Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”I came today to ask you just how my nephew, Zhou Ze, disappeared!”

”Chairman Zhou, I’ve already explained this to you, haven’t I?”

Li Chang’an patiently tried to keep his tone calm.

”Zhou Ze went missing in the Kars Mine Area after being attacked by monsters.”

”Attacked by monsters? Do you take me for a three-year-old?”

Zhou Yuanshan slammed his hand on the table with a loud BANG that made one’s ears ring.

He abruptly stood up and roared.

”My nephew was clearly killed by your 42 Combat Group!”

”Chairman Zhou, you can’t just make baseless accusations and slander people!”

Li Chang’an also raised his voice, meeting him head-on.

”We saved Zhou Ze. Forget being grateful—now you’re turning on us?”

”Saved him? I think you killed him!”

Zhou Yuanshan gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage.

”I came today to get an explanation from your 42 Combat Group!”

”An explanation? What kind of explanation are you looking for?”

Su Wan finally spoke, her voice ice-cold and tinged with anger.

”Chairman Zhou, don’t forget, this is the Interstellar Warrior Base, not your Galaxy Group! This isn’t your turf where you can do whatever you please!”

”So what if it’s the Interstellar Warrior Base?”

Zhou Yuanshan sneered, a trace of disdain in his eyes.

”I, Zhou Yuanshan, will get justice here today!”

”Chairman Zhou, are you trying to oppose our Battle Team Alliance?”

Su Wan’s eyes turned cold, and her aura suddenly became sharp and imposing.

”Oppose you? I wouldn’t dare.”

Zhou Yuanshan gave a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, his tone laced with sarcasm.

”I just want to get justice for my nephew!”

”Justice? I think you’re just using this as a pretext to stir up trouble!”

Su Wan exposed him without holding back.

”We also regret Zhou Ze’s disappearance, but this matter has nothing to do with our 42 Combat Group!”

”Whether it has anything to do with you isn’t for you to decide!”

Zhou Yuanshan’s tone was unyielding, not giving an inch.

”I came today to take Li Chang’an back to the Galaxy Group for investigation!”

”Take Li Chang’an? On what grounds?”

Su Wan was so furious she laughed, unable to believe her ears.

”Zhou Yuanshan, don’t go too far!”

”Too far? Am I going too far?”

Zhou Yuanshan sneered, pointing at Li Chang’an with an aggressive tone.

”My nephew is missing, his fate unknown. Is it too far to take a suspect in for questioning?”

”A suspect? Li Chang’an is a suspect?”

Su Wan trembled with rage, laughing in disbelief.

”Zhou Yuanshan, what evidence do you have to prove Li Chang’an is a suspect?”

”Evidence? The last person my nephew was in contact with before he disappeared was Li Chang’an!”

Zhou Yuanshan spoke with conviction, as if he had found some leverage.

”If he’s not the suspect, then who is?”

”Chairman Zhou, your Logic is laughable.”

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but interject, his tone tinged with mockery.

”By your Logic, is everyone who came into contact with Zhou Ze a suspect?”

”Cut the crap!”

Zhou Yuanshan glared at Li Chang’an, his eyes fierce.

”Today, you’re coming with me!”

”Impossible!”

Li Chang’an refused decisively, not backing down at all.

”I’m a member of the 42 Combat Group, not a criminal from your Galaxy Group! If you want to investigate, do it here. You want to take me with you? Not a chance!”

”Li Chang’an, don’t do this the hard way!”

Zhou Yuanshan dropped all pretense, his voice full of menace.

”Today, I’m dead set on taking you with me. You’d better be sensible! Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next!”

”Chairman Zhou, are you planning to take him by force?”

Su Wan’s eyes grew cold, a hint of warning in her voice.

”Do you really think our Battle Team Alliance is just for show? Do you really think the Galaxy Group can act with impunity on Lion’s Fang Star?”

”Minister Su, don’t misunderstand.”

Zhou Yuanshan suddenly put on a smile and softened his tone, but his eyes remained chillingly cold.

”I just want to invite Li Chang’an to the Galaxy Group for a few days to assist with the investigation.”

”A guest? More like house arrest!”

Su Wan ruthlessly tore away his hypocritical mask.

”Zhou Yuanshan, I’m telling you, you are not taking Li Chang’an! As long as I, Su Wan, am here today, you won’t lay a single finger on him!”

”Minister Su, are you trying to start a fight with me?”

