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

"Someone's coming," Qin Cang whispered, his tone filled with extreme vigilance. He slowly crouched down, a wave of unease welling up in his heart. Logically, the people outside the cave should still be enemies. They'd been maintaining a high-pressure situation recently, not daring to act rashly. But he didn't expect the footsteps to disappear. Instead, they suddenly paused for a few seconds, and then took a new turn—the sound gradually approached their hiding place.

Qin Cang quietly raised his head and peered out through the crack in the cave entrance, his gaze as sharp as a knife. But when he saw the scene outside, he was stunned. At that moment, his heart suddenly jumped, followed by a wave of almost uncontrollable anger.

Liu San - and the little tiger that Liu San brought with him.

He didn't expect that Liu San would secretly take Xiaohu away from the hiding cave without notifying him.

"Xiao Hu!" Qin Cang growled, his voice practically gnashing through his teeth. His eyes were practically red with rage. Xiao Hu was Liu San's younger brother. Though young, he was surprisingly courageous, his mind often filled with impulsiveness and savagery. Qin Cang had repeatedly warned Liu San to remain calm and not take any drastic action. But apparently, these warnings failed to deter Liu San from his decision.

"What are they going out for?" Liu San asked in a low voice. Although he said that it was okay, Qin Cang knew clearly from his tightly furrowed brows and slightly anxious eyes that Liu San was not as relaxed as he seemed.

"I don't know." Qin Cang stared at the scene outside the cave, his heart in turmoil. "But no matter what they do, going out at this time is simply seeking death."

His words did not reassure Liu San, but instead made him feel even more depressed and heavy. Liu San gritted his teeth and stood up slightly, a trace of struggle and anger flashing in his eyes: "Damn it! Why won't he listen!"

Qin Cang's eyes never left the cave entrance. He knew that no matter how they reacted, it was too late. Liu San had left with Little Tiger, and no one knew why. Perhaps they were looking for food, or perhaps they were scouting for the enemy. Either way, it was a mad move at this critical moment. If the enemy discovered them, Liu San, with Little Tiger, would become an obvious target.

"I'll go find them." Qin Cang said coldly, with murderous intent in his eyes. He looked at Liu San, seeing the anxiety and helplessness in his eyes, "You stay here, don't follow me."

"I don't..." Liu San interrupted Qin Cang before he could finish, "You know I can't just sit there and do nothing. Xiao Hu is my brother, I have to go find him."

Qin Cang said nothing more. He knew Liu San had already made his decision and it wouldn't change. In fact, Qin Cang himself was feeling a bit anxious. He knew that going out to look for Xiao Hu at this time was really a gamble—not just Xiao Hu's life, but the lives of all of them.

"Let's go, move quickly." Qin Cang lowered his voice, his heart filled with anxiety like a tide, yet he still maintained a calm appearance. "If there are enemies, we must not alert them. Remember, no matter what you see, do not act rashly."

Liu San nodded heavily, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes: "Understood."

They made their way silently out of the cave. Qin Cang didn't have much faith in Liu San's decision, but at this moment, he didn't have time to blame him for his rashness. All their attention was focused on the enemy outside. If the enemy was still out there, they had to not only buy time for Xiao Hu, but also retreat quietly before the enemy noticed.

Outside, darkness reigned, the air damp and cold, the only sounds being the occasional snapping of branches and the rustle of wind across rocks. Qin Cang took every step carefully, striving to leave no trace. His eyes peered through the darkness, fixed firmly on the road ahead.

Finally, they found Xiaohu's trace.

Xiaohu was squatting behind a large rock, seemingly observing the surroundings. He was a little surprised to see Qin Cang and Liu San appear, but he quickly regained his composure. Xiaohu stood up and said softly, "I didn't do anything stupid."

Qin Cang raised his eyebrows and asked in a low voice: "What are you doing here? Do you know how many enemies are outside?"

Xiaohu didn't take it seriously and smiled slightly: "I'm not that stupid, I just came out to take a look and find something to eat." There was not much tension in his words, but rather a natural ease, as if the world did not pose much threat to him.

"Food?" Qin Cang sneered, "Do you know what you are doing? You are gambling with your life!"

"I knew you would say that." Xiao Hu said in a low voice before Qin Cang could speak again, "But you have to admit that the wild vegetables in there are not enough to eat. If this goes on, we will all starve to death. Besides, we already know where the enemy is. They won't just leave like this."

Liu San had walked to Xiaohu at this time and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't be so impulsive. Listen to Qin Cang, we have to calm down." He paused and looked at Qin Cang, as if he wanted to explain something, but did not continue.

Qin Cang looked at the two of them, a complex mix of emotions welling up in his heart. He knew the situation wasn't optimistic. Their position had been exposed, and the enemy could discover them at any moment. But it was precisely because of this that he became even more resolute in his decision—no matter what, he had to keep them alive.

"Let's go back." Qin Cang's tone was low, "Whether you believe it or not, today's mission is to save our lives. We can't take any more risks."

"But..." Xiao Hu wanted to argue, but Liu San grabbed his shoulders and whispered, "Listen to Qin Cang and talk about it when we get back."

Qin Cang's pace quickened, the surging emotions within him almost suffocating him. The cold wind outside the cave, tinged with moisture, chilled him to the bone. As he ran, he mentally cursed Liu San and Xiao Hu for their impulsiveness. Qin Cang had never felt more profoundly aware than he did at that moment—every decision on the battlefield was a matter of life and death, especially for a small team like theirs. Once they lost their unified direction, they would be like scattered sand, their entire team shattered by the slightest disturbance.

"Damn it!" He gritted his teeth, his steps as swift as a beast, stepping over dead leaves and stones, making a series of muffled noises. "If something really happens, no one can forgive themselves!"

Despite his repeated warnings, he didn't slow down. He didn't dare stop. Every second he raced faster, fearing he'd miss even a second. Liu San and Xiao Hu's safety was urgent, and the uncertainty outside the cave made him even more cautious.