Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Soon, they found the entrance to the basement.

”Minister Su, we found it!” a warrior reported.

”Let’s go. We’ll check it out.”

Su Wan led the group down the stairs and into the basement.

The basement was dim and damp, the air thick with the smell of mildew.

In a cramped cell, Lin Yuan was curled up in a corner, his body covered in wounds.

”Battle Commander!”

The moment Li Chang’an saw Lin Yuan, he rushed forward.

”Li Chang’an?”

Lin Yuan was a bit dazed to see them.

”What... what are you doing here?”

”We’re here to rescue you, of course!”

Li Chang’an’s tone was firm.

He drew his Saw Chain Sword, and with a few sharp GRINDS, the lock on the cell door broke open.

”Battle Commander, are you all right?” Shen Qiuyue asked, her voice filled with concern.

”I’m fine. Just minor injuries.”

Lin Yuan shook his head.

”Come on, let’s get out of here first!”

Li Chang’an supported Lin Yuan, preparing to leave the basement.

”Stop! Who said you could leave?!”

Zhao Qiming appeared with a group of security guards, blocking their path.

”Zhao Qiming, you still want to stop us?”

Su Wan’s gaze turned cold.

”Do you think the Battle Team Alliance is to be trifled with?”

”Minister Su, that’s not what I meant.”

Zhao Qiming started to panic.

”Lin Yuan is a genuine suspect. You can’t take him.”

”A suspect? Where’s your evidence?” Su Wan asked.

”If you can produce evidence proving Lin Yuan killed Zhou Ze, I’ll hand him over to you immediately.”

”I...”

Zhao Qiming was at a loss for words again.

’Where would he get evidence? Zhou Ze’s disappearance was just an accident.’

”No evidence? Then get out of the way!”

Su Wan’s voice was frigid.

Stunned by Su Wan’s powerful aura, Zhao Qiming didn’t dare to block them any longer.

Su Wan led Li Chang’an and the others, protecting Lin Yuan as they left the Galaxy Group Headquarters building.

Upon returning to the Interstellar Warrior Base, Lin Yuan was taken directly to the medical bay.

Li Chang’an and the others waited for news in the command center.

”Minister Su, thank you for saving our Battle Commander,” Li Chang’an said gratefully.

”No need to thank me. It’s my duty,” Su Wan said. ”Lin Yuan is a Battle Commander. Ensuring his safety is my responsibility.”

”Minister Su, about Galaxy Group...” Li Chang’an was a little worried.

”Don’t worry, I’ll handle it,” Su Wan replied. ”No matter how arrogant Galaxy Group is, they wouldn’t dare to go head-to-head with the Battle Team Alliance.”

”I hope so,” Li Chang’an sighed.

’He had a feeling things weren’t that simple. Galaxy Group definitely wouldn’t let this go.’

Sure enough, people from Galaxy Group arrived the very next day.

This time, it wasn’t Zhao Qiming. It was Zhou Yuanhai, the brother of Galaxy Group’s Chairman, Zhou Yuanshan.

Zhou Yuanhai was short and stout, with a handlebar mustache.

Dressed in a designer suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he looked like a successful businessman.

But his eyes were dark and gloomy, making one feel uneasy.

”Minister Su, I’ve heard so much about you,” Zhou Yuanhai said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he walked into the command center.

”Chairman Zhou, what brings you here?” Su Wan’s tone was frigid.

”I’m here about my nephew, Zhou Ze,” Zhou Yuanhai began. ”I heard he’s gone missing, and it has something to do with your 42 Combat Group?”

”Zhou Ze’s disappearance was an accident,” Su Wan said. ”We’ve investigated thoroughly. It has nothing to do with the 42 Combat Group.”

”An accident? Heh, I don’t believe it.” Zhou Yuanhai sneered. ”My nephew was definitely murdered by someone from your 42 Combat Group!”

”Chairman Zhou, watch your tone,” Su Wan’s expression darkened. ”The Battle Team Alliance is not something you can slander at will.”

”Slander? I have proof!” Zhou Yuanhai raised his voice. ”The last people my nephew was in contact with before he disappeared was your 42 Combat Group’s Insect Hunter Squad!”

”So what?” Li Chang’an couldn’t help but interject. ”How many times do we have to say it? Zhou Ze’s disappearance has nothing to do with us.”

”Nothing to do with you? Just because you say so?” Zhou Yuanhai stared at Li Chang’an. ”You definitely killed my nephew and then destroyed the body to eliminate the evidence!”

”You...” Li Chang’an started to step forward to argue, but Su Wan stopped him.

”Chairman Zhou, calm down.” Su Wan’s tone was still relatively composed. ”We will investigate this thoroughly. If it truly was someone from our 42 Combat Group, we will certainly give you an explanation.”

