Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Oh, milady, you wound me! Your words make me so ashamed I don’t know where to hide!” Sun Yang clutched his chest dramatically, a theatrical expression on his face.

”But seriously, my Pulse Gun is no joke. It’s the squad’s ace firepower.

If I couldn’t control it properly, the Captain would’ve kicked me out ages ago!”

”Ace firepower?” Han Ruoxi walked in, her arms full of snacks, and burst out laughing when she heard him.

”You mean that time you blasted a simulation target all the way into our supply warehouse? A real ace, that one!”

”Hey, hey, hey, Xiaohan! Why do you always have to bring up my most embarrassing moments?” Sun Yang immediately sat bolt upright, pointing at Han Ruoxi.

”Besides, it was an issue with the training grounds! The wind speed was off that day, plus there was data lag from the simulator, so I...”

”Alright, enough with the excuses!” Li Chang’an cut him off, then shot a look at Han Ruoxi.

”Put those snacks away. Base regulations: no eating before training!”

”I know, I know!” Han Ruoxi grumbled, tossing the snacks aside.

”Captain, that rule is basically a superstition. Eating a little something won’t affect my performance!”

”You still have to follow orders,” Li Chang’an glanced at her.

”See you on the training grounds!”

”Alright, Captain!” Han Ruoxi stood up reluctantly and headed out with her snacks, muttering under her breath.

’So tired every day, and I can’t even have a piece of chocolate. This is torture...’

”Where’s Bai Lin?” Shen Qiuyue looked around, frowning.

”Didn’t he say this morning he was going to calibrate the equipment? How come we still haven’t seen him?”

”Probably buried in his computer again,” Sun Yang rolled over, getting more comfortable.

”Every time that guy starts calibrating the system, it’s like he’s entered another dimension. He won’t answer no matter who calls him.”

”I’ll go get him.” Li Chang’an put down his water cup and walked out of the lounge.

Inside the base’s tech room, Bai Lin was, sure enough, sitting in front of a computer, staring motionlessly at the screen.

Aside from the hum of the computers, there was no other sound in the room.

”Bai Lin, it’s time!” Li Chang’an pushed the door open and stood in the doorway, watching him.

”Don’t tell me you didn’t hear me.”

”I heard you!” Bai Lin didn’t even look up, his fingers still flying across the keyboard.

”Just a little more, I’m almost done!”

”It’s always ’a little more.’ How many times have you calibrated that system, anyway?” Li Chang’an walked over and patted his shoulder.

”Hurry up. Everyone’s in the training room, we’re just waiting for you!”

”I’m really almost done!” Bai Lin glanced up at Li Chang’an before looking back down and continuing to type.

”This time is different. I just hacked into the simulation system and found a few data nodes that can be optimized.

If I get this right, it’ll significantly improve the precision of our combat training!”

”Fine. Five minutes.

If you’re not done in five minutes, turn off the machine and let’s go.” Li Chang’an leaned against the desk, picking up a nearby piece of equipment and fiddling with it.

”Captain, this is for the good of the squad’s training quality. Can’t you give me a little more time...” Bai Lin said while typing furiously.

”Five minutes!” Li Chang’an looked up at the timer on the wall.

”Stop wasting your breath and hurry up!”

「Five minutes later.」

Bai Lin was half-dragged, half-pulled out of the tech room by Li Chang’an.

”Alright, stop going on about your data optimization.

You think training is easy for everyone else? Every extra drill we run might mean one less chewing-out from the instructor, you know?” Li Chang’an said as they walked.

”Fine, I get it,” Bai Lin sighed, but he still clutched his laptop tightly.

”But this thing really can help everyone...”

”We’ll talk later!” Li Chang’an pushed open the training room door and shoved Bai Lin inside.

”Everyone’s ready!”

”Well, well, Bai Lin, you finally made it!” Sun Yang said, greeting him.

”Any later and I would’ve thought you’d deserted!”

”Alright, cut the chatter,” Li Chang’an walked to the front of the group and looked around.

”Everyone’s here. Let’s begin training!”

Everyone immediately got into position, awaiting Li Chang’an’s next order.

”Before we begin, I have a few things to say.”

