Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Give it a rest, Brother Yang. After target practice yesterday, you collapsed right onto the sofa. So much for being full of energy!”

Han Ruoxi walked over from the side, a hot drink cupped in her hands, her voice lazy.

”Did you think we didn’t know you didn’t go back to your room last night? You went to sleep in the warehouse.”

”Hey, easy there, Han Ruoxi, don’t spread rumors!”

Sun Yang immediately grew flustered.

”I was checking on the equipment! I just happened to lie down for a second and accidentally fell asleep! How is that my fault? Besides, sleeping is a great way to recover stamina. If you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t just say whatever!”

”Alright, that’s enough bickering!”

Shen Qiuyue approached, her gear on her back and her expression cold.

”If we don’t get going, you can deal with the look on Instructor Wei’s face yourselves. I have no intention of waiting around for him to lose his temper!”

”Sister Qiuyue, morning!”

Sun Yang instantly put on a smile, looking incredibly eager to please.

”You’re looking great today! How many targets did you obliterate yesterday?”

”Shut up and let’s go!”

Shen Qiuyue paid him no mind, walking straight toward the training grounds.

Li Chang’an waved his hand, signaling for Han Ruoxi to follow.

He clapped Sun Yang on the shoulder.

”Less talk, more work. If you drop the ball again today, you’ll see how I deal with you!”

”Come on, Captain, I was just breaking the ice, livening things up!”

Sun Yang muttered under his breath as he jogged to catch up, still smiling.

’How is everyone on this team scarier than I am...’

When they arrived at the training grounds, Instructor Wei was, as expected, already standing there, a timer in his hand and a face as cold as stone.

Li Chang’an had his squad members fall into formation and waited for the instructor to speak.

”Three minutes late for assembly!”

Instructor Wei’s eyes swept over them.

”It seems you’ve all had it too easy lately. Starting to think you’re veterans?”

”Sir!”

Sun Yang quickly raised his hand.

”Instructor, we absolutely were not slacking off! It’s just... there was a bit of a traffic jam on the way... uh, no, the dorm door got stuck. It just delayed us a tiny bit!”

”Shut it, Sun Yang!”

Instructor Wei frowned.

”One more useless word, and I’m doubling your training load today!”

Sun Yang immediately shrank back.

”Today’s training exercise is simple!”

Instructor Wei began to speak slowly.

”Simulated combat.

Insect Race scenario, complex terrain.

Your squad will devise its own tactics.

I will not interfere. I have only one requirement—all members must evacuate safely. Anyone getting injured counts as mission failure!”

”Instructor, an Insect Race scenario is...” Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but ask.

”Don’t ask so many questions!”

Instructor Wei glared at her.

”You’ll know when you get in there!”

Li Chang’an nodded.

”Understood.

Team, prepare. Follow me!”

The squad followed Li Chang’an into the simulation pod. As the scene loaded, it revealed a twisted Insect Hive structure filled with constantly writhing shadows.

The moment Han Ruoxi saw the shadows, she frowned.

”Chang’an, this looks a little off. The Insect Race density seems much higher than in our previous training sessions!”

”That’s normal!”

Li Chang’an checked his weapon.

”The instructor was never going to let us pass easily. The harder the scenario, the more fun it is!”

”Easy for you to say!”

Shen Qiuyue spoke coldly.

”You’re the Captain leading the charge. Don’t just talk a good game!”

”Don’t worry, I’ll lead the charge!”

Li Chang’an turned to the others.

”Han Ruoxi, you’re on long-range support. Keep an eye on the swarm’s movements.

Shen Qiuyue, you’ll provide frontal suppression with me. Sun Yang, you cover our flank. Bai Lin, you’re on rear reconnaissance and tech support. Any questions?”

”No problem!”

Sun Yang was the first to respond.

”I can do it!”

Shen Qiuyue’s tone was calm.

Han Ruoxi nodded.

”Understood, Chang’an!”

”Ready!”

Bai Lin replied simply.

”Then let’s begin!”

Li Chang’an took a step forward, leading the way into the simulated environment.

The sound of the swarm immediately filled their ears.

Sun Yang muttered under his breath.

”This sound is so annoying, just like real insects!”

”If you don’t like it, you can stand in the back!”

Shen Qiuyue retorted coldly.

”Quiet!”

Li Chang’an reminded them in a low voice.

”Watch your surroundings. Be careful not to step on any traps!”

The squad quickly began to move through the scenario.

With a clean, decisive stroke, Li Chang’an cut down an insect that charged at him.

Shen Qiuyue followed close behind, landing a precise finishing blow.