Zhou Yuanshan’s face darkened, his smile vanishing completely.

”Start a fight? You’re the one starting a fight with our Battle Team Alliance!”

Su Wan didn’t yield an inch, her tone incredibly firm.

”Zhou Yuanshan, I advise you to tone it down. Don’t think the Galaxy Group can do whatever it wants on Lion’s Fang Star!”

”Minister Su, isn’t that a bit alarmist?” Zhou Yuanshan sneered. ”My Galaxy Group has always been law-abiding. How could we do as we please?”

”Law-abiding? Detaining a Battle Commander and attacking a Battle Team Alliance ship—is that the Galaxy Group’s idea of being law-abiding?” Su Wan’s tone was mocking.

”Minister Su, you misunderstand. It’s all a misunderstanding.” Zhou Yuanshan was still trying to argue his way out. ”The matter with Lin Yuan was Zhao Qiming acting on his own initiative. I’ve already punished him. As for attacking the ship, that’s just baseless nonsense. Why would our Galaxy Group do such a thing?”

”A misunderstanding? Baseless nonsense?” Su Wan sneered. ”Zhou Yuanshan, do you really take us for fools?”

”Minister Su, please don’t be angry. I promise something like this will never happen again.” Zhou Yuanshan’s tone softened a little. ”As for Li Chang’an, I still hope you’ll let him come with me. After all, my nephew is missing, and he’s a suspect.”

”Impossible,” Su Wan refused again. ”Li Chang’an is a member of the 42 Combat Group. His affairs are handled by our Battle Team Alliance. It’s not the Galaxy Group’s place to interfere.”

”Minister Su, are you trying to cover for him?” Zhou Yuanshan’s eyes turned cold.

”Cover for him? I’m just protecting the rights of the Battle Team Alliance.” Su Wan’s tone was firm. ”Zhou Yuanshan, I advise you to give up on this idea. You are not taking Li Chang’an!”

”Minister Su, are you really going to oppose our Galaxy Group for one Li Chang’an?” Zhou Yuanshan’s voice was grim. ”You should think carefully. Can you bear the consequences?”

”Consequences? I, Su Wan, have never been afraid of any consequences!” Su Wan was fearless. ”Zhou Yuanshan, I’ll say it one last time: you are not taking Li Chang’an!”

”Fine! Fine! Fine!” Zhou Yuanshan laughed in fury. ”Minister Su, since you refuse to show me any respect, don’t blame me, Zhou Yuanshan, for what happens next!”

”What do you think you’re doing?” Su Wan’s eyes turned cold.

”Nothing much. Just inviting Li Chang’an to be a guest at the Galaxy Group for a few days.” Zhou Yuanshan’s tone was frigid. ”Minister Su, you’d best not stand in my way. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be good if we damaged our friendly relations.”

”Zhou Yuanshan, you dare!” Su Wan snapped. ”This is the Interstellar Warrior Base, not a place for your Galaxy Group to run wild!”

”Minister Su, don’t get so worked up. I just want to invite Li Chang’an to be a guest at the Galaxy Group.” Zhou Yuanshan’s tone was flippant. ”Don’t worry, I guarantee he’ll return completely unscathed.”

”In your dreams!” Su Wan said decisively. ”Li Chang’an, you’re not going anywhere!”

”Minister Su, are you forcing my hand?” Zhou Yuanshan’s eyes glinted coldly.

”Force your hand? You dare!” Su Wan was fearless. ”Zhou Yuanshan, I’m warning you. If you so much as touch a hair on Li Chang’an’s head, I guarantee your Galaxy Group won’t be able to take a single step on Lion’s Fang Star!”

”Minister Su, are you threatening me?” Zhou Yuanshan’s face was ashen.

”Threatening? No, this is a warning!” Su Wan’s voice was ice-cold. ”Zhou Yuanshan, I’ll say it one last time: you are not taking Li Chang’an!”

”Fine! Fine! Fine!” Zhou Yuanshan laughed in fury. ”Minister Su, since you refuse to show me any respect, don’t blame me, Zhou Yuanshan, for what happens next!”

”What do you think you’re doing?” Su Wan’s eyes turned cold.

”Nothing much. Just inviting Li Chang’an to be a guest at the Galaxy Group for a few days.” Zhou Yuanshan’s tone was frigid. ”Minister Su, you’d best not stand in my way. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be good if we damaged our friendly relations.”