Li Chang’an stood before the squad, hands on his hips, his gaze sweeping over them.

”I won’t go into detail about yesterday’s mock battle performance. There were good points and bad.

But one thing is crystal clear—if that had been a real battle, this squad would have been completely wiped out!”

”Captain, isn’t that a little harsh?” Sun Yang immediately raised his hand to interrupt.

”I mean, I admit we were a bit... you know... but you can’t say we’d be completely wiped out, right? At least I...”

”Silence!” Li Chang’an cut Sun Yang off with a single word.

”You think you were fine because the enemies were simulated.

If it were the real Insect Race, they wouldn’t just stand there and give you a chance to breathe!”

”Alright, alright, my mistake!” Sun Yang scratched his head and said no more.

”And the rest of you?” Li Chang’an’s gaze shifted to Han Ruoxi.

”What was with your control over your Electric Attacks yesterday? Your area-of-effect was powerful, sure, but your teammates were inside the attack range.

If Shen Qiuyue hadn’t reacted so quickly, she’d probably be dead!”

”I... I did my best to control it!” Han Ruoxi protested weakly.

”But the simulator’s parameters might have been off, I think...”

”Stop shifting the blame!” Li Chang’an cut her off bluntly.

”In a real battle, there are no ’parameter issues,’ only whether you can control your power or not.

You’re getting extra training today. You’ll practice until you stop hitting your own teammates!”

”Understood!” Han Ruoxi mumbled, looking rather reluctant.

”Shen Qiuyue, what about you?” Li Chang’an turned to her.

”Your Swordsmanship has always been precise, but I noticed your stamina clearly couldn’t keep up with the pace of the final simulation round yesterday.

Have you been slacking off on your basic conditioning?”

”I haven’t been slacking off!” Shen Qiuyue said, a trace of defiance on her face.

”I just think that kind of high-intensity battle of attrition is unreasonable. There’s a problem with the simulator’s design!”

”The simulator again!” Li Chang’an scoffed.

”Then tell me, is the Insect Race going to be reasonable? Are they going to stop and let you rest when you get tired?”

Shen Qiuyue didn’t answer, but her expression was clearly unhappy.

”As for you, Bai Lin...” Li Chang’an fixed his gaze on him.

”You’re in charge of logistics and tech support, so you don’t have to be on the front lines during a fight.

But if those of us on the front line need support, can you guarantee your fire support won’t hold us back?”

”I’m improving the data...” Bai Lin tried to explain.

”Enough. During training, I want to hear less about your data and optimizations,” Li Chang’an waved his hand dismissively.

”Today, you’re doing extra drills for shooting accuracy. You need to improve your reaction speed!”

Bai Lin lowered his head and stopped arguing.

”In short, today’s goal is simple: everyone improves, and we reduce mistakes!” Li Chang’an looked at each of them.

”Real combat isn’t a game. We can’t afford to waste a single opportunity!”

For the training that followed, Li Chang’an immediately cranked the intensity to the maximum.

They started with physical fitness tests: weighted runs, rope climbing, and obstacle courses. Everyone was pushed to their absolute limit.

”Captain, do you have some kind of grudge against us?” Sun Yang gasped, leaning on his knees at the side.

”After this round, I feel like my legs aren’t even mine anymore!”

”Shut up and keep running,” Li Chang’an said coldly from the edge of the track.

”Han Ruoxi, your Arc Attack’s range is too wide! Focus it!”

”Shen Qiuyue, faster with your Swordsmanship! Otherwise, you won’t be able to block surprise attacks from enemy units!”

”Bai Lin, any shot outside the third ring, you do it over!”

Li Chang’an’s voice echoed across the training ground, each word an irrefutable command.

During a break, everyone collapsed to the ground, looking as if they’d just been fished out of water.

”Captain, I’m thinking, a few more sessions like this and we’ll probably die of exhaustion before we even see a shadow of the Insect Race!” Sun Yang grumbled, wiping away sweat as he bit into his Energy Bar.

”And look, even Han Ruoxi is about to cry!”

”I am not!” Han Ruoxi immediately bristled and threw her water bottle at him.

”Aim better! Don’t hit a teammate!” Sun Yang dodged and deftly caught the bottle.