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

In this complex environment, Qin Cang not only faced constant enemy pursuit and defense, but also had to consider the efficient use of every inch of land. According to his previous plan, he had to quickly rendezvous with Liu San and then lead Xiao Hu to the safest retreat route. Along the way, he could occasionally sense the sound of enemy footsteps from all directions—their patrols were closing in, but Qin Cang remained calm, for he knew every path here like the back of his hand. For him, terrain was no longer a limitation, but the key to breaking the deadlock.

He fished a small bag of compressed biscuits from his side pocket, gently tore open the package, broke off a small piece, and popped it into his mouth. The compressed biscuits were unusually dry and astringent, almost tasteless, but they provided a quick burst of energy, making them the most practical food for long marches. Qin Cang didn't pause, chewing the biscuits, his eyes still scanning his surroundings. He knew he had to remain alert at all times.

"This is all I have left to eat now," he muttered, the bitter taste failing to dispel his inner anxiety. He thought of Xiaohu, the young warrior he had always cared about—his eyes, once filled with hope and longing, were now replaced by exhaustion and confusion. Qin Cang couldn't help but quicken his pace once more. If he didn't act quickly, the future might become even more difficult.

He also knew that he and Liu San didn't have much time. Although he had great confidence in Liu San's judgment, the increasingly complex situation inevitably made him feel uneasy. "Is Xiaohu okay?" This was the question he kept asking himself. Could that young man, who should have been full of energy, hold on under the pressure of this prolonged battle? Could he stand up again and fight for a better chance of survival for himself and his teammates?

"I can't let my guard down at all," Qin Cang kept reminding himself as he chewed another biscuit. The moment he swallowed it, he felt a faint bitterness fill his mouth, as if every cell in his body felt the weight of the pressure. With each chew, he could feel the energy replenishing, but this simple food wasn't enough to comfort him from his mental exhaustion.

He continued forward, constantly thinking about how to make the next move, how to get the entire team out of this dangerous city as safely as possible. The surrounding scenery gradually became unfamiliar. The buildings in the night sky rose high into the sky, as if every wall was lurking in the sight of the enemy, and every shadowy corner was hiding unknown dangers.

Suddenly, there was a faint sound of footsteps ahead. Qin Cang immediately crouched down, close to the roadside wall, and held his breath. He knew the enemy patrol was not far away. He could feel their footsteps approaching, and the sense of urgency instantly tensed his nerves, his heartbeat quickened, and even his eyes began to adjust to the darkness, ready to respond to any possible emergency.

A few seconds later, the footsteps faded. Qin Cang breathed a sigh of relief, but several questions flashed through his mind: What if the enemy discovered them? How would the entire operation be handled? He rehearsed various reactions and strategies in his mind. He dared not let his guard down. He seized every opportunity during a break in his patrol and advanced quickly.

For the next few minutes, Qin Cang's every step was extremely cautious. Even when crossing a street, he made sure no one could detect his movements behind him. He continued to move at a low speed, only accelerating again when he was sure there were no enemies around. His mind was exceptionally clear, and he carefully evaluated the use of every inch of land.

When he finally arrived at the scheduled meeting place, Liu San was already waiting there. Although his face was a little tired, Liu San's eyes were still calm and resolute, as if everything was under his control.

"Where is Xiaohu?" Qin Cang walked forward quickly and looked at Liu San eagerly.

Liu San nodded and whispered, "He's been taken care of. His condition isn't the worst, but it's not bad either." He paused and added, "However, I've let him rest for a while, and he should be able to recover a little bit."

Qin Cang's frown relaxed slightly, a heavy weight finally falling from his heart. He knew that while Xiaohu's condition wasn't perfect, at least he wasn't completely broken. The next mission would still be difficult, but fortunately, their team hadn't completely collapsed.

"Can he hold on?" Qin Cang asked, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. Xiaohu's condition kept him worried, but he didn't let himself appear overly anxious, even though he had already prepared for the worst in the face of future challenges.

Liu San lowered his head and thought for a moment, then raised his head with a firm look in his eyes: "He can. Although Xiaohu is young, he is very tough. I believe he can withstand it."

Qin Cang looked at Liu San's eyes, knowing that he was trying to comfort him and Xiao Hu. He took a deep breath and returned his gaze to the front, his eyes regaining a bit of their cold edge. The current situation was still not optimistic, but they still had a glimmer of hope. The next retreat had to be swift, not giving the enemy any chance to find a flaw.

