Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Alright, everyone quiet down!”

Shen Qiuyue sat on the edge of her bed, wiping her sword, and tossed out a cold remark.

”Complaining is useless. Li Chang’an is making us train so we don’t get ourselves killed on a mission.

If you really don’t want to train, then you shouldn’t be on an Insect Hunter Squad!”

The dorm immediately fell silent. Sun Yang sighed, rolled over, and said no more.

Han Ruoxi glanced at Shen Qiuyue and pursed her lips, not saying anything either.

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the Insect Hunter Squad was already standing in neat formation in the training arena.

”Sun Yang, you weren’t slow running here today. More motivated than usual!”

Li Chang’an looked at Sun Yang, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

”How could I not be motivated? It’s a task from you, Captain. Would I dare slack off?”

Sun Yang rubbed his hands together, smiling placatingly.

”So what high-intensity training do we have today?”

”Warm-up first. Then you’ll be sparring in the ring!”

Li Chang’an glanced at him.

”However, this time you can team up freely. Anyone who thinks they’ve got the skills can step up and pick an opponent!”

”Oh, Captain, you’re the one who said it!”

Sun Yang’s eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Han Ruoxi.

”Ruo Xi, I’m going to get my revenge for yesterday!”

”You’re really something else!”

Han Ruoxi stood to the side, crossing her arms with a smile.

”You just got beaten to a pulp last night, and now you’re back looking for another thrashing?”

”I refuse to believe my luck is this bad every day!”

Sun Yang strode into the ring and pointed at Han Ruoxi.

”Come on! Today, I’ll show you what a real man’s strength looks like!”

Han Ruoxi shook her head, walked up onto the platform, and casually set her Electric Power Regulator aside.

”Alright, then. Let’s have another go!”

By the side of the ring, Shen Qiuyue stood leaning against the ropes, her gaze fixed on the platform. She asked abruptly.

”Captain, how many moves do you think Sun Yang will last this time?”

”Five moves, at most.”

Li Chang’an stood nearby, his tone flat.

”Han Ruoxi is in good form today. He doesn’t stand a chance.”

Shen Qiuyue nodded and continued to watch the ring.

In the ring, Sun Yang had already taken his stance, shaking his fist at Han Ruoxi.

”Come on! Let me show you the power of Sun Yang’s fists!”

Han Ruoxi let out a soft laugh.

”Fine. Just don’t regret it.”

The two clashed swiftly. A few seconds later, Sun Yang was sent flying out of the ring by a sweep kick, landing heavily on the ground.

”Was it necessary to be so brutal?!”

Sun Yang clutched his back as he got up, a look of grievance on his face.

”Can’t you even give me a chance?”

”You were the one who told me to show you my real strength.”

Han Ruoxi shrugged and stepped down from the ring.

”It’s not my fault you’re not strong enough.”

”Captain!”

Sun Yang ran over to Li Chang’an.

”Look at her! She’s such a bully!”

”Cut the crap. Get up and continue,”

Li Chang’an said flatly.

”If you don’t get knocked down three times today, you can forget about lunch.”

Sun Yang sighed, rubbed his back, and got to his feet, rejoining the squad line.

After training ended, the squad members returned to the base’s mess hall to eat.

”Today’s food is pretty good! There’s roasted meat and soup!”

Sun Yang sat down with his tray, looking at the food on the table with a satisfied expression.

”Now *this* is what I fight for!”

”Your motivation is so shallow.”

Han Ruoxi shot him a glance and took a sip of her soup.

”You really have no ambition.”

”You don’t get it. This is called enjoying life!”

Sun Yang took a bite of roasted meat and shook his head.

”No matter how hard or tiring it gets, you have to fill your stomach first!”

”You’re hopeless.”

Han Ruoxi shook her head.

Shen Qiuyue, who was sitting to the side and eating slowly and deliberately, suddenly asked.

”Captain, are there any mission assignments for this afternoon?”

Li Chang’an looked up at her.

”This afternoon, we’re patrolling the southern sector. There were signs of Insect Race activity there yesterday.”

”The Insect Race again!”

Sun Yang grumbled through a mouthful of meat, frowning.

”These things are so annoying. Can’t we get some new opponents for a change?”

”Once you can keep from getting killed by the Insect Race, then you can think about other things,”

Li Chang’an replied coolly.

The table fell silent for a moment, then Sun Yang’s grumbling started up again.

”Sigh, I must have had some seriously rotten luck in this life to end up with a bunch of Devils for teammates...”

Han Ruoxi and Shen Qiuyue both glanced at him, not bothering to respond.

In the afternoon, the squad set out as planned, arriving in the southern sector to conduct their patrol.

Bai Lin quickly hacked into the surrounding surveillance system with his personal device and began searching for suspicious signals.

