Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Captain Li, morning training’s over. What’s the plan for today?” Sun Yang leaned against the railing at the edge of the training grounds, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked toward Li Chang’an, who was a short distance away.

”Plan, my ass!” Li Chang’an walked over and kicked Sun Yang’s protective gear.

”You haven’t even taken off your gear and you’re already slacking. Get your ass to the showers. Don’t let that stink of yours ferment!”

”Hey, Captain Li, that’s a bit harsh. You’re still wearing your gear too. I’m just following the team’s example!” Sun Yang grinned and rubbed his nose, not moving an inch.

”I’m about to go see the instructor to get our mission. What are you planning to do? Wait for your gear to take itself off?” Li Chang’an frowned, staring him down.

Sun Yang quickly straightened up and waved his hands placatingly.

”Alright, alright, I’m going now! Don’t get mad, Captain Li. It’s really not worth it!”

Han Ruoxi walked over from the other side, a bottle of water in her hand, and passed it to Li Chang’an.

”Captain, have you eaten breakfast yet? I just finished a training session this morning, and I’m so hungry my stomach’s touching my spine!”

”Not yet. You guys go ahead and eat. I’m waiting for word from the instructor,” Li Chang’an said, taking the water bottle, twisting it open, and taking a sip.

”Always the busy one,” Han Ruoxi pouted.

”Our squad’s daily routine is just training, eating, and waiting for missions. How can there be so much to do?”

”Hey Ruo Xi, the Captain’s just looking out for you. If we don’t have any missions, where are you going to get real combat experience for that Electric Energy skill of yours?” Sun Yang chimed in.

”Stop trying to slack off all the time!”

”Shut up!” Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

”Aren’t you just trying to get me to practice my electromagnetic field on you so you don’t need a charger in bed at night?”

”Alright, that’s enough, both of you!” Li Chang’an waved his hand dismissively.

”Where are Shen Qiuyue and Bai Lin?”

”Qiuyue is in the armory polishing her High-Energy Sword. She disappeared first thing this morning.

As for Bai Lin...” Han Ruoxi paused.

”He’s probably still in the server room, buried in code!”

”Right. You’re all about the same, can’t give me a moment’s peace!” Li Chang’an shoved the water bottle back into Han Ruoxi’s hands.

”I’m going to find the instructor. We’ll talk when I get back!”

...

As Li Chang’an turned and left, Han Ruoxi shrugged at Sun Yang.

”Come on, let’s go eat.”

”Alright! My treat this time!” Sun Yang said as he started walking toward the cafeteria.

”Your treat?” Han Ruoxi snorted.

”Does the food at the base even cost you money? What exactly are you treating me to?”

”I’m treating you to a worry-free meal. Isn’t that sincere enough?” Sun Yang said with a smug grin.

”Get lost!”

...

In the base cafeteria, Shen Qiuyue was already sitting in a corner eating breakfast. Several energy supplement meals were laid out on the table.

”Qiuyue, you’re eating already?” Han Ruoxi said, walking over with her tray and sitting down.

”Mhm, I finished polishing my weapon. Figured I’d recharge my Energy while I have the chance,” Shen Qiuyue said, glancing up.

”Where’s Captain Li?”

”He went to see the instructor. Said he was checking to see if there were any new missions,” Han Ruoxi replied indistinctly, her mouth full of Energy Bar.

”Looking for missions again...” Shen Qiuyue nodded.

”It’s better than being idle, I suppose.”

”Aren’t you guys tired? It’s either training or missions, all day every day!” Sun Yang said as he sat down, shaking his head.

”Why can’t you all be more like me and take it easy?”

”Take it easy? Does ’taking it easy’ for you mean getting beaten black and blue in training every day?” Han Ruoxi sneered.

”Hehe, that’s to increase my damage resistance!” Sun Yang said, scratching his head.

”By the way, is that guy Bai Lin really not going to eat?”

”That’s just how he is. He’ll probably just order a nutrient solution later,” Shen Qiuyue replied.

”Tsk, tsk. That guy lives a more structured life than a robot,” Sun Yang said, shaking his head.

”You’ve got some nerve, talking about others,” Han Ruoxi said, putting down her tray.

”Just make sure you’re not the one crying about being tired when the mission drops.”

”Hey, when have I ever complained about being tired?” Sun Yang puffed out his chest.

”My physical stats speak for themselves. I can take a hit, and I can dish it out!”

”Alright, alright, you’d better not bite your tongue with all that bragging,” Shen Qiuyue said, picking up her tray and standing up.

”I’m done eating. Heading to the training grounds.”

”So fast?” Han Ruoxi was taken aback for a moment.

”You only ate that little?”

”It’s enough. A mission is coming. No time to be lazy,” Shen Qiuyue said, turning to leave.

Sun Yang mumbled, biting into an Energy Cookie.

”That girl works herself to the bone all day. Can’t she ever take a break?”

”You should learn from her instead of thinking about slacking off all day,” Han Ruoxi shot him a glare.

”Fine, fine, fine! I’ll shut up, okay?” Sun Yang waved his hands in surrender.

”Let’s just finish up and go, so we don’t get an earful from the Captain.”

...

Not long after, Li Chang’an returned from the instructor’s office, his face expressionless.

”We have a mission.”

He stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, and his announcement made the few people still eating freeze mid-action.

”What’s the mission?” Han Ruoxi asked directly, putting down her chopsticks.

”Don’t rush me. I’ll explain when everyone’s here,” Li Chang’an said, glancing at the table.

”Where’s Shen Qiuyue?”

”She went to the training grounds,” Han Ruoxi replied.

”Alright. Finish up quickly, then assemble in the briefing room in a bit,” Li Chang’an said with a nod before turning and walking away.

Sun Yang looked at his remaining energy meal with a reluctant expression.

”Agh, I’m only halfway through. We have to move out already? Couldn’t Captain Li just let us finish our food first?”

”Hurry up and eat. Stop complaining!” Han Ruoxi glared at him.

”What’s more important, the mission or your meal?”

”The meal’s important too! It’s what keeps us going!” Sun Yang grumbled, then quickly shoveled a few more bites into his mouth.

...

In the briefing room, Bai Lin was already seated at a console, typing on the keyboard and periodically glancing at the stream of data on the screen.

Shen Qiuyue, meanwhile, was leaning against a wall to one side, looking down as she adjusted her bracers.