Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Sun Yang stared at Li Chang’an with a pained expression, looking like he wanted to protest.

”Protest denied!”

Li Chang’an said coldly before turning to leave.

Helpless, Sun Yang could only hop off the platform with a limp and head toward the training field, muttering under his breath the whole time.

”This is no way to live. This is really no way to live...”

Down by the ring, Shen Qiuyue watched the scene unfold with a cold smile.

”Serves him right!”

Han Ruoxi sat to one side, picked up a bottle of water, and took a sip.

”Our Captain is so ruthless!”

Bai Lin leaned against the railing, his arms crossed, and said softly, ”He might be ruthless, but it’s effective.

At least when the Insect Race attacks, we won’t be in such a sorry state!”

”Forget about all that for now. What are we eating tonight?”

Han Ruoxi abruptly changed the subject, looking at Shen Qiuyue.

”Heard the mess hall has some new dishes?”

”How should I know? If you want something, go see for yourself!”

Shen Qiuyue stood up and picked up her sword.

”Training’s done. I’m going to rest.”

Han Ruoxi glanced at her and stood up as well.

”Alright then. I’ll go see if Sun Yang has finished his run. Don’t want him to run himself into the ground!”

Sun Yang dragged the heavy sandbags, jogging sluggishly as he panted for breath. He would occasionally look up at the sky, muttering under his breath.

’This is some hellish training. It’s not fit for humans. The Captain is trying to kill me... Ten kilometers! I’ll be amazed if I don’t run myself to death!’

From a distance, Han Ruoxi emerged from the mess hall. Seeing Sun Yang’s sorry state, she couldn’t help but call out.

”Hey, Sun Yang! You gonna make it? Want me to talk to the Captain for you? Maybe get him to let you off the hook?”

”No, no!”

Sun Yang frantically waved his hands and picked up his pace, gritting his teeth.

”If you talk to him, he might just add another ten kilometers.

Every last one of you is out to get me!”

”Then you’d better finish quickly! Stop dawdling!”

Han Ruoxi stood to the side, arms crossed, enjoying the spectacle.

”By the time you finish, the roast meat in the mess hall might be cold!”

”Don’t taunt me! I’m already at my limit!”

Sun Yang bent over, gasping for air.

”Sister Ruoxi, I’m telling you, can we please not go so hard during training in the future? Do you really have to push someone to the brink of death?”

”The Captain makes the arrangements. You don’t get a say in it!”

Han Ruoxi shrugged and headed for the dorms.

”Keep running. I’m not interested in hearing you complain!”

Sun Yang gritted his teeth and kept running. The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt, and he began to mutter under his breath.

”Training every day, training every day... We’re here to fight the Insect Race, not run marathons! I really don’t get what’s going on in the Captain’s head...”

Shen Qiuyue, who was on patrol, happened to pass by. She heard Sun Yang’s complaining and shot him a cold glance.

”If the Insect Race really does attack, and you’re not fast enough, you’ll be the one who dies.

Stop wasting time and finish your run!”

”Alright, alright! You’re right, Sister Qiuyue. I’m running, I’m running, isn’t that good enough?!”

Sun Yang wiped the sweat from his brow and forced his legs to move.

Shen Qiuyue watched him go, shook her head, and continued on her way.

On the other side of the base, Li Chang’an was in the training room, staring at a combat simulation screen. It displayed an area flagged for Insect Race activity.

He glanced at Bai Lin next to him and asked.

”Are you certain there’s an anomaly in this region?”

Bai Lin nodded, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

”Based on last night’s signal tracking, Insect Race activity in this area is three times higher than normal.

I suspect they may have established a new nest in this area!”

”How far from our base?”

Li Chang’an’s voice remained calm.

”Roughly thirty kilometers. But the terrain is complex, so there’s a risk of ambush!”

Bai Lin looked up at Li Chang’an.

”Do we need to send someone to investigate?”

”We’ll go ourselves tomorrow morning.”

Li Chang’an shut off the screen.

”Keep this quiet. We don’t want other teams getting involved.”

”Understood!”

Bai Lin nodded and went back to his work on the console.

「That evening, the team members started trickling back to their dorm.」

Han Ruoxi was on her bed, fiddling with her personal terminal. Shen Qiuyue leaned against the window, polishing her weapon. Bai Lin was in a corner, tuning his equipment. Sun Yang, meanwhile, was sprawled out on his bed, utterly exhausted and not moving a muscle.

”So, Sun Yang, you finish your run?”

Han Ruoxi raised her head and glanced at him.

”Yeah, I’m done... Almost died out there.”

Sun Yang gave a weak wave.

”My legs... I bet they’ll be completely useless tomorrow!”

”Enough with the whining. We have a mission tomorrow.”

Li Chang’an pushed the door open and entered, a mission briefing in hand.

”Muster at 0600 tomorrow. Full weapons and gear. Our target is the Insect Race activity zone to the south!”

”A mission?!”

The word was enough to make Sun Yang’s head throb. He shot up in bed.

”Captain, I just finished a ten-kilometer run, and now we have a mission? Can’t we get a break?”

”The Insect Race won’t wait for you to catch your breath.”

Li Chang’an glanced at him and tossed the mission briefing onto the table.

”This is an order, not a negotiation!”

”The Insect Race again... I’m so sick of this...”

Muttering, Sun Yang fell back onto his bed and clutched his head, the very picture of someone who had lost the will to live.

”Don’t drop the ball during the mission. Otherwise, it’s extra training for you when we return.”

With that cold remark, Li Chang’an turned and left the dorm.

The dorm fell silent for a moment before Han Ruoxi finally spoke.

”Why is the Captain leading the recon mission himself this time? Doesn’t this kind of job usually go to other teams?”

”Perhaps the circumstances are unique this time,” Shen Qiuyue said nonchalantly.

”But if he’s decided to go in person, he must have his reasons.”

”Reasons or not, I don’t care. All I know is that we have to be up early tomorrow for another grueling day.”

Sun Yang rolled over and muttered.