Qin Cang whispered, "Be careful." His voice was calm, but the glint in his eyes betrayed his inner tension and alertness. The road ahead seemed quiet. Moonlight filtered through the cracks between the crumbling buildings, casting dappled shadows. It was as if every inch of this city awaited something, and a sense of unease permeated the air. Although there were no discernible footsteps or signs of movement, Qin Cang's intuition told him there was an ambush ahead.

He had been marching for some time, taking every step cautiously, mentally calculating every possible scenario. In this situation, all he could rely on, besides a calm mind, was years of combat experience, and a keen sense of his surroundings. Even when the surroundings were calm, he dared not let his guard down. After several encounters with the enemy, he knew that any moment of composure could lead to disaster.

"The enemy won't let us off easily," Qin Cang thought silently. He could sense a subtle pressure coming from all directions. The enemy's pace had become more intensive, their movements gradually approaching their retreat route. If it were just a routine patrol, the enemy wouldn't have increased surveillance without reason. Clearly, they had noticed something was amiss and were taking action.

"We need to speed up," he whispered, signaling to Liu San and Xiao Hu. But he didn't relax; instead, he grew even more alert. He knew the ambush lay just ahead, poised to strike at any moment. If their position were exposed, their entire retreat plan would be ruined. Their lives would depend on their immediate reaction.

Qin Cang, at the forefront of the team, leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the shadows ahead, vigilantly searching every corner where an enemy might hide. He grasped every whiff of movement in the air. Although his pace did not quicken, each step was remarkably steady. He knew that the more dangerous the situation, the less impatience he needed. A hasty escape would only expose his target.

"Liu San, confirm the path on the left," Qin Cang whispered. His tone was not a trace of panic, but rather a calm instruction. He knew that in this critical moment, every decision he made would directly affect the safety of the team. He was well aware of Liu San's ability to respond; he was steady and decisive.

Liu San didn't answer immediately. Instead, he quietly leaned aside, his eyes fixed on the dark area to his left. After a moment, he frowned slightly, turned around, and whispered, "Something's amiss. There seems to be some movement in the building to the left." He didn't elaborate further, but quickly took a few steps forward and gestured for the team to stop.

Xiao Hu looked a little dazed, clearly not fully recovered yet. The hazy light in his eyes revealed that he was already somewhat exhausted, but he still gritted his teeth and followed the team closely. Qin Cang knew Xiao Hu's situation very well, knowing that his current state was very poor and the mental pressure was almost making him collapse, but at this moment, Qin Cang had no choice but to let Xiao Hu continue to follow, not letting him relax even a little.

Sighing inwardly, Qin Cang no longer waited and quickly made a decision: "Let's act separately. Liu San, you take Xiaohu to the right first, and I will go to the left to scout." He knew that facing the enemy head-on was not a wise move. The best strategy was to act separately, lure the enemy to distract their attention, thereby reducing the pressure on the team and creating more space for himself to retreat.

Liu San nodded without hesitation, "I understand." Without another word, he turned and pulled Xiaohu quickly toward the alley on the right. Xiaohu didn't resist, but simply leaned against Liu San wearily, his eyes filled with confusion, but he still followed resolutely.

Qin Cang took a deep breath, gripping his pistol tightly with both hands, and slowly walked towards the shadows on his left. There was a silent, oppressive feeling in the air, as if everything around him was watching his every move, and even every corner lurked an unknown danger. As his pace quickened, the darkness around him seemed to slowly close in, and with every step, his heartbeat quickened.

In the deepest shadows, he suddenly stopped, his heartbeat stagnating. Several blurry figures appeared at the entrance of the alley in the distance. They vaguely resembled enemies, quietly waiting for something. Qin Cang's heart trembled, and he turned around almost subconsciously, ready to react.

However, at that moment, a chill suddenly struck his arm, and a sharp gaze seemed to lock onto him from behind. He quickly ducked and hurriedly changed direction, thinking to himself, "An ambush indeed." He didn't dare to hesitate any longer and quickly entered a nearby abandoned building. Using the barrier of piled rocks and the abandoned buildings as a barrier, he quickly disappeared from the enemy's sight.