Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Get some rest. Don’t waste time.”

Sun Yang sighed as he watched Li Chang’an walk away.

”Our Captain’s getting colder and colder.”

”Cold is more reliable than you,” Shen Qiuyue said flatly, turning to leave the rest area.

”I think Sister Qiuyue is right!” Han Ruoxi said, standing up and tossing an empty snack bag into the trash.

”Let’s get to bed. Tomorrow’s going to be another rough one.”

”Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you,” Sun Yang said with a wave of his hand, slumping onto the sofa.

”Still, I’d better save some energy for the next mission. Otherwise, the Captain will chew my head off.”

The next morning, the entire Insect Hunter Squad was assembled in the conference room, their expressions varied.

Li Chang’an stood before a projection screen, a briefing in hand.

”We have a new mission,” Li Chang’an said, getting straight to the point.

”This time, the objective is to track a Rebel Army squad suspected of colluding with the Insect Race.

They’ve been active on the outskirts of the base lately. They might be providing the Insect Race with intelligence or supplies.”

”The Rebel Army? Aren’t they one of the base’s primary targets?” Han Ruoxi asked, looking confused.

”Why are they suddenly mixed up with the Insect Race?”

”Intel’s analysis shows this group from the Rebel Army has been unusually active lately,” Li Chang’an said, pointing to the map on the screen.

”They’re most likely the Insect Race’s liaison on Lion’s Fang Star.

High command has ordered us to coordinate with other squads, lock down their area of activity, and, if necessary, eliminate them.”

”Are we on tracking duty or leading the assault?” Shen Qiuyue asked.

”Primarily tracking and reconnaissance. We need to avoid alerting them,” Li Chang’an said, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

”However, once the target is confirmed and we have the right opportunity, we have clearance to engage.”

”Captain, do we have backup this time?” Sun Yang asked cautiously.

”We do, but they’re on standby on the perimeter. It’ll take them over fifteen minutes to provide support,” Li Chang’an answered coldly.

”Which means we’re on our own for the most part.”

”Fighting on our own again...” Sun Yang muttered.

”It’s just high-intensity work day in and day out. They never let us catch our breath.”

”Sun Yang, you’ve got time to complain?” Han Ruoxi shot him a glare.

”Why don’t you just stay behind at the base and be our messenger?”

”Heh heh, come on now. I was just venting. Don’t take it seriously, Captain!” Sun Yang said, forcing a smile.

”If there are no other questions, move out,” Li Chang’an ordered with a wave of his hand.

”Finish your gear checks. We assemble in fifteen.”

...

Before setting out, the squad was busy in the armory.

”Since we’re tracking the Rebel Army, we’ll probably be out in the field for a while,” Bai Lin said, fiddling with his terminal.

”I packed some extra jammers, just in case they spot us.”

”That gadget of yours better not crap out on us at a critical moment,” Sun Yang said, cradling and wiping his Pulse Gun.

”The chances of my gear failing are lower than yours,” Bai Lin replied calmly, completely unfazed by Sun Yang’s jab.

”Alright, forget I said anything,” Sun Yang said, rolling his eyes and turning to Shen Qiuyue.

”Sister Qiuyue, if we actually run into the Insect Race, you’ll be the one charging in first, right?”

”Who engages first will depend on the situation,” Shen Qiuyue replied calmly.

”But as long as you don’t hold us back, the fight shouldn’t be too difficult.”

”Look at you, picking on me again!” Sun Yang clutched his chest dramatically.

”Can’t you guys show a little more faith in me?”

”How about you learn to not let targets slip by first?” Han Ruoxi retorted, walking over with her gear.

”Otherwise, we have to clean up your mess on every single mission.”

”Alright, everyone shut up,” Li Chang’an said, appearing at the door.

”Time’s up. Assemble.”

...

After setting out, the squad passed through a dense forest, gradually approaching the target area.

”This place is really in the middle of nowhere,” Sun Yang complained under his breath, stepping on a thick carpet of fallen leaves.

”How did the Rebel Army even find a place like this to hole up? I bet there isn’t even a latrine around here.”

”If you really want to know, you can go ask one of them after we catch them,” Han Ruoxi said, rolling her eyes.

”Though I doubt they’d bother answering you.”

”Ruo Xi, that was just brutal,” Sun Yang said, shaking his head helplessly.

”Quiet,” Li Chang’an ordered in a low voice.

