Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 610: Chapter 297: You Can’t Do It Without Me (Part 2)

Li Chang’an finally walked over to Shen Qiuyue’s training area. He saw her Dueling Sword swinging faster and faster, nearly becoming a blurry shadow.

"Your speed is decent!"

Li Chang’an stood to the side and said, "But there are still some issues with your power distribution. Your horizontal slash relies too much on momentum, which makes your follow-up actions a beat too slow!"

Shen Qiuyue stopped, looking up at him with a hint of defiance in her eyes. "Captain, I think my speed is already fast enough!"

"Fast, but not precise enough!"

Li Chang’an raised his hand and made an attacking gesture. "Try concentrating your strength in your elbow, then control the output from your shoulder!"

Shen Qiuyue was silent for a second, then did as he said. Sure enough, the movement felt much smoother.

"It really is a little faster!"

she said softly, a barely perceptible look of satisfaction on her face.

"On the battlefield, that ’little bit’ is the difference between life and death!"

Li Chang’an glanced at her sword and added, "After training today, give your sword to Bai Lin. Have him optimize the balance of the hilt.

Your sword focuses too much on the blade, making the overall center of gravity slightly off-center toward the back!"

"Alright!"

Shen Qiuyue nodded without asking any further questions.

After training ended, the exhausted members of the Insect Hunter Squad dragged themselves back to their dorms.

"This one day felt more tiring than a mission!"

Sun Yang flopped onto the sofa and chugged water. "Captain, if we train again tomorrow, I’m afraid my legs will give out!"

"You’ll train even if they do give out!"

Han Ruoxi leaned nearby, her tone as cold as ever. "Today’s intensity was barely a passing grade!"

"Miss Han, why are you always so cold-blooded?"

Sun Yang wailed, "Can’t you be a little nicer to your teammates? We’re all in the same boat. Can’t you show a little warmth?"

"Warmth?"

A cold sneer touched the corner of Han Ruoxi’s mouth. "If warmth could kill the Insect Race, I’d write you a poem."

"Fine, I’ll shut up!"

Sun Yang pouted and turned to Bai Lin. "Bai Lin, have you calibrated your equipment yet? Can you make sure it doesn’t jam up again on the next mission?"

"It’s calibrated!"

Bai Lin didn’t even look up. "But if you run around randomly again, my data analysis might still be delayed!"

"Ganging up on me again!"

Sun Yang clutched his chest. "See, Captain? I have no status at all in this squad!"

"Status is something you earn for yourself!"

Li Chang’an sat at a table, not looking up. "Make another mistake tomorrow, and I can help you by revoking your chance to earn it."

"Alright, you’re the Captain. Whatever you say, goes!"

Sun Yang raised his hands in surrender and leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes.

That evening, the Insect Hunter Squad’s dorm finally quieted down. While some members were busy organizing their gear and others had collapsed onto their beds, the chatter didn’t stop.

"Miss Han!"

Sun Yang suddenly turned to Han Ruoxi, who was wiping her Electric Gloves, and said with a fawning expression, "Can you not stare at my every move tomorrow? I feel like the moment you look at me, I completely freeze up!"

"I stare at you because I’m afraid you’ll drag us down again!"

Han Ruoxi replied without looking up, her tone indifferent. "What you need most right now is pressure. Don’t blame me for not giving you an easy way out."

"Jeez!"

Sun Yang clutched his chest. "We’re teammates on the same squad! Can’t you give me some supportive encouragement?"

"Encouragement?"

Han Ruoxi finally looked up and shot him a cold glance. "When you start acting like a competent teammate, I’ll consider encouraging you."

"Captain!"

Sun Yang looked at Li Chang’an, pleading for help. "You have to do something about her! I feel like she just has it out for me. She’s going to destroy the team’s unity!"

Without looking up from inspecting the gears of his Saw Chain Sword, Li Chang’an said nonchalantly, "If you feel pressured when she’s watching you, then perform better and don’t give her any openings to criticize.

Do you think she’s wrong?"

"Well..."

Sun Yang was at a loss for words. He scratched his head. "Fine, I’ll work harder, alright?"

