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Gu Yue thumped him hard on the back. "We haven't even started, and you're already dragging down your teammates' morale."

Meng Xiu reached around to rub his back. "Gu Yue, is that an iron palm of yours?"

"I'm motivating you with reverse psychology! Reverse psychology!"

Lu Mingjing was supremely confident. "I'll win."

Meng Jiu'an stood firmly by his best friend. "We'll win."

Ji Qi belatedly puffed out his chest. "We're no pushovers."

Strange. Where did Suìsuì go? Did she go to change guns?

Out of the corner of her eye, Gu Yue glanced toward the door. Xie Zhiyu had stepped out a little while ago and still hadn't returned.

Lu Mingjing and Lu Mingqian's Shooting match officially began. Neither side's cheering squad had room to think about anything else; all eyes were on the range.

The more nervous Lu Mingqian felt, the steadier he became. He calmed himself, picked up his Rifle, and got ready.

He kept his eyes fixed on the target.

Lu Mingjing radiated easy confidence. He trusted his own ability.

The match began.

On the range, Lu Mingjing and Lu Mingqian pulled their triggers at the same time. Human-shaped targets fell one after another.

Gu Yue held her breath as she watched Lu Mingjing on the range. His cold, sharp presence was nothing like his usual self. His normally fluid manner had frozen into ice, giving off a chill and a dangerous edge.

He felt a little distant.

"Mingjing's Shooting technique hasn't declined much," Meng Xiu said, narrowing his eyes at the range.

"But his younger cousin's improved fast. He's serious competition."

Meng Jiu'an and Ji Qi had no such reflections. They shouted encouragement at the top of their lungs the whole time.

"Lu Mingqian, you're a Sharpshooter!"

"You can win! Show them what you've got!"

"Quick,