Han Ruoxi unleashed her Electric Energy, wiping out several members of the Insect Race that were trying to circle around behind them.

”Hey, a few slipped through over here!”

Sun Yang yelled from the flank as he opened fire.

”These bugs are pretty smart, they know how to take the long way around!”

”Shut up and don’t get distracted!”

Bai Lin’s voice came through.

”Swarm is gathering on the right. There’s a trap!”

”Copy!”

Li Chang’an immediately adjusted their course.

”All units, keep up! Don’t fall behind!”

A few minutes later, the squad had successfully cleared the swarm and returned to the simulation pod’s exit.

Instructor Wei was standing there. He glanced at them.

”An acceptable performance this time, but you were too slow. Especially you, Captain.

If you keep dawdling, you’ll be completely wiped out next time!”

”Instructor, we were already moving fast!”

Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain.

”The density of that swarm was almost on par with a real battlefield!”

”A real battlefield is ten times harder than this!”

Instructor Wei replied coldly.

”You still have a long way to go!”

After the training session ended, the members of the Insect Hunter Squad returned to the dormitory area.

Everyone looked tired, but their faces also showed a hint of relief.

Although the combat simulation was intense, it wasn’t a true life-or-death battle, so everyone was in a relatively relaxed state of mind.

”Chang’an, you really were a bit slow this time!”

Shen Qiuyue said bluntly as she organized her gear.

”Have you gotten too used to a defensive fighting style lately? There were moments where you clearly could have just pushed forward!”

”Sister Qiuyue, that’s not right!”

Sun Yang chimed in at the top of his lungs.

”I think it’s better for the Captain to be cautious! Look at that swarm earlier. If we had charged straight in, who could guarantee there weren’t any traps?”

”Caution is a good thing, but sometimes being too cautious just makes you sluggish!”

Shen Qiuyue looked up and glanced at Sun Yang.

”Didn’t you notice that the minute we were delayed was enough time to kill another wave of insects?”

”Alright, alright, Qiuyue, stop arguing with Sun Yang!”

Han Ruoxi held up her hands, interrupting them.

”Once you two start arguing, it’s endless. Can’t you just give it a rest?”

”I’m not arguing, I’m just discussing the facts!”

Sun Yang spread his hands, a look of innocence on his face.

”Besides, isn’t Sister Qiuyue just fond of nitpicking? Isn’t this just a normal discussion?”

”Normal discussion, my ass!”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

”Why don’t you two just fight another simulation match? We’ll see who’s really better!”

”Fine by me!”

Sun Yang slammed his hand on the table, his expression serious.

”Sister Qiuyue, you dare?”

”I can’t be bothered with you!”

Shen Qiuyue replied coolly, finished packing her gear, and turned to leave.

”I’m going to take a shower. Do whatever you want.”

”Hey, see? This is what she’s like!”

Sun Yang complained to Li Chang’an.

”Captain, wouldn’t you say I’m the one being wronged here? I was clearly trying to discuss tactics with her in good faith, and she just shot me down!”

”That’s enough, Sun Yang!”

Li Chang’an leaned back in his chair, his tone casual.

”You and Qiuyue have been like this for more than a day or two. Don’t waste your energy on these little things.

If you feel wronged, just perform better during the next training session. Let your skills do the talking!”

”Now that’s what I like to hear!”

Sun Yang immediately clapped his hands.

”Captain, just you wait! I’ll definitely put on an eye-catching performance next time! Even Sister Qiuyue will have to admit I’m good!”

”If you can really pull that off, I’ll actually be looking forward to it!”

Li Chang’an stood up and stretched.

”Han Ruoxi, Bai Lin, you two shouldn’t just be listening to the joke.

Are we having this debrief or not?”

”We are!”

Han Ruoxi put down her hot drink and raised her hand to speak.

”I’ll go first! Chang’an, your tactical arrangement just now was actually okay, but I think you could trust us a little more.

For example, there were some things you didn’t need to personally handle. You could have left them to me or Sun Yang, and it would have been fine!”

”Right, right, right!”

Sun Yang nodded eagerly.

”Captain, you’re always doing this and that yourself. It puts a lot of pressure on us.

You need to trust your squad members more. That’s how we can perform better!”

”Mm, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Li Chang’an nodded.

”Anything else?”

”Yes!”

Han Ruoxi continued.

”Sun Yang’s firepower is good, but he’s always shouting, which wastes time!”

”What do you mean, wastes time!”

Sun Yang cried out indignantly.

”I was alerting my teammates!”

”Alerting them too much becomes a distraction!”

Han Ruoxi frowned.

”Do you know you were shouting so much that I almost forgot my skill’s cooldown time!”