Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Today’s the big day!” Sun Yang said, walking at the head of the squad with a heavy firearm slung over his back, a look of excitement on his face. ”I’m telling you, I’m all set. Just watch me shine today!”

”When are you *not* saying you’re all set?” Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes from behind him, her voice full of exasperation. ”You said the same thing last time, and you nearly electrocuted yourself!”

”Hey, that was a tactical error. It doesn’t count!” Sun Yang grinned and glanced back at her, not the least bit embarrassed. ”See? I’ve made meticulous preparations this time. There definitely won’t be any more problems!”

”Meticulous preparations? With your meager skills, you’ve still got the nerve to brag?” Han Ruoxi pouted. ”When we run into the Insect Race later, don’t you dare drag us down again!”

”Alright, stop bickering,” Li Chang’an said coolly. ”This mission is a bit complicated. Don’t underestimate the enemy. Everyone, stay alert!”

Shen Qiuyue stood at the very rear of the squad, her hand gripping her High-Energy Dueling Sword. Her gaze was calm, showing no fear of the mission ahead.

She had always been a woman of few words, preferring to prove herself through her actions.

Bai Lin remained silent as ever, the tablet in his hands flashing continuously as it displayed all sorts of data.

He was always in charge of logistics and tech support, making today’s reconnaissance mission especially important for him.

”The mission location is near the border,” Li Chang’an said, looking at the mission briefing in his hand. ”Insect Race activity is frequent in that area. Once we get close, we need to be wary of the enemy’s reaction. Our mission is to provide cover and reconnaissance. The main objectives are to confirm enemy movements and ensure the border patrol squad can retreat safely.”

”Doesn’t sound like a walk in the park!” Sun Yang shrugged, but a grin of anticipation spread across his face. ”But at least we’ll get a tough fight out of it. This is great!”

”Can’t you just settle down?” Han Ruoxi looked at him helplessly. ”You’re like this before every mission, all excited like you’re itching for a brawl. I’m honestly worried you’ll get yourself killed one of these days!”

”Don’t worry, I’m hard to kill! The Insect Race can’t take me down,” Sun Yang’s grin widened. ”Besides, with you guys around, what do I have to be afraid of?”

”Enough with the wisecracks,” Li Chang’an cut their bickering short. ”Fall in, check your gear. We’re moving out!”

The Insect Hunter Squad boarded the troop transport, and the atmosphere inside grew quiet.

Li Chang’an sat next to the driver’s seat, his eyes fixed on the route map ahead. His fingers tapped lightly on the console as he quickly planned their next moves in his head.

”Captain, you nervous?” Sun Yang suddenly broke the silence.

”Nervous about what?” Li Chang’an replied without turning around, his tone still calm.

”You look so serious, you’re making the rest of us nervous!” Sun Yang teased with a laugh. ”This mission might be dangerous, but it’s not *that* serious, is it?”

”If you were any more relaxed, you’d have died on the battlefield long ago,” Li Chang’an shot him a sidelong glance. ”You’d be better off saving your energy for what’s coming.”

”I’m just trying to lighten up!” Sun Yang shrugged. ”No matter what happens, we have to face it head-on. Being scared is useless!”

”Being scared is useless, but blind optimism is even worse,” Li Chang’an reminded him. ”We still don’t know the Insect Race’s specific area of activity. We have to be careful with every move.”

Han Ruoxi yawned from the side. ”Captain, don’t be so grim, okay? This isn’t our squad’s first mission. Sun Yang’s just like that, you don’t have to pay him any mind.”

”Exactly!” Sun Yang immediately chimed in. ”See, Captain? Ruo Xi gets me!”

”The hell I do!” Han Ruoxi retorted with a laugh. ”You should really talk less. You’re always this noisy before a mission. It’s so annoying!”

”I’m just livening up the atmosphere!” Sun Yang patted his chest, speaking with righteous confidence.

”Alright, you two, quiet down for a bit.” Li Chang’an frowned. ”We’re almost at the mission site. Everyone, get ready!”

