"What do we need to prepare for?" Li Chang’an asked.
"The most important thing right now is to stay vigilant and make sure the base’s defenses are watertight!" Commander Liu Na instructed. "Your squad has performed well, but you still need to improve your ability to handle large-scale swarms.
I’ll be arranging more intensive training and tactical drills."
Li Chang’an nodded. "Understood. My team and I will give it our full cooperation."
"And one more thing..." Liu Na paused. "We might be facing more powerful enemies. It’s not just the Insect Race—the movements of the Rebel Army and Alien Martial Artists also warrant our attention.
Your missions are about to get more complicated."
"The Rebel Army and Alien Martial Artists?" Li Chang’an’s eyebrow twitched. "They’re starting to stir now, too?"
"Yes," Liu Na sighed. "Recent intelligence reports indicate frequent activity from the Rebel Army and Alien Martial Artists, particularly in the outer regions of Lion’s Fang Star.
It’s highly likely the recent Insect Race activity is connected to them in some way."
After hearing this, Li Chang’an nodded slightly. "It looks like the days ahead won’t be easy."
Liu Na stared at the map and said slowly, "Be ready. The battles to come will not be simple.
Your squad is one of the base’s key assets. We’re all counting on you."
"We will not let you down!" Li Chang’an said firmly. Then he stood up, turned, and left the command room.
As night deepened, the base grew quiet, and the members of the Insect Hunter Squad returned to their dorms.
Sun Yang lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
He grabbed his pillow and threw it over his face, thinking about the day’s battle. He couldn’t help muttering, ’Ugh, why does it feel like something’s more and more off? The Insect Race is getting harder and harder to deal with. Is it just me? Am I off my game?’
After a few minutes, Sun Yang finally sat up, grabbed his terminal, and sent a message to Han Ruoxi: "Han Ruoxi, you still awake? I can’t sleep. Wanna chat for a bit?"
A few seconds later, his terminal lit up with Han Ruoxi’s reply: "You’re still awake? What are you thinking about?"
Sun Yang smiled and typed quickly, "Don’t even ask. I just feel like today’s mission was strange. The Insect Race... they didn’t seem normal!"
There was a pause before she replied: "You think so too? I thought I was the only one who felt something was off.
Shen Qiuyue said the same thing. The Insect Race’s reactions were too slow, like they were holding back!"
"Yeah, I thought they seemed like they were deliberately playing weak, too!" Sun Yang typed as he rolled over in bed. "But what do you think? Are they planning something big behind our backs? Did Brother Chang’an say anything?"
Han Ruoxi replied, "Brother Chang’an also thinks something’s wrong, but he’s not sure what.
But he said Commander Liu Na has already started to increase security. We might be facing a more complex situation!"
Sun Yang felt a flash of anxiety as he read the message, but he maintained a relaxed facade in his reply. "Hey, it’s fine. We’re the Insect Hunter Squad. It doesn’t matter how smart the Insect Race is, we’ll crush them all the same!"
Han Ruoxi replied, "That’s easy to say, but I think we’re going to face bigger trouble ahead.
Brother Yang, you’d better not get carried away like you did today!"
Sun Yang sent a laughing emoji. "Don’t worry. Who do you think Sun Yang is? I’m always steady and careful! I’ll be more cautious next time!"
Han Ruoxi sent a resigned-looking emoji. "Oh, please. Just get some sleep. You have training tomorrow!"
Sun Yang replied with a laugh, "Alright, alright. I’ll listen to you.
See you tomorrow!"
Han Ruoxi sent one last smiley face. "Good night!"
Sun Yang put down his terminal. A wave of drowsiness finally washed over him, and before long, he was sound asleep.
「The next morning」
Long before the base alarm sounded, Li Chang’an was already awake, standing outside his dorm and doing some light warm-up exercises.
He was used to rising early. No matter how tense the missions got, he always maintained this rhythm.
It wasn’t just for physical training; it was to keep his mind sharp and calm.
Just as he was stretching his legs, Han Ruoxi approached from a distance, yawning.
"Brother Chang’an, you’re starting this early?" Han Ruoxi rubbed her eyes, looking like she wasn’t fully awake yet.
"I’m used to waking up early," Li Chang’an replied flatly, continuing his movements. "Training will be more intense today. You’d better be sharp."
Han Ruoxi shook her head. "I know. But about what we discussed last night... do you think the Insect Race is really planning a major move?"
Li Chang’an stopped his movements and fell silent for a moment before speaking. "It’s possible. But it’s also possible it was just a probe.
The Insect Race never acts without a reason. There must be a larger plan behind this!"
"You’re saying... their goal might not just be to invade Lion’s Fang Star?" Han Ruoxi asked with a frown.
Li Chang’an nodded. "It’s very likely.
Lion’s Fang Star isn’t an important stronghold for the Insect Race. But if they’re trying to establish a forward base here, then there must be a larger strategic goal behind it!"
After listening, Han Ruoxi thought for a moment. "So what do we do? We can’t just wait for them to attack, can we?"
Li Chang’an chuckled. "What we need to do is remain vigilant and be ready to fight at all times.
Whatever the Insect Race’s objective is, when they make their move, we have to strike them and catch them completely off guard!"
Han Ruoxi nodded. "Understood, Brother Chang’an.
I’ll go let Sun Yang know, then. Don’t want him sleeping in!"
"If he dares to be late, I’ll drag him out of bed myself," Li Chang’an said, a playful glint in his eyes.
Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh. "Then he definitely won’t dare to be late. After all, he’s scared to death of you!"
Just then, a lazy voice suddenly called out from a distance, "What are you two chatting about? Getting up this early is putting a lot of pressure on me!"
The two turned to see Sun Yang, a jacket draped over his shoulders, shuffling toward them.
"I knew you wouldn’t be sleeping in," Li Chang’an glanced at him. "Since you’re here, you might as well train with us."
Sun Yang rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Jeez, Chang’an, you’re such a workaholic.
I only got a few hours of sleep, and you’re already out here stretching.
If I hadn’t heard the commotion outside, I really would’ve stayed in bed a while longer!"
Han Ruoxi smiled. "You’ve got some nerve. But you’d better get moving. Today’s not going to be a walk in the park!"
"Easy? I never expected today to be easy!" Sun Yang’s mouth twitched as he raised his arms in a big stretch. "Alright, let’s get moving. Don’t want you two calling me lazy!"
The three of them stood in the open area and began their own simple warm-ups.
A short while later, Shen Qiuyue and Bai Lin arrived as well.
The moment she saw Sun Yang, Shen Qiuyue said coldly, "You actually made it on time. I’m surprised."
Sun Yang shrugged with an innocent expression. "Come on, my lady, can’t you be a little easier on me? I’m here on time, aren’t I?"
Shen Qiuyue ignored him and started her own training.
Bai Lin, as silent and reserved as ever, went off to the side, opened his terminal, and seemed to be doing some data analysis.
Li Chang’an saw that they were all present and nodded. "Okay, since everyone’s here, let’s begin."
He briefly explained the day’s training plan. "Today’s training will focus on tactical coordination, specifically how to counter attacks from large-scale Insect Race swarms.
Everyone, remember: the Insect Race doesn’t just rely on brute force. They have their own tactics, and we can’t afford to be careless!"
"Hey, don’t worry about it. Our team’s coordination is rock-solid!" Sun Yang said, patting his chest confidently.
"I hope you can still say that later," Li Chang’an responded dryly, then started leading everyone through the training.