Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”The mission was a success, but something about this situation feels off.

The Insect Race is actually using transport teams to move this stuff. It means their operations are becoming more organized!”

”So what do we do next?”

Sun Yang asked curiously, putting down his Energy Bar.

”We wait for orders!”

Li Chang’an replied curtly.

Bai Lin, who had been quiet the whole time, was looking down at his personal terminal. He seemed to have found something and suddenly spoke up.

”Captain, on our way back, I intercepted some Insect Race communication signals. But the encryption is too strong; I can’t break it!”

”Can you try again? You might find a clue!”

Li Chang’an glanced at him.

”I can, but I’ll need some time!”

Bai Lin nodded and went back to work.

Han Ruoxi rested her chin on her hand and asked, a little bored.

”Captain, if the Insect Race really does get smarter, do you think our jobs will still be this easy?”

”Easy?”

Shen Qiuyue scoffed.

”You thought today’s mission was easy?”

”I meant...”

Han Ruoxi was at a loss for words. After a moment, she changed her tune.

”I was just saying!”

”Don’t overthink it. The mission isn’t over, and we could be deployed again at any moment!”

Li Chang’an stood up and looked at the others.

”Use this time to rest properly. Don’t waste it!”

Han Ruoxi sighed, slumping into her chair, unwilling to move.

Leaning against a nearby wall, Sun Yang looked at her and chuckled.

”The way you’re sitting, you look like you’re paralyzed!”

”Sun Yang, are you asking for a shock?”

Han Ruoxi raised her hand, a small arc of electricity crackling around it as she glared at him.

”No, no, no! I’ll shut up, okay?”

Sun Yang immediately threw his hands up in surrender and shrank back.

Li Chang’an couldn’t be bothered with them and walked out of the break room.

「A few days passed in the blink of an eye.」

”Brother Chang’an, is this breakfast even fit for human consumption?”

Sun Yang stared at the nutrition block in his hand, his face full of disgust.

”Just smell it. It’s like stinky feet. I can’t believe the base logistics team. How can anyone eat this?”

”Stop complaining and eat. Don’t be picky!”

Li Chang’an, sitting beside him, took a bite of his own nutrition block without any change in expression.

”As long as it fills you up, that’s all that matters. If you really can’t stand it, we can go to the back street at noon and get some stir-fry to satisfy our cravings!”

”The back street! That barbecue place smells amazing!”

Han Ruoxi’s eyes lit up, her mouth still half-full of a nutrition block.

”Those beef skewers we had last time were awesome!”

”Could you three be any more hopeless!”

Shen Qiuyue walked past, holding a steaming cup of coffee, her voice cold.

”All you think about day in and day out is food and drinks. No wonder you’re always at the bottom of the training rankings!”

”Eldest Miss Shen, you’re wrong about that!”

Sun Yang tossed his nutrition block aside and looked up at her.

”Training is training, and eating is eating. You’ve got to enjoy life while you can, you know?”

”Enjoy what, exactly?”

Shen Qiuyue shot him a look and sat down right next to Li Chang’an.

”Captain, after training today, can we add an extra combat simulation? I feel like we’re getting too lax. We’ll just drag the team down on our next mission!”

”Another combat simulation? We already trained all day yesterday!”

Sun Yang grew anxious at the suggestion.

”Sister Qiuyue, give us a break! My back is killing me!”

”Let’s not!”

Han Ruoxi chimed in.

”That metal insect model in the simulation room is too hard to fight. I fought it for five minutes yesterday and couldn’t even cut off a leg!”

Li Chang’an was silent for a moment, then looked up at them.

”Alright. We’ll train until three this afternoon. For the rest of the time, I’ll arrange a lighter tactical drill. Don’t be so tense.

We haven’t had many missions lately, but we can’t lose our edge!”

”The Captain is wise!”

Sun Yang immediately clapped.

”Now that’s my Captain!”

”Stop sucking up!”

Li Chang’an stood up and walked toward the door.

”Finish eating and assemble at the training grounds. See you in ten minutes.

Sun Yang, one more word out of you and I’ll make you run ten laps around the base today!”

”No, no, no! My lips are sealed!”

Sun Yang quickly stuffed a nutrition block into his mouth and mumbled indistinctly.

”I’m going right now!”

「Ten minutes later, the squad gathered at the training grounds.」

Li Chang’an stood in the middle, eyeing his team.

”Today, we’re splitting into two teams. Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang are on one team. Shen Qiuyue is with me.

Bai Lin will be in the control room running data analysis for us!”

”Why do I have to be on a team with Sun Yang?”

Han Ruoxi raised her hand, her voice full of dissatisfaction.

”All he does is shoot wildly. Don’t let him drag me down!”

”Hey, Xiaohan, let’s not fight among ourselves!”

Sun Yang said with a grin.

”With me here, I guarantee you’ll be the brightest star of the show today!”

”Get lost!”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

Li Chang’an waved his hand dismissively.

”Alright, that’s enough. No more nonsense.

Bai Lin, start the simulation in ten seconds. Randomly generate the terrain, Insect Race at Level 3. And remember, don’t go overboard!”

”Understood!”

Bai Lin’s voice came through their earpieces.

”Three, two, one, begin!”

The field changed in an instant. The surrounding walls transformed into a wilderness landscape, the ground covered with rocks and dry grass. In the clearing ahead, several translucent Insect Race models appeared.

”Go!”

Li Chang’an gave a hand signal and charged forward, leading the way.

”Qiuyue, cover the left flank!”

He yelled as he ran.

Shen Qiuyue lunged forward, swinging her sword down and instantly decapitating the first Insect Race model.

”Sun Yang, ranged support!”

Li Chang’an roared without looking back.

”Roger!”

Sun Yang set up his Pulse Gun and began laying down a wide burst of fire.

”You guys go all out! I’ve got your backs from here!”

”Don’t waste ammo!”

Han Ruoxi circled around from the other side. A bolt of electricity shot from her hand, striking an Insect Race model in the abdomen and causing it to collapse to the ground.