Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 686: Chapter 335: Analyzing the Recent Intelligence

Shen Qiuyue sheathed her Dueling Sword and turned to leave the training ground.

"Hey, Sister Qiuyue, don’t be mad! I’ll help you get even next time!"

Sun Yang shouted from behind her.

"Shut up!"

Shen Qiuyue snapped without looking back.

After training, just as everyone was about to head to the cafeteria for a meal, their communicators suddenly chimed.

"Insect Hunter Squad, assemble immediately!"

Liu Na’s voice was laced with urgency.

"Meeting in the command center, now!"

"Another mission?"

Han Ruoxi muttered.

"We just got done resting!"

"Stop complaining. Let’s go!"

Li Chang’an stood up and led the way to the command center.

Inside the command center, a mission brief was projected onto the screen.

Liu Na stood at the front, her brow furrowed.

"The target is the eastern mining district of Lion’s Fang Star. The Rebel Army has established a secret base there.

We’ve received intel that a batch of experimental weapons may be stored inside the base. We don’t know the specifics yet."

"Experimental weapons? That doesn’t sound good,"

Sun Yang said with a frown.

"That’s why this mission is exceptionally dangerous. You are to infiltrate, conduct reconnaissance, confirm the intelligence, and bring back as much information as possible."

Liu Na’s gaze swept across their faces.

"This is your first time undertaking such a critical mission alone. There is no room for error."

"Understood!"

Li Chang’an nodded.

"We’ll give it our all."

"Also, we’ve detected signs of Insect Race activity near the mining district. It’s highly likely the Rebel Army is using them to guard the base,"

Liu Na added.

"The Insect Race again..." Han Ruoxi sighed.

"Those things just never quit!"

"Any questions?"

Liu Na asked, looking at them.

"None!"

Li Chang’an said.

"We’ll proceed as planned."

After the meeting, the Insect Hunter Squad began to prepare for departure.

Han Ruoxi muttered as she organized her gear.

"This isn’t another trap, is it? We barely made it back last time."

"The Captain’s with us. What’s there to be afraid of?"

Sun Yang said with a smile as he calibrated his Pulse Gun.

"Besides, we aren’t going for a head-on fight this time. We sneak in, snap a few pictures, and get out. Easy peasy!"

"I hope you’re right."

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

"Everyone, get ready. We’re moving out!"

Li Chang’an walked over and patted Han Ruoxi on the shoulder.

"Don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong this time."

"Alright, Captain’s orders!"

Han Ruoxi smiled and fell in line with the squad.

The Insect Hunter Squad boarded the shuttle and sped toward the eastern mining district of Lion’s Fang Star.

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was noticeably more tense than usual. Even Sun Yang wasn’t cracking jokes, instead focusing on wiping down his Pulse Gun.

Han Ruoxi finally broke the silence.

"Captain, this mission in the mining district seems a bit tricky, doesn’t it? What kind of experimental weapons do you think the Rebel Army could even develop?"

"Could be high-yield explosives or some kind of biochemical weapon. They’ve shown an interest in that sort of thing before,"

Bai Lin said, his head down as he fiddled with his portable terminal, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Biochemical weapons? You mean the kind of stuff that makes the Insect Race even more ferocious?"

Han Ruoxi frowned.

"It’s possible,"

Bai Lin replied softly.

"That doesn’t sound good,"

Sun Yang interjected.

"If they succeed, won’t that make things even harder for the 42 Combat Group?"

"There’s no point thinking about that now,"

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

"Just focus on your mission."

"Sister Qiuyue, don’t be so cold. I was just asking to lighten the mood,"

Sun Yang said with a grin, glancing at her.

"The best way you can lighten the mood is by shutting your mouth,"

Shen Qiuyue replied without looking up.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

Li Chang’an suddenly spoke, his voice low and firm.

"Once we reach the mining district, we split into teams as planned. No one does anything reckless."

"Understood!"

the squad replied in unison.

The shuttle gradually approached the mining district, and the surrounding landscape grew increasingly desolate.

The area was littered with abandoned mine shafts and dilapidated equipment, looking as if it had been deserted for ages.

"Captain, the target area is to the southeast!"

Bai Lin projected a map from his portable terminal and pointed to a location.

"Qiuyue, Sun Yang, you two are on perimeter reconnaissance. Pinpoint the Rebel Army’s patrol routes.

