Bright Sword: Conquer the monk at the beginning and take down Zhou Weiguo

Qin Cang was carefully hidden in the deeper grass. Zhang Xiaohu held the dagger tightly, cold sweat slowly sliding down his forehead. At this moment, his muscles were tense to the extreme, and his ears caught the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer.

"How many people are there?" Zhang Xiaohu asked softly, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Li Yong tilted his head slightly, trying to discern the source of the sound and the number of people involved. "At least three, no more than five. Their steps are light and they're well-trained," he whispered, a serious expression on his face.

"It looks like the pursuers have found their way here." Zhang Xiaohu gritted his teeth. They didn't have much time to hesitate. If they were discovered, escaping with Qin Cang would be nearly impossible. Zhang Xiaohu quickly weighed various possible responses in his mind. Should he continue to hide, or take the initiative?

Just as he was thinking, the footsteps suddenly stopped. A whisper came from the darkness, intermittent, as if they were discussing something. Zhang Xiaohu didn't dare to move, so he could only hold his breath and listen carefully.

"It seems to be nearby, search!" A cold and hard voice suddenly sounded, with an unquestionable coldness in the tone.

"Oh no!" Zhang Xiaohu's heart sank. He knew that if the enemy launched a blanket search, their hiding place would soon be exposed. After a moment's hesitation, he signaled Li Yong with his eyes to prepare for battle, while he quietly reached for the other dagger at his waist.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and the air was filled with tension. The shadows of the distant trees swayed in the breeze, dancing like black ghosts. Zhang Xiaohu's every nerve was working at full speed. His palms were wet with sweat, but his eyes remained cold and determined.

"They must be nearby, search separately!" The other party's command sounded again, followed by the rustling sound of footsteps spreading all around.

Li Yong gently touched Zhang Xiaohu's arm and whispered, "Xiaohu, we have to break out, otherwise we'll be doomed if we're surrounded."

Zhang Xiaohu nodded, knowing that Li Yong was right. Now was the best time to act; waiting any longer would only make the situation worse. He took a deep breath and whispered to Li Yong, "I'll attract their attention. You take this opportunity to lead the boss out."

"You're crazy!" Li Yong shouted angrily, "How can you hold off so many people by yourself?"

"We have no choice." Zhang Xiaohu's voice was filled with determination. "Boss's life is more important than mine, understand? Stop talking nonsense and act quickly!"

A flicker of struggle flashed in Li Yong's eyes. He knew Zhang Xiaohu was right, but his heart was filled with resentment. He clenched his fists tightly, and finally gritted his teeth and promised: "Okay! You must come back alive!"

"Stop talking nonsense and get going!" Zhang Xiaohu shouted, then suddenly jumped up from the ground and rushed in the opposite direction. He was as fast as a cheetah, moving through the darkness and deliberately breaking branches to make noises and attract the enemy's attention.

"There's someone! Over there!" The enemy was indeed attracted over there, and several flashlight beams quickly chased Zhang Xiaohu's figure.

Li Yong took the opportunity to carry Qin Cang on his back and quietly made his way through the dense forest from the other side. His heart was filled with worry for Zhang Xiaohu, but at this moment he could only grit his teeth and continue forward. He had to find a safe place as soon as possible to give Qin Cang a chance of survival.

Zhang Xiaohu ran furiously, his ears filled with the clamor of the enemy chasing him. He knew he had to hold them off, or Li Yong and Qin Cang would be finished. Despite the fear and anxiety that filled his heart, he gritted his teeth, not allowing himself to waver. At this moment, the only thing he could do was to fight tooth and nail to secure a glimmer of hope for his brothers.

In this dark and dense forest, Zhang Xiaohu, like a lone wolf, constantly fought off pursuers. Every step he took was a matter of life and death, every second filled with unknown danger. Yet, an unyielding fire burned in his eyes, a desire for survival and an unwavering belief in brotherhood. As long as he could breathe, he would never give up.

