Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Hearing Li Chang’an’s question, Su Ruobing’s just-stabilized emotions seemed to falter again. She took several deep breaths before shaking her head. “This has nothing to do with you. Don’t get involved!”

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Li Chang’an couldn’t help but smile. He said seriously, “Chairman Su, I’m afraid I don’t understand. We’re partners, and you own twenty percent of my Night City Military Technology Group. Isn’t it a little too late to be saying things like this has nothing to do with me, or that you don’t want me involved?”

Hearing Li Chang’an’s response, Su Ruobing was taken aback.

After a long moment, she gave a wry smile. “I’m sorry…”

Li Chang’an waved his hand. “There’s no need for that. We’re in the same boat now. If you keep hiding things from me, you can bet Gu Ruilong won’t go easy on us when he makes his move!”

Hearing this, Su Ruobing knew Li Chang’an was right.

She immediately composed herself and said, “Let’s start with my grandfather. Do you know why the cities of Kyoto and Shanghai are so massive?”

Li Chang’an shook his head. ’Why are Kyoto and Shanghai so big?’

To him and everyone else, it just seemed natural.

After all, Kyoto and Shanghai had been this large ever since the day they were born.

People are always like that, taking for granted what has always existed and treating what hasn’t as some incomprehensible, terrifying beast.

Su Ruobing had no intention of keeping him in suspense and explained directly, “Because beneath Kyoto and Shanghai lie the two largest Dark Tide exits in the entire Main World. It also seems to involve a concept called the ’Dark Source’!”

“I don’t know what that concept means exactly. I only know that the Dark Source is definitely related to the Dark Tide. Also, among our Dragon Country’s Reincarnators, probably more than eighty percent of the top-tier ones are stationed near those two exits. They rarely ever leave!”

Li Chang’an’s expression grew serious. He looked at Su Ruobing and asked, “So? What does this have to do with your grandfather?”

Su Ruobing continued, “My grandfather was stationed at the Dark Tide exit near Kyoto. Ever since I was little, as far back as I can remember, he was always guarding that place. He would only come back for a very short time each year…”

“But four years ago, my grandfather suddenly disappeared. They said he was lost in the depths of the darkness. I’ve never seen him since. Because of that, the Su Family’s fortunes plummeted!”

Hearing this, Li Chang’an nodded.

He carefully considered the cause and effect before speaking. “So it was your grandfather’s disappearance that led to the Su Family’s decline. Then what about the twelve seats Gu Ruilong mentioned?”

Su Ruobing’s expression grew complicated. “The twelve seats of the Human Alliance… each one represents one of the most powerful factions in the Reincarnator world. They hold the power to establish the Order and rules of this world!”

“Our Dragon Country holds three of the Human Alliance’s twelve seats. Originally, both the Su Family and the Gu Family were just a step below that level. But now, according to Gu Ruilong, the Gu Family has somehow managed to forcefully seize one of those seats…”

Hearing this, Li Chang’an finally understood why Su Ruobing had looked so grim earlier.

’So after all this, it’s because the Gu Family is growing stronger while the Su Family is getting weaker. It’s causing her a great deal of psychological stress and pressure.’

Li Chang’an didn’t seem to have any good solutions for this at the moment.

But after a moment’s thought, he said, “Regardless, we’ll deal with whatever comes our way. As long as we can provide enough value to the Human Alliance, and since the Gu Family doesn’t have absolute control over the entire Alliance or the Dragon Country yet, we still have a chance. A chance to survive in the cracks…”

There were other things Li Chang’an didn’t say out loud.

’At my current growth rate,’

’it probably won’t be long before I develop rapidly and pose a formal threat to the Gu Family’s position.’

’This is something the Gu Family could not predict.’

’After all, no matter how clever Gu Ruilong is, he couldn’t possibly know how many cards I hold. As long as I have a little more time to grow…’

’by the time the Gu Family belatedly realizes what’s happening, it will be too late to stop me.’

Hearing Li Chang’an’s words, Su Ruobing wasn’t sure if it was meant as comfort or something else, but after thinking it over, she did feel a little encouraged.

After all, things had already come to this. Panicking was useless.

All she could do was handle her current situation as best she could and do everything possible to protect herself while caught in the middle.

Looking at Li Chang’an, Su Ruobing’s expression became complicated again. She never expected that in the face of such immense pressure—pressure that even she felt she couldn’t withstand—a young man not yet twenty could face it all so calmly.

Not only could he control his own emotions, but he could even turn around and comfort her.

Shaking her head to clear away the messy thoughts, Su Ruobing stood up and said seriously, “You’re right. We’ll take it one step at a time. But you must be extremely careful in the upcoming regional tournament. I suspect Gu Ruilong will try to find a way to deal with you!”

At this, Su Ruobing couldn’t help but start grinding her teeth. “After dealing with him so many times, you should know what kind of person he is. Once he sets his mind on something, he’ll use any dirty trick in the book to achieve his goal. There’s nothing we can imagine that he won’t dare to do!”

…