Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”But that’s good. At least you’re serious.”

”Being serious is just my habit,”

Bai Lin replied calmly.

”However, you should also remind Sun Yang. His marksmanship is accurate, but he still has some issues with his Energy control.”

”I know.”

Li Chang’an nodded.

”I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Not far away, Han Ruoxi began trying to control her electric arcs. She gathered and released the Energy in her hands bit by bit, attempting to stabilize her output.

After a few tries, the arcs gradually softened and were no longer as wild as before.

”Brother Chang’an! I did it!”

Han Ruoxi waved her hands excitedly and ran over to show him.

”Not bad.”

Li Chang’an glanced at her.

”Keep it up, but don’t get cocky.”

”I know!”

Han Ruoxi replied with a grin, then turned and ran back to the training area to keep practicing.

Time passed, and the atmosphere on the training grounds gradually relaxed.

Sun Yang would crack a joke from time to time, Han Ruoxi would slack off a bit while training, and Shen Qiuyue maintained a high-intensity training pace the entire time.

”Aren’t you all about done?”

Li Chang’an stood up and looked around.

”Training any longer won’t lead to any qualitative improvements. Go take a break.”

”It’s about time!”

Sun Yang immediately jumped up, grabbed his gun, and ran to sit in a shady spot.

”My arms are so tired I can barely lift them!”

”You’re already complaining after training for such a short time?”

Shen Qiuyue shot him a sidelong glance, her tone flat.

”Sister Qiuyue, I’m begging you, can you please stop watching me?”

Sun Yang looked helpless.

”You’re killing my sense of accomplishment!”

”If you had any real skill, I naturally wouldn’t need to watch you,”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly, then turned and walked away.

Sun Yang froze for a moment, then looked at Li Chang’an.

”Chang’an, do you think she was born to put people down?”

”She just wants you to get a little stronger.”

Li Chang’an smiled.

”Don’t overthink it.”

”Alright, whatever you say.”

Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

Not far off, Han Ruoxi was sitting on the grass, staring up at the sky in a daze.

Li Chang’an walked over and asked softly,

”Tired?”

”Not really tired, just a little homesick,”

Han Ruoxi said in a low voice.

”It’s interesting here, but sometimes I still think about the old days.”

”Everyone feels that way sometimes.”

Li Chang’an sat down beside her.

”But right now, our mission is to survive and make every day count.”

”Yeah, I know.”

Han Ruoxi nodded, a faint smile on her face.

”You’re always so reliable. Having you here makes me feel really safe.”

Time on the training grounds flew by, and before they knew it, it was noon.

The mess hall bell rang. The members of the Insect Hunter Squad packed up their gear one by one, getting ready to eat.

”Finally, time to eat!”

Sun Yang was the first to stand up, stretching.

”I’m telling you, if there aren’t any chicken legs today, I might have to go have a talk with the mess hall chef!”

”You have the guts?”

Han Ruoxi, rolling up her sleeves and holding her bracers, looked at him with disdain.

”Last time you wanted an extra scoop of soup, you got chewed out mercilessly!”

”That was last time! I didn’t want to make a fuss!”

Sun Yang puffed out his chest.

”Today’s different. I worked my butt off all morning. The least they can do is let me eat something good!”

”Yeah, right. Keep dreaming!”

Han Ruoxi shot him a look and walked briskly ahead.

”Hurry up and stop talking nonsense!”

”Tsk, tsk. This woman has such a sharp tongue,”

Sun Yang grumbled but quickened his pace.

Just as the group arrived at the mess hall entrance, a rich aroma wafted out.

Han Ruoxi took a deep breath, her eyes lighting up.

”Wow, they really do have chicken legs this time!”

”See, what’d I tell you!”

Sun Yang rubbed his hands together excitedly.

”Looks like the chef’s in a good mood today. We’re going to eat well!”

”Don’t just stand there celebrating,”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

”Get in line. If you’re late, there won’t be any left.”

The group quickly joined the line as the clamor of the mess hall rose and fell around them.

Li Chang’an stood at the back, his gaze sweeping over the mess hall’s layout as he habitually observed his surroundings.

