Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Bai Lin took the file and immediately activated his scanner, digitizing its contents.

Meanwhile, Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but press on with her questions.

”What the hell are these guys up to? It can’t be just for mining, can it?”

”The mining is just a front. Their goal is to manufacture weapons!”

Li Chang’an leaned against the vehicle’s door. His tone was level, but his words held a hint of ice.

”These ores are most likely some kind of rare material used to enhance the lethality of their weapons!”

”So what do we do now? Report back directly?”

Han Ruoxi asked, her brow furrowed.

”We’re definitely reporting this, but we also need to keep watching them.”

Li Chang’an looked up at the distant forest.

”These guys won’t just have this single supply line. We need to find their other routes and get a complete picture of their plan.”

”Sounds like a huge pain,”

Sun Yang sighed.

”Back in the day, I would’ve just grabbed my gun and charged in. None of this dilly-dallying!”

”Why don’t you go try that now?”

Han Ruoxi sneered.

”See if you can make it back alive.”

”Hey, I was just talking! Don’t take it seriously!”

Sun Yang waved his hands dismissively, a sheepish grin on his face.

Li Chang’an glanced at him without a word, then turned and boarded the armored vehicle.

”Everyone in. We’re heading back to base.

Bai Lin, keep analyzing the documents on the way. Report anything you find immediately.”

”Understood!”

Bai Lin lowered his head and went back to work on the device in his hands.

The armored vehicle soon started up and drove off toward the base.

The atmosphere in the vehicle was somber. Everyone was silently mulling over the mission’s next phase.

Sun Yang wanted to say something on occasion, but seeing Li Chang’an resting with his eyes closed, he swallowed his words.

By the time they returned to the base, it was already broad daylight.

Li Chang’an led his team directly to the command center to report on the mission to Commander Liu Na.

After reviewing the documents, Liu Na’s expression turned grave.

”It seems the situation is far more complex than we anticipated.

These rare ores have limited reserves. If the Rebel Army gets control of this resource, their weapon manufacturing capabilities will be significantly boosted.”

”Which is why we must act as soon as possible,”

Li Chang’an said.

”I recommend we dispatch more reconnaissance teams to investigate other possible supply routes, while simultaneously tightening surveillance on the known nodes.”

Liu Na nodded.

”That’s a good suggestion. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.

However, your squad needs to rest for the time being. The operations to come will likely be even more difficult.”

”Understood.”

Without another word, Li Chang’an led his team out of the command center.

Back in their dorm, Sun Yang flopped onto his bed and let out a long sigh of relief.

”Finally, a chance to breathe. I’m so exhausted today my back is about to snap!”

”This tired after just one day?”

Shen Qiuyue sneered.

”Maybe you should just retire and go home.”

”Come on! I was just venting a little!”

Sun Yang scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.

Han Ruoxi, who was sitting to one side tinkering with her Electric Energy Container, suddenly spoke up.

”Do you guys think the next mission will be more dangerous? I get the feeling this Rebel Army isn’t just fooling around. There has to be a bigger plot behind all this.”

”It’ll definitely be dangerous,”

Bai Lin replied, operating the device on his wrist.

”But as long as we have solid intel and act with caution, we’ll have a fighting chance.”

”Bai Lin’s right,”

Li Chang’an said, standing by the door, his calm gaze sweeping over the others.

”We are a team. The only way we can overcome these challenges is by working together.

Remember, no one goes it alone, ever.”

”Understood, Brother Chang’an!”

Sun Yang immediately shot to his feet, putting on a serious expression.

The Insect Hunter Squad’s dorm fell quiet. The only sound was the faint tapping from Bai Lin’s wrist device.

Han Ruoxi sat cross-legged on her bunk, hugging her Electric Energy Container. Her fingers tapped lightly against its casing, as if she were pondering something.

”Bai Lin, do you think this intel is enough to launch a direct strike? Or are we going to have to make another run?”

Han Ruoxi finally broke the silence.

”Based on what we have now, it’s nowhere near enough,”

Bai Lin said calmly, his eyes fixed on his screen.