Zhang Xiaohu ran frantically through the darkness, the trees around him rapidly receding, the wind slicing his face like a knife. Besides the whistling wind, the sound of the approaching footsteps of his pursuers filled his ears. Li Yong's final, unwilling roar echoed in his mind—"You must come back alive!" A sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth. Alive? At this moment, he wasn't sure he could make it through the night. The flashlight beams behind him, like will-o'-the-wisp, pursued him relentlessly, illuminating his path and revealing his escape.

In the darkness, his steps didn't falter, his heart pounding like it was about to explode. His strength was gradually draining, his throat dry and brittle from the prolonged panting. Yet, he had only one thought in mind—to hold off the pursuers and buy more time for Li Yong and Qin Cang.

"It's right up ahead! Catch up!" A sudden, fierce shout came from behind, and Zhang Xiaohu's heart suddenly tightened. His legs felt as heavy as lead, and every step was so painful that he almost gave up. But he gritted his teeth, suppressing the despair in his heart. He couldn't stop, and he didn't dare to stop. If he stopped, he and his brothers would have no chance of survival.

The woods ahead grew denser, and the terrain gradually steepened. Zhang Xiaohu spun abruptly and slipped into a low bush. His movements were swift and stealthy, making almost no sound. Hiding in the bushes, he held his breath nervously, his ears capturing every movement around him.

"That guy's gone! Search! He must be hiding nearby!" The voices of the pursuers were getting closer, and the sound of footsteps was spreading all around. Zhang Xiaohu could sense that they were not far away, as if if he moved even a little, the cold muzzle of a gun would be pointed at his head in the next second.

His heartbeat rumbled like a drum in his ears, and he could almost hear the blood rushing through his veins. Zhang Xiaohu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He forced himself to shut out his wandering thoughts and focus. In this moment of silence, his thoughts raced—he had to find a way to completely shake off these pursuers, otherwise it would only bring danger to Li Yong and the others.

Suddenly, a flashlight beam shone directly into the bushes where he was hiding. Zhang Xiaohu's body tensed instantly, almost melting into the ground. He could hear the other person's footsteps approaching, and the beam of light gradually approached, as if to expose him in broad daylight.

"There seems to be some movement here," a deep voice rang out, followed by a flash of a flashlight. Zhang Xiaohu's heart tightened, realizing that hiding any longer was futile. He took a deep breath, silently pulled out the dagger hidden in his boot, and gripped it tightly in his hand. He knew that if he was exposed, the only way out would be to fight his way out.

Just as the flashlight was about to reach his hiding place, a few clear bird calls suddenly rang out from the depths of the woods. The sound seemed to be a signal, and the pursuers stopped in their tracks, exchanged a few meaningful glances, and quickly retreated in the direction of the sound.

Zhang Xiaohu seized the opportunity to sprint out of the bushes and scurried off in the opposite direction. His heart was filled with confusion. This sudden bird song wasn't a natural sound, but more like a signal. What could it mean? He had no time to ponder, so he could only speed up and run for his life. Now wasn't the time to find out the truth; his priority was survival.

The veil of darkness gradually lifted, and a faint morning light began to filter through the forest. Zhang Xiaohu ran in the faint morning light, feeling like a lone wolf pursued to a corner. Hunger, cold, fatigue—all the sensory pains washed over him like a tide, but he could only endure it.

Suddenly, his foot slipped and he fell heavily to the ground. He groaned, a sharp pain piercing his knee. As he struggled to his feet, he realized he had stumbled into an abandoned campsite. Scattered around were shabby tents and discarded supplies, creating a desolate and eerie atmosphere.

"Where is this place?" A question flashed through Zhang Xiaohu's mind, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He quickly crawled into a relatively intact tent and hid himself. His breathing was rapid, and his heartbeat was still pounding, but now he finally had a moment to catch his breath.

