Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Han Ruoxi quickly gathered her Electric Energy and unleashed a powerful current, striking the foremost insects and temporarily halting their pursuit.

”Got ’em! That should stop any more from chasing us for now!” Han Ruoxi said, catching her breath as she looked back.

”Should we finish these guys off?” Sun Yang asked, his Pulse Gun at the ready. ”Now’s our chance!”

”No!” Li Chang’an shook his head firmly. ”This is just a small part of their forces. There are definitely more behind them. We can’t risk it!”

Shen Qiuyue chimed in, ”Our mission wasn’t to annihilate the enemy. There’s no need to risk our lives.”

Hearing this, Sun Yang pouted. ”Fine, have it your way. But retreating like this feels... anticlimactic!”

Li Chang’an ignored him and turned to the rest of the team. ”Let’s go. Back to base to report our findings.”

The team retreated quickly. The Insect Race didn’t give chase, and they finally made it out of the danger zone.

Back at the base, the team looked exhausted.

Sun Yang leaned back in his chair and couldn’t help but complain, ”Man, that fight wasn’t satisfying at all! I didn’t even get a chance to really cut loose!”

Han Ruoxi chuckled. ”Don’t be so greedy. At least we completed the mission.”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly, ”The mission isn’t about you having fun; it’s about completing the objective. If you act so recklessly again, I won’t hold back.”

”Whoa, I know, I know! Eldest Miss Shen has spoken, so of course I’ll listen to orders!” Sun Yang said, quickly waving his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Li Chang’an walked to the side and said after a moment of thought, ”Get the mission briefing organized. We’ll report to Commander Liu Na shortly. This recon mission was a success. Good work, everyone.”

Hearing this, they all nodded, their faces showing a hint of satisfaction.

”Now we just have to see what the higher-ups say!” Sun Yang said, patting his stomach. ”But first, I propose we get a good meal to recover our energy. This whole day has been exhausting!”

”A good meal?” Li Chang’an glanced at Sun Yang, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. ”You’re really that focused on food? We just got back, and you’re already thinking about refueling?”

”Of course!” Sun Yang said with a look that said ’it’s only natural’. ”Don’t you think we deserve to reward ourselves with a good meal after all that hard work? Besides, we completed the mission. That calls for a celebration feast, right?”

Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh. ”All you think about is food. I swear, you’re unbelievable!”

Shen Qiuyue shot Sun Yang another cold glance. ”A celebration feast? You’re here to fight, not to live in luxury. How can you be thinking about food after a mission that tense?”

Sun Yang quickly waved his hands. ”Hey, hey, it was just an offhand comment! Don’t be so serious, Eldest Miss!”

Bai Lin chimed in as well, his tone calm. ”There’s nothing wrong with it, actually. Proper relaxation helps maintain one’s performance.”

”See? Bai Lin’s speaking some sense!” Sun Yang quickly chimed in. ”You see? Even you brainy types need to relax. What’s so wrong with wanting to eat something good!”

”Relaxation is necessary, but don’t overdo it,” Li Chang’an said calmly. ”However, the mission was a genuine success, so the base will probably issue a reward. I’ll ask about it later and see if there’s any reward that can help you ’refuel’.”

”Oh, that’s great! Brother Chang’an, I knew you were the most dependable one!” Sun Yang’s face lit up with a grin as he leaned back in his chair. ”In that case, I’ll just wait for my reward! Heh heh!”

Han Ruoxi shook her head with a helpless smile. ”I swear, Brother Sun Yang. The first thing you think about after every mission is food. It’s actually kind of funny, though!”

”It’s not funny, it’s called being farsighted!” Sun Yang said with a straight face. ”Think about it! Fighting is exhausting. If we don’t eat more and get enough nutrients, where are we going to get the stamina to risk our lives? Besides, eating well means fighting better!”

Shen Qiuyue snorted. ”You win battles with skill, not with your mouth.”

Hearing that, Sun Yang immediately put on a wronged expression. ”Now that’s not right. The mouth is important! When the mouth eats well, the brain works faster, and your limbs are more agile. Right, Brother Chang’an?”

Li Chang’an couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and replied nonchalantly, ”If you put the same energy you use to fight the Insect Race into your training, maybe you’d get fewer cold stares from Shen Qiuyue.”

”Oof, that’s a tall order!” Sun Yang said with a theatrical sigh. ”It’s just my nature. I was born to fight. As for training... heh heh, that’s a bit more challenging!”

Han Ruoxi burst out laughing. ”Brother Sun Yang, your shamelessness is truly unrivaled!”

Sun Yang waved his hand in resignation. ”Alright, alright, this thick skin of mine is a survival mechanism. Don’t give me a hard time about it!”

Li Chang’an stood up and checked the time on his terminal. ”Alright, that’s enough chatter. I’m going to deliver the mission debrief to Commander Liu Na. You guys get some rest and prepare for our next move.”

Hearing this, Sun Yang’s spirits immediately lifted. ”Hey, Chang’an, we already have a next move? We’re really going all out, huh!”

”Did you think the base brought you here for a vacation?” Li Chang’an shot him a deadpan look. ”You really think you’ll have time to feast every day?”

”Hey, of course I’m not here on vacation!” Sun Yang scratched his head. ”I was just thinking we could get a day or two to recover since we just finished a mission!”

”You don’t decide the base’s mission schedule,” Shen Qiuyue cut in coldly. ”Besides, you don’t look that tired. So cut the crap.”

Sun Yang sighed in defeat. ”Alright, alright, the Eldest Miss has spoken. What else can I say? I’ll do as you say, I’ll do as you say.”

Li Chang’an smiled and waved his hand. ”I’m going to report. You all just wait here.”

With that, he turned and left the lounge, heading for the command room.

After a moment, Sun Yang looked at the empty table and couldn’t stop himself from speaking up again. ”Hey, guys, don’t you think this base should get some recreational facilities? We’re either fighting the Insect Race or training all day. We need a place to unwind sometimes, right?”

Han Ruoxi blinked. ”What are you thinking? A rec room? Video games?”

”Heh heh, forget a whole rec room, but video games... that’s something to consider!” Sun Yang’s face was full of hopeful expectation. ”If we had a game room where we could play sometimes, it would be a great way to blow off some steam. Wouldn’t that be great?”

Hearing this, Shen Qiuyue said coldly, ”Games? You think you have time for games?”

Sun Yang put on an innocent look. ”Hey, Eldest Miss, it was just a thought. Just to relax a little. Besides, playing games can improve your reaction time. That’s scientifically proven!”

Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh. ”Brother Sun Yang, you’re really good at making excuses. But I do think playing games would be fun. Still, I doubt the base would splurge on something like that.”

”You never know!” Sun Yang said, spreading his hands. ”I mean, we’re risking our lives on the front lines. We should get some extra perks, right?”

Bai Lin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. ”Maybe someday, but right now, combat is the priority.”

Hearing this, Sun Yang’s mouth twitched. ”Bai Lin, why do you always have to be so realistic? We finally get a chance to talk about something fun, and you have to be a wet blanket!”

Bai Lin said flatly, ”I’m being pragmatic, not a wet blanket.”

Sun Yang huffed and turned away, saying nothing more.

Just as they were chatting, Li Chang’an returned, his expression as calm as ever. ”The debrief is done. Commander Liu Na was reasonably satisfied with our performance, but she also warned us to be prepared for more.”

”Prepared for more?” Sun Yang’s eyes lit up. ”Does that mean we’re getting a new mission soon?”

Li Chang’an nodded. ”Liu Na said the Insect Race’s activity has been unusually high lately. They might be planning a major operation. We need to be on standby at all times.”