Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

"Alright, that’s enough. We don’t want anyone getting seriously hurt."

Li Chang’an cut the two of them off. He walked over, helped the panting Han Ruoxi up, and then glanced at Shen Qiuyue.

"Not bad, both of you. This test was mainly about reflexes and coordination. Next time, remember your weaknesses and work on them."

"I have no weaknesses!"

Shen Qiuyue replied coolly, raising her hand to recall her sword.

"Well, well, Eldest Miss Shen is feeling extra confident today!"

Han Ruoxi leaned against the wall, casually wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"But you’re right. You won today. I’ll admit it."

"It’s rare to see you with this attitude!"

A rare smile touched Shen Qiuyue’s lips before she turned and walked to the edge of the training area.

"But don’t think it’ll be this easy next time!"

"Bring it on! I’ll win it back next time!"

Han Ruoxi shot back, not to be outdone, and turned to Li Chang’an.

"Captain, now that the test is over, can we take a break? I’m hungry!"

"There’s one last round. Sun Yang and Bai Lin, you two are up!"

Li Chang’an completely ignored Han Ruoxi’s complaint, beckoning to Sun Yang and Bai Lin.

"Don’t even think about slacking off. Hurry up. Once we’re done, we’ll eat."

"Me again? Didn’t I just run five kilometers?"

Sun Yang whined with a wronged expression, muttering something about the ’hard-knock life of a grunt’.

"Running and testing are two different things. No more excuses. Get up there!"

Li Chang’an clapped Sun Yang on the shoulder and pushed him into the center of the area, then glanced at Bai Lin.

"Bai Lin, don’t go too easy on him. Teach him a lesson so he stops thinking about slacking off all the time."

"Understood."

Bai Lin nodded. He didn’t say much, but his movements were decisive. He quickly adjusted his gear and stood opposite Sun Yang.

"Alright, Bai Lin. I’ll go easy on you today. Don’t be too grateful!"

Sun Yang struck a supposedly "professional" opening stance, but he was only halfway through the motion when Han Ruoxi burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.

"Sun Yang, are you dancing? Or doing gymnastics?"

"Han Ruoxi!"

Sun Yang jumped up in anger, but before he could even regain his footing, Bai Lin seized the opening. A precise counterattack sent him stumbling.

"Hey, hey, hey, Bai Lin! You’re hitting too hard!"

"You’re too slow."

Bai Lin replied coolly, his hands never pausing as he continued his assault.

"Wait, I’m not ready yet!"

Sun Yang yelled as he dodged clumsily. For all his shouting, his movements were painfully slow, and he was clearly being completely overwhelmed by Bai Lin.

"Alright, Sun Yang, just give up!"

Li Chang’an shook his head helplessly. Watching Sun Yang get toyed with by Bai Lin, he couldn’t help but sigh.

"Bai Lin, that’s about enough. Don’t actually make him cry."

"Captain! I wouldn’t cry! This is a tactical retreat! Don’t you get it?"

Sun Yang was still talking tough, but he was already out of breath and couldn’t even stand steadily.

"Fine, fine, you’re amazing. Retreat, then. It’s over!"

Li Chang’an waved his hand, declaring the end of the test.

"Everyone go get ready. We’ll assemble in half an hour and head to the restaurant to eat!"

"Finally, we can eat!"

Han Ruoxi cheered and was the first to run out of the training area, shouting as she went.

"I’m ordering two desserts, and nobody better try to take them from me today!"

Sun Yang, who had collapsed onto the ground, yelled after her retreating figure.

"Save some for me! Or you’ll have me to answer to!"

’Where’s the restaurant?’

Sun Yang lay on the ground at the edge of the training field for a good while without moving. Finally, he lifted his head to look at Han Ruoxi running ahead and shouted irritably.

"Han Ruoxi, slow down! Don’t let everything be gone by the time I get there!"

"Sun Yang, one more complaint out of you and I guarantee you won’t get any dessert!"

Han Ruoxi didn’t even look back, her pace not slowing in the slightest. She practically jogged all the way to the base restaurant, muttering to herself.

’Ah, training was so exhausting today. I have to eat a good meal and treat myself. Desserts... I’m starting with a double portion today!’

"Han Ruoxi! Can you stop being so selfish and think about your teammates?"

