Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Me, holding the team back? I’m the squad’s firepower core! Without me, you melee fighters would’ve been steamrolled by the Insect Race long ago!”

Sun Yang stood with his hands on his hips, a proud look on his face. ”Just watch me put on a show today!”

”Alright, what’s all the arguing about? Assemble!”

At Li Chang’an’s sharp command, the Insect Hunter Squad immediately got their gear together and followed him toward the mission preparation area.

In the mission preparation area, Instructor Wei was already waiting for them, holding a data sheet.

”Today’s mission is simple: reconnaissance on Insect Race activity.”

”The specific objective is to scout two areas within a fifty-kilometer radius of the base. You’ll operate in groups.”

”Your goal is to gather the latest locations of Insect Race nests and their potential routes of activity!”

Instructor Wei swept his gaze over the squad. ”Remember, no direct engagement. If you spot the Insect Race, report back immediately. Anyone who acts without authorization, don’t blame me for punishing you according to military Law!”

Sun Yang raised his hand and muttered, ”Instructor, what if the Insect Race spots us first? We can’t just sit around and wait to die, can we?”

Instructor Wei sneered. ”Then run! Aren’t your legs fast? If the Insect Race can’t catch you, you win!”

”Instructor, that’s a little harsh!”

Sun Yang looked aggrieved. ”I’m just worried about dragging my teammates down!”

”So you do know you’re a liability!”

Shen Qiuyue added coolly, shutting Sun Yang up completely.

”Alright, group assignments!”

Instructor Wei looked at his terminal. ”Group One: Li Chang’an, Han Ruoxi, Bai Lin.”

”Group Two: Shen Qiuyue, Sun Yang, Xiaohai.”

”You’ll move out separately. Depart in ten minutes!”

”Captain, I protest!”

Sun Yang immediately raised his hand. ”How come I’m with Shen Qiuyue again? Instructor, can’t you show some consideration for our group’s atmosphere?”

”You create the atmosphere yourselves. If you’re not satisfied, change yourselves!”

Instructor Wei finished speaking without even looking up, then directly transferred the mission data to each of their terminals.

”Oh, give it a rest. Let’s go!”

Shen Qiuyue had already turned and was walking toward the equipment area. ”If you waste any more time with your nonsense, don’t blame me for leaving you behind!”

Sun Yang sighed. ’Ugh, my life is so hard.’ ”Captain, don’t forget to leave some glory for us!”

Li Chang’an couldn’t be bothered with him. He led Han Ruoxi and Bai Lin to check their equipment, then headed toward the mission area.

Group One proceeded along a path on the outskirts of the base. While adjusting her Superpower Device, Han Ruoxi asked, ”Captain, isn’t this mission a little too easy? It feels like a walk in the park!”

”Simple missions often hide unexpected dangers!”

Li Chang’an scanned their surroundings without breaking stride. ”Don’t let your guard down. There could be Insect Race here at any moment!”

Bai Lin looked down at her terminal, her tone calm. ”There are faint signal fluctuations nearby. It might be residual traces of Insect Race activity. I’ll confirm further!”

Han Ruoxi pouted. ”The Insect Race can play with signals? I thought all they did was chase people.”

”Don’t underestimate them!”

Li Chang’an stopped and gestured for the team to draw closer. ”They’ve already started evolving more complex tactics. Some high-Level Insect Race can even command entire swarms!”

”So, we could be ambushed at any moment?”

Han Ruoxi frowned, a faint electric glow appearing in her palm. ”Then I’d better be ready to discharge at all times!”

Bai Lin nodded slightly. ”The signal source is getting closer. It’s likely about two hundred meters ahead!”

”Stay alert. Approach slowly!”

Li Chang’an ordered in a low voice, and the three of them moved forward cautiously.

Meanwhile, Group Two’s operation wasn’t going as smoothly.

”I’m serious, Shen Qiuyue, you’re walking way too fast! Can’t you wait for me?”

Sun Yang complained, panting. ”This is a recon mission, not a race!”

”If you can’t keep up, you can go back now!”

Shen Qiuyue didn’t look back, continuing her rapid pace.

”Agh, I’ve really met my match!”

Sun Yang muttered under his breath, but he didn’t dare stop, sticking close behind her.

Xiaohai glanced at them and asked, ”Can you two be quiet? Making this much noise on a recon mission, the Insect Race will have heard you long ago!”

