Chapter 732 - 358: Miss Han Still Cares About Me

"We can’t afford the repair fees for the base!"

"I’m not that stupid!"

Han Ruoxi pouted.

"As if I haven’t been around!"

"Alright then, have fun with it. Just don’t be late for assembly."

With that, Li Chang’an turned and left.

He hadn’t gone far when he saw Sun Yang sauntering over from the direction of the dorms, holding a large mug and humming a tune.

"Sun Yang, how are you so idle this early in the morning? Did you turn in yesterday’s training report?"

Li Chang’an frowned and reached out to stop him.

"Whoa, Captain, why so serious? The report was turned in ages ago. You think I’d forget?"

Sun Yang looked unconcerned and lifted the mug in his hand.

"Besides, I’m just on my way to make an energy drink to get my levels up.

We have physical conditioning today, don’t we?"

"Enough with the excuses!"

Li Chang’an shot him a glare.

"If I see you slacking off later, you’ll see how I deal with you!"

"Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare slack off!"

Sun Yang waved dismissively with a cheeky grin, then jogged around Li Chang’an and ran off.

On the other side of the training grounds, Shen Qiuyue was sparring with Instructor Wei Zhuang, testing their Sword Skills. Their movements were so fast they were a blur.

"Shen Qiuyue, you’re fighting pretty fiercely today. Did you skip breakfast or something?"

Wei Zhuang brought his sword to a halt, steadied himself, and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he teased her.

"Instructor, I just felt you’ve been a bit lax recently. I thought I’d get you on your toes!"

Shen Qiuyue lowered her sword, her tone impassive.

"Alright, it’s good that you’re so thoughtful. But remember not to push yourself so hard next time. Be careful you don’t throw out your back!"

Wei Zhuang laughed and waved his hand.

"Okay, go meet up with the Captain. There’s a new mission today!"

Meanwhile, Bai Lin walked out of the operations room, a stack of files in his arms. It looked like he had just finished his work.

"Bai Lin, you’ve looked busier than any of us these past few days. Is the base’s network acting up again?"

Li Chang’an walked up to him and asked.

"Yeah, the enemy’s signal jamming has gotten stronger. I spent some time last night fixing it!"

Bai Lin nodded and handed the files to Li Chang’an.

"And this is today’s mission intel. I just finished organizing it!"

"Alright, nice work!"

Li Chang’an casually flipped through them, not forgetting to add,

"But don’t keep pulling all-nighters. We can’t have our team’s hacker dying an early death!"

"I know my limits."

Bai Lin’s tone was mild as he turned and left.

Li Chang’an returned to the assembly point with the files. The rest of the team had already gathered.

"Today’s mission is simple. We’re heading to the West District to clear out an abandoned factory occupied by the Insect Race!"

Li Chang’an scanned the group.

"The main objective is reconnaissance. No reckless charging in. Anyone who drags the team down will be running ten laps when we get back!"

"Hey, Captain, I get the feeling you’re aiming that specifically at me."

Sun Yang raised his hand in protest.

"Don’t you worry, my performance will be flawless!"

"All you do is run your mouth!"

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

"Let’s see if you can dodge the Insect Race’s sneak attacks later!"

"Sneak attacks? That depends on whether I *let* them sneak attack me!"

Sun Yang said with a completely unconcerned look.

"Alright, quiet down, everyone!"

Li Chang’an clapped his hands.

"Get in the vehicle, let’s move out. Stop dawdling!"

The team boarded the transport vehicle, which slowly started up and headed toward the mission location.

Inside the transport, the atmosphere was quiet for a moment, until Sun Yang spoke up again.

"So, how many of the Insect Race do you think we’ll run into this time? I hope it’s not just a bunch of small fry again. There’s no fun in fighting them!"

"Can you just not talk?"

Shen Qiuyue shot him a sidelong glance.

"The mission hasn’t even started, and all you’re thinking about is whether it’ll be a fun fight?"

"What else is there? Are we really supposed to boost our combat record with a small-time job like clearing out a factory?"

Sun Yang shrugged, a look of innocence on his face.

"Enough with the trash talk. We’ll see when we get there!"

Li Chang’an said, one hand braced against the vehicle’s wall.

"Remember, reconnaissance is the priority. No messing around!"

The vehicle soon came to a stop. The team disembarked one by one and headed toward the abandoned factory.

The factory entrance was desolate, with nothing but dilapidated buildings and scattered metal fragments.

