Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Brother Chang’an, you’re just in time!”

Sun Yang looked up and called out.

”This meat is amazing. You have to try some!”

Li Chang’an walked over, picked up a piece of golden-brown roasted meat, and took a bite. It was delicious.

He nodded.

”Not bad. Looks like you really put in some effort this time.”

”Of course!”

Sun Yang grinned smugly.

”But you have to admit, my skills are pretty impressive, right?”

”Sure. Next mission, you can put those skills to use on the battlefield.”

Li Chang’an replied nonchalantly.

Han Ruoxi nearly choked, laughing so hard she slumped over the table.

”Sun Yang, did you hear that? Brother Chang’an wants you to bring your carving knife to the battlefield!”

”Alright, alright, just eat your food!”

Sun Yang rolled his eyes and went back to stuffing his face.

Everyone ate the barbecue to their heart’s content. Even Shen Qiuyue, for the first time ever, had a few extra pieces.

After they finished eating, they did a quick cleanup, and then everyone went to their bunks to rest.

The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Li Chang’an was the first to rise. He got dressed and began to organize his gear.

His movements were efficient, without a single wasted sound, but the slight shake of the bunk was enough to wake Sun Yang.

”Brother Chang’an, you’re up early,”

Sun Yang yawned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in his bunk.

”We have a mission today?”

”Yes. Prepare for battle.”

Li Chang’an’s tone was calm.

”Get everyone up. Assembly in five minutes.”

”You got it!”

Sun Yang scrambled out of his bunk and started smacking his teammates’ beds one by one.

”Everyone up! Han Ruoxi, don’t pretend you’re asleep! Brother Chang’an is watching!”

Han Ruoxi reluctantly threw back her covers and muttered,

”If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have eaten so much barbecue. I was so stuffed I couldn’t sleep all night, and now I have to get up this early?”

”Who can you blame for eating too much?”

Shen Qiuyue shot back coldly, already suiting up with swift, practiced movements.

Bai Lin, sitting on the edge of his bunk, activated his wrist device and began a system check. Without looking up, he said,

”I don’t think today’s mission will be simple. When Brother Chang’an came back last night, he didn’t exactly look relaxed.”

”You could tell, huh?”

Sun Yang laughed and clapped Bai Lin on the shoulder.

”I’ve gotta say, your observation skills are sharp. No wonder you’re the hacker!”

”Enough chatter. Assemble now!”

Li Chang’an cut off their idle chatter, turned, and pushed open the door to the dorm, stepping outside to wait.

A few minutes later, all the squad members had assembled and were standing before Li Chang’an.

The morning breeze was a little chilly, but no one looked sluggish.

Li Chang’an swept his gaze over them and began.

”Today’s mission is simple, but its execution will involve some risk.

The objective is to proceed to the southern central region and reconnoiter the Rebel Army’s area of activity.”

”The central region?”

Han Ruoxi frowned.

”Isn’t that an active zone for the Insect Race? Are the rebels really there?”

”Intel reports confirm it.”

Li Chang’an nodded.

”However, the location of the Rebel Army’s base is still unknown. Our mission is to find its precise location.

Remember the old rule: reconnaissance is primary, combat is secondary.”

”Roger!”

The team responded in unison.

”Check your gear one more time.”

Li Chang’an continued his orders.

”Bring sufficient ammo and supplies. Today’s operation could last until evening, or even longer.”

”Understood!”

The squad members immediately sprang into action, each checking their own equipment.

Han Ruoxi pulled out her Electric Energy Container and quickly confirmed its charge level. Sun Yang detached the magazine from his Pulse Gun, then reinserted it. Shen Qiuyue wiped the blade of her Dueling Sword with a cloth, confirming its Energy Core was intact. Bai Lin, meanwhile, adjusted the sensitivity of his reconnaissance equipment.

Once the checks were complete, Li Chang’an led the team to the armored car.

Han Ruoxi expertly climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and said in a low voice,

”Destination: central region. ETA is two hours. We leave when you’re ready.”

”Move out!”

Li Chang’an waved his hand, and the others boarded the vehicle one after another.

The atmosphere inside the car was a bit grim, and no one spoke.

Sun Yang looked around, finally unable to bear the silence.

