The three of them filled their backpacks with weapons, their shoulders heavy with rifles as they left the gun shop.
"So heavy…" Feng Yusheng remarked. "I wonder how long we'll be able to use all these guns."
"If we run into a horde of zombies, these won't be nearly enough," Shao Ming replied, recalling the horde they had encountered just hours before.
The sheer number of mutants they had faced earlier could not be handled by a few semi-automatic shotguns alone.
They slid down the embankment and slowly walked along the tracks.
It wasn't long before they spotted a train approaching them, moving slowly in their direction.
Lambert jumped down from the stopped train, taking the weapons from their hands.
However, instead of tossing the filled backpacks into the driver's cabin, he headed towards a nearby carriage.
Shao Ming noticed that what was once a five-car train had been reduced to just a single passenger carriage still attached to the front.
"Good thing the interchange wasn't too far," Lambert said. "I removed the extra carriages, but I was worried about running out of space, so I kept one."
"Works for me," Shao Ming replied. "Three of us packed into the engine compartment is a bit too cramped."
"We can modify the back later," Lambert nodded. "If we have the materials, we could even split it into a few rooms."
Shao Ming thought the idea sounded decent at first but then realized that getting those "materials" might not be as easy as it sounded.
They tossed the weapons into the carriage and went back to the engine to grab some food.
Taking advantage of the break, Shao Ming changed the bandage on his wound.
After starting a small fire and having lunch—though it was already afternoon—they prepared to board the train and continue their journey.
Just as they were about to step into the driver's cabin, Feng Yusheng suddenly spoke to Shao Ming.
"Hey, can you teach me how to use a gun?"
"Use a gun…" Shao Ming thought for a moment. The ammunition was still plentiful, and the area seemed clear of mutants, so now would be a good time to teach them.
"Let's do it here," Shao Ming said. "There are still plenty of guns we didn't take from the shop, and all the ammo is already on the train. It's a good chance for you to practice."
"Oh," Lambert looked somewhat reluctant. "I'm against guns, but… I guess it's important to learn."
The three of them went back to the gun shop, grabbed three hunting rifles and three shotguns, and returned to the train.
Shao Ming took the paper target he had found in the shop, walked about 100 meters into the fields, and set it up against a wall.
He returned to the others, picked up one of the hunting rifles, and studied it for a moment before speaking.
"Though I can't tell the exact model, this is definitely a .22 caliber hunting rifle. The advantage is that the recoil is low and easy to control. The downside is that it's usually used for hunting small animals, so it lacks stopping power against humans."
Seeing that they didn't quite understand, Shao Ming added, "Simply put, it's easy to shoot but won't kill unless you hit the vital points."
Both nodded, and Shao Ming loaded a magazine into the rifle.
"This is the magazine," Shao Ming explained. "This rifle can hold ten rounds, so try to aim well."
He then pressed a button and took out the magazine.
"If you run out of ammo, press this here, remove the magazine, and replace it with a new one."
Feng Yusheng nodded, trying to load a bullet herself.
Shao Ming demonstrated how to disengage the safety, "This little lever behind the bolt is the safety. If it's not turned on, you won't be able to chamber a round. Similarly, always turn it off when you're ready to shoot and back on when you're not using the gun to prevent accidental discharge."
He pulled back the bolt and chambered a round.
"Now, it's ready to fire."
He aimed the rifle at the target.
Bang! The sound of the shot echoed, and the bullet hit the target.
Shao Ming worked the bolt again, ejecting the spent cartridge.
"See? After each shot, you need to eject the shell and chamber a new round to keep shooting."
The two nodded, holding their rifles and mimicking his actions.
Shao Ming then raised the rifle again, pointing out that, "This gun has a built-in scope. Usually, if you're shooting within 100 meters, just line up the crosshairs with the target."
Feng Yusheng, like a child in class eager to answer, said, "I know! I've seen this in TV dramas."
Shao Ming raised an eyebrow, "You watch that kind of show?"
"I watched XXX (placeholder for an idol drama), and that's how they did it there."
Shao Ming smiled. "Fair enough," he said, nodding. "Give it a try."
Both Feng Yusheng and Lambert followed his instructions, loading the rifle, setting the safety, and aiming at the target.
They both squeezed the triggers at the same time, but to everyone's surprise, Feng Yusheng hit the target first.
"My God," Lambert lowered his rifle, "My shots are almost going to the sky."
"Use your arms to control the recoil," Shao Ming explained. "This small-caliber rifle doesn't have much kickback, but with other guns, you'll need more than just your arms."
They kept practicing, and after a few more shots, Lambert finally managed to land his bullets on the target.
"Not bad," Shao Ming said. "You're both picking it up fast."
After practicing with the hunting rifles for a while, Shao Ming switched to teaching them how to use the shotguns.
By the time the sun began to set, the gunfire near the train had slowed down.
Back in the train, they didn't sleep in the cramped driver's cabin but opted for the passenger carriage instead. After all, lying on chairs was far more comfortable than sleeping on the floor.
As Shao Ming lay in the dimming light, he couldn't help but think about Feng Yusheng's earlier words. It had been days since they lost contact with their families. He needed to figure out another way to reach home and check on his parents.
Had his family survived?
He drifted off into a restless sleep, only to find himself dreaming of home. As he ran toward his parents in excitement, they suddenly turned to face him, their eyes glowing a menacing blood-red.
He woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat. It was morning.
Rubbing his head, Shao Ming realized that he hadn't had a nightmare in days—until now.
It was around seven o'clock. Shao Ming ate a quick breakfast, then went back into the town to scavenge for supplies.
By the time the others woke up, he had nearly emptied the gun shop. In addition, he'd brought back plenty of water and food from the gas station convenience store.
Lambert checked the map from the engine compartment, started the train, while Shao Ming and Feng Yusheng organized the supplies they had gathered in the back car and practiced shooting.
The train sped forward with the sound of gunfire echoing in the distance, mutants left far behind. In the distance, a city spewing thick clouds of smoke slowly came into view on the horizon.