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

The tension at the corners of Qin Cang's mouth relaxed slightly. Although his face remained serious, a subtle gentleness flashed in his eyes. "You are quite good at talking, kid." There was no blame in his words, only a faint comfort.

Liu San chuckled softly, his eyes revealing some of the confidence and vitality of a young man: "Of course, I was born with this talent. Our swordsmanship has long surpassed those old guys." At this point, Liu San's tone gradually became solemn. He did not feel the vague uneasiness and anxiety of Qin Cang, but was more focused on the battle itself.

However, Qin Cang suddenly stopped. His gaze didn't turn to Liu San, but instead swept towards a vague shadow not far away, where a faint firelight was faintly visible in the rain. Qin Cang's heart suddenly sank, and he quickly clenched his fists.

"Enemy?" Liu San's voice was deeper than usual. Although he didn't seem overly surprised, a sense of alertness permeated the air. His right hand shifted slightly, resting on the longsword at his waist, ready to strike at any moment.

Qin Cang didn't say anything. Instead, he gently pulled Liu San's arm and whispered, "Don't move. Watch carefully."

Liu San frowned, feeling an unprecedented tension in Qin Cang's movements. He did not resist, but suppressed the urge to act immediately. He stood there patiently with Qin Cang, observing silently.

The fire wasn't big, as if some soldiers were quietly building a fire to keep warm. But in the torrential rain, the fire was particularly conspicuous, piercing the dark night sky and revealing their position.

"They can't be..." Liu San didn't finish his words, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. He knew that the possibility of the enemy was almost certain.

"We have to go around it." Qin Cang's voice was soft, as if he was talking to himself, but it was filled with unquestionable determination. He made a quick and calm decision, not waiting for the slightest opportunity. He had already made up his mind to do his utmost to avoid getting anyone hurt, especially Xiaohu.

"Be careful." Liu San naturally understood what Qin Cang meant. Although he could face these enemies alone, he did not question Qin Cang's orders and continued to follow closely.

A flicker of unease crossed Qin Cang's mind. While he was well aware of Liu San's abilities and Xiao Hu's agility and composure, he was now concerned with a deeper issue: if Xiao Hu were injured again in battle, he would never forgive himself. Such pain would plunge him into endless regret, perhaps even making him unable to extricate himself.

He couldn't bear the pain of losing anyone again, especially the boy Xiaohu who was like his own brother.

Qin Cang took a deep breath, forced himself to make his thoughts calm and clear, and walked forward.

"Liu San, slow down." Qin Cang suddenly gave a low command, staring at the front, "Be careful, the enemy may be ambushing around us."

Liu San nodded slightly, already knowing Qin Cang's calm thinking, and slowed down his pace. The two were no longer in a hurry to approach the enemy, but quietly slowed down their pace and carefully avoided every place that might expose their whereabouts.

The torrential rain continued to pour down, and the world around them seemed to be engulfed in a curtain of water. The vision was distorted by the hazy rain, and the humidity in the air made it almost impossible to breathe. Qin Cang walked steadily, and the mud under his feet made a slight "crunch" with each step, echoing in the silent night. At this moment, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his heart was even more complicated than the torrential rain.

He knew the enemy was close at hand, requiring every step to be cautious. Yet, every time he thought of the slightly brighter fire before him, a wave of anxiety welled up within him. It wasn't simply a battle against the enemy, but a deeper sense of responsibility and unease. If the enemy truly discovered them, he would be risking everything, not just for himself but for everyone around him, especially Liu San.

The sound of rain behind them was particularly sharp in the silence. Qin Cang's eyes shifted slightly to Liu San. The young man was tall and thin, with handsome features, but the tense aura he exuded made him difficult to ignore.

But at this moment, Liu San's eyes held a different emotion. Despite his calm expression and swift movements, a flicker of doubt seemed to linger deep within his gaze—a worry, a sense of unease about the current situation. He knew better than anyone that Qin Cang would never easily show weakness at such a moment, but when he noticed Qin Cang's slightly nervous expression, he began to understand that it wasn't just a warning about the enemy, but more importantly, a deep concern for his companions.

"Boss," Liu San called out in a low voice, his tone more composed than ever before. "If we go around, can we ensure we won't be discovered?"

Qin Cang didn't reply immediately, his gaze still fixed on the faint glow of fire ahead. The enemy's deployment wasn't fully visible, but he knew any rash action could expose their position. The enemy before them might not be the strongest, but it was deadly enough to trap them in this inescapable rainy night.

"Yes." Qin Cang's voice was low, but with that innate calmness, "Let's go around and keep our distance."

Liu San said nothing more, but nodded, completely trusting Qin Cang's judgment. In tacit understanding, the two began to move silently across the slippery ground. Each step was taken carefully, avoiding stepping on branches or splashing mud. At this moment, the noise of the rain actually became a cover, providing rare concealment for their actions.

Qin Cang couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. He knew that this detour would lead them to the enemy's rear, but the dangers lurking behind were unpredictable. He had no idea where the enemy would ambush him. And what worried him most was the young swordsman behind him—Liu San.

"Boss..." Liu San suddenly spoke, his voice a little suppressed, as if trying to hide some inner turmoil, "Do you always feel that Xiaohu and I are too immature?"

Qin Cang paused for a moment and turned to look at Liu San. At that moment, Liu San's eyes held neither anxiety nor fear, but instead a rare frankness. "Actually..." Liu San paused, lowering his head. "Actually, I know you worry about me a lot, especially in this dangerous environment."

Qin Cang's heart trembled. He knew Liu San had always been stronger and more mature than he was, but hearing these words still stung him. He had seen Liu San's worries too clearly, but he had never imagined that everything he had done would become a burden on Liu San.