"Less talk, more practice!"

Li Chang’an looked up at him. "However, your shooting accuracy did improve today. But your footwork is still a mess.

Training continues tomorrow!"

"More training!"

Sun Yang clutched his head. "Captain, are we just not allowed to have normal lives?"

"The enemy on the battlefield won’t give you a normal life!"

Shen Qiuyue cut in coldly, "If you can’t handle it, you can always apply for a transfer!"

"Sister Qiuyue, that’s not what I meant!"

Sun Yang looked aggrieved. "I’m just saying, since our squad works so hard, shouldn’t we get some kind of reward? Like... better food?"

"All you think about is food!"

Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but scoff. "We haven’t even completed our mission, and you’re already thinking about better food!"

"Miss Han, you’re wrong to say that!"

Sun Yang retorted with a serious expression, "We fight to live, and to live, you have to eat well. You can only keep fighting if you eat well.

Doesn’t that make sense?"

"I can’t be bothered with you!"

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes and went back to adjusting her gloves.

"Speaking of food..."

Bai Lin suddenly spoke up, his eyes still fixed on his terminal. "The base cafeteria is getting a resupply tomorrow. A new batch of High-Energy Nutrient Supplements has arrived. I’ve already reserved a few bottles. Anyone need one?"

"High-Energy Nutrient Supplements? That bitter, chalky stuff?"

Sun Yang looked disgusted. "No thanks. I prefer to eat things that actually have flavor!"

"Then you can just wait until you’re malnourished!"

Bai Lin’s tone was calm. "High-Energy Nutrient Supplements can replenish your stamina in a short amount of time, which is a great help to your combat condition.

You don’t have to have it, but don’t screw up on the battlefield!"

"Alright, alright, forget I said anything!"

Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively. "You people are all so cold-blooded, one more than the next. Can’t I just shut my mouth from now on?"

The dorm was quiet for a moment, then Han Ruoxi’s voice broke the silence. "Captain, how far do you think the Insect Race’s evolution will go?"

"There’s no limit."

Li Chang’an looked up, his gaze flickering slightly. "The Insect Race evolves with us as their target.

The stronger our weapons, the higher their resistance.

The more complex our tactics, the greater their intelligence.

If we don’t want to be wiped out by them, we must constantly keep improving!"

"That’s enough to make your skin crawl!"

Sun Yang shuddered. "Captain, that’s some heavy stuff. I feel like the Insect Race is even more terrifying than I imagined!"

"You’re just realizing that now?"

Shen Qiuyue said flatly, "The Insect Race has never been a simple enemy. We’ve managed to survive this long only because they haven’t fully adapted to our technology yet.

If they one day evolve to have complete intelligence, we will become their prey!"

"That’s too intense of an image. I don’t dare to think about it!"

Sun Yang swallowed hard and turned to Li Chang’an. "Captain, in that case, can we even completely eliminate the Insect Race? Like, by wiping out their hive core or something in one go?"

"Impossible!"

Li Chang’an’s voice was low. "The Insect Race is a collective. Their way of life dictates that their core is never singular.

If you destroy one hive, they will rebuild it elsewhere.

If you destroy their command unit, they will quickly give rise to a new commander!"

"Doesn’t that mean we can never finish this fight?"

Sun Yang looked dejected. "Does that mean we have to spend the rest of our lives dealing with these bugs?"

"Yes!"

Li Chang’an’s answer was unhesitating. "If you want to leave the battlefield, then just wait for the Insect Race to catch up to you.

No one can stay out of it and be safe!"

The atmosphere in the dorm grew even heavier.

Even Sun Yang, who was usually the one cracking jokes, lowered his head and fell silent.

After a while, Han Ruoxi suddenly stood up, breaking the silence. "Alright, stop overthinking it.

Tomorrow’s mission isn’t even here yet, and you’ve already scared yourselves.

Get some rest. We have to assemble again at five in the morning!"

"Miss Han is right!"

Sun Yang took a deep breath and forced a laugh. "I’m going to bed early too. After all, tomorrow is another day in Hell!"

"Hell?"