Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”However, this patrol might not just be about the Insect Race. I just pulled some intel from the Combat Group database. There are records of Rebel Army activity in that area. It was a while ago, but we can’t let our guard down!”

”The Rebel Army?” Shen Qiuyue stopped in her tracks.

”They’re nothing like the Insect Race. If we run into them, we’ll need to rethink our deployment!”

”Don’t worry,” Li Chang’an said with a nod.

”The chances of Rebel Army activity are low. Even if we do run into them, it won’t be our first time dealing with those guys. We’ll stick to the plan for now and adapt to whatever comes our way.”

”Alright. I’ll go check the weapons again,” Shen Qiuyue said, nodding as she continued toward the armory.

”Captain, I’m ready over here, too!” Han Ruoxi said, placing the calibrated instruments onto a small cart.

”Are we taking this equipment today?”

”We’re taking it. This stuff could come in handy if we encounter any complex terrain,” Li Chang’an said, patting the cart.

”Thanks for the hard work.”

”Just doing my job!” Han Ruoxi smiled and went back to fiddling with her equipment.

”Alright, everyone pack up. We’ll assemble in half an hour and move out,” Li Chang’an announced as he walked toward the break room.

”I’m going to grab the map. We’ll confirm the route again later.”

「Half an hour later.」

The fully-equipped squad boarded the base’s assigned armored vehicle and drove toward the northern sector.

”This thing drives way better than a golf cart!” Sun Yang exclaimed from the passenger seat, enthusiastically studying the buttons on the console.

”Captain, if we get one of these for every mission from now on, can I apply to be the driver?”

”Cut the crap and buckle up!” Li Chang’an, who was in the driver’s seat, shot him an annoyed glare.

”I’m serious, Captain! I think I have a talent for driving. Don’t believe me? See how smoothly I just handled that turn?” Sun Yang pressed on, refusing to drop it.

”One more stupid comment and I’m kicking you out to run the patrol on foot,” Li Chang’an retorted flatly.

Sun Yang immediately shut his mouth and obediently buckled his seatbelt.

”All hail the Captain!” Han Ruoxi chirped from the back, her laugh tinged with glee at Sun Yang’s expense.

”So much quieter in here now!”

”Quiet is good,” Bai Lin chimed in.

”It’s a long drive. We should use the time to get some rest.”

The vehicle bumped along the road for a while.

”Captain, speaking of which, what’s the deal with the Insect Race, anyway?” Sun Yang, unable to stay quiet any longer, piped up again.

”Every time I fight them, it feels like they’re completely brainless. They don’t have any real tactics, they just try to crush you with sheer numbers. Aren’t they embarrassed by how dumb they are?”

”It’s true the Insect Race is brainless,” Li Chang’an said, hands on the wheel and eyes fixed on the road ahead.

”But do you think they’ve survived this long by chance, just relying on numbers? Their species has its own unique structure. It took humanity decades just to understand their division of labor. Besides, whether they’re dumb or not is irrelevant to them. As long as they can kill their enemies, that’s all that matters.”

”Huh, that’s a good point,” Sun Yang said, rubbing his chin.

”Still, if we all upgraded our weapons and gear, eventually they’d learn to be afraid of us, right?”

”Afraid?” Han Ruoxi scoffed from the back seat.

”You’re dreaming. The Insect Race doesn’t have a concept of ’fear.’ The entire species is like a machine. If you ever run into the High-tier Insect Race, they’ll scare you so bad you’ll question your own existence.”

”Don’t try to scare me. This isn’t our first rodeo with them,” Sun Yang said, rolling his eyes.

”No matter how tough the High-tier Insect Race is, don’t they just get wiped out in the end?”

”That’s because you’ve never had to face one head-on,” Han Ruoxi said, grabbing a snack and taking a bite.

”The ones we’ve run into before weren’t the really nasty ones. You sure are confident, huh!”

”Tch. Ask the Captain if you don’t believe me!” Sun Yang shot back, turning to Li Chang’an.

”Captain, is the High-tier Insect Race really as bad as she makes them out to be?”

Li Chang’an chuckled, deftly turning the steering wheel as the vehicle smoothly rounded a corner.

”The High-tier Insect Race are no joke,” he said simply.

