ren Xiaosu still harbored unspoken words.

...

Thanks to Yanli for becoming the book's first patron, thanks to Huan Yu Ya for becoming the first silver patron, thanks to Tongtang for the silver patron, thanks to Yuxiaoyu for the patron, love you all.