The tent was dim and damp, emitting a musty smell. He leaned against the tattered fabric and closed his eyes for a moment of rest. Even so, the images of the pursuers and the eerie birdsong still lingered in his mind. He knew this forest was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

"I can't just wait to die." Zhang Xiaohu gritted his teeth and pulled out a crumpled map from his pocket. They had obtained it from a defecting enemy. It was said that deep in the dense forest lay a secret stronghold, temporarily evading the sight of pursuers. However, the specific location of the stronghold had been deliberately blurred, as if someone had deliberately concealed it.

"Why did Qin Cang insist on coming here?" Zhang Xiaohu muttered to himself. He didn't understand why Qin Cang insisted on coming here even though he knew this forest was full of dangers. Was there something here that he must obtain?

As he pondered, he heard faint footsteps outside. Zhang Xiaohu's nerves tensed again, his fingers tightly gripping the dagger. Through the cracks in the tent, he could see several dark figures wandering outside the camp. They seemed to be searching for something, but they didn't immediately notice him.

"Damn it! How can they be so fast?" Zhang Xiaohu cursed inwardly, forcing himself to calm down. He knew he had to remain absolutely silent, or else he'd be discovered. However, the feeling of being trapped in such a small space was overwhelming. His heartbeat raced, and his palms were covered in sweat.

The footsteps outside the tent gradually faded away, and Zhang Xiaohu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that this period of hiding couldn't last much longer. He had to find a safe place to stay as soon as possible and find out the real reason why Qin Cang insisted on coming to this dense forest.

"Li Yong and Qin Cang, they should be safe now, right?" He prayed silently, feeling a surge of guilt. He knew that his actions to delay the pursuers were right, but if this meant he would never be able to reunite with his brothers, then what was the point?

Zhang Xiaohu took a deep breath and pulled himself together. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and tightened the dagger in his hand, his eyes determined and cold. No matter how dangerous the road ahead, he had to survive, for his brothers and for the unsolved secret.

He quietly slipped out from behind the tent and once again set out on an unknown escape. This time, he was no longer running just for survival, but to uncover the truth and ensure that the sacrifices of his fallen brothers would not have been in vain. The road ahead was full of thorns, but an unquenchable fire had already ignited in his heart.

Zhang Xiaohu moved silently through the woods, keeping his footsteps light to avoid any disturbance. His eyes, like a hunting wolf in the darkness, scanned his surroundings warily, his ears picking up every sound. After the thrilling chase, his strength was at its limit, yet a deep-seated stubbornness and determination sustained him, determined not to give up at this final moment. He knew the enemy pursuing him had not given up completely, but was waiting for an opportunity, lurking in the darkness like a venomous snake, waiting for a fatal strike.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew a faint stench of decay. Zhang Xiaohu frowned, realizing he might have entered dangerous territory. The smell wasn't like rotting leaves, but more like the stench of a dead animal. He quickly mentally reviewed the map, trying to recall the area's characteristics. He remembered it had once been a temporary camp for a certain army unit, but now it was a deserted, deserted place, clearly unsuitable for extended stay.

"I can't stay here too long," Zhang Xiaohu thought to himself. His intuition told him they might be ambushed. He bent down slightly, keeping his body parallel to the ground, and carefully groped forward, using the grass as cover. Suddenly, his foot slipped and he nearly fell. He steadied himself and looked down, only to find he had stepped on a worn tin can, making a slight clanging sound.

"Oh no!" His heart sank. This subtle sound might be enough to alert the pursuers. He quickly held his breath and crouched down behind a large tree almost instinctively. A moment later, he heard hurried footsteps and vague whispers not far away.

"Did you hear that? There was a noise over here just now."

"Yes, he's nearby! He definitely can't get far!"

Zhang Xiaohu's ears were filled with the distinct sound of their conversation; it was the enemy's voice. He gripped the dagger tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain. He knew any movement would expose him, so he forcibly suppressed his panic, even his breathing becoming extremely slow.