Sun Yang scrambled up from the ground, panting. He bent over, hands on his knees, taking a few deep breaths before turning to Li Chang’an.

"Captain, aren’t you going to do something about her? She’s already disappeared from sight!"

"Sun Yang, you have the nerve to talk? Who saw you slacking off multiple times during that five-kilometer run? And now you’re the one with the most complaints!"

Li Chang’an clapped Sun Yang on the back, giving him a hard shove forward.

"Get going. If you’re even a step late today, Han Ruoxi might actually eat everything!"

"Who’s the real captain of this squad, anyway? He says something and nobody listens. My life is so hard!"

Sun Yang grumbled as he walked toward the restaurant, rubbing the spot on his back where Li Chang’an had clapped him.

"Alright, alright, I’m hurrying, okay?! Forget Han Ruoxi, even if the Insect Race showed up today, they wouldn’t take my food from me!"

"You’d still be worried about food if the Insect Race came?"

Bai Lin suddenly came up from behind. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was laced with disdain.

"Would the Insect Race even let you live long enough to worry about food?"

"Bai Lin! Can you stop being so damn sarcastic? We’re teammates!"

Sun Yang stopped and turned to glare at him.

"Besides, I’m talking about a hypothetical! What if! What if the Insect Race came, and for some reason we didn’t have to fight and could still eat? Then I’d definitely fill my stomach first!"

"Right. Once you’re full, it’ll be more convenient for the Insect Race to take a bite."

Bai Lin replied with a deadpan expression, then walked straight past Sun Yang toward the restaurant, his steps steady, wasting no extra energy.

"Bai Lin, you just wait! You’ll get what’s coming to you!"

Sun Yang stomped his foot in fury. Just as he was about to chase after him, he heard Li Chang’an call out from behind.

"Sun Yang, are you trying to not eat by dawdling like this?"

"I want to eat! I want to eat!"

Sun Yang immediately turned and broke into a run, shouting over his shoulder as he went.

"Captain, can you please not sound so intimidating all the time? It sends a shiver down my spine every time I hear it!"

"If you run faster, I won’t have to intimidate you."

Li Chang’an looked perfectly calm. With his hands in his pockets, he ambled along at the back, even glancing back at Shen Qiuyue.

"Qiuyue, if you don’t hurry, don’t blame me for not warning you later."

"Captain, I’m never worried about that."

Shen Qiuyue’s tone was placid, her pace still steady as she walked alongside Li Chang’an.

"They’re always the first to argue, and I’m the last to eat. I still get my food."

"You’re the most low-maintenance one on the team."

Li Chang’an smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

"Let’s go. It’s my treat today. Call it a bonus meal for everyone."

"A bonus meal? You’d better not just be saying that."

A rare smile appeared on Shen Qiuyue’s face, and she quickened her pace to catch up with the group ahead.

By the time they reached the restaurant entrance, Han Ruoxi had already claimed a spot and was flipping through a menu, occasionally looking up to call over a service robot.

"One order of ice cream, one chocolate cake... yes, yes, and that fruit juice! Just take note of that for now. Don’t rush, I’m not done ordering yet!"

"Han Ruoxi! Are you trying to create a monopoly? How much have you ordered already?"

Sun Yang burst into the restaurant, plopped down in the seat across from Han Ruoxi, and snatched the menu from her hands.

"Let me see that! Are you trying to eat the whole squad into poverty?"

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing! That’s my menu!"

Han Ruoxi held on to the menu for dear life, refusing to let go as she yelled.

"Sun Yang, don’t even think about stealing my dessert! I’m the star today!"

"You’re the star? Then what am I?"

With a hard yank, Sun Yang finally wrestled the menu away. But one look at the order history on it left him dumbfounded.

"Han Ruoxi, are you insane? You ordered five desserts alone! Are you trying to eat until you burst?"

"What? I like sweets!"

Han Ruoxi said without a hint of guilt, as if it were perfectly justified.

"Besides, you don’t even like sweets, do you? So it doesn’t matter how many I order, it’s none of your business!"

"None of my business? You’re not leaving any food for me!"

Sun Yang’s eyes went wide with anger. He was about to say more when he saw Li Chang’an walk in, waving his hand as he entered.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!