”An explanation? I want my nephew’s life back!” Zhou Yuanhai roared. ”Your 42 Combat Group must give me a proper account, or this isn’t over!”

”Chairman Zhou, what is it that you want?” Su Wan asked.

”Simple. Hand over the murderer and compensate Galaxy Group for our losses!” Zhou Yuanhai said bluntly.

”Compensation? How much?” Su Wan asked.

”Ten billion Star Coins!” Zhou Yuanhai made an exorbitant demand.

”Ten billion? That’s highway robbery!” Sun Yang couldn’t help but curse.

”Robbery? Do I need to rob you?” Zhou Yuanhai chuckled. ”If the 42 Combat Group doesn’t pay up, I’ll make your entire Combat Group disappear from the Interstellar Alliance!”

”You...” Sun Yang was so angry he looked ready to fight, but Shen Qiuyue held him back.

”Chairman Zhou, is that a threat?” Su Wan’s face grew even colder.

”A threat? No, a warning!” Zhou Yuanhai’s tone was smug. ”The Battle Team Alliance is powerful, I’ll admit, but compared to Galaxy Group, you’re still a long way off!”

”Zhou Yuanhai, you’re too arrogant!” Su Wan was furious now. ”Do you really think the Battle Team Alliance is afraid of your Galaxy Group?”

”Whether you’re afraid or not, you know best,” Zhou Yuanhai said arrogantly. ”I’ll give you three days to think it over. If you don’t hand over the person and pay the money within three days, you’ll face the consequences!”

With that, Zhou Yuanhai left with his men.

”Minister Su, what do we do now?” Liu Na asked anxiously. ”Ten billion Star Coins! How could the 42 Combat Group possibly afford that?!”

”Don’t panic. There’s a way,” Su Wan said. ”Galaxy Group may be powerful, but they’re not invincible. And the Battle Team Alliance is no pushover!”

”But...” Liu Na was still worried.

”No ’buts’,” Su Wan interrupted her. ”I’ll handle this. You don’t need to worry about it.”

”Alright...” Liu Na could only nod.

Su Wan left the command center and returned to her own starship.

She immediately contacted the Battle Team Alliance Headquarters and reported the situation.

”What? Galaxy Group is being that arrogant?” At the Alliance Headquarters, a burly, stern-faced old man flew into a rage after hearing Su Wan’s report. ”Do they really think the Battle Team Alliance is a pushover?”

”Alliance Chief, what are your orders?” Su Wan asked.

”Orders? We counterattack!” the old man’s voice boomed. ”When has the Battle Team Alliance ever taken this kind of abuse?”

”Galaxy Group’s power...” Su Wan hesitated.

”No matter how powerful they are, they’re not more powerful than the Battle Team Alliance!” the old man’s tone was resolute. ”Immediately mobilize all Combat Groups near Lion’s Fang Star and prepare for battle. If Galaxy Group dares to make a move, we go to war!”

”Yes, sir!” Su Wan acknowledged.

”Also, investigate Zhou Ze’s disappearance again. See if you can find any clues,” the old man added. ”It would be best if we can prove his disappearance has nothing to do with the 42 Combat Group.”

”Understood!” Su Wan replied.

After hanging up, Su Wan took action immediately.

First, she mobilized all the Combat Groups near Lion’s Fang Star, preparing for a fight.

Then, she personally took Li Chang’an and the others back to the Kars Mine Area to investigate the truth behind Zhou Ze’s disappearance.

「Kars Mine Area, at the entrance to the ruins.」

Su Wan stood at the edge of the massive pit, her brow furrowed deeply.

”This is where Zhou Ze disappeared?” she asked, her voice tinged with gravity.

”That’s right, Minister Su.” Li Chang’an pointed at the pitch-black opening below. ”Right here. He was sucked into that Crystal Ball at the bottom of the pit.”

”A Crystal Ball?” Su Wan was slightly surprised. ”What Crystal Ball?”

Li Chang’an quickly recounted the story of the Crystal Ball, explaining in great detail everything from his squad’s entry into the ruins, to the discovery of the Crystal Ball, to Zhou Ze being pulled inside, and finally, how they used Energy Resonance to shatter the Crystal Ball in an attempt to save him.

”Are you saying that the Crystal Ball was a sealing device, and there was a powerful creature sealed inside?” Su Wan grasped the key point.

”It seems so,” Li Chang’an affirmed. ”We blew up the Crystal Ball to save Zhou Ze, but we couldn’t rescue him, and he vanished without a trace.”

”And the sealed creature?” Su Wan pressed.

Li Chang’an shook his head, his voice laced with confusion. ”I don’t know. After the Crystal Ball shattered, we never saw the creature again. It was like it vanished into thin air.”