Chapter 724 - 354: This Is Unbearable

"Han Ruoxi, don’t be so petty! I was just joking. Was that really necessary?"

"Sun Yang, how many times have I told you? Don’t touch my things!"

Han Ruoxi sounded very impatient.

"That’s the Recharging Device I made myself. What if you break it by messing around with it?"

"If it breaks, it can be fixed. I was just curious!"

Sun Yang sounded a little guilty.

"Curious my ass! If you mess with my stuff again, I’ll take apart your Pulse Gun!"

Han Ruoxi shouted angrily.

Li Chang’an sighed helplessly, stood up, and walked next door.

The door wasn’t closed, so he pushed it open to see Han Ruoxi with her hands on her hips, staring at an innocent-looking Sun Yang.

On the table sat a small metal device that looked like Sun Yang had taken it completely apart.

"What’s going on?"

Li Chang’an glanced over, his tone calm.

"Captain, you be the judge!"

Han Ruoxi pointed at the table.

"This guy was messing with my stuff, and now he’s made a total mess of it!"

"I didn’t do it on purpose!"

Sun Yang quickly waved his hands.

"I was just curious and wanted to see how it worked!"

"Study, my ass!"

Han Ruoxi was furious.

"Alright, both of you stop arguing!"

Li Chang’an walked over and picked up the device to examine it.

"Han Ruoxi, can this still be fixed?"

"It can be, but it’s a huge hassle!"

Han Ruoxi frowned.

"I’ll have to recalibrate it all over again tomorrow. He doesn’t understand any of this!"

"Then we’ll deal with it tomorrow."

Li Chang’an put the device back on the table and turned to look at Sun Yang.

"From now on, don’t touch other people’s things without permission. Understand?"

"Understood!"

Sun Yang nodded repeatedly.

"Alright, break it up."

Li Chang’an waved his hand and walked out of the room.

"Get some sleep. No more fighting."

Back in his room, Li Chang’an had barely sat down when Shen Qiuyue walked in.

She handed him a thin manual.

"These are the records from today’s simulated training. Take a look and see if there are any problems."

Li Chang’an took it, flipped through it, and nodded.

"The records are very detailed. Thanks."

"Also, a reminder."

Shen Qiuyue said, looking at him.

"Tomorrow’s mission is to clear out an outer Insect Hive. It shouldn’t be too difficult, but we need to be careful and not underestimate the enemy."

"I know."

Li Chang’an closed the manual.

"You should get some rest. We assemble early tomorrow morning."

Shen Qiuyue nodded and turned to leave.

「The next morning, the Insect Hunter Squad assembled on time in the mission hall.」

The mission hall was bustling with people, and many other squads were also making pre-mission preparations.

On the hall’s wall was a huge light screen, scrolling through the details of various missions.

Li Chang’an stood at the front of the team, glancing up at the screen.

"Clear outer Insect Hive, mission code 034."

Li Chang’an muttered, then turned to his squad members.

"This is today’s mission. The objective is simple, but the terrain is complex. There could be ambushes. Have you all completed your equipment checks?"

"No problem!"

Sun Yang raised his Pulse Gun, grinning with confidence.

"Captain, don’t you worry about me. I’m in top form!"

"I’m good to go, too!"

Han Ruoxi patted the Small Electric Power Amplifier on her back.

"I spent all night fixing it. Just finished calibrating, and it’s more stable than before!"

"Equipment checked, status normal."

Shen Qiuyue answered concisely.

"System calibration is complete. Battlefield analysis module is ready."

Bai Lin’s voice was calm.

"Excellent."

Li Chang’an nodded.

"Then let’s move out. No time to waste."

After accepting the mission, the squad rode in a light armored vehicle to the mission location.

The space inside the vehicle wasn’t large, and everyone took their seats.

Sun Yang was, as usual, the most talkative one. He chattered endlessly while cleaning his gun.

"Honestly, I really don’t get what these Insect Race guys are thinking, building a hive in such a remote place!"

Sun Yang glanced out the window.

"You guys think there’s an Insect King in this hive? If there is, maybe we can get some practice in early, huh?"

"Can you just shut up?"

Han Ruoxi looked at him, speechless.

