Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

The team remained on alert along the way, no one speaking a word. The only sound was the faint rustle of their footsteps on the soft ground.

”Brother Chang’an, this mission feels a lot more dangerous than the previous recon missions!”

Han Ruoxi finally broke the silence, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

”That huge one from the Insect Race... if it had spotted us back there, would we have been able to get away?”

”We wouldn’t have escaped!”

Li Chang’an’s reply was direct. He kept walking, not even turning his head.

”But that doesn’t mean we would’ve lost. If we had to fight, we could have at least held out until reinforcements arrived.”

”But how long would it take for reinforcements to arrive?”

Han Ruoxi muttered under her breath.

”We’re not the main team. What if we couldn’t hold out...”

”Don’t overthink it!”

Shen Qiuyue cut her off from behind.

”We’re back safely now, so stop dwelling on it!”

”You’re such a buzzkill. Can’t we even talk?”

Han Ruoxi glared at her.

”It’s not that I’m stopping you from talking. It’s just that your questions are pointless!”

Shen Qiuyue said impatiently, checking the Dueling Sword in her hands.

”This mission was dangerous from the start. We accepted it, so we have to see it through. Don’t overthink everything else.”

”Fine, fine, fine. You’re amazing, you’re so calm. My bad for shooting my mouth off, okay?”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes and fell silent.

”I swear, you two... Do you have to argue every time to feel satisfied?”

Sun Yang chimed in.

”How about I treat you two to a couple of drinks when we get back to the base? To lighten the mood?”

”You’re treating? Now that’s a first!”

Han Ruoxi scoffed.

”What’s with the sudden generosity?”

”Hey, we’ve been through thick and thin together, right? Squad unity is important!”

Sun Yang said, feigning a serious tone.

”Besides, I know you both love fruit wine, and that stuff’s cheap!”

”So at the end of the day, you’re just being cheap!”

Shen Qiuyue called him out.

”Fruit wine is cheap, alright. You’re quite the penny-pincher!”

”Aw, don’t say that. I’m just being frugal!”

Sun Yang chuckled.

”Besides, the fruit wine isn’t the point. It’s about camaraderie!”

”Alright, knock it off!”

Li Chang’an turned his head and glanced at them.

”Save it for when we get back. Now is not the time to let our guard down.”

The group fell silent, and the sound of their footsteps was once again the only thing to be heard.

The night grew darker, shrouding the surrounding woods in blackness. The occasional cry of a nocturnal animal broke the silence.

Half an hour later, the team was finally clear of the Insect Hive’s territory. Ahead, they could faintly make out the lights of the base.

”Finally, we’re almost there!”

Han Ruoxi sighed in relief.

”The whole way here, I felt like my nerves were about to snap!”

”If your nerves had snapped, how would the rest of us have made it back alive?”

Sun Yang teased with a grin.

”You’re pretty good with that electricity of yours, aren’t you? How come you didn’t zap something back there?”

”Oh, shut up!”

Han Ruoxi glared at him.

”Who was it shaking like a leaf outside the Insect Hive?”

”I was cold, not scared!”

Sun Yang quickly retorted.

”It gets so cold at night. Weren’t you cold?”

”Alright, alright, stop arguing!”

Li Chang’an interrupted them.

”Check our six. Make sure we’re not being followed.”

Bai Lin opened his terminal and ran a quick scan. The display clearly showed no life signs in the vicinity.

”Our six is clear. No Insect Race on our tail,”

Bai Lin said, looking up.

”Let’s head back then.”

Li Chang’an nodded.

”Once we’re at the base, we still need to compile this intel. Let’s not waste any time.”

The team quickened their pace and soon returned to the main gate of the base.

The guards checked their IDs and promptly waved them through.

The moment they stepped inside the base, Sun Yang yelled.

”Oh my God, we’re finally back! The longer I’m here, the safer this place feels.”

”Safe, my ass!”

Han Ruoxi snorted.

”You really think the Insect Race can’t break through?”

”Don’t be a jinx!”

Sun Yang pouted and tossed his gear aside.

”I’m heading to the mess hall to grab a bite. Who’s with me?”

”You’re eating now?”

Shen Qiuyue frowned.

”Didn’t we just finish dinner?”

”I was so tense on the way back, I’m already hungry again!”

Sun Yang patted his stomach.

”So, you coming or not?”

”You go by yourself. We have to file the mission report.”

Li Chang’an picked up a terminal, motioning for the others to stay.

”You guys are no fun. I’ll go by myself, then!”

Sun Yang shrugged and headed for the mess hall.

The others sat down at a long table in the training room and began to compile the mission logs.

Bai Lin was in charge of uploading the collected data to headquarters. Han Ruoxi wrote up the report on the discovered Insect Hive. Meanwhile, Shen Qiuyue was off to the side, checking her gear to make sure there wouldn’t be any issues on the next mission.

”So... I guess we can consider this mission complete, right?”

Han Ruoxi asked, looking up after writing the last line.

”It’s complete, but not perfect.”

Li Chang’an closed the file.

”We only scouted the perimeter. The situation inside the Insect Hive is still unknown.”

”So we have to go back?”

Han Ruoxi frowned.

”Please no. I really don’t want to go back to a place like that.”

”Whether or not there’s a next mission isn’t up to us,”

Li Chang’an said calmly.

”Whatever command arranges, we execute.”

”Fine, whatever you say.”

Han Ruoxi sighed helplessly.

By the time they finished the mission report, it was late into the night.

Li Chang’an stood up, stretching his stiff shoulders.

”Everyone get some rest. We might have another mission tomorrow,”

he said.

The night was late. Li Chang’an returned to his dorm, turned on the light, and casually tossed his gear into a corner.