Chapter 44: The Swift Youth Who Annihilated an Entire Squad

"I've got a 98K here—anyone want it?"
"I don't!"
Right on the heels of the first voice, another answered almost immediately.
The viewers could easily tell that the second voice belonged to the Trickster.
Upon hearing Yang Hao, the audience seemed to recall something from last night and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Haha, the Trickster finally learned his lesson."
"Remember that 98K yesterday?"
"The Kar98K—goddess exclusive!"
"Honestly, the Trickster's sniping is actually pretty impressive."
"Looks like the Trickster has a strong will to survive!"
...
The live chat scrolled furiously.
Yang Hao, of course, knew none of this—he didn't have the leisure to check the chat.
Just as Lin Zijin picked up the 98K from Zhu Ziyuan, her gaze flickered toward Yang Hao, who was watching the enemy team from Building 1. Suddenly, she called out, "I've got a level-three vest over here. Come get it!"
"Okay!"
Yang Hao was taken aback by Lin Zijin's voice, but quickly, delight overtook his surprise.
A wife is a wife—whenever there's something good, she's the first to think of him.
Unable to contain his excitement, Yang Hao rushed downstairs and made a beeline for the Red Star Building where Lin Zijin was.
The Red Star Building was a crucial spot; from here, you could cover against raids from the school and keep an eye on the surroundings. After leaving Building 6, Lin Zijin had come here at once.
Entering the building, Yang Hao saw her silhouette inside and couldn't help but smile knowingly.
He glanced down and saw, as expected, the level-three vest on the floor. Without a second thought, he happily swapped out his level-two for it, left a pile of medical supplies behind, and dashed back to his post.
He had thought about leaving the four-times scope he’d picked up earlier, but Lin Zijin said she already had one, so he took it back.
Watching Yang Hao leave and eyeing the heap of meds on the floor, Lin Zijin, sitting at her computer, let a graceful smile curl at her lips. After picking up the first aid kits and energy drinks, she put on the level-two vest Yang Hao had just taken off.
The viewers were stunned by this scene.
"Swapping a level-three for a level-two?"
"Damn, the goddess is so sweet!"
"I'm jealous of the Trickster—the goddess treats him so well!"
"I'm starting to feel a little envious myself!"
"Don’t go, Trickster! Leave your level-three vest behind—I'll pay for it!"
"That vest is priceless..."
...

The audience, having witnessed the exchange in full, burst into a frenzy of envy and admiration for Yang Hao.
But Yang Hao himself had no idea—the vest he wore was the very one Lin Zijin had been wearing just moments before.
There was no spare level-three vest at all; Lin Zijin had tricked him!
If Yang Hao ever found out, he might be moved to tears...
But apart from Lin Zijin and the viewers, no one else knew.
Yang Hao was completely in the dark.
Still, his heart felt warm, for he already realized that when a "spare" level-three vest appeared, Lin Zijin thought of him first.
"The enemy from the school is coming!"
Lin Zijin's warning shattered the calm of the staff dormitory.
Because of the flight path, only their two teams had landed near the school. After looting, the opposing team quickly set their sights on them.
Yang Hao and Zhu Ziyuan, stationed in Buildings 1 and 6, had also noticed the incoming enemies and grew increasingly alert.
At such a distance, the enemy couldn't find an opening in Yang Hao's defense.
So, this time, they came over in a jeep.
Between the school and the dormitory, there were only two bits of cover: a bus stop and a wooden toilet. The area was otherwise exposed, so a fast rush in a vehicle was the best bet to break through Yang Hao’s defense.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Gunfire erupted—Zhu Zi'an and Yang Hao opened up, bullets hammering the jeep, sparks flying as metal clashed with lead.
The enemy didn't fire back, instead hitting the gas, clearly hoping to evade fire with their driving skills and reach the dorm before their vehicle blew up.
Bang!
Suddenly, a sniper shot rang out.
A bullet from a sniper rifle streaked toward Yang Hao, who only wore a level-two helmet.
Splat!
Caught off guard, a burst of blood exploded from Yang Hao's head.
But even as he fell, clutching his stomach, Yang Hao remained calm and unflustered.
He stared toward the school, brow furrowing.
There was a sniper hidden in the school.
A skilled one.
At the same moment, Lin Zijin, who had yet to fire, fixed her gaze on a spot in the school, a chill curling at her lips.
The enemy vehicle was almost at the building, and just after Yang Hao was knocked down, Zhu Zi'an, who had ducked back to reload, appeared at the window again.

Rat-a-tat-tat!
The muzzle of the M416 flashed fiercely.
The jeep below was already trailing black smoke.
At that moment, two gunshots rang out almost simultaneously.
"Qing Qing Zijin used Kar98K to headshot and knock out Xinghe and Baihe!"
At the critical moment, Lin Zijin struck.
The sniper in the school, Baihe, was stunned—he was the sharpshooter of Team Xinghe.
He hadn't expected that, as he fired again, someone would already have him in their sights.
He quickly realized his opponent was faster on the trigger than he was.
So, at the very instant he was knocked out, his own shot was ruled invalid.
What shocked him even more was that the enemy sniper was Lin Zijin.
And what kind of player was Lin Zijin?
As a fellow professional, he knew all too well.
Watching his three teammates driving ahead, Baihe was suddenly filled with regret.
It seemed that this was the wrong call.
He shouldn't have rushed the staff dormitory without first gauging the enemy's strength.
He’d been too confident in his own skill.
He’d run into a wall.
Sure enough, as he was knocked down, the jeep now at the foot of the building exploded in a thunderous blast.
The entire school squad was wiped out!
With this threat eliminated, Lin Zijin turned her gaze to Yang Hao's position. Seeing Zhu Ziyuan already heading over, she withdrew the foot she had just set forward.
Just then, four notifications popped up on the screen!
"Your teammate Yao Dapao exploded a vehicle, eliminating Happy Family!"
"Your teammate Yao Dapao exploded a vehicle, eliminating I Am the Grandson!"
"Your teammate Yao Dapao exploded a vehicle, eliminating I Am the Son!"
"Your teammate Yao Dapao exploded a vehicle, eliminating I Am the Boss!"
Four lives in a single car!
A solo squad wipe?