Ruo Xi, you’re with me on infiltration. Bai Lin, you’ll provide remote support and monitor the Rebel Army’s communications."

Li Chang’an quickly assigned their roles.

"No problem!"

Sun Yang nodded.

"Captain, you can count on me. I’ll get the job done!"

"Talk is cheap."

Shen Qiuyue shot him a cold glance and began checking her gear.

The shuttle landed on the outskirts of the mining district, and the Insect Hunter Squad quickly split up.

「Outside the mining district.」

Sun Yang and Shen Qiuyue hid behind an abandoned mine cart, carefully observing the Rebel Army’s movements.

"Sister Qiuyue, have you noticed? The Rebel Army’s gear is much better than before. They don’t look like your average ragtag soldiers,"

Sun Yang said in a low voice.

"Cut the chatter and focus!"

Shen Qiuyue replied coldly.

"Alright, alright. I was just making an observation,"

Sun Yang muttered, pouting as he continued to watch the rebels in the distance.

"Two patrolmen on the right,"

Shen Qiuyue warned softly.

"After they pass, we move to the edge of the mine shaft."

"Roger!"

Sun Yang nodded, tightening his grip on his Pulse Gun.

「Deep within the mining district.」

Li Chang’an and Han Ruoxi used the abandoned equipment for cover, silently approaching the target area.

They moved with extreme caution, afraid of alerting any nearby rebels.

"Captain, there looks to be an entrance over there!"

Han Ruoxi pointed to a rock face ahead, where a metal door was faintly visible.

"Bai Lin, check that door,"

Li Chang’an said over the communicator.

"There’s a strong signal fluctuation behind the door. It’s likely a laboratory."

Bai Lin’s voice came through.

"But the door has multiple layers of encryption. It’ll take some time to crack."

"Hurry up,"

Li Chang’an said in a low voice, signaling Han Ruoxi to keep watch.

"Captain, this place is really creepy. What on earth are the rebels up to?"

Han Ruoxi asked in a low voice as she scanned her surroundings.

"Whatever they’re up to, as long as we find evidence, the mission is complete,"

Li Chang’an said calmly.

A few minutes later, Bai Lin’s voice came through again.

"Crack complete. You can enter, but there might be hostiles inside. Be careful."

"Roger that."

Li Chang’an gently pushed the door open and led Han Ruoxi into the laboratory.

「Inside the laboratory.」

The room was filled with all sorts of complex instruments. Documents and equipment were scattered across the floor.

In the corner stood several large containers, inside which vague biological shapes could be seen.

"These things don’t look like anything good,"

Han Ruoxi said with a frown, cautiously approaching one of the containers.

"Don’t touch it. Take pictures first."

Li Chang’an took out a portable camera and began documenting the scene.

"These creatures... they look like mutated members of the Insect Race!"

Han Ruoxi stared at the squirming creatures in the container, her voice tinged with unease.

"Hurry. We don’t have much time."

Li Chang’an picked up his pace.

Just then, the laboratory’s alarm suddenly blared, its shrill sound echoing throughout the entire mining district.

"Captain, the rebels have found you!"

Bai Lin’s voice came over the communicator.

"Fall back!"

Li Chang’an gave the order decisively, pulling Han Ruoxi and running for the exit.

Outside the laboratory, the Rebel Army had already surrounded the exit. Armed soldiers were closing in.

"Ruo Xi, cover me!"

Li Chang’an drew his Saw Chain Sword, blocking the way forward.

"You can count on me!"

Han Ruoxi unleashed a powerful electric arc, instantly knocking back several rebels.

Li Chang’an seized the opportunity to charge forward. With a flurry of his Saw Chain Sword, he swiftly cut down the soldiers blocking their path.

"Captain, we’re at the edge of the mine shaft and heading your way!"

Shen Qiuyue’s voice came through.

"Hurry, we’re surrounded!"

Li Chang’an responded while fighting.

A few minutes later, Shen Qiuyue and Sun Yang arrived and regrouped with Li Chang’an and Han Ruoxi.

The four stood back-to-back in a circle, facing the swarming enemy.

"Captain, with this many rebels, can we still get out?"

Sun Yang asked nervously.

"We can! Hold them off, I’ll clear a path!"

Li Chang’an said coldly, then slashed open a gap in their lines with his sword.