”Bai Lin, have you found anything?”

Li Chang’an stood behind him, his eyes on the screen.

”There’s a signal fluctuation. It might be an Insect Race nest!”

Bai Lin pointed to a spot on the screen, his voice low.

”Two kilometers from here!”

”Let’s go check it out.”

Li Chang’an turned to face the squad.

”Stay alert!”

The squad members immediately went on high alert, following Li Chang’an toward the target location.

Along the way, Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain again.

”I really wish these bugs would grow a brain and stop running into our territory all the time!”

”Maybe they just think you’re an easy target,”

Han Ruoxi retorted coldly.

”That was a little harsh!”

Sun Yang muttered, tightening his grip on the Pulse Gun in his hands.

”When we run into them, just watch how I’ll riddle them with holes!”

Han Ruoxi ignored him, merely tightening her grip on her own weapon as she continued to advance with Li Chang’an.

From not too far away, the distinct, sharp shrieks of the Insect Race could be faintly heard.

”Prepare for battle!”

Li Chang’an said in a low voice.

By the side of the ring, Shen Qiuyue stood leaning against the ropes, her gaze sweeping coolly over the two on the platform as she commented casually.

”Sun Yang, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you get knocked down again today, you can add a ten-kilometer run to your training before dinner.”

”Shen Qiuyue, can’t you wish me a little luck for once?”

Sun Yang grinned.

”I’m serious today! I’m not kidding around!”

”Being serious is useless. Your skill level is what it is,”

Shen Qiuyue replied coldly, turning to adjust her wrist guards.

In the ring, Han Ruoxi stretched lazily and casually shook out her arms.

”Sun Yang, I think you should just surrender now. Don’t waste your energy.”

”Surrender?”

Sun Yang snorted and took his stance.

”Not a chance! Today, I’ll show you that men can fight too!”

”Fine. Then don’t say I’m bullying you.”

Han Ruoxi let out a light laugh. With a slide of her foot, she instantly closed the distance between them, her fist smashing straight toward Sun Yang’s chest.

Sun Yang’s reaction wasn’t slow. He dodged to the side, barely avoiding the blow, but Han Ruoxi’s other hand was already coming up, swinging toward his chin in a fierce attack.

”So ruthless!”

Sun Yang ducked his head to evade, stumbling and nearly losing his footing.

”Han Ruoxi, you really don’t hold back!”

”It’s sparring. Of course I’m going all out!”

Han Ruoxi pressed forward relentlessly, her fists and feet a blur of motion, overwhelming Sun Yang to the point where he could only parry.

Below the ring, Bai Lin had appeared at some point. He leaned against the ropes, watching quietly and muttering to himself.

”Sun Yang’s toast again.”

Shen Qiuyue shot him a cold glance.

”Instead of just watching, why don’t you get up there and try?”

”I’ll pass. The Captain didn’t tell me to train, so I’ll just watch.”

Bai Lin waved his hand dismissively, his gaze returning to the ring.

In the ring, Sun Yang was forced to retreat again and again. Seeing the edge of the platform right before him, he grit his teeth, pushed off with his foot, and spun around to evade a heavy punch from Han Ruoxi, simultaneously creating distance.

”A little interesting.”

Han Ruoxi raised her eyebrows slightly and reset her stance.

”Come on, again!”

”Again it is!”

Sun Yang took a deep breath, steadied himself, and charged forward, swinging his fist.

The two traded blows, their fists and feet constantly colliding. The scene looked lively, but Sun Yang was clearly at a disadvantage. Every one of his attacks was easily neutralized by Han Ruoxi, and he would even take a few counterattacks in return.

”Stop fighting. Just admit defeat, don’t force it!”

Shen Qiuyue called out coldly from below the ring.

”I haven’t lost yet!”

Sun Yang grit his teeth and charged at Han Ruoxi, fist raised.

Han Ruoxi sidestepped lightly and, in the same motion, kicked Sun Yang’s leg.

Sun Yang staggered and fell directly onto the ring platform with a dull THUD.

”It’s over.”

Han Ruoxi clapped her hands and jumped down from the ring.

”Sun Yang, next time you want to challenge me, train a little more first!”

Sprawled on the ground and panting heavily, Sun Yang struggled to his feet and sat on the edge of the ring, a look of unwillingness on his face.

”No way, that doesn’t count! I hadn’t even fully unleashed my power yet!”

”Enough. A loss is a loss. Stop making excuses.”

Han Ruoxi glanced at him, then turned and walked to a nearby chair, picking up a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Li Chang’an walked over, his gaze sweeping over Sun Yang on the ring.

”Get up. Go to the training grounds, get a hundred-kilogram sandbag, strap it on, and run ten kilometers.”

”Captain, I’m about to pass out! Don’t do this to me!”