Han Ruoxi reached out, forming an electric arc to scout the path ahead.

"There’s no movement. Feels empty!"

Han Ruoxi frowned.

"Don’t let your guard down. The Insect Race isn’t that simple!"

Li Chang’an motioned for everyone to spread out and search.

A few minutes later, Shen Qiuyue suddenly said in a low voice,

"Movement over here. Looks like an ambush!"

"Everyone be careful. Prepare for combat!"

Li Chang’an ordered quietly.

The words had barely left his mouth when several members of the Insect Race burst out from the rubble, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged at them.

"Don’t panic! Hold the formation!"

Li Chang’an roared, swinging his Saw Chain Sword as he charged straight for the largest one.

Sun Yang immediately raised his Pulse Gun and fired several shots at the nearest insectoid.

"These things are disgusting. And they have the nerve to jump out and scare people!"

"Less talking, more focus!"

Shen Qiuyue swiftly drew her High-Energy Dueling Sword and cleaved at one of the creatures with a clean, decisive strike.

"Bai Lin, you’re up! You got anything that can control these bugs?"

Han Ruoxi shouted as she flung an arc of electricity.

Bai Lin was already prone behind cover, rapidly operating his personal device.

"I’m trying to jam their movement signals! Give me some time!"

"Time? You’d better hurry up! These bugs aren’t going to wait for you!"

Sun Yang griped as he took several quick steps back, his Pulse Gun blasting a beam of light that shattered the head of an approaching insectoid.

Li Chang’an forced back two of the creatures with a horizontal slash of his sword, then glanced at Han Ruoxi.

"Don’t waste too much Energy! There might be another ambush up ahead!"

"I know, don’t worry!"

Han Ruoxi replied, but the electric arc in her hand didn’t stop, precisely striking another one of the insectoids.

Shen Qiuyue said nothing more, focusing on suppressing the enemy before her with her sword. Every strike was swift and decisive, with no wasted motion.

"Got it!"

Bai Lin suddenly shouted. Immediately after, the movements of several insectoids slowed noticeably.

"Nice one!"

Li Chang’an seized the opportunity, piercing the largest insectoid’s head with his sword. Seeing this, the others let out strange hisses and quickly retreated deeper into the ruins.

"Should we give chase?"

Sun Yang asked while reloading his magazine.

"No. We finish our recon as planned, then pull out!"

Li Chang’an glanced at him.

"Our main objective is to confirm if the factory is dangerous, not to complicate things!"

"Fine, you’re the boss!"

Sun Yang shrugged and shouldered his gun.

"Keep searching. Be careful they don’t circle back and ambush us!"

Li Chang’an led the team forward cautiously.

Walking in the middle of the formation, Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but complain,

"These bugs are so annoying. They’re always hiding in the ruins, which makes them hard to get!"

"That’s because you don’t like fighting them up close. If it were me, I’d just wipe out their nest. It’d be much easier!"

Sun Yang couldn’t resist retorting.

"You’re all talk. When a real fight breaks out, you run faster than anyone!"

Shen Qiuyue said in a cold tone.

"When have I ever run? Don’t you slander me!"

Sun Yang retorted indignantly.

"That’s enough! Stop bickering!"

Li Chang’an said without turning his head.

"Keep arguing and I’ll make you two go catch the ones that just got away!"

"Ahem, Captain, our mistake!"

Sun Yang immediately backed down and fell silent.

The search continued for nearly half an hour. The team didn’t encounter any more of the Insect Race, but they did discover some strange devices.

"What are these things for?"

Han Ruoxi asked, pointing at a dilapidated machine.

Bai Lin crouched down to study it for a moment.

"It’s likely a device the Insect Race used to transmit jamming signals, but it looks like it’s already broken!"

"Take some parts back with you. They might be useful!"

Li Chang’an ordered.

"Everyone else, keep checking. See if we missed anything!"

A little while later, Shen Qiuyue pulled a black metal plate out from a corner.

"This insignia... it looks like one used by the Rebel Army!"

"The Rebel Army? Are those guys colluding with the Insect Race?"

Sun Yang looked astonished.

"Don’t jump to conclusions. We’ll take it back for the commander to analyze!"

Li Chang’an shook his head.

"Alright, mission complete. Let’s pull out!"

The team quickly cleaned up the site and returned to the base with the items they had found.

After returning to the base, Li Chang’an handed over the collected items to Commander Liu Na.