”The Rebel Army’s supply network has to be bigger than this one node. Their main forces must be hidden somewhere more covert.

We’ll probably need more recon missions to find their actual base of operations.”

”More recon missions...”

Han Ruoxi grumbled, reluctance written all over her face.

”I’m getting really sick of this. All we do is watch them move around, but we can’t do a thing!”

”So you want to just charge in?”

Shen Qiuyue said without looking up, polishing her Dueling Sword.

”With that little bit of Electric Energy you’ve got? You’d be on the ground before you could even fire off a few Electric Balls.”

”Shen Qiuyue!”

Han Ruoxi glared at her.

”Could you lay off me for once? Does it make you happy to put me down all the time?”

”I’m just stating the facts,”

Shen Qiuyue’s tone was flat as she continued to focus on polishing her blade.

”Alright, that’s enough, you two.”

Li Chang’an’s voice came from the other side of the room. He was lying on his bed with his hands behind his head, his eyes closed as he spoke.

”If we want to make a move, we need intel first. We’ll strike when the time is right.

Our mission for now is to wait for that opportunity. Don’t be impatient.”

Han Ruoxi pouted but didn’t say anything else, lowering her head to fiddle with her gear again.

After a moment, Sun Yang suddenly sat up, stretched, and broke the silence in the room.

”Hey, uh, Brother Chang’an,” he began, ”how about we head out and find something to eat tonight? I really can’t stomach the cafeteria food anymore. I swear, if I keep eating it, I’ll get so skinny I’ll look like one of the Insect Race!”

”You talk too much,”

Li Chang’an said, rolling over and ignoring him.

”I’m serious, Brother Chang’an!”

Sun Yang looked at him earnestly.

”Just take us out for a bit. We can hunt some wild game, get some practice in while we’re at it. Otherwise, we’re all going to get sick from being cooped up in this base all day!”

”Count me out,”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

”I’m not interested.”

”Han Ruoxi, help me out here!”

Sun Yang turned to Han Ruoxi with a hopeful look.

”I...”

Han Ruoxi hesitated, glancing in Li Chang’an’s direction.

”I don’t mind either way, but only if Brother Chang’an agrees.”

”Right, I knew it,”

Sun Yang sighed in resignation.

”Forget it. We should just stay put. Getting Brother Chang’an to take us out is probably harder than raiding an Insect Hive.”

Li Chang’an languidly sat up and glanced at them.

”You really want to go out?”

”Yeah!”

Sun Yang nodded at once, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

”Even if it’s not for the food, we can get some practice in and scout out the surrounding area while we’re at it!”

”Fine,”

Li Chang’an finally relented.

”But on one condition: once we’re out there, you do exactly as I say. Anyone who wanders off or acts on their own will run thirty laps when we get back.”

”No problem!”

Sun Yang jumped up in excitement.

”Brother Chang’an, I’ll follow your every command! I won’t mess around, I swear!”

”Then get your gear. Assemble in five minutes.”

Li Chang’an stood up and began checking his own equipment.

A few minutes later, the squad was geared up and ready. They followed Li Chang’an as he led them stealthily out of the base.

They avoided the cameras and patrol routes, slipping into the forest surrounding the base through a hidden passage.

The forest was exceptionally quiet at night, the only sounds being the wind rustling through the leaves and the occasional cry of an unknown animal.

”Brother Chang’an, this place is pretty interesting,”

Sun Yang whispered as they walked.

”It’d be great if we could come out here more often. It feels so much freer than being in the base.”

”Shut up. Maintain concealment,”

Li Chang’an reminded him in a low voice.

The team moved through the forest for about half an hour before Li Chang’an suddenly stopped, raising a hand to halt them.

The others froze, watching him nervously.

”Something’s up ahead,”

Li Chang’an said, his voice low.

”About fifty meters out. There’s a beast—could be a Star Beast. Everyone, be careful.”

”A Star Beast?”

Han Ruoxi’s eyes lit up.

”Perfect. Time for some practice!”