Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

The shuttle landed smoothly on the base’s landing pad, and the Insect Hunter Squad filed out.

Li Chang’an strode at the head of the group, leading his team straight to the conference room.

”Bai Lin, pull up the mission logs and analyze the intel we just gathered!”

Li Chang’an said to Bai Lin as he sat down.

Bai Lin nodded, connected his portable terminal to the conference room’s main screen, and pulled up the images and data collected during the earlier reconnaissance.

”Here’s the jammer’s location!”

Bai Lin pointed at a marker on the screen.

”Its signal range covers the entire village. It’s likely a trap set by the Rebel Army to block our reconnaissance!”

”And the Insect Race—their movements don’t look random. It’s more like they’re being commanded!”

Han Ruoxi said, pointing at another video clip.

”Look, these members of the Insect Race have been guarding the jammer the entire time. They’re clearly executing some kind of order!”

”So, the Rebel Army and the Insect Race have started to coordinate their actions,” Li Chang’an said gravely.

”This is a major problem for us.”

”Captain, what’s our next step?” Shen Qiuyue asked.

”First, report the intel to Command. Let them analyze it and make the call.

As for us, be ready for deployment at a moment’s notice!”

Li Chang’an looked at his team.

”Also, tally up today’s equipment wear and tear and file a report with the logistics department.”

”Understood!”

Shen Qiuyue and Bai Lin nodded at the same time.

”Captain, what about me?”

Sun Yang blinked.

”You? Get to the training grounds and recalibrate your Pulse Gun. You were shooting wide.”

Li Chang’an glanced at him.

”What? But I wasn’t shooting wide!”

Sun Yang looked aggrieved.

”Cut the crap and get to work!”

Li Chang’an couldn’t be bothered to argue with him.

After the meeting, the team members went about their tasks.

Han Ruoxi was still studying the energy stability of her Superpower Bracelet, Shen Qiuyue was busy inspecting her Dueling Sword, Bai Lin continued to analyze the intel, and Sun Yang had been chased off to the training grounds.

Li Chang’an stood amidst his busy teammates, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He knew this was only the beginning, and that they would be facing far more complex enemies.

”Brother Chang’an, want some coffee?”

Suddenly, Han Ruoxi popped her head out, waving the cup in her hand.

”You have time to be making coffee?”

Li Chang’an glared at her.

”It’s my only hobby!”

Han Ruoxi muttered, putting the cup to one side.

”Fine, I’ll get back to work!”

「The next morning, at the training grounds.」

”Sun Yang, will you stop scaring me with that stupid gun?”

Han Ruoxi stood on the edge of the shooting range, arms crossed and a sour look on her face.

”Scaring you? This is called training!”

As he spoke, Sun Yang struck a pose with his Pulse Gun and fired a few shots at the target. Every single one missed.

”Look at your target. You’re nowhere near the bullseye.”

Han Ruoxi pointed toward the distant targets with a look of disgust.

”Are you nearsighted or something? Want me to recommend a doctor?”

”Nearsighted? Come on, Sister Ruoxi, don’t give me a hard time. It’s called ’tactical scatter’!”

Sun Yang turned to look at her with a serious face.

”’Tactical scatter’? Why can’t you just admit you have bad aim?”

Han Ruoxi turned her head and shouted to Li Chang’an.

”Captain, look at him! He’s this unreliable, and you’re letting him be our ranged fire support?”

Li Chang’an, who was adjusting his Saw Chain Sword off to the side, looked up. He glanced at Sun Yang, then at the target, and said nonchalantly,

”Sun Yang, stop embarrassing me. If you can’t hit the target, you’ll practice another hundred rounds. No food until you’re done.”

”Huh? Brother Chang’an, don’t be so harsh!”

Sun Yang protested, his face a mask of misery as he held up his Pulse Gun.

”One hundred rounds. Not a single one less!”

Li Chang’an ignored him, turning his attention back to his Saw Chain Sword.

”Fine, fine! I’ll practice, okay?!”

With a resigned look, Sun Yang went back to aiming and firing.

”Shen Qiuyue, come spar a bit!”

Li Chang’an suddenly called out to Shen Qiuyue, who was organizing her gear nearby.

”Any time.”

Shen Qiuyue gave a faint smile, drew her Dueling Sword, and walked to the center of the training grounds.

Once the two were in position, the other team members immediately gathered around.

”Ooh, here comes the good part! A duel between the Captain and Sister Qiuyue—now that’s a rare sight!”

Han Ruoxi excitedly ran to the edge of the field and sat down to watch.

”I’ll place a bet! My money’s on Sister Qiuyue!”

Sun Yang immediately chimed in.

”The Captain will go easy on her,”

Bai Lin murmured, still tinkering with his portable terminal.

Li Chang’an gripped his Saw Chain Sword and gestured to Shen Qiuyue.

”Come on. Give me everything you’ve got.”

Shen Qiuyue wasted no words. She lunged forward in a smooth slide, her Dueling Sword tracing a sharp arc through the air as it aimed straight for Li Chang’an’s chest.

Li Chang’an sidestepped the attack. With a light flick of his Saw Chain Sword, he parried her blade, then countered with a backhand swing, aiming the edge of his own weapon at Shen Qiuyue’s waist.

”Good speed,”

Shen Qiuyue remarked with a cold smile, raising her sword to block as she stepped back, evading the attack.

The two went back and forth, their movements swift and precise.

The onlookers held their breath, afraid to miss a single moment.

”See? I told you the Captain was incredible!”

Han Ruoxi muttered under her breath.

”Sister Qiuyue is no slouch, either. Did you see that counterattack? So clean and decisive!”

Sun Yang quietly retorted.

The duel continued for several minutes before Li Chang’an suddenly accelerated. A single swing of his Saw Chain Sword forced Shen Qiuyue back three consecutive steps.

”You were holding back again!”

Shen Qiuyue stopped, panting slightly as she looked at Li Chang’an with a complex expression in her eyes.

”I wasn’t holding back. You just haven’t gone all out yet.”

Li Chang’an sheathed his Saw Chain Sword, his tone calm.

”We’ll do this again sometime.”