Chapter 728 - 356: Everyone is Quite Leisurely

"We’ll see how you do!"

Han Ruoxi replied coolly.

"You got it! I’ll be on my best behavior!"

Sun Yang said with a grin.

"Sister Han is the best. I’d never dare to cross you!"

"Shut up!"

Han Ruoxi shot back.

"Just go to sleep!"

Early the next morning, the Insect Hunter Squad’s dormitory began to stir.

Sun Yang stumbled out of his room, yawning. He shuffled along in his slippers, his hair a bird’s nest.

He rubbed his eyes and headed for the common area, muttering to himself.

’Training this early? The Captain is ruthless! Can’t a guy get a little more sleep?’

Han Ruoxi was at the table, tinkering with her Electric Power Amplifier. She heard Sun Yang’s complaint and glanced up at him.

"Sun Yang, were you up playing games again last night? Look at the state you’re in. Aren’t you afraid Chang’an is going to chew you out?"

Her tone was cool, but a hint of a gloating smile played on her lips.

"Don’t even ask!"

Sun Yang plopped down in the chair across from her.

"I was just going to play one match and then go to bed, but I got carried away and ended up playing for hours.

Who knew the sun would come up so fast!"

"Serves you right, then,"

Han Ruoxi replied coolly.

"Don’t screw up in training today, or I won’t go easy on you."

"Couldn’t you be a little nicer to me?"

Sun Yang whined, looking aggrieved.

"We’re partners for training, you know. You’re so harsh, you’re putting me under a lot of pressure!"

"Then use that pressure to perform better!"

Han Ruoxi looked back down and continued adjusting her equipment.

"Stop wasting your breath on nonsense."

Just then, Li Chang’an came walking down the hall.

His training uniform was immaculate; he was clearly ready to go.

His brow furrowed when he saw Sun Yang’s drowsy state.

"Sun Yang, what’s with you this morning?"

Li Chang’an’s tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried an authority that discouraged any half-hearted replies.

"Captain, I... had a little trouble sleeping last night!"

Sun Yang immediately straightened up, his tone trying to curry favor.

"Trouble sleeping?"

Li Chang’an raised an eyebrow.

"You’d better not be lying to me.

I’ll be watching your performance after today’s training.

If I catch you slacking, you’ll have extra drills this afternoon."

"Come on, Captain!"

Sun Yang’s face fell.

"I’ll be serious, I promise! I’ll give it my all! I won’t hold anyone back!"

"We’ll see about that,"

Li Chang’an said flatly, then turned to Han Ruoxi.

"How’s the equipment coming along?"

"All set."

Han Ruoxi nodded.

"The Amplifier is in good condition. Ready for deployment at any time."

"Good."

Li Chang’an scanned the rest area again.

"Where’s Shen Qiuyue? I don’t see her."

"Sister Qiuyue went to the training grounds first thing this morning,"

Han Ruoxi replied.

"She said she wanted to warm up early."

Li Chang’an nodded, unsurprised by Shen Qiuyue’s discipline.

"Is Bai Lin still in his room?"

Li Chang’an asked.

"Yes,"

Han Ruoxi replied.

"He’s been up for a while. I think he’s reviewing the data for today’s mission."

"Alright. Everyone, pick up the pace. Assemble in ten minutes!"

With that, Li Chang’an turned and headed for his room.

By the time he returned from his room, geared up, the rest of the squad was ready.

"Time’s up. Move out!"

Li Chang’an said simply, leading the way to the training grounds.

The training grounds weren’t far from the dorms, and they arrived in no time.

Today’s training consisted of a team-based combat simulation. This type of exercise tested not only individual skill but also team cohesion.

"Today’s objective is simple."

Li Chang’an stood before the squad, holding a training schedule.

"The squad will split into two teams and face off.

The simulation is set in an Insect Hive. Your objective is to complete the mission and defeat the opposing team in the shortest time possible.

Sun Yang and Han Ruoxi are one team. Qiuyue and I are the other. Bai Lin, you’re on monitoring and data recording."

"Captain, that’s favoritism!"

Sun Yang immediately protested.

"Me and Han Ruoxi against you and Sister Qiuyue? That’s totally unfair!"

"There’s no such thing as fair."

Li Chang’an looked at him, his tone level.

"On a mission, the enemy doesn’t care if you’re weak.

