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

Liu San gave Qin Cang a deep look, then silently pulled out a tattered piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him. Qin Cang took the letter and unfolded it. It was covered with densely written words. The handwriting was crooked, but the urgency in it could still be seen. Xiao Hu was trapped in the enemy's encirclement. The situation around him was becoming increasingly critical, and he had almost no ability to resist. The last line of the letter read: "If you want to save Xiao Hu, you must arrive before dawn."

"Time's running out," Qin Cang muttered, tucked the letter into his arms. His hands clenched into fists, and anxiety washed over him like a torrent. Xiaohu was only seventeen years old, young and ambitious, eager to do something for the group. But because he underestimated the enemy, he fell into a trap and found himself in a dead end. Qin Cang regretted not discovering the enemy's plot in time, but all his regrets were futile. The most important thing now was how to rescue Xiaohu.

"We must act as soon as possible." Liu San's words interrupted Qin Cang's thoughts.

"Yes." Qin Cang nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, "We will set off tonight."

Without further ado, the two men quickly began to pack their equipment. Qin Cang's movements were swift and expert, not missing a single detail. He checked his gun countless times, ensuring he had ammunition and the most important pieces of trophy. Liu San also wasted no time, quickly securing his saddle and readying his sword.

"Let's go." Liu San patted Qin Cang's shoulder, indicating that everything was ready.

Night fell quietly, and only a few stars twinkled beneath the dark sky. The wind still carried a chill, but this chill did not frighten the two men. On the contrary, as the night deepened, their figures became increasingly subtle, like two shadows blending into the pitch-black world.

Riding through the endless darkness, the ground vibrated in unison with his heartbeat. Qin Cang had never felt time was so precious as it did now. Every minute seemed to be taking Xiao Hu's life away. And at this moment, his reliance on Liu San was intense. Liu San had always been his most trusted comrade. In every life-or-death battle in the past, they had supported and rescued each other. This time, Liu San was still his only support.

"Liu San, can you take us through that path?" Qin Cang suddenly asked.

"Of course." Liu San's voice was filled with a hint of calm strength. "I know the way, but be careful. The enemy may have already started setting up defenses. Are you ready?"

"Anytime." Qin Cang's tone was decisive and steady.

"Okay, follow me." Liu San turned his horse and began to lead the way. Qin Cang followed closely behind, his heartbeat accelerating with the horse's pace. The night road seemed incomparably long, but the two of them were in perfect harmony, not a single word was wasted. Every road, every fork in the road, they knew the right choice.

Finally, they arrived at a forest that seemed deep and mysterious. Moonlight shone on the branches, painting the earth a faint silver hue. And just then, a low wolf howl shattered the silence. Qin Cang's body suddenly tensed, his alertness instantly reaching a peak.

"Enemy..." Qin Cang's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

Liu San's expression instantly turned serious. He tilted his head slightly and whispered, "Be careful."

Almost immediately, dense footsteps echoed from the depths of the woods, approaching rapidly, as if someone were rapidly approaching them. Qin Cang instinctively grabbed his gun, a tense atmosphere filling the air. He scanned the surroundings, searching for any possible hiding place. There were too many shadows in the woods, and too many places for the enemy to hide.

Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from behind the tree and rushed towards Liu San. Qin Cang pulled the trigger almost subconsciously. The gunshot rang out and the dark shadow fell.

"Keep going!" Liu San did not stop. His low voice was almost an order, with an unquestionable tone.

Qin Cang's heartbeat was remarkably clear in the stillness of the night, accompanied by the clatter of their galloping hooves. It felt as if the entire world was trembling with these rapid steps. Every turn, every scrap of sand, sliced ​​through his heart like a knife, sharpening his thoughts. Liu San's figure before him was like an unfathomable mountain, steady as a rock, while he himself was like a willow branch in the wind, swaying constantly.

His fingers gently stroked the saddle, but his mind was a chaotic mess, like a thousand horses galloping. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if searching for something, and Xiaohu's face kept echoing in his mind, that childish face always showing a determination and persistence that was unbecoming of his age.

"I won't let you get hurt," he said silently to Xiaohu in his heart.

The three of them, one on horseback, rode swiftly through the woods, their rapid pace making even the air quicken. Suddenly, Liu San abruptly stopped, and Qin Cang's horse also stopped, breathing rapidly and looking alert.

"What's going on?" Qin Cang asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surrounding darkness like a knife.

Liu San didn't answer, merely lowering his head slightly, listening attentively to the sounds in the distance. The wind whipped past them, stirring up gusts of dust. The chill in the air grew even thicker, as if the entire world were enveloped by some invisible force. They dared not move forward, fearing they would fall into a trap set by the enemy.

"Get off your horse first." Liu San finally spoke, his voice carrying a chilling tone. "We must proceed with caution."

Qin Cang dismounted, his gun still tightly gripped. His heart was heavier than before. Every step felt like an effort, and his anxiety only grew. Xiaohu was trapped in the enemy's encirclement. He knew that with every passing second, Xiaohu's situation would become more dangerous. He couldn't imagine how he would bear it if Xiaohu was injured, or even lost his life.

"Liu San," Qin Cang couldn't help but ask, "Do you think we can get to Xiao Hu?"

Liu San glanced at him, and at that moment, he didn't seem to want to answer. After a moment's silence, he whispered, "I know what you're worried about, but if you're afraid, you can't do anything."

Qin Cang's heart was touched by these words, as if the cold reality had once again hit him hard in the chest. He knew that Liu San meant that while worry was important, it was also important to understand that the most important thing was action.

"I know." Qin Cang's voice was a little low, his eyes narrowed, looking into the distance.

He suddenly had a premonition that this night might change something. He didn't know how the future battle would unfold, or even whether Xiaohu would return safely. But he knew that once he made a decision, he would never back down.