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

"I'm ready." Qin Cang's tone was unusually calm, filled with determination and resolve. He had no way back; he had no choice but to move forward, to burn his boats and cross the river. Only then could he rescue Xiaohu and complete this rescue operation, which was destined to be fraught with peril.

Almost at the same moment, the two of them stopped talking and took off simultaneously, rapidly approaching the front of the warehouse. Each step they took seemed to follow the drumbeat of their hearts, violent and heavy.

"Remember, stay hidden." Qin Cang warned in a low voice, a hint of anxiety in his voice. "Any sound could expose our whereabouts."

Liu San didn't answer, just nodded. His eyes were sharper, as if he had entered a fighting state. All his thoughts and emotions were suppressed in that moment of determination.

Every step felt like treading on a knife's edge. Qin Cang's heartbeat grew increasingly rapid, the pressure in his chest making it nearly impossible to breathe. The chill of the night wind rustled his clothes, but he paid no attention. His gaze was fixed on the approaching warehouse ahead. The rustling of the wind and the din of the battlefield seemed to be obliterated, leaving only the heavy rhythm of his heart.

Xiaohu, the young man who once fiercely wielded his iron rod on the training ground, challenging every formidable foe with a smile, now endured unimaginable torture in that warehouse. Qin Cang had seen his passionate eyes countless times, those flashes of determination and unyielding strength that always evoked a strength that made one want to protect him. But now, Qin Cang knew clearly that that strength had gradually faded under the oppression of the enemy.

"Xiaohu, are you okay?" He whispered to himself with a dim look in his eyes.

During this time, Qin Cang began to notice Xiaohu's declining mental state. He wasn't as energetic as before, but instead seemed somewhat lethargic and absent-minded. The daily grind of training and combat seemed unable to free him from the heavy shadows of his past. This was especially true after a minor injury he sustained during a mission a few days ago. While the wound wasn't fatal, Xiaohu hadn't fully recovered from it. His eyes were hollow, his movements were slow, and he seemed to be enveloped by an unspoken sense of exhaustion.

"Am I too eager to save him?" Qin Cang asked himself, his brow furrowed. He knew that his anxiety, like the wild beast, was becoming increasingly difficult to contain. The task of rescuing Xiaohu was becoming increasingly urgent, and the worry he couldn't hide was growing more intense day by day.

He recalled Xiaohu's appearance on the battlefield, that youthful face brimming with determination. He'd once said with a smile that his greatest dream was to stand on the front lines, fighting alongside his teammates, shedding his blood and sweat for a cause. Now, he seemed nearly broken by the brutality of battle and the relentless pain. Qin Cang could sense that Xiaohu, who once faced any adversity without hesitation, was now gripped by an unspeakable fear, as if his spine had been broken.

"If he keeps going like this... something bad's going to happen." Qin Cang felt a surge of unease. Just now, outside the warehouse, he had seen Xiao Hu. He was tied to a pillar, his body covered in wounds, his eyes glazed over, completely devoid of their former brilliance. His mental state was deteriorating, as if every emotion was being drained away by this battlefield, leaving only a hollow gaze and unhealed wounds.

All of this weighed on Qin Cang, making him almost breathless. As a commander, he was accustomed to the life-or-death moments on the battlefield, accustomed to the separation of countless comrades. But Xiaohu was an exception. He had been with him through countless life-or-death moments, through those difficult years unknown to others. And now, seeing Xiaohu like this, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret.

He suddenly recalled his own youth. Back then, like Xiaohu, he too had ideals and was filled with passion. But as time passed, those ideals and passion grew increasingly blurred, leaving only endless battles and life-or-death struggles. Xiaohu, meanwhile, was at the beginning of this journey, and he hadn't yet truly seen its end.

"Can he hold on?" Qin Cang asked himself again, the anxiety and unease growing deeper. Every time he thought of Xiao Hu, a strong sense of responsibility welled up in his heart. It wasn't just the responsibility of a comrade, but more like an unspoken promise. He had promised himself to protect this young man, to help him navigate this thorny road.

"We can't let him give up like this." A hint of determination flashed in Qin Cang's eyes.

"He must be saved," he whispered to himself.

But at this moment, Liu San's voice came in a low and powerful voice: "Xiao Hu is fine, he just hasn't recovered yet. What we need to do is get him out as soon as possible."