"Did you think we were going on a picnic? ’Practice in early’? If we really ran into an Insect King, you’d be the first one to run, and you’d be faster than anyone!"

"I would not run!"

Sun Yang immediately retorted.

"Don’t look down on me! I, Sun Yang, have some backbone!"

"Then could you show some of that backbone by talking a little less?"

Shen Qiuyue shot him a cold glance.

"You’re constantly making noise. Can’t you be quiet?"

"Fine, fine, I’ll stop talking!"

Sun Yang waved his hands, a look of resignation on his face.

’No sense of humor at all!’

Li Chang’an was sitting next to the driver’s seat, leaning back with his eyes closed to rest.

He listened to his teammates’ conversation without interjecting, only speaking up to give a warning as the vehicle was about to reach the target area.

"We’re here. Everyone, on your guard."

The armored vehicle stopped at the edge of a desolate field. The ground was uneven and overgrown with weeds, and the faint outline of an Insect Hive entrance was visible in the distance.

After getting out of the vehicle, the squad quickly checked their gear, then stood in a line, waiting for Li Chang’an’s orders.

"The Insect Hive entrance looks ordinary, but the internal terrain is unknown. There could be traps."

Li Chang’an looked at the group.

"I’ll take point. Shen Qiuyue will follow behind me. Han Ruoxi is responsible for covering fire in the middle. Sun Yang, you take the rear. Bai Lin will provide information support as needed. Understood?"

"Understood!"

The squad members replied in unison.

"Alright, move out!"

As the squad approached the Insect Hive entrance, Han Ruoxi asked in a low voice.

"Chang’an, this entrance looks pretty quiet. Do you think it might be an empty hive?"

"Impossible."

Li Chang’an shook his head.

"The Insect Race never abandons its hives easily. The silence is probably a trap. Everyone, be careful."

They slowly entered the Insect Hive. The surrounding air grew increasingly humid, and the tunnel walls were covered in a mucus-like substance.

Sun Yang grumbled under his breath.

"So gross. Are these bugs just naturally fond of living in places like this?"

"Shut up!"

Shen Qiuyue shot back.

"You’ll just give away our position like that!"

"I wasn’t that loud..." Sun Yang muttered, but still closed his mouth.

"Movement ahead!"

Bai Lin suddenly warned in a low voice.

"Radar’s picking up faint heat signatures. Bugs are active up ahead!"

"Prepare for combat!"

Li Chang’an ordered quietly, then tightened his grip on his Saw Chain Sword and continued forward.

Sure enough, they hadn’t gone far before a swarm of the Insect Race suddenly poured out from around a corner.

They weren’t particularly large, but they moved with incredible speed, their sharp forelimbs glinting menacingly.

"Here they come!"

Sun Yang excitedly raised his Pulse Gun.

"Watch this!"

He took out the two bugs at the front with one shot. The remaining insects immediately scattered, attempting to flank them from both sides.

Li Chang’an’s eyes narrowed. He swiftly met them head-on, cleanly and decisively severing the forelimbs of several bugs with his sword.

"Han Ruoxi, watch the left flank!"

Li Chang’an reminded her while fighting.

"Got it!"

The Electric Power Amplifier in Han Ruoxi’s hands activated instantly. A blue arc of electricity shot toward the swarm on the left, scorching several bugs on the spot.

"I’ll take the right!"

Shen Qiuyue calmly swung her High-Energy Dueling Sword, precisely piercing the bodies of several bugs.

"There are more behind us!"

Bai Lin’s voice came again.

"Not many, but they’re approaching fast!"

"Sun Yang, watch our rear!"

Li Chang’an immediately commanded.

"Got it!"

Sun Yang spun around, aimed his Pulse Gun to the rear, and fired several shots, taking care of all the bugs attempting a sneak attack.

After a few minutes of fighting, the tunnel finally fell silent.

After confirming the area was secure, Li Chang’an raised a hand, signaling for everyone to stop.

"Is everyone alright?"

He glanced around at the team.

"I’m fine!"

Sun Yang answered loudly.

"I’m fine, too!"

Han Ruoxi nodded.

"Status optimal."

Shen Qiuyue’s voice was as calm as ever.

"Equipment normal. We can keep moving."

Bai Lin said simply.