If you think it’s unfair, prove me wrong with your skills."

Sun Yang was left speechless and could only scratch his head.

"Fine! I’ll give it everything I’ve got!"

"Alright. Get ready to begin."

Li Chang’an signaled for Bai Lin to activate the simulation.

As the simulation activated, the training grounds around them were replaced by the dim, sprawling structure of an Insect Hive.

The ground was slick and wet, the walls were covered in disgusting insect eggs, and a foul stench permeated the air.

"Chang’an, this simulation is pretty realistic,"

Shen Qiuyue murmured.

"They even simulated the smell!"

"It’s to make it as close to a real battle as possible."

Li Chang’an tightened his grip on his Saw Chain Sword.

"We’ll head left. You provide cover, I’ll clear the eggs."

On the other side, Sun Yang and Han Ruoxi began their advance.

Sun Yang kept his Pulse Gun at the ready, muttering complaints under his breath.

"Han Ruoxi, I’m serious, the Captain is too much. The two of us against them? Aren’t we just asking for a beatdown?"

"Less talk, more focus."

Han Ruoxi replied, her eyes scanning their surroundings vigilantly.

"We don’t need to win. We just have to slow them down as much as possible."

"Now that makes a lot of sense!"

Sun Yang broke into a grin.

"Alright, I’ll follow your lead!"

As the simulation progressed, the two teams began to clash.

Li Chang’an’s attacks were precise and swift. Every strike of his sword was clean and decisive, giving his opponents no opening.

Shen Qiuyue’s covering fire made him even more formidable, and together they suppressed nearly all of Sun Yang and Han Ruoxi’s counterattacks.

"Chang’an, you’re too fast!"

Sun Yang shouted as he fired and retreated.

"You’re not giving us a chance to breathe!"

"There’s no such thing as a ’chance to breathe’ on the battlefield,"

Li Chang’an retorted coolly.

"You either defeat your opponent, or you get defeated."

"I don’t plan on being defeated!"

Sun Yang gritted his teeth and adjusted the angle of his Pulse Gun.

"Take this!"

He fired off several rounds, attempting to force Li Chang’an back, but Li Chang’an was too fast. He had already dodged aside the instant Sun Yang pulled the trigger.

Meanwhile, Han Ruoxi unleashed a bolt of electricity in an attempt to disrupt Shen Qiuyue, but Shen Qiuyue anticipated the move and dodged it with ease.

The battle lasted twenty minutes. In the end, Li Chang’an and Shen Qiuyue were victorious.

"You performed well."

After the simulation ended, Li Chang’an looked at the panting Sun Yang and Han Ruoxi.

"But there’s still plenty of room for improvement, especially in your teamwork."

"Captain, I gave it my all!"

Sun Yang plopped onto the ground, gasping for breath.

"You and Sister Qiuyue are an unbeatable combo!"

"’Unbeatable’ is not an excuse,"

Li Chang’an said flatly.

"Every training session is about learning how to survive a real mission.

Remember that."

Sun Yang nodded. Though still a bit resentful, he knew Li Chang’an was right.

For the remainder of the training session, Li Chang’an coached them individually, and everyone benefited immensely from his guidance.

It was exhausting, but the squad’s cohesion had clearly improved.

They didn’t finish training until evening.

Back at the dormitory, everyone was too exhausted to move. Even Sun Yang was uncharacteristically quiet, just lying on the sofa and staring into space.

"Chang’an, do we have a mission tomorrow?"

Han Ruoxi asked, breaking the silence.

"Not yet confirmed."

Li Chang’an leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed.

"Mission or not, stay ready."

「The next morning」

Just as the sky began to lighten, the communicator in the Insect Hunter Squad dormitory suddenly blared, its tone sharp and piercing.

BEEP—BEEP—

Sun Yang groggily climbed out of bed and fumbled around his nightstand, muttering.

’What’s going on? Who’s making all that noise so early!’

The communicator continued to blare, its beeps growing more insistent.

The door to Li Chang’an’s room clicked open. He emerged, already sharp and alert, with no trace of grogginess.

"Assemble! Mission alert!"

Li Chang’an’s words startled Sun Yang, who was still lingering in bed, causing him to roll right onto the floor.

"Captain, what time is it?"

Sun Yang asked, rubbing his eyes, still half-asleep.

"The time doesn’t matter!"