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

"Let's just keep acting." Qin Cang took a deep breath, his expression returning to calm and composure. He knew that only by persevering could he find the true answer, the unresolved connection between himself and his father, and the "truth" within himself.

"What are you thinking about?" Liu San's voice came again, breaking Qin Cang's deep thoughts. He turned and saw her standing not far away, still wearing the brown military uniform, her eyes sharp, as if she could see through everything. She walked to his side, her eyes still without any fluctuations, but Qin Cang could sense the subtle concern in her eyes.

"Nothing." Qin Cang raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, "I'm just thinking about our next journey."

Liu San's gaze paused, as if she had noticed the subtle change in Qin Cang's expression. She frowned slightly, but didn't ask any further questions. She simply nodded, "In that case, let's move on. Time waits for no one."

Qin Cang nodded slightly, but a strange chill welled up in his heart. Liu San never questioned his inner thoughts easily, knowing he held too many secrets and pressures. Perhaps she had also long sensed the turmoil and confusion hidden beneath his mask of calm. However, Liu San wouldn't ask, and shouldn't, because she knew there were certain questions only he could answer.

"Let's go." Qin Cang regained his composure, his tone returning to its usual calm. He stopped dwelling on insignificant matters; the mission at hand was paramount. Every step depended on their future, and every moment could not be stagnant.

The team gradually geared up, and everyone began to move in tacit coordination. Despite the tense atmosphere in the air, they remained silent. Everyone was waiting for something, perhaps a conflict, a decision, or even a turning point that could change everything.

"Do you think we can pass it smoothly?" Liu San suddenly spoke, his tone was gentle, but the meaning in it could not be ignored.

Qin Cang was slightly startled, then turned to look at her. "Are you worried?" he asked.

Liu San shook his head, a subtle flash of complex emotion in his eyes. "I'm not worried, I just want to know if you're ready."

Qin Cang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly felt a pressure he had never felt before. This question wasn't just about his future choices, but also about his own inner truth. Liu San was asking him if he was ready to face all the unknowns, including the shadows deep within his heart that he had never faced before.

He was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly and said, "Ready or not, we must continue on this journey." He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, his voice becoming steady and resolute. "What we want are answers."

Liu San didn't say anything else, as if she had already heard the answer. She lowered her head to sort out her equipment, then took a step forward and followed closely behind Qin Cang.

The team's pace quickened, and the atmosphere grew more tense. Qin Cang stared ahead, his mind reeling from his own relationship to this road. Every step seemed to bring him closer to the answer, yet the fog within him lingered. The mystery of his father, the sudden appearance of Xiaohu, and even his own inner turmoil—how would all this end?

He slowly closed his eyes and took another deep breath, feeling the pressure rising from within. Acting might only mask temporary emotional fluctuations, but facing this game, he could no longer escape it. Whether it was the challenge or the solution, this path would ultimately be his own.

The team advanced silently, their footsteps light yet determined, as if each member was silently calculating the pace of the race against time. Qin Cang's gaze remained fixed forward, his expression stern, yet his heart was restless. With each step, he suppressed the restlessness within him, the impulse that threatened to erupt at any moment. The closer he got to the path his father had pointed out, the closer he got to the place marked on the map, the heavier his heart became. It was no mere journey, but more of a battle with himself and fate.

His hands clenched slightly, his knuckles turning white, and the sword in his hand grew slightly hot from holding it for so long. He knew he couldn't turn back, couldn't delay any longer. Every hesitation would bring him one step further from the answer, and every step forward would expose him to more unknown dangers. Yes, there were countless enemies and possible traps ahead, but what made Qin Cang even more uneasy was his own inner turmoil and uncertainty. He had never felt so strongly the gap between himself and the entire team, and even he himself was doubting it - was this path really the right one?

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, bringing with it a faint echo from the distant mountains, a low roar that made one's heart tighten. The team immediately slowed down, and the air became somewhat heavy. Qin Cang took a deep breath, gently raised his right hand, and gave a brief and decisive signal. The team stopped immediately, and everyone quickly dispersed according to their training, hiding behind the surrounding trees and rocks, maintaining the best defensive posture.

