Chapter 15: The Coach’s Doubts—Is the Assassin’s Identity About to Be Revealed?

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Wang Xiaoming’s triumphant haul of five gold medals should have been a cause for nationwide celebration. Yet, just as the entire shooting team was erupting in joyous cheers, the assistant coach approached the head coach.

The head coach, who was clapping and cheering with the athletes, was suddenly pulled aside by the assistant coach.

“Hahaha, Xu Fan, we’ve really broken through this time! Our shooting team has exploded onto the scene!” the head coach exclaimed excitedly.

But Xu Fan’s expression was tinged with hesitation despite the head coach’s enthusiasm.

“What’s wrong, Xu Fan?” the head coach asked, puzzled.

After some hesitation, Xu Fan leaned in and quietly voiced his concerns into the head coach’s ear.

“What? You’re saying Wang Xiaoming’s identity is questionable?” the head coach asked, incredulous.

Xu Fan nodded.

Before joining the national shooting team, he had served in the military and was considered an elite soldier. So when he observed Wang Xiaoming’s habitual actions during shooting, suspicion arose.

“Xu Fan, you can’t just say things like that without proof! Do you have any evidence?” the head coach demanded.

Xu Fan replied, “Coach Wu, who instinctively wipes their gun, wipes off fingerprints, and disassembles their gun in a blink after shooting?”

“To my knowledge, even the best soldiers in our military don’t have such habits,” he added.

Coach Wu nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, that habit is suspicious... but that alone doesn’t prove anything. Maybe the young guy is just imitating what he’s seen in movies?”

Xu Fan didn’t respond directly but instead asked another question: “What about the air rifle? Can you reload a magazine with one hand?”

Coach Wu shook his head. “We usually don’t need to, but if forced, it can be trained.”

“Alright, but what about pulling the bolt back with the off-hand? Can you do that?”

“That’s difficult...” Coach Wu involuntarily put himself in the position. “This kind of movement is not something our shooters or amateurs do with such proficiency.”

“Unless...” he hesitated.

“Unless they’re special forces soldiers,” Xu Fan interjected immediately.

“Are you suspecting Wang Xiaoming is from some military unit...?”

“No, no!” Xu Fan interrupted. “The one-handed reload and off-hand bolt pull aren’t even the main point!”

“What is the main point, then?”

“He scores perfect tens with every shot.”

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“Perfect tens on every shot, facing flying clay targets, without even aiming properly—what special forces soldier can do that? Except for an elite soldier!”

“But I’ve never heard of any elite soldier competing in the Olympics...” Coach Wu was beginning to be swayed by Xu Fan’s reasoning.

His suspicions were not baseless.

Moreover...

Coach Wu instinctively flipped through Wang Xiaoming’s file: “He’s still a college student...”

That alone was shocking enough, but what Xu Fan said next made him break out in cold sweat.

“I’ve even looked at his palms. Normally, frequent gun use would only cause calluses between the thumb and index finger, but his entire fingers are callused at the base! What does that mean?”

Coach Wu took over the thought: “It means he not only handles guns often but also grips other weapons. Like what?”

“Like... a dagger,” Xu Fan answered.

As the shooting team’s coach, Wu naturally knew this was unusual.

Shooters usually develop calluses on their hands from constant gun handling, but only those who train daily.

You might say Wang Xiaoming is a hardworking young man, but calluses covering the whole palm?

“That... that might still be explained. Maybe the kid’s just fiery in his youth!” Coach Wu hesitated to jump to conclusions.

Yet, Xu Fan revealed another shocking discovery.

“Alright, let’s ignore all these for now, assuming every detail has an explanation.”

“But how do you explain the wounds on his upper arm?”

“Wounds?” Coach Wu was confused.

Xu Fan glanced around, then whispered, “Those are bullet holes.”

“Bullet holes!” Coach Wu blurted out in alarm.

“Keep your voice down!” Xu Fan quickly covered his mouth, startled.

Unbeknownst to them, Wang Xiaoming, who was receiving his gold medals nearby, slowly cast his gaze in their direction.

...

“Are you sure?”

“Did you forget what I did before becoming an assistant coach?” Xu Fan said firmly.

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Coach Wu trusted Xu Fan’s words. After all, Xu Fan had retired directly from the military and was assigned to assist him.

When it came to military matters, Xu Fan definitely had more authority than he did.

Yet, doubting Wang Xiaoming like this was hard to accept.

After all, Wang Xiaoming had been personally placed in the team by higher-ups.

And now, he had won five gold medals for the country.

Accusing him without solid evidence would surely dampen his spirit.

“Xu Fan, I think you raise valid points, but Wang Xiaoming is currently fighting for the nation. Should we suspect him without concrete proof...?” Coach Wu paused, then added, “Besides, Wang Xiaoming was placed here by the higher-ups. There shouldn’t be any problems, right?”

Seeing Coach Wu’s stance, Xu Fan grew anxious.

“Wu, don’t you understand what I’m saying? Yes, Wang Xiaoming was put here by the higher-ups, but whether the one standing in front of us really is Wang Xiaoming—that’s uncertain!”

Hearing this, Coach Wu’s skin crawled. “You’re saying this Wang Xiaoming might not be the real Wang Xiaoming?”

“Yes,” Xu Fan nodded solemnly.

“Well...” Coach Wu was at a loss.

This was supposed to be a glorious night celebrating Olympic victory, yet everything was spiraling into something out of a horror story.

“I suspect he might be a walking fifty-thousand—a decoy to distract us and prepare for something else behind the scenes!” Xu Fan’s imagination ran wild.

Soon, he conjured up a whole slew of scenarios.

Coach Wu was bewildered. “Then... what should we do?”

Xu Fan thought for a moment, stroking his chin. “Regardless, this is just speculation. Why don’t we first call his school to verify?”

“Good idea! Let’s do that!” Coach Wu immediately clapped in agreement.

But just as they were flipping through Wang Xiaoming’s files, searching for contact information, someone suddenly put an arm around each of their shoulders.

A familiar voice came from behind.

It was Wang Xiaoming himself, appearing out of nowhere.

“Hey, coaches, what are you two whispering about here?”