”Brother Chang’an, what are you doing?”

Han Ruoxi looked back at him.

”This is the mess hall, there’s no Insect Race here. Can you relax a little?”

”It’s a habit,”

Li Chang’an said flatly.

”No matter where you are, you have to be aware of your surroundings to prevent any accidents.”

”You’re such a worrier.”

Han Ruoxi shook her head.

”But you’re right. With a Captain like you, we definitely have less to worry about.”

”Cut the flattery and get back in line.”

Li Chang’an smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

Soon, they all had their lunches. There were indeed chicken legs, and everyone wore a satisfied smile.

”I’d give today’s food a high score!”

After sitting down, Sun Yang immediately picked up a chicken leg and took a bite.

”Mmm, delicious. So good!”

”Just eat.”

Shen Qiuyue sat across from him, eating methodically while shaking her head.

”Can you please not make so much noise when you eat?”

”No way. It only feels right when you eat with gusto!”

Sun Yang said with a laugh.

”You’re too cold. You don’t even show any emotion when you eat!”

”Can you eat emotions?”

Shen Qiuyue looked up at him and said coldly.

”Be quiet. Don’t bother others.”

Sun Yang pouted and muttered under his breath,

”She’s a total ice queen.”

Sitting to the side, Han Ruoxi took a bite of her own chicken leg, snickering.

”Just stop teasing her. It’s a miracle Sister Qiuyue has tolerated you this long!”

”I don’t want to tease her, but she’s always targeting me!”

Sun Yang sighed.

”I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get along with her in this lifetime.”

”You bring it on yourself!”

Han Ruoxi’s smile widened.

”Who told you to always be so goofy!”

”Ah, whatever. I’m done talking to you guys.”

Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively.

”I need to focus on eating!”

The meal proceeded in peace, and the group finally enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation.

After the meal, Li Chang’an led the team back to the barracks to continue resting.

Just as they reached the door, Bai Lin’s terminal suddenly beeped.

”A message came in.”

Bai Lin glanced down at it, then looked up at Li Chang’an.

”It’s a notice from command. They want us at a meeting this afternoon. New mission assignment.”

”So soon?”

Li Chang’an frowned.

”We just got back yesterday, and there’s another mission today?”

”It seems this mission is high priority.”

Bai Lin nodded.

”It’s set for two o’clock this afternoon in the tactical conference room.”

”Alright, got it.”

Li Chang’an turned to the others.

”Everyone’s full and rested, right? Then get ready. We have a meeting this afternoon.”

”What’s going on? Weren’t we supposed to rest today?”

Han Ruoxi looked exasperated.

”Another mission? Are these commanders trying to work us to death?”

”Stop complaining,”

Shen Qiuyue said flatly.

”When it comes to missions, we don’t have a choice.”

”Fine, fine!”

Han Ruoxi sighed.

”I’m going to go lie down for a bit then. I can at least get ten minutes of rest, right?”

”Rest if you want, just don’t be late,”

Li Chang’an reminded her, then turned and entered his own quarters.

Time passed quickly, and at two in the afternoon, the fully equipped Insect Hunter Squad arrived on time at the tactical conference room.

Inside the conference room, Commander Liu Na was already waiting, her expression as stern as ever.

”Insect Hunter Squad, all present!”

Li Chang’an saluted, his voice concise.

”Sit down.”

Liu Na waved a hand, gesturing for them to take their seats.

The team members had just sat down when Liu Na began to speak.

”This mission is related to yesterday’s reconnaissance.

According to further intelligence, that Insect Hive area is indeed hiding a much larger hive. Moreover, we’ve discovered that a unit of the Rebel Army is attempting to form some kind of cooperation with the Insect Race!”

”The Rebel Army?”

Sun Yang was stunned for a moment.

”They’re cooperating with the Insect Race? Are they insane?”

”Obviously, they have their own agenda,”

Liu Na said coldly.

”We’re still investigating the specific details, but one thing is certain: if this cooperation succeeds, it will pose an enormous threat to us!”