Chapter Fifty-Three: Who Is He?

"Alright, I understand," Qin Feng replied, feeling his sniping skills continuously improving. When the day came to face the King of Snipers, he would finally see who was truly stronger.

"Good. Continue to train diligently," Su Yun said, her eyes filled with hope and expectation for Qin Feng. She firmly believed he would grow stronger.

Time slipped by, and a month soon passed.

Qin Feng had now trained with the Fierce Tiger Special Operations Unit for a month, and his abilities in all aspects had been greatly enhanced.

That morning, Su Yun came to see him. "Qin Feng, after more than a month of training, you’ve improved considerably in every way. Didn’t you wish to challenge the King of Snipers? I’ve spoken with the captain, and he’s granted permission. If you can defeat the King of Snipers, you’ll officially become an elite special forces soldier."

"Really?" Qin Feng asked, his face filled with disbelief.

"Yes, it’s true. Do you want to compete against the King of Snipers?" Su Yun asked, sensing the formidable fighting spirit within him. She remembered how he’d always longed for this challenge.

"I do. I’ve wanted to face him for a long time. I want to see what my level really is," Qin Feng replied, his eyes blazing with the will to fight. He yearned for this battle.

"Good. Tonight, accompany me to the training jungle. You’ll face the King of Snipers," Su Yun said, her heart full of anticipation. She, too, wanted to know how far Qin Feng had come. While she believed he might be able to best the King of Snipers, there was no way to be certain until they truly dueled. Only then would his real strength be revealed.

Time passed quietly. Another day went by, and dusk settled over the world.

In the jungle training ground, three figures appeared: Qin Feng, Su Yun, and the King of Snipers.

"Qin Feng, this is the King of Snipers. Tonight, you’ll compete against him in this jungle," Su Yun introduced.

"King of Snipers, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Qin Feng. I’m very grateful for the chance to test myself against you tonight," Qin Feng said, extending his hand for a handshake. He sensed that the man seemed ordinary, yet his eyes were razor-sharp—a sign of exceptional sniping ability. While his demeanor was unassuming, Zhang Cheng knew this man was truly formidable, having reached a state of returning to simplicity—a level few ever attain.

"Good. Show me your true skill. Let me witness your sniping prowess," the King of Snipers replied with a smile, shaking Qin Feng’s hand.

"Don’t worry—I’ll give it my all," Qin Feng said solemnly.

Once the introductions were complete, Su Yun spoke. "The contest begins now. Each of you, find a place to hide. The match starts when you’re both concealed. Whoever ‘takes out’ the other first is the victor." She would serve as referee, recording the outcome.

Both men nodded and melted into the depths of the jungle. The duel had begun.

Qin Feng slipped through the forest, searching for a place to lie in wait. He knew the King of Snipers was a formidable opponent, and he would need every ounce of skill and concentration to prevail. Before long, he found a thicket of bushes and concealed himself.

The moon rose, gliding slowly across the sky. By midnight, its light was crystalline, bathing the entire forest in a silvery veil. The world seemed shrouded in ethereal mist. The jungle was silent, save for the chirring of insects. Occasionally, a night bird would flap its wings and vanish into the darkness. Atop a tall tree, a night hawk watched the woods, motionless, its eyes glinting eerily as it searched for prey. Suddenly, it beat its wings and swooped down like a black bolt of lightning, tracing a graceful arc through the air.

At that very moment, a field mouse scurried frantically below. It had come out to forage, never expecting to catch the night hawk’s attention. It tried to flee, but the hawk’s talons snatched it up with lethal speed. The bird rose, wings beating, and vanished above the treetops.

Not far from where the hawk hunted, a head slowly rose from a bush. Gazing at the departing predator with calm eyes, then peering through the scope of his sniper rifle—disguised with withered grass and impossible to spot at a glance—was Qin Feng. He wore a garland of grasses and shrubs around his head and a cloak of the same materials over his body, perfectly blending into the undergrowth.

The moon was high above the treetops, and it was close to midnight. Qin Feng had been lying in ambush for three or four hours. "No idea where the King of Snipers is hiding. He’s truly a master at concealment—I can barely detect any trace of him. Maybe I should change position, see if I can spot him and ‘take him out’," he thought.

Just as he was about to move, he sensed something unusual ahead. Startled, he remained perfectly still, watching intently.

Soon, a dark figure dashed through the trees and stopped beneath a large tree. The figure swiftly climbed up to the crown, pulled out binoculars, and began scanning the surroundings. The entire maneuver took less than a minute. Qin Feng was shocked—the tree had to be at least twenty meters tall, and even for him, it would have taken over a minute to climb, and likely not as deftly.

"Who is that?" Qin Feng wondered. A single figure came to mind: the King of Snipers. Only he could move with such skill. Qin Feng refrained from acting, choosing instead to observe, aware of his opponent’s formidable abilities. He waited patiently, careful not to give away any trace of killing intent. The King of Snipers was a true expert; even a hint of murderous aura would alert him and expose Qin Feng’s position. Then, the King of Snipers might shoot first and "eliminate" him.

Qin Feng waited for a quarter of an hour. The King of Snipers, finding nothing, slipped nimbly down the tree, crouched low in its shadow, and carefully scanned the area. He spotted a thicket suitable for an ambush but, uncertain if anyone was inside, remained cautious.

After a while, the King of Snipers, seeing nothing suspicious, assumed Qin Feng was not hiding there and decided to move on.

"You’ve shown yourself, King of Snipers. Don’t think you can escape now. I’ll ‘take you down’ this instant," Qin Feng thought, quickly aligning his rifle’s scope on his opponent as he began to leave. A surge of intense energy erupted within him as he prepared to pull the trigger. Yet, in the split second before he could fire, the King of Snipers dove to the side, vanishing behind a nearby tree in a flash.