Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Did you really think we were here to live it up? We’re lucky just to get a full meal. Cut the crap. Hurry up and finish eating, we have training soon!”

Shen Qiuyue cut into her fried egg with a cold expression, her tone flat.

”Sun Yang, if you really can’t stomach it, I’ll take you out tonight to hunt for some wild game. But when we’re hunting insects, don’t expect me to save you!”

”Tch, who needs you to save me? Who do you think I am?”

Sun Yang pursed his lips defiantly.

”But seriously, can you even cook? Don’t let us go through all the trouble of catching something only for you to turn it into a lump of charcoal!”

”Heh!”

Shen Qiuyue scoffed lightly and ignored him.

Nearby, Bai Lin, who had been quietly tapping his wrist-mounted screen, chimed in without looking up.

”Within a twenty-kilometer radius of the base, the frequency of wild Insect Race activity has increased by over thirty percent.

You’d better be careful if you go out. You don’t want to end up with not even your bones left to find!”

Hearing this, Sun Yang froze for a second.

”Really? Why have the bugs been so active lately? Didn’t we just do a sweep?”

”You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”

Bai Lin kept his eyes on the screen, his fingers swiping rapidly.

”But according to the records, it’s probably because a new Insect Hive has appeared in the northern sector!”

”A new Insect Hive?”

Han Ruoxi put down her spoon and asked curiously.

”Does that mean we’ll be sent to clear it out?”

”Sooner or later!”

Li Chang’an stood up, dusting himself off.

”But now’s not the time to worry about that. Focus on today’s training. After you finish eating, everyone assemble at the training grounds on time. Anyone late runs ten laps!”

”Ten laps?”

Sun Yang wailed.

”Brother Chang’an, that’s murder!”

”Cut the crap!”

Li Chang’an shot him a glance.

”If you can’t finish, I’ll have Han Ruoxi zap you a few times. I guarantee you’ll run faster than a rabbit!”

Han Ruoxi stifled a laugh.

”Sure, I’d be happy to help!”

On the training ground, the squad began the day’s physical conditioning under Li Chang’an’s orders.

Li Chang’an paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as a knife.

”Sun Yang, what are you doing? Lift your leg! Higher! Are you taking a stroll or trying to dance?”

He roared, and Sun Yang immediately straightened up, lifting his leg twice as high as usual, his expression twisted as if he’d just eaten a raw bug.

”Han Ruoxi, what kind of throw was that with your Electric Ball? You can’t even hit a target thirty meters away. Are your eyes just for decoration?”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes, but she still obediently readjusted her stance and accurately struck the distant target with a blue Electric Ball.

Shen Qiuyue, on the other hand, went through the training drills with rigid precision, her movements clean and efficient.

Li Chang’an walked up beside her and asked casually.

”Feeling confident?”

”Isn’t this kind of training a piece of cake?”

Shen Qiuyue replied nonchalantly.

Li Chang’an didn’t speak, just nodded and turned to look at Bai Lin.

”Bai Lin, how’s the data?”

Bai Lin quickly glanced at the screen.

”The team members’ heart rates and Energy expenditure are within normal parameters. However, Sun Yang’s stamina is draining a bit fast. He should reduce his running, or he might collapse from exhaustion later!”

”Sun Yang, you hear that? Slow down!”

Li Chang’an bellowed.

”Got it, Brother Chang’an! If you yell again, I really won’t be able to run anymore!”

Sun Yang replied wearily.

After training, the group sat on the ground resting. Han Ruoxi looked at the sweat on her hands with a look of resignation.

”Training like this every day... when will we get a real mission?”

”In such a hurry to get yourself killed?”

Li Chang’an glanced at her.

”Another two months of training wouldn’t be enough. If I sent you to the battlefield now, you’d all be wiped out in three minutes!”

”Tch, it’s not like we’re rookies!”

Han Ruoxi muttered under her breath.

”Stop muttering. Let’s do something tonight, Captain’s treat, to make up for today’s hard work!”

Sun Yang’s eyes lit up, and he jumped to his feet.

”Brother Chang’an, how about it? Indulge us, huh?”

”In your dreams!”

Li Chang’an snorted coldly.

”If you want to eat well, go catch some bugs yourself. They’ll count as trophies, and you can even get reimbursed!”