These words were like a chill, breaking the conflict in Qin Cang's heart. Looking up at Liu San, Qin Cang saw no sign of relief on his stern face. On the contrary, the depth and solemnity in his eyes became even more apparent. Liu San hadn't been unaware of Xiao Hu's change; in fact, he understood the current situation better than anyone else.

"He's in a bad mental state right now because the enemy has long seen through our intentions." Liu San continued in a low but firm voice, "If we don't rescue him quickly, this child may have a mental breakdown."

Qin Cang remained silent. He knew Liu San's words were not empty talk. The enemy's interrogation tactics often involved not only physical torture but also psychological devastation. If Xiao Hu didn't recover from this situation, he would probably fall into deep fear and despair, and eventually collapse completely.

"We don't have time." Liu San whispered, his eyes fixed. "The only thing we can do now is to rescue him from the enemy's control as soon as possible. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous."

"You're right." Qin Cang's voice regained its composure, and the anxiety in his eyes gradually faded. He knew that the most important thing right now was action, not empty emotional entanglements. "We must make the enemy think we haven't discovered their trap, secretly approach the warehouse, and break through in one fell swoop."

Liu San nodded, his expression still calm. "Let's go around to the rear first, and sneak in quietly when their patrols are interrupted. Remember, don't make any noise, and don't expose yourself."

Qin Cang didn't respond. He simply took a deep breath, quickly regulating his breathing, and gripped his weapon tightly. Even a seasoned warrior like him had to admit that tonight's mission was far more complex than he'd anticipated. Every step was fraught with uncertainty, every decision could lead to irreversible consequences. Yet, he had no choice. Xiaohu's life was tied to theirs.

The night wind grew increasingly bitter, like an invisible knife slicing across his cheek, bringing bursts of stinging pain. Qin Cang felt the chill, but remained unmoved. His attention was focused on the warehouse ahead, his gaze fixed on the nearly closed, dilapidated wooden door. The commotion of the battlefield and the dust in the wind seemed to have nothing to do with him. His mind had long been trapped somewhere else—the place where Xiao Hu was imprisoned.

At this moment, Qin Cang's mind kept replaying Xiaohu's face: that bright-eyed, determined young warrior, now trapped in chains and heavy shackles, suffering both physically and mentally. Every time he thought of his current predicament, Qin Cang felt a stabbing pain spread from the depths of his heart. It wasn't a sting of pain, but a deep sense of powerlessness. Xiaohu had once been the bravest and most passionate of them all, always willing to charge forward, never hesitating for the mission or his comrades. However, the brutality of the battlefield, the torture of the enemy, and the ever-approaching mental breakdown had consumed him completely.

"Xiao Hu, can you hold on?" Qin Cang asked silently in his heart, with an indescribable pain flashing in his eyes.

He knew clearly that any further delay would only worsen Xiaohu's situation. War was merciless, especially to captured soldiers. Xiaohu was no longer the idealistic and ambitious young man he once was. He was now shrouded in an inescapable shadow, a shadow borne from the enemy's interrogation and the fading hope within him.

Despite this, Qin Cang knew he had no choice. He had reached the end of the road, unable to turn back. Saving Xiaohu was the only thing that could bring him peace of mind. That responsibility, that unshirkable obligation, left him no room for hesitation.

Liu San's voice once again broke Qin Cang's contemplation: "It's time for us to act."

Qin Cang regained consciousness and saw Liu San's stern face, still expressionless. Despite the turmoil and uncertainty surrounding the outside world, Liu San remained calm and unmoved, as if everything was under his control. His composure and composure always seemed to instill a sense of inexplicable stability in others. But Qin Cang knew that Liu San's inner self was far from as calm as his outward appearance.

"Do you know what we are most afraid of now?" Qin Cang asked in a low voice, his eyes still fixed on the warehouse in front of him, his voice a little hoarse.

Liu San didn't answer immediately, but slowly turned his head and looked at Qin Cang: "What?"

"We're afraid of being held back." Qin Cang's voice was low, carrying an invisible sense of oppression. "We're afraid that we'll be held back by this dead night and the approaching enemy, and ultimately not even be able to save Xiaohu." He gripped his weapon tightly, his fingers turning slightly white. "We don't want to die here, and we don't want to watch him die."

Liu San was silent for a moment, as if pondering Qin Cang's words. It was a complex mix of emotions, not just anxiety about the mission, but also a deep concern for each of his comrades. Liu San had never expressed much emotion, but Qin Cang knew that this concern was deeply rooted in his heart, motivating every move he made.