Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

"Bai Lin, can you not be such a jinx? Say something nice and boost the team’s morale!"

Sun Yang rolled his eyes, then turned to look at Li Chang’an.

"Captain, what do you think? Can we take them all out in one go?"

"Taking them out in one go would be ideal, but things never go according to plan!"

Li Chang’an put away his terminal and looked up, his eyes sweeping over the entire squad.

"Listen up. We’re sticking to the plan.

Once the mission starts, everyone must give it their all. Underestimating the enemy in any way will lead to failure, understood?"

"Understood!"

They all answered in unison. Sun Yang looked like he wanted to say something more, but seeing Li Chang’an’s stern expression, he ultimately kept his mouth shut.

「Half an hour later.」

The reconnaissance ship slowly descended into a desolate valley. The target observation point was less than a kilometer away, hidden from view.

Li Chang’an was the first off the ship. He quickly scanned the surroundings with his tactical visor, and after confirming it was safe, he waved to the others.

"Move out! Stay alert!"

The others disembarked in succession and quickly spread out.

Bai Lin followed close behind, his terminal already scanning the surrounding area for electronic signals.

"Approximately twelve members of the Insect Race in the target area, spread both inside and outside the observation point!"

Bai Lin reported quickly, his eyes fixed on the data on his terminal.

"We need to clear the four perimeter guards first, then move into the observation point!"

"Han Ruoxi and I will take the four perimeter guards!"

Shen Qiuyue drew the Dueling Sword from her waist, a cold light in her eyes.

"The rest of you, provide cover!"

"Alright. Shen Qiuyue, you and Han Ruoxi work together. Make it fast!"

Li Chang’an nodded, then looked toward Sun Yang and Bai Lin.

"Sun Yang, cover them. Bai Lin, keep an eye on the electronic signal fluctuations from the observation point. Notify us immediately if you spot anything unusual!"

"No problem!"

With their roles assigned, the team sprang into action.

Shen Qiuyue and Han Ruoxi moved one after the other, silently closing in on the four perimeter Insect Race guards.

With a flash of her sword, Shen Qiuyue sliced open the first Insect Race guard’s neck before it could even raise an alarm.

An arc of electricity from Han Ruoxi followed instantly, paralyzing the second Insect Race guard. It convulsed on the ground a few times, then fell still.

"Hurry, two left!"

Shen Qiuyue urged in a low voice, her movements never faltering. Her sword flashed again, and the third Insect Race guard dropped.

"All clear!"

Han Ruoxi struck the final Insect Race guard with an arc of electricity and, in almost the same motion, looked back at Li Chang’an.

"Captain, the perimeter is clear! We can move on the interior!"

"Move!"

Li Chang’an waved his hand, leading the squad in a swift push toward the interior of the observation point.

The Insect Hunter Squad moved quickly through the perimeter and arrived at the entrance to the observation point.

The entrance was a hidden cave set back into a rock face. Debris was piled outside as camouflage, and through it, the faint glimmer of an Insect Race surveillance device was visible.

Li Chang’an raised a hand, and the squad halted instantly. He spoke in a low voice.

"There’s a surveillance device ahead. Bai Lin, can you hack into it?"

Bai Lin crouched, connecting his terminal to his tactical glasses and quickly pulling up a map of the area’s electronic signals.

"I can, but it’ll take two minutes.

You all keep watch. I’ll give the signal when I’m finished!"

"Make it fast!"

Li Chang’an nodded and waved his hand, signaling the squad to spread out. They each quickly found cover and remained on high alert.

Sun Yang crouched behind a large boulder, his Pulse Gun resting on his knee. He couldn’t help but whisper.

"Captain, what do you think is inside this Insect Race observation point? Don’t tell me a horde of monsters is about to come charging out. I don’t want my legs to turn to jelly!"

"If your legs do go soft, don’t blame us for leaving you behind!"

Han Ruoxi leaned against another rock, lightly fiddling with the control ring on her Superpower Gloves. A mocking smile touched the corners of her lips.

"But don’t worry. The Insect Race probably has no interest in you. All that meat on your bones doesn’t necessarily mean you’d be tasty!"

"Han Ruoxi! Do you have to be so vicious? Why are you always picking on me!"

Sun Yang shot her a glare before turning his attention forward again.

"Besides, even if I am meaty, it’s all lean muscle! High-quality protein! The Insect Race would be thanking me after they ate me!"

"That’s enough! Both of you, quiet down!"

Li Chang’an said in a hushed tone, glancing at the two of them.

"No chatter while you’re on watch.

Bai Lin, how much time is left?"

"One more minute! I’m almost done!"

Without looking up, Bai Lin’s fingers flew across his terminal screen. After rapidly inputting several complex lines of code, he whispered.

"I’m in. The surveillance system is disabled for three minutes. We have to move, now!"

"Good. Follow me!"

With a wave of his hand, Li Chang’an was the first to charge toward the cave entrance.

His movements were nimble and his steps light, slipping into the observation point as silently as a panther.

The others followed close behind, filing in one by one.

The cave’s interior was more spacious than they had expected. In the dim light, several members of the Insect Race were busy at a crude console.

Their bodies were covered in carapaces, their limbs long and slender. The antennae on either side of their heads twitched faintly, as if sensing their surroundings.

"Captain, five targets, spread out directly in front of us!"

Han Ruoxi whispered, marking the enemies’ positions on her tactical glasses.

"There’s a device on the right that looks like an alarm—it must be their communications terminal!"

"That’s the priority target!"

Li Chang’an made his decision in an instant.

"Bai Lin, you hack the communications terminal. Shen Qiuyue and Han Ruoxi, you take the ones in front. Sun Yang, cover them. I’ll watch our six!"

"Understood!"