”Yeah, yeah, so what if the Insect Race hears us? You’re not scared? You’ve got some nerve, Xiaohai!”

Sun Yang teased, but a cold glare from Shen Qiuyue silenced him.

The mission continued, with both groups approaching their separate target areas.

Group One’s path took them closer and closer to the Insect Race signal source.

Li Chang’an walked at the front, his steps steady, his Saw Chain Sword already gripped tightly in his hand.

He glanced back at Han Ruoxi and Bai Lin and said in a low voice,

”Be ready to retreat at a moment’s notice.”

”Bai Lin, have you confirmed the exact location of the signal source?”

Bai Lin stared at her terminal screen, fingers flying across it. ”It’s still not clear enough.”

”There’s a lot of signal interference. It might be a decoy signal deliberately released by the Insect Race, or there could be some kind of shielding device near the source!”

”A decoy signal? Are the Insect Race that smart?”

Han Ruoxi frowned slightly, a small ball of electricity forming in her hand. ”Don’t tell me they’ve evolved to the point of using tactical traps. That would be a huge problem!”

”The smarter they are, the more dangerous they are!”

Li Chang’an said calmly, ”But smarter Insect Race are usually worth more, too.”

”Let’s get a little closer and confirm the situation!”

Han Ruoxi pouted. ”They may be worth more, but you can’t trade points for your life if you’re dead.”

”Don’t go charging in too recklessly, Captain!”

Bai Lin looked up. ”Han Ruoxi is right. We should be cautious.”

”Another fifty meters ahead, the signal source should become clearer!”

The three continued forward. After just a few steps, Li Chang’an suddenly raised his hand, signaling them to stop.

He stared at a patch of tall grass ahead and said in a low voice, ”Stop. There’s movement!”

The grass was shaking slightly, and a faint, rustling sound could be heard, as if some creature was moving within it.

Han Ruoxi immediately raised her hand, electricity crackling in her palm. ”How about I fire a blast first and scare it out?”

”Don’t move!”

Li Chang’an snapped in a low voice. His Saw Chain Sword had already started up, emitting a faint mechanical CLICK. ”Bai Lin, can you pinpoint its exact location?”

Bai Lin quickly operated her terminal. ”Less than twenty meters away. The target is likely a small-type Insect Race!”

Li Chang’an nodded, slowly approached the tall grass, and cut away the obstructing vegetation with a light swing of his Saw Chain Sword.

In an instant, a fist-sized scout-type Insect Race shot out of the grass, heading straight for Bai Lin.

”Bai Lin, fall back!”

Li Chang’an shouted as he swung his Saw Chain Sword, precisely blocking the insect’s path.

The mechanical gears spun at high speed, instantly slicing the insect in two at the waist.

”Got it!”

He flicked the green fluid off his sword and scanned the area. ”These scout-types don’t operate alone. There are probably more of them around!”

Han Ruoxi quickly looked around and asked nervously, ”What if we attract a whole swarm? Shouldn’t we retreat first?”

”We can’t!”

Li Chang’an’s voice was deep. ”We find their nest, confirm the specific threat, and then we leave!”

Bai Lin quickly analyzed the data on her terminal. ”There’s another signal nearby, but it’s weaker than the last one.”

”It should be about a hundred meters ahead!”

”Keep moving!”

Li Chang’an took the lead, guiding the squad slowly toward the new target.

On the other side, Group Two’s situation was clearly more chaotic.

”Shen Qiuyue, can you slow down? It’s not like you’re in a rush to get home for dinner!”

Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain, panting as he followed Shen Qiuyue’s pace with his Pulse Gun shouldered.

”Shut up!”

Shen Qiuyue didn’t look back, her pace still steady. ”You talk more than you walk. I’m impressed you can still move at all!”

”No, I’m just concerned about our operational pace! If you keep charging ahead like this, what happens if we step right into an Insect Race nest?”

Sun Yang said, reaching out to tug on Xiaohai’s arm. ”Hey, say something! Don’t just stand there like a mute!”

Xiaohai stopped and looked up. ”I think we really are about to step into an Insect Race nest!”

”Huh?”

Sun Yang was instantly startled, immediately raising his Pulse Gun and looking around. ”For real? Don’t scare me like that!”

Shen Qiuyue frowned at Xiaohai. ”What’s going on?”