The troop transport stopped at an outpost on the base’s border. The Insect Hunter Squad filed out and immediately began their individual preparations.

”Han Ruoxi, you’re on remote watch. Sun Yang, you’ll provide fire support. Shen Qiuyue and I will handle frontline contact. Bai Lin, you’ll conduct reconnaissance from the rear and provide real-time intel on the enemy,” Li Chang’an assigned their roles concisely.

”Understood!” Han Ruoxi immediately switched into mission mode, quickly finding a high-ground position to set up her Electric Power Device and prepare for long-range support.

”No problem! Once I start firing, the Insect Race won’t be able to get anywhere near us!” Sun Yang hoisted his heavy Pulse Gun and took his position with a grin.

Shen Qiuyue said nothing, calmly checking her weapon before moving to stand beside Li Chang’an, awaiting orders.

Bai Lin was already off to the side, fiddling with his equipment. His fingers flew across the tablet, which periodically emitted the sound of data feedback.

”Captain, I’m picking up faint signals of Insect Race activity five hundred meters ahead, but the exact number is unclear,” Bai Lin reported in a low voice.

”Keep scanning. Get as much information as you can,” Li Chang’an nodded, then turned to the others. ”Everyone, stay on high alert. We’ll move once Bai Lin confirms the situation.”

”Agh, why can’t we just charge right in?” Sun Yang sounded impatient, but he didn’t act rashly.

”Cut the crap and follow orders!” Li Chang’an’s tone was firm, leaving no room for hesitation.

Sun Yang had no choice but to shut up. He gripped his Pulse Gun with both hands and began to survey his surroundings.

”Captain, the number of Insect Race ahead might be larger than we expected,” Bai Lin reported again, his brow furrowing slightly. ”The signals indicate they seem to have some level of organization!”

”Organization?” Li Chang’an narrowed his eyes, immediately understanding the implication. ”Everyone, be careful. This might not just be a roving band of insects!”

”Does that mean we’re in for a big fight?” Sun Yang’s eyes lit up when he heard that.

”You just love stirring up trouble, don’t you?” Han Ruoxi gave him a helpless look. ”Don’t get too excited. Once we actually run into them, we’ll see how long you last.”

”I can handle it! Just you watch!” Sun Yang declared confidently. ”If I can wipe out a wave of these bugs, I’ll be a hero of the Combat Group!”

”There you go, bragging again,” Shen Qiuyue commented coolly, her tone as calm as ever.

”Alright, enough bickering.” Li Chang’an raised a hand to quiet them down. ”Since the Insect Race is organized, we need to be even more careful and try to avoid a direct firefight.

Our mission is reconnaissance, not a frontal assault. Understood?”

”Understood!” they replied in unison.

”Good. Then we proceed as planned.” Li Chang’an nodded, then led the squad forward slowly.

The Insect Hunter Squad entered the Insect Race’s activity zone at the border. The faint stench of decay hung in the air. Everything around them was silent, save for the occasional gust of wind in the distance.

”Captain, there are traces of the Insect Race ahead, less than three hundred meters from our position,” Bai Lin reported in a low voice.

”Keep moving forward. Stay alert,” Li Chang’an’s voice was low and firm.

The Insect Hunter Squad continued onward, every member on high alert.

Sun Yang gripped his Pulse Gun tightly, while Han Ruoxi periodically scanned their surroundings, ready to release her Electric Energy at any moment.

Shen Qiuyue’s hand never left the hilt of her sword, ready to react to any sudden developments.

Li Chang’an led from the front, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding wasteland from time to time.

”Do you guys feel that? Why is it so quiet today?” Han Ruoxi said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on a point somewhere ahead. ”Shouldn’t there be some noise in an Insect Race activity zone? Why is it dead silent?”

”That’s the problem,” Li Chang’an answered calmly. ”It’s abnormally quiet. The Insect Race isn’t usually this docile, especially not in an active zone like this.”