”We’ve entered the target area. Stay alert and don’t get spotted.”

The squad immediately fell silent and spread out, maintaining a concealed formation.

Bai Lin constantly adjusted his terminal, monitoring the surrounding area for signal fluctuations.

”Weak Energy fluctuations two hundred meters ahead,” Bai Lin reported in a hushed voice.

”Could be Rebel Army equipment.”

”Everyone, be careful,” Li Chang’an whispered, signaling with his hand as he led the way forward.

A few minutes later, they discovered a camp hidden in a thicket. Several members of the Rebel Army were bustling about, appearing to be transmitting some sort of data.

”They don’t look like your average Rebel Army grunts,” Han Ruoxi whispered.

”Their gear is more advanced than we anticipated.”

”You think the Insect Race is involved?” Sun Yang asked in a hushed voice.

”It’s highly likely,” Li Chang’an said, his eyes calm.

”Bai Lin, log their equipment models and do your best to decrypt the transmission.”

Bai Lin nodded, crouching down to operate his terminal.

”Will they spot us?” Han Ruoxi asked with a frown.

”They won’t. Bai Lin’s tech is flawless,” Li Chang’an stated with confidence.

”But we need to be prepared for the unexpected.”

”What if a fight breaks out?” Shen Qiuyue asked.

”Our priority is to destroy their equipment,” Li Chang’an answered.

”We can’t let the data fall into the hands of the Insect Race.”

...

Bai Lin reported in a low voice.

”The transmission is encrypted; I can’t decode it yet.

But I can confirm they’re definitely connected to the Insect Race.”

”Good,” Li Chang’an nodded.

”Everyone else, prepare to engage. As soon as Bai Lin is done, we move.”

The squad members adjusted their stances, readying themselves for combat.

The air grew thick with tension, yet every member of the squad remained exceptionally calm.

”Done,” Bai Lin said quietly.

”Data backed up. We’re good to go.”

”Good,” Li Chang’an said, drawing his Saw Chain Sword.

”Engage!”

”Destroy the equipment! Take out the sentries first!”

On Li Chang’an’s command, the Insect Hunter Squad moved in.

Han Ruoxi struck first, unleashing an arc of electricity that precisely hit a communications device on the edge of the Rebel Army camp. It erupted in sparks, throwing the rebels into a panic.

”We’re under attack! Fire back!” one of the rebels in the camp yelled.

”Targets are exposed! Sun Yang, lay down suppressing fire!” Li Chang’an commanded calmly, charging toward the camp with his Saw Chain Sword swinging.

”Copy that, Captain! Watch this!” Sun Yang shouldered his Pulse Gun and opened fire on the rebels’ position. The heavy barrage pinned several of them behind cover, too afraid to pop their heads out.

”Qiuyue, cover Bai Lin! Keep him safe!” Li Chang’an yelled as he dodged a hail of bullets from the Rebel Army.

Shen Qiuyue moved quickly to Bai Lin’s side, positioning herself in front of him with her High-Energy Sword held at the ready.

”Bai Lin, stay close!”

”Got it!” Bai Lin replied, moving to a safer position while still operating his terminal.

Though outnumbered, the rebels in the camp were well-equipped.

They quickly regrouped and began to return fire.

Bullets whizzed through the air, smacking into tree trunks and kicking up splinters.

”Sniper on the left!” Han Ruoxi warned, immediately flinging an arc of electricity that blew the sniper’s cover apart.

”Nice shot!” Sun Yang praised with a click of his tongue, seizing the opportunity to fire a follow-up shot that finished the sniper off.

”Focus fire! Destroy all the equipment!” Li Chang’an yelled as he rushed up to one of the devices. He brought his Saw Chain Sword down in a powerful cleave, shattering its metal casing in a shower of sparks.

”This equipment must be important; the rebels are protecting it with their lives!” Han Ruoxi observed while unleashing another electrical attack.

”All the intel from the Insect Race must be on here.”

”Then we absolutely cannot let them get away with it,” Li Chang’an ordered decisively.

”Ruo Xi, destroy that server in the center!”

”Got it!” Han Ruoxi took aim and unleashed a powerful torrent of electricity. The server instantly billowed black smoke, completely fried.

”Their reinforcements are almost here!” Bai Lin warned, watching the signal fluctuations on his terminal.

”ETA two minutes!”