Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Ruo Xi, watch your left!”

Li Chang’an slashed through a member of the Insect Race with his sword, warning Han Ruoxi.

”Got it!”

Han Ruoxi quickly released an arc of electricity, knocking a group of virtual Rebel Army soldiers to the ground.

”Captain, too many enemies over here! I need support!”

Sun Yang shouted while opening fire.

”Qiuyue, support Sun Yang!”

Li Chang’an ordered calmly.

”Understood!”

Shen Qiuyue swiftly cut into the fray, her Dueling Sword a blur as she dispatched most of the enemies facing Sun Yang.

The training session lasted nearly two hours, ending only when everyone was utterly exhausted.

”Your performance today wasn’t bad, but there’s still room for improvement!”

Li Chang’an commented.

”We go again tomorrow!”

”More of this tomorrow?!”

Sun Yang collapsed on the ground.

”I feel like I accidentally signed up for Purgatory Camp.”

”If you don’t like it, you can quit!”

Shen Qiuyue said coolly.

”Never mind, never mind! I give up. I’ll stick with it!”

Sun Yang resignedly pushed himself to his feet.

After training, the Insect Hunter Squad dragged their exhausted bodies back to the barracks.

Sun Yang was the first to collapse onto the sofa, groaning as he rubbed his shoulders.

”Agh, my aching back... A couple more days of this and I’ll have to apply for medical leave!”

”You, with a sore back? You couldn’t even hold the line in a frontal assault during training. We had to rely on Sister Qiuyue to clean up your mess. How can you have the nerve to complain about being tired?”

Han Ruoxi shot him a look and kicked her combat boots aside.

”That’s called a strategic retreat, meant to preserve my strength! I wasn’t being a wimp!”

Sun Yang’s eyes widened as he put on a look of self-righteous indignation.

”Preserving your strength, was it? How about some extra training later, then?”

Li Chang’an was standing to the side wiping his Saw Chain Sword, without even raising his head.

”Whoa, Captain, I was just kidding! I was just worried that too much training would use up our resources. The base has limited supplies, so we should save every bit we can!”

Sun Yang immediately plastered a grin on his face.

”Cut the crap. Go sort out your gear. You still have to write the mission report!”

Li Chang’an glared at him and put the Saw Chain Sword back on the weapon rack.

”Seriously, Captain, I really think you should take a break. Look at you, worrying about this and that every day. You’re going to worry your hair white!”

Sun Yang said, shuffling slowly toward the equipment lockers.

”You don’t need to worry about whether my hair turns white,”

Li Chang’an said flatly.

”Seriously, Captain, you can’t be so wound up all the time. It’s good for you to relax once in a while!”

Han Ruoxi, having changed into casual clothes, plopped down on the sofa and spoke with a serious expression.

”We can relax after the mission is done,”

Li Chang’an glanced at her, then turned, sat at his desk, and started writing his report.

”Sister Qiuyue, do you think our Captain is made of iron or something? He’s like a machine, day in and day out!”

Sun Yang quietly sidled up next to Shen Qiuyue and asked in a low voice.

”He has his responsibilities. If you don’t understand, don’t talk nonsense!”

Shen Qiuyue replied coolly, continuing to maintain her Dueling Sword.

”I get it! He’s just worried about us, his troublesome squadmates!”

Sun Yang pouted.

”But then again, everyone in this squad is more incredible than the last. Sister Ruoxi can discharge electricity, Sister Qiuyue’s Sword Skill is peerless, Bai Lin is a genius hacker, and my firepower is pretty damn good, too. It must take a lot for the Captain to keep us all in line!”

”So you actually know you need to be kept in line?”

Han Ruoxi smiled.

”Looks like you’re a little self-aware after all!”

”Sister Ruoxi, that’s me being modest! Genuinely modest!”

Sun Yang explained with a serious face.

”Otherwise, I’d have just been trying to go head-to-head with the Insect Race this whole time!”

”That’s enough, Sun Yang!”

Bai Lin suddenly raised his head.

”If you don’t hand in your report, do you really think Liu Na is going to let you off the hook?”

”Ugh, my good man, why’d you have to bring up that sore subject?”

Sun Yang clutched his chest, a look of utter despair on his face.

”Get to it,”

Li Chang’an said, giving him a cool glance.

”Alright, alright! I’m on it, I’m on it!”

Sun Yang immediately ran to grab the report forms, muttering under his breath as he went.