”Hey, I’m just saying... we’re not actually going to run into an Insect Hive today, are we? Those things are no joke.”

”Shut up, don’t jinx it!”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

”Besides, even if we do run into one, what are you going to do? Run away?”

”Well, that depends on the situation!”

Sun Yang mumbled, but his voice trailed off.

Li Chang’an leaned back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed, occasionally opening them to gaze out the window.

The two-hour journey wasn’t exactly short, and he had to use the time to quickly formulate a strategy in his mind.

He knew that today’s mission would likely be more complex than usual, perhaps even full of unpredictable variables.

Finally, the armored car came to a stop three kilometers outside the central region.

Li Chang’an was the first to jump out of the vehicle, raising a hand to signal the team to assemble.

”We proceed on foot from here!”

He pointed toward the forest ahead.

”Leave the armored car here to avoid exposing our position.

Bai Lin, you’re on surveillance. Keep communications open at all times.

The rest of you, with me!”

”Understood!”

The team acknowledged, quickly adjusted their gear, and followed Li Chang’an into the forest.

Inside the forest, the light was dim. The ground was covered with decaying leaves and a chaotic mess of roots, requiring them to be extra careful with every step.

Li Chang’an took the lead, his Saw Chain Sword in hand, ready to deal with any potential danger.

”Brother Chang’an, what do you think the scale of the Rebel Army forces is here?”

Sun Yang asked in a low voice as he walked.

”It’s not their whole army, is it?”

”No idea,”

Li Chang’an replied simply.

”Stop guessing and watch your surroundings.”

”Alright.”

Sun Yang rubbed his nose and continued to follow.

About half an hour later, Bai Lin’s voice came through the comms.

”Attention. Energy fluctuations detected two hundred meters ahead. Could be a mechanical device or biological activity.”

”Copy.”

Li Chang’an waved his hand, signaling the team to halt.

”Spread out and advance. Be careful.”

The team quickly fanned out, cautiously approaching the target area.

As they passed through a thicket of bushes, the sight before them made their hearts clench.

There was a small encampment with several armored cars parked to the side. Dozens of Rebel Army soldiers were bustling about, apparently setting up some kind of device.

”Is this... a transport station?”

Han Ruoxi asked in a low whisper.

”Most likely a temporary outpost,”

Li Chang’an said quietly, his eyes fixed on the scene ahead.

”Shen Qiuyue, observe their equipment. Sun Yang, check the perimeter for sentries. Han Ruoxi, be ready for support.

Bai Lin, try to hack their comms system.”

”Understood!”

The team members quickly moved to their assigned tasks.

A few minutes later, Shen Qiuyue’s voice came over the comms.

”Enemy equipment is standard, mostly light arms. No heavy ordnance detected.”

”No visible sentries, but there could be hidden posts,”

Sun Yang added.

”I’m hacking in now. Give me five minutes!”

Bai Lin’s full attention was on his wrist device, his fingers tapping away.

Li Chang’an nodded and gave the order in a low voice.

”Hold your positions. Don’t make a move.”

The squad members waited in silence as the seconds and minutes ticked by.

Suddenly, Bai Lin’s voice broke the silence again.

”Hack successful. I’ve intercepted some of their communication logs.

The Rebel Army is planning to transport a shipment of important supplies deeper south tonight. The destination is an unmarked base!”

’Looks like we’ll be tailing them.’

A cold glint appeared in Li Chang’an’s eyes.

”Continue observation. When they move out, we follow.”

Time trickled by. The Insect Hunter Squad remained concealed in the bushes, their eyes glued to the Rebel Army camp ahead.

The sun gradually sank westward, and the shadows began to lengthen. The Rebel Army soldiers’ activity grew more frequent.

They were loading case after case of supplies onto several transport vehicles, and every one of them appeared extremely cautious.

”What’s in those cases?”

Han Ruoxi asked, her voice low, her eyes locked on the cargo.

”Unclear,”

Bai Lin replied as he adjusted his equipment.

”But based on the intensity of the fluctuations, it could be some kind of high-energy substance, or even raw materials for weapons.”

”Raw materials for weapons?”

Sun Yang clicked his tongue softly.

”They’re making such a big fuss just for this stuff? Looks like this is serious business.”

”Cut the chatter.”

Li Chang’an raised a hand, signaling for silence.