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

Suddenly, faint footsteps were heard from the front of the team, as if an enemy was approaching. Qin Cang stopped abruptly, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings, his heartbeat accelerating again. Xiaohu also stopped immediately, staring at Qin Cang nervously, waiting for instructions.

"Hide!" Qin Cang ordered in a low voice, with a hint of urgency in his tone.

Without hesitation, they quickly disappeared into the dark corner. Qin Cang clung to the tree trunk, his body slightly bent, almost feeling the damp, cool bark. His heart was pounding. Although every second of waiting made him more anxious, he remained calm, forcing himself not to look around or listen to the approaching footsteps.

Qin Cang stood in the darkness, deeply suppressing his inner tension. He glanced down at Xiaohu beside him and sighed silently. Both men knew the mission ahead was a matter of life and death, and the only way to change everything was to successfully contact Liu San and ensure the success of the operation. However, the surrounding situation did not allow them to relax their vigilance. Enemy patrols were becoming increasingly frequent, and the lurking danger was quietly approaching.

He closed his eyes slightly, concentrating, as if trying to grasp some chance to break the status quo. Qin Cang's heart was heavy. Although he had long been prepared for the worst, he still hoped that by contacting Liu San, he could turn the tide. Liu San had always been his most trusted comrade and the only key figure in this rescue operation. If he could successfully guide them into the heart of the camp, perhaps unnecessary conflict and casualties could be avoided.

"Xiao Hu." Qin Cang called out softly, his tone somewhat gloomy, "Are you ready? You must be prepared for the worst-case scenario."

Xiaohu gripped his weapon tightly and nodded, a look of determination in his eyes. He knew his mission was the most critical and dangerous. If they made a mistake at this moment, their mission would be doomed, and Liu San's fate would become unpredictable. Despite his youth, Xiaohu's eyes gleamed with maturity. He said nothing, taking a deep breath and quietly awaiting Qin Cang's instructions.

Qin Cang glanced around. He could almost hear his own heartbeat, each beat weighing heavily on his heart. Night enveloped them, and every corner of the darkness seemed to harbor unknown threats. His only hope was to find Liu San as quickly as possible, even at the cost of his own life.

"Let's go this way." Qin Cang finally spoke, whispering. His instructions were brief and powerful, and every word seemed extremely important.

Xiao Hu didn't ask any more questions. He knew that Qin Cang had made the most accurate judgment. At this moment, their trust had surpassed any verbal communication. Everything had become a shared destiny.

The two of them walked along a more secluded path, Qin Cang's eyes never leaving the front. Every step was like walking on thin ice, and the tension in the air almost made him breathless. The team members behind him maintained a silent pace, not daring to make the slightest sound, for fear of disturbing this fragile peace.

"I'm going to contact Liu San." Qin Cang suddenly whispered, his voice almost blending in with the sound of the wind around him, "But we must be careful. Any mistake may expose our whereabouts."

Xiaohu's heart skipped a beat. He knew the weight of Qin Cang's words. Contacting Liu San meant they would have to break through the enemy's defenses and enter their very presence. This was undoubtedly the most dangerous moment. Although they had anticipated this, the tension in their hearts remained undiminished.

Qin Cang pulled out the communicator he'd prepared long ago and slowly activated it. His fingertips trembled slightly, but he quickly adjusted the frequency and patiently waited for the signal to appear. As the needle continued to tick, his anxiety grew. Every second seemed to be infinitely magnified, and the sound of the wind in his ears and the chirping of insects at night became the background noise of his anxiety.

"Liu San?" Qin Cang called out in a low voice, his tone a little nervous. "Liu San, it's me. We're approaching the camp and ready to start the operation. How's the situation over there?"

A slight murmur echoed through the communicator, and after a moment, a faint voice emerged. The voice was low and oppressive, "Qin Cang, everything is fine here. As long as you can act in time, I can buy you some time. But be careful, the security around the camp is getting tighter, and the enemy has deployed more manpower."

Qin Cang's brow furrowed slightly, a chill suddenly rising in his heart. Although Liu San's tone remained calm, he could sense a hint of unease in his words. The enemy's defenses had clearly been escalated, undoubtedly making their actions more dangerous. Qin Cang silently reminded himself not to let his guard down.

"Understood." Qin Cang responded softly, his tone becoming even deeper. "You must remain vigilant and report any situation at any time. We will proceed according to the plan and approach you as soon as possible."

The noise from the communicator returned, and Liu San's voice seemed to become clearer at that moment, with a subtle hint of nervousness: "Be careful, Qin Cang. The enemy has not only deployed additional patrols inside the camp, but also set up more ambushes on the periphery. I can't guarantee that you can approach smoothly, so it's best to avoid direct contact."

Qin Cang's heart sank. This news made him even more cautious. He silently pondered Liu San's suggestion and decided to change his original plan. His eyes grew more determined, and the mission before him became clearer: operating covertly and avoiding direct contact with the enemy would ensure the smooth progress of their mission.

"Understood. We will avoid direct conflict." Qin Cang replied in a low voice, "Keep in touch and report to me at any time."

There was no response from the communicator. Qin Cang slowly retracted the device, his eyes scanning the area sharply. His heartbeat remained rapid and strong, and the oppressive tension in his chest showed no sign of easing. Everything that followed would determine whether they could successfully complete this rescue.

However, at this moment, the atmosphere around him suddenly changed. Qin Cang's intuition told him that some kind of danger was quietly approaching. His heartbeat jumped to his throat for a moment, and suddenly, he heard footsteps coming from behind him.

"The enemy is coming!" Qin Cang was startled, a cold light flashed in his eyes. He quickly whispered an order, "Hide quickly!"

Xiaohu and his team sprang into action, blending into the surrounding darkness like ghosts, quickly disappearing from sight. Qin Cang also quickly hid in the nearby bushes, his breathing rapid and silent, his body pressed tightly against the tree trunk, his eyes fixed on the approaching patrol route.