”The ones we’ve encountered have all been scout-types. If you ever ran into a command-type or a combat-type, you wouldn’t be sitting around this casually. Complaining that your enemy is dumb in the middle of a fight... you got a death wish or something?”

”Er...” Sun Yang fell silent, scratching his head.

”Hey, I was just talking. It’s not like we’re facing one right now, right?”

”Next time you say something like that, I hope the Insect Race isn’t listening,” Shen Qiuyue commented coolly, glancing at him.

”They might just come over and beat the crap out of you.”

”Hahaha!” The mood in the cabin instantly lightened, and Han Ruoxi was laughing so hard her shoulders shook.

”That’s a good one, Shen Qiuyue! If the Insect Race actually understood us, Sun Yang would definitely be the first one they’d come for!”

”Alright, alright, stop laughing! And you, Han Ruoxi, don’t get too carried away with your snacks. We’ll need your Superpower on patrol later. What happens if you’re too stuffed to generate a current?” Sun Yang couldn’t resist firing back.

”Don’t worry, my Superpower isn’t weakened by a little food!” Han Ruoxi said smugly.

”You, on the other hand, better not run out of ammo and start yelling for me to save you!”

”Heh, the moment I run out of ammo is the moment the enemy is wiped out!” Sun Yang laughed, completely unconcerned.

”I’m the team’s firepower. Why would I ever need your help?”

”You?” Shen Qiuyue’s voice drifted from the front.

”Stop boasting. In a real fight, you’d empty your mag three times in one second. You think we have enough ammo for you to waste like that?”

”Hey now, Sister Shen, I call that team spirit! I’m just creating opportunities for the rest of you to shine!” Sun Yang quickly backpedaled.

”Besides, with the Captain around, you really think I’m going to get chased around by the Insect Race?”

”Don’t drag me into this,” Li Chang’an said without turning around.

”Anyone who holds the team back gets three extra hours of training when we get back. No exceptions.”

The vehicle fell silent.

As the armored vehicle entered the patrol zone, Li Chang’an slowed its speed and ordered the team to get ready.

He parked the vehicle and was the first to jump out. Han Ruoxi, Shen Qiuyue, Bai Lin, and Sun Yang followed, quickly moving to their designated positions.

”The terrain here is a little complex,” Li Chang’an noted, looking at the map on his terminal.

”Han Ruoxi, you’re on sensors. Shen Qiuyue and Sun Yang, take the left and right flanks. Bai Lin and I will take the center. Stay aware of your surroundings and keep comms open.”

”Roger!” the other four responded in unison.

Han Ruoxi raised her hand. A bright ball of electricity crackled between her fingers. A few seconds later, an arc of lightning spread across the ground, rapidly mapping the surrounding several hundred meters of terrain onto her terminal.

”Traces of Insect Race activity, three hundred meters ahead!” she reported, looking up.

”Small numbers. Looks like a scout party.”

”Scouts?” Shen Qiuyue’s hand was already on the hilt of her sword.

”Do we take them out?”

”Take them out,” Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened.

”Otherwise, they’ll give away our position.”

”Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Sun Yang had already switched the safety off his Pulse Gun.

”I’ll take point this time!”

”Hold on. Wait for my command,” Li Chang’an said, raising a hand to stop him.

”Han Ruoxi, use an electrical arc to disrupt their senses first. Shen Qiuyue, prepare for a close-in approach. Sun Yang, provide ranged support. Bai Lin, monitor their communication signals. Notify me immediately if you detect any anomalies!”

The team moved swiftly, following his orders.

With a wave of her hands, Han Ruoxi sent several small arcs of electricity flying forward. A faint CRACKLE echoed through the air, and the distant Insects fell into disarray.

”Done. Their senses are temporarily scrambled,” Han Ruoxi whispered.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Qiuyue darted between several rocks, silently closing in on the Insects. Her High-Energy Dueling Sword lanced out, precisely piercing the first Insect’s head.

”Nice one!” Sun Yang shouted, raising his rifle and felling another Insect.

”I’ve got a response! They’re sending a distress signal!” Bai Lin’s voice crackled over the comms.

”Finish the last one and pull back!” Li Chang’an ordered decisively.

Shen Qiuyue’s Dueling Sword flashed, and the last Insect collapsed.

”Move out!” With a wave of his hand, Li Chang’an led the team in a swift retreat. They returned to the armored vehicle and continued their patrol.