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

He was a thin man with messy hair and ragged clothes, looking like he had been on the run for many days. He was holding a small cloth bag and looking back from time to time, his face full of vigilance and fatigue.

"Captain Qin, that must be the traitor they were talking about." Xiaohu whispered, his voice full of uncontrollable excitement. "What should we do now?"

Qin Cang didn't answer immediately, but quietly observed the man's every move. He noticed that although the man's steps were unsteady, his eyes were still sharp, and he was holding the small bag very tightly, obviously containing something important. This cautious behavior showed that he was indeed unusual.

"Don't be anxious, observe first." Qin Cang said in a low voice, his eyes still fixed on the man.

Xiaohu couldn't help but say, "But Captain Qin, what if we were a step later and he ran away?"

"He can't run away." Qin Cang's voice was low and firm. "He can't hold out for long in his current state. Besides, the terrain of this forest is complex. He can't run far."

Xiaohu nodded, but the eagerness in his eyes hadn't completely subsided. He clenched his hands slightly, clearly ready to rush out at any moment.

Liu San saw Qin Cang's intention and asked quietly, "Captain Qin, do you want him to expose himself?"

"That's right." Qin Cang replied calmly, "His condition is too poor. As long as we put a little pressure on him, he will reveal his flaws. And once we find his real hiding place, we can seize the initiative."

As he spoke, the thin man suddenly stopped, looked around, and then quickly disappeared into a dense bush. Qin Cang's eyes flickered slightly, and he whispered, "He's hiding. We can't be impatient. We should approach slowly and not alarm him."

The three of them moved forward cautiously, each step being extremely careful. Qin Cang's eyes were constantly focused on the bushes. His heartbeat remained steady, but his mind was racing. He was thinking about how to convince the other party that they were not enemies, and how to ensure the security of the intelligence.

"Xiao Hu." Suddenly, he called out in a low voice.

"Here!" Xiaohu responded immediately, his voice very low.

"You go up first, Liu San and I will support you from behind. Remember, don't show any hostility, and try to let him talk." Qin Cang's tone was calm, but there was a hint of sharpness in his eyes. "If he is hostile to you, I will deal with it immediately."

"Understood!" Xiaohu nodded, a glint of excitement and nervousness in his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly approached the bushes.

Qin Cang's eyes remained fixed on Xiao Hu's back. Although he could clearly see Xiao Hu's slow steps forward, his heart was still filled with complex emotions—anxiety, worry, and a subtle sense of responsibility. This emotion didn't stem from a simple mission, but from the tacit understanding accumulated over the years and his desire to protect this young man.

"Xiao Hu, you can do it." Qin Cang whispered to himself, silently cheering for Xiao Hu in his heart, even though he knew that this did not mean he could control the situation completely. He gently touched the equipment in his backpack, his fingertips stroking the sharp dagger, and his mind was spinning rapidly.

The enemy's traitor was clearly an extremely dangerous presence. Qin Cang remained calm at this moment, but he knew that any step could lead them into an unforeseen predicament. And Xiao Hu, though bold and careful, seemed too young and impulsive, a fact that Qin Cang could never fully trust.

Liu San appeared relatively calm, leaning against a tree trunk, quietly waiting. Although he didn't say much, the expression on his face, more than anyone else, could see through the tense atmosphere and discern Qin Cang's thoughts. He didn't speak directly, but whispered, "Captain Qin, if we don't act now, we might give him time to escape. Do you think he could possibly escape with that intelligence?"

Qin Cang didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Xiao Hu's back, sensing the tension hidden in his weak steps. A surge of power surged in his heart, knowing that at this moment, every decision he made would determine their future.

"Xiao Hu can do it. I believe in him." Qin Cang finally spoke, his voice low but firm. "But can he lead the enemy out of this predicament at this time? We must be prepared for the worst."

Liu San frowned slightly: "What do you mean by preparing for the worst?"

Qin Cang narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife: "If the other party adopts a hostile attitude, we must take the initiative. We must ensure that the intelligence is not easily taken away, and at the same time, we must avoid letting the enemy fully realize our existence."

Liu San didn't say anything else, but nodded. Although he didn't quite understand Qin Cang's specific plan, he completely trusted Qin Cang's judgment and command.

The atmosphere around them grew increasingly silent, the wind rustling the leaves, and every step felt incredibly heavy. Qin Cang's mind raced through all the possible scenarios. He could clearly imagine that in the next few minutes, if they made even the slightest mistake in their steps, the enemy might quickly notice them, leading to untold disaster.

"Xiao Hu." Qin Cang called out again in a low voice. Although the voice was not loud, Xiao Hu could hear it clearly. His heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and his steps became more cautious at this moment.

He reached out and pushed aside a branch from the bush, ducking down the trunk to a more secluded spot. Then, he saw the thin man still standing there, his head tilted slightly, as if he had noticed something. Xiaohu held his breath nervously, almost feeling the turmoil within him. However, he knew that even the slightest exposure could ruin all his plans.

"There's something wrong with him." Xiao Hu thought silently. The man had stopped, with his back to him, and his body slightly leaning to the side, as if he was waiting for something.

Qin Cang also noticed this, and a glint of alertness flashed in his eyes. He didn't issue any more instructions, but instead his eyes narrowed slightly, his mind racing. He knew that the enemy had sensed a threat and might take action at any moment.

"Xiao Hu, don't let him run away." Qin Cang whispered.

"I understand!" Xiaohu responded in a weak voice, but full of determination.

Xiaohu took advantage of the moment when the man's attention was slightly distracted and quickly approached the target. However, at this moment, the man's head turned suddenly, and his eyes, with a sharp light, locked directly on Xiaohu's position.

Xiaohu's heart suddenly tightened and his body subconsciously paused slightly, but then he rushed forward firmly.