’This feels just like being back in school doing homework!’

That evening, the Insect Hunter Squad finally had some time to relax.

Han Ruoxi suggested a round of a team-based board game, for the sake of ”team bonding.”

At first, nobody was particularly keen on the idea, but at Han Ruoxi’s insistence, everyone participated.

”Come on, gather ’round! This game is called ’The Great Insect Race Adventure.’ The rules are simple: we each play a character, and we have to survive inside the Insect Race’s nest and find the exit!”

Han Ruoxi explained while setting up the board.

”How is that any different from our usual missions?”

Sun Yang asked, looking puzzled.

”Just think of it as practice!”

Han Ruoxi tossed him a die.

”Here, you roll first!”

Sun Yang rolled a six, and his piece landed directly on a Red space.

The moment Han Ruoxi saw it, she burst out laughing and slapped the table.

”Oh, man, you landed on a trap! You’ve fallen into an Insect Race trap—lose a life!”

”What? The game just started and I already lost a life?”

Sun Yang’s eyes widened.

”Talk about bad luck!”

”Can’t be helped. That’s what you get for being unlucky!”

Han Ruoxi shrugged.

Next, it was Shen Qiuyue’s turn. She rolled a five, successfully avoiding the trap and even obtaining a ”Weapon/Equipment” card.

”Sister Qiuyue, your luck is way too good!”

Sun Yang grumbled in dissatisfaction.

”Skill decides luck,”

Shen Qiuyue replied curtly.

When it was Li Chang’an’s turn, he rolled a four and landed on an ”Engage the Enemy” space.

According to the rules, he needed to choose a teammate to fight alongside him.

”Bai Lin, with me!”

Li Chang’an said, glancing at the board.

Bai Lin frowned slightly.

”Me? I’m not good at this kind of game!”

”It’s fine, just follow my lead!”

Li Chang’an’s tone was calm.

The two of them successfully passed the challenge. Afterward, Han Ruoxi also rolled a high number, and her piece advanced steadily.

Watching his piece still stuck in the trap area, Sun Yang couldn’t help but sigh.

”Why do I get the feeling this game has it out for me?”

”It’s not out to get you, you’re just dense!”

Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

”You all just can’t stop bickering, even during a game!”

Li Chang’an shook his head, but a slight smile touched his lips.

Early the next morning, the Insect Hunter Squad’s barracks were once again bustling with activity.

”Sun Yang, can you turn your alarm down? The whole base can hear that racket!”

Han Ruoxi, her face a mask of fury, pushed open Sun Yang’s door and kicked the side of his bed.

”Hey, Sister Ruoxi, I was just afraid of being late! Besides, the loud alarm shows I’m taking things seriously!”

Sun Yang groggily climbed out of bed, rubbing his eyes.

”I was just dreaming that our whole squad won a major commendation!”

”More like you were dreaming about being chased by the Insect Race,”

Han Ruoxi sneered.

”Hurry up and wash up, breakfast time is almost over!”

”Alright, alright, Sister Ruoxi, I promise I’ll be done in three minutes!”

Sun Yang leaped from the bed and dashed into the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Shen Qiuyue was already fully dressed and elegantly eating breakfast in the dining hall.

”Sister Qiuyue, you’re up so early? Weren’t you up late last night maintaining your gear?”

Han Ruoxi sat down next to her with her breakfast tray.

”A consistent routine is a fundamental for any warrior,”

Shen Qiuyue looked up at her and said softly.

”You say that as if I’m lazy!”

Han Ruoxi pouted.

”I just wanted to sleep for ten more minutes!”

”You should learn from the Captain!”

Shen Qiuyue said coolly.

”The Captain?”

Han Ruoxi turned and saw Li Chang’an sitting not far away, eating breakfast while reviewing tactical data.

’Doesn’t he ever get tired? Studying this stuff first thing every morning!’

Han Ruoxi muttered, getting up to walk over.

”Captain, can’t you put that away while you eat? You need to take care of yourself!”

Han Ruoxi put down her tray and sat across from Li Chang’an.

”Time in the morning is precious. It shouldn’t be wasted.”

Li Chang’an didn’t even look up as he continued to flip through the documents.

”You’re pushing yourself too hard. Be careful you don’t burn out.”

Han Ruoxi felt a bit helpless, but seeing Li Chang’an’s focused expression, she decided against saying anything more.