Liu San stopped beside Qin Cang, glanced around calmly, and then asked in a low voice: "What's going on?"

Qin Cang didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the distant mountain range, his brows furrowed slightly. The echo didn't sound like the natural sound of the wind; instead, it had a man-made quality, like some distant mechanism being activated, or some massive object moving slowly and heavily. Was it an enemy? Or... some unknown danger?

Liu San noticed Qin Cang's nervousness and whispered, "Is it an enemy?"

Qin Cang's gaze didn't retract from the distance. He continued to stare at the outline of the mountain range, and countless possibilities flashed through his mind. "Not necessarily," he said slowly, "but it could be our former enemy, or someone else operating in this area."

The air seemed to grow even more tense. The team members exchanged quick glances behind their backs, their tacit understanding conveying a tense atmosphere. Everyone knew that the "enemies" Qin Cang was referring to weren't just the obvious threats before them. Qin Cang's past, his father, and even every clue on this map seemed closely connected to a deeper conspiracy. Today, they might face not just external enemies, but also the fear and insecurity lurking deep within their hearts.

Qin Cang suddenly turned around and ordered in a low voice: "Be prepared and stay highly alert. Liu San, you take a team to conduct reconnaissance first." His voice was as calm as ever, but beneath that calmness, there was an uncontrollable tension and depression.

Liu San nodded, turned around, and called a few team members, quietly telling them to disperse quickly. Her figure quickly disappeared into the woods, her steps light but firm, as if she was already accustomed to this kind of mission. However, even after her figure disappeared into the darkness, Qin Cang still did not relax his vigilance, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

He understood that Liu San's mission on this expedition wasn't simply to scout the enemy. Her mission was to help him answer a question that had puzzled him for a long time: what was the connection between his father's secret and this land? Qin Cang pondered silently, as everything seemed to point to that unknown direction. Even though he already vaguely understood that this upcoming duel was far more than just a contest with the enemy.

"How should I face this?" he muttered to himself, his voice low and hoarse. This question lingered in his heart, unanswered for a long time. Every time he recalled his father's dying words, "Take this path, don't look back," it was like a sharp knife, repeatedly opening new wounds in his heart. What was that path? He no longer had the courage to question his father's true intentions, nor did he dare to touch the anxiety and pain buried deep in his memory. But he knew deep down that he couldn't avoid it.

"Can't stop." Qin Cang finally raised his head and murmured.

Just then, hurried footsteps could be heard in the distance. Several scouts returned to Qin Cang's side, bringing back intelligence. Their expressions were unusually serious, their steps steady yet slightly nervous. The leading member approached Qin Cang and whispered, "Captain, there's movement ahead, but we can't tell the scale of the enemy yet. We've found some traces of footsteps, which could be signs of human activity."

"How many people?" Qin Cang raised his eyebrows slightly.

"It's hard to say for sure, but it's probably quite a few," the team member replied, his eyes flickering slightly. "They've probably already noticed us. They're very fast."

Qin Cang nodded slightly, thinking for a moment, his eyes becoming sharper. He said nothing more, but silently waved to the team members, signaling them to prepare for action.

The team began advancing silently once more, each step being extremely cautious. The tension in the air grew thicker, as if foreshadowing some impending storm. Qin Cang's heartbeat quickened, knowing that his acting skills were no longer sufficient to mask his inner turmoil. If they truly encountered the enemy, then this battle would be an unavoidable test.

"What am I running away from?" Qin Cang asked himself in a low voice in his heart.

He suddenly realized that it had been a long time since he'd faced the fear and confusion within him. In the past, he'd always been calm and decisive, never letting his emotions cloud his judgment. But now, facing the path his father had left behind, he felt an immense weight and unease. It wasn't just for himself anymore, but for the long-forgotten family bond, for his father's secret, for the mystery that had never truly been solved.

"I must go on." He told himself again firmly.