”Never mind then!”

Sun Yang plopped back down, deflated.

Nearby, Bai Lin suddenly spoke up.

”According to the latest intel, suspicious Rebel Army activity has been detected in the southern sector. We might be assigned a mission!”

As soon as the words were out, the group fell silent, all eyes turning to Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an pondered for a moment, then stood up and clapped his hands.

”If you’re done resting, get ready. We’re assembling in the command room shortly to see if there’s a mission for us!”

”Yes, sir!”

The group replied in unison, their spirits renewed as they dispersed to prepare.

Before long, Li Chang’an was standing in the base’s command room.

The members of the Insect Hunter Squad filed in one by one and stood behind him.

In the center of the room, a virtual projector flickered with blue light, displaying a holographic map. On the map, the southern sector was marked with multiple Red dots.

Commander Liu Na stood before the screen, a pointer in hand, and began her calm analysis.

”According to intel from the scout units, these Red-dotted areas are where the Rebel Army has been most active recently. Our initial assessment is that they are conducting a secret transport of supplies.

Your mission is simple: find their stronghold and confirm the transport route.

If the opportunity arises, sever that supply line!”

”How do we confirm?”

Li Chang’an stood at the front, his gaze fixed on a mountainous area near one of the Red dots.

”We need intelligence. As for how you confirm it, that’s up to you.

You have full authority over the specific operation!”

Liu Na looked up at Li Chang’an.

”But remember, this is a reconnaissance mission, not an all-out annihilation. Don’t act rashly!”

”Understood!”

Li Chang’an nodded and turned to his squad.

”The mission starts tomorrow morning. Everyone get ready.

Bai Lin, pull up the detailed topographical data for the mission area!”

Bai Lin immediately brought up a map projection of the area, his hands moving quickly over the control screen.

”This is the main transport corridor. The terrain is complex, and the Insect Race appears here occasionally.

Over here, there are several abandoned mine shafts that could be used for cover.

There’s an eighty percent chance the Rebel Army will use these spots as waypoints!”

”So are we...”

Han Ruoxi asked, a little confused.

”Are we going to scout the mines directly? What if it’s an ambush?”

”You think the Rebel Army is just going to sit around in a mine all day, stupidly waiting for us?”

Sun Yang chuckled.

”They probably find the place too damn cramped themselves.

But then again, if we run into the Insect Race, things will get interesting!”

”Interesting my ass! It’s the Insect Race!”

Li Chang’an cut him off.

”We’ll scout the perimeter first, then decide on a specific course of action.

Tomorrow, everyone travels light. Bring enough rations and water, check your weapons three times, and don’t screw up when it counts!”

”Yes, sir!”

The squad members replied in unison.

After the meeting, the group walked out of the command room.

Sun Yang, while stretching his wrists, sidled up to Li Chang’an.

”Brother Chang’an, if we nail this mission, can we apply for some supply rewards? Our squad’s weapons and equipment are a bit shabby!”

”Any reward would be for the team, not for you!”

Li Chang’an glanced at him.

”Stop thinking about such pie-in-the-sky stuff. Focus on getting the mission done first!”

”Hey, I was just planning ahead!”

Sun Yang grinned, taking two steps back and waving his hands.

”Fine, I’ll shut up, okay!”

Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him.

”Can’t you be quiet for a second? You’re chattering all day long. Isn’t it annoying?”

”Annoying? Then just ignore me!”

Sun Yang spread his hands.

”Besides, I’m just livening things up for the Captain. You wouldn’t understand!”

Shen Qiuyue couldn’t be bothered with them and quickened her pace to catch up with Li Chang’an.

”What time do we leave tomorrow?”

”Five in the morning, assemble on time!”

Li Chang’an said without turning his head.

”You’d better not be late, or you’ll be running twenty laps!”

Shen Qiuyue snorted coldly.

”Me, late? I’d like to see you try.”

Han Ruoxi pouted.

”Sister Qiuyue would never be late. If anyone’s going to be late, it’ll be Sun Yang!”

”Me, late? Impossible!”

Sun Yang retorted loudly.

”I’m more punctual than an alarm clock!”

”Someone has to set that alarm clock for you,”

Bai Lin chimed in dryly from behind.

”Hey, Bai Lin, you’re usually so quiet. Why are you popping up now just to call me out?”