Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Alright, stop bickering!” Li Chang’an said, shaking his head. ”Everyone worked hard today. Get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll deal with everything else tomorrow!”

As night fell, the dorm finally grew quiet.

The next morning, Li Chang’an rose early as usual. He was just about to lead the squad in their daily training when he discovered that, sure enough, Sun Yang was still sound asleep in bed.

’This guy really can’t keep his word.’ Li Chang’an stood by the bed, looking at the still-snoring Sun Yang and shaking his head gently.

”Captain, should we wake him up?” Han Ruoxi asked with a smile.

”No, let him sleep a little longer.” Li Chang’an waved a hand and walked to the door.

Han Ruoxi was a bit surprised. ”But I thought you hated it most when squad members slack off?”

”We’ll make an exception for today. Yesterday’s mission was difficult, so I’ll cut him some slack,” Li Chang’an said with a smile, leading Han Ruoxi and Shen Qiuyue out the door.

On the training grounds, the squad had already begun its daily training.

Li Chang’an watched the warriors bustling around him, feeling particularly serene.

He stood at the edge of the field, watching his squad members train with intense focus, and was overcome with emotion.

”This is what teamwork is all about,” he murmured.

”Getting sentimental again, Captain?” Han Ruoxi said with a laugh.

”It’s nothing. I just feel like everyone’s teamwork has been improving lately,” Li Chang’an said with a faint smile. ”But we still need to keep pushing ourselves. This is just the beginning.”

”You’re right!” Han Ruoxi nodded. ”Our Insect Hunter Squad will only grow stronger, and you’ll lead us to greater heights, Captain!”

Shen Qiuyue said nothing, but her hand gripping her sword tightened, her thoughts clearly the same.

Not long after, Sun Yang finally ambled onto the training grounds, rubbing his eyes and looking like he’d just woken up.

”Captain, you guys are so harsh! You just left without waking me?” Sun Yang complained. ”How much training did I miss?”

Li Chang’an shot him a smiling glance. ”Weren’t you the one who said you were tired? I let you sleep in. Don’t you dare say I’m not considerate!”

”Wow, Captain, you’re just too kind!” Sun Yang said, laughing and scratching his head. ”But I promise I’ll work twice as hard today so I don’t disappoint you!”

”Then enough with the chatter. Get to training!” Li Chang’an waved a hand. ”Stop trying to find ways to slack off. Time waits for no one!”

Sun Yang quickly agreed and hurried to join the rest of the squad in their training.

The rest of the day’s training flew by. Every member of the Insect Hunter Squad kept busy, constantly honing their skills in preparation for the next mission.

That evening, Li Chang’an sat with his squad in the mess hall, eating a simple dinner.

”Captain, the training load today was no joke!” Sun Yang mumbled through a mouthful of synthetic meat. ”Think we can relax a little tomorrow?”

”Relax? In your dreams!” Han Ruoxi said with a laugh. ”We have extra training tomorrow. You still owe us for today, don’t you? Don’t think I forgot!”

Sun Yang immediately deflated. ”I was just joking, Han Ruoxi! You don’t have to be so serious!”

”Who said I was joking?” Han Ruoxi’s eyes crinkled into a smile. ”We’ll be right back at it tomorrow. You can count on it!”

Li Chang’an just smiled from the side, not joining in.

The group continued to laugh and tease each other in the mess hall, the atmosphere growing much more relaxed.

The next morning, Li Chang’an rose early as always. When he pushed open the dorm room door, Han Ruoxi and Shen Qiuyue were already on the training grounds, preparing.

Sun Yang was nowhere to be seen. Just as predicted, he was sleeping in again.

”So, Captain, are we waking him up today?” Han Ruoxi asked with a smile when she saw Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an shook his head. ”Not today. If he’s late, he can deal with the consequences himself.”

Han Ruoxi chuckled softly, nodded, and got ready to begin training.

Shen Qiuyue stood off to the side, longsword in hand, silently going through her warm-up stances.

”Alright, let’s start. No waiting for Sun Yang,” Li Chang’an said with a wave of his hand, signaling them to begin.

On the training grounds, the three began their daily Sword Skill practice. While instructing Han Ruoxi and Shen Qiuyue, Li Chang’an kept glancing toward the dorms.

’That guy... If he doesn’t get here soon, he’ll miss the whole morning’s training,’ Li Chang’an thought with a frown, muttering to himself.

Just then, Sun Yang finally came running from the dorms, out of breath and carrying his Pulse Gun. He had obviously woken up only moments ago.

”Captain, I messed up! I’m late!” Sun Yang yelled as he ran, an awkward smile plastered on his face.

”You sure can sleep,” Li Chang’an commented, his tone tinged with exasperation as he watched him approach.

”Captain, I dreamed we were fighting the Insect Race last night, and I just slept too soundly!” Sun Yang said, quickly coming up with an excuse. ”I was just trying to catch up on some sleep so I wouldn’t be exhausted!”

”Alright, cut the excuses,” Li Chang’an said, glancing at him with a smile. ”Get in formation. You’re doing double reps today.”

Sun Yang’s face fell. ”Captain, you’re ruthless!”

”It’s called fairness,” Li Chang’an said with a laugh. ”It’s what you get for being late. You still have to do the training.”

Sun Yang could only resign himself to his fate, hurrying to catch up with the squad and begin the morning’s training.

At noon, after the training session, the group sat resting at the edge of the grounds.

Sun Yang was drenched in sweat. Though he still wore a smile, it was clear he was struggling.

”Captain, you really... ran me ragged today,” Sun Yang said, gasping for air.

”That’s what you get for being late,” Li Chang’an said with a laugh, handing him a water bottle. ”Let this be a lesson. Don’t try to slack off next time.”

”Alright, alright, lesson learned! You’re brilliant, Captain!” Sun Yang said, taking the water and guzzling down several large mouthfuls.

Han Ruoxi laughed from the side. ”You talk a big game now, but we’ll see if you’re not sleeping in again tomorrow!”