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

"I must find out the truth." Qin Cang gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, his determination as hard as iron.

For the past few days, he had been conducting a clandestine investigation, keeping quiet and carefully observing every clue in his surroundings. He had not directly contacted the key figures in the case, nor had he rashly explored the secrets of those in higher positions. Every step was a delicate one, for he knew that if he wasn't careful, he could be drawn deeper into the maelstrom, perhaps even lose his life.

He vaguely sensed an invisible hand manipulating all this, as if someone was deliberately pushing it all to happen. Those who committed evil were using Liu San, an innocent soul, as a pawn to fulfill their schemes. And those high and mighty in the fold didn't care about Liu San's life or death, only their own interests. Everyone was seeking greater profit for themselves, and Liu San was merely a victim.

"Injustice will one day be cleared." Qin Cang took a deep breath and turned to walk into the aging study. His eyes rested on a file on the table, a detailed record of the case against Liu San. He pondered every word and sentence, every witness statement, every piece of evidence, leaving nothing unseen. Qin Cang's brow furrowed. He knew something was wrong, and someone had to bring justice to Liu San.

Qin Cang flipped open the file, his eyes fixed on every page. The evidence, seemingly solid and meticulously crafted in every detail, still had loopholes. His heart began to race as he finally spotted the key point—a scratch on Liu San's armor on the day of the crime, a mark that could be traced back to the weapon he possessed.

This discovery made Qin Cang hold his breath. This was exactly the evidence he had been looking for. Liu San couldn't have been accused of assassination at that moment because he wasn't there! The scratches were from somewhere else, perhaps left over from Liu San's previous battle, but this issue was not mentioned in court. All the evidence and witness testimony were carefully crafted to make Liu San bear the blame, rather than let the truth come to light.

"There must be a master behind this." Qin Cang muttered to himself.

He quickly stood up and closed the file again, a clear plan already in mind. It was time to act. Some things in this world couldn't be solved by sheer force, but required wisdom, patience, and courage. He planned to spend the next few days thoroughly investigating, trying to find the source of Liu San's conspiracy. If necessary, he would spare no effort to uncover the hidden ugliness of those who were behind it.

"Liu San, you won't be alone." Qin Cang whispered, and walked out of the study. The cold wind outside blew in his face, as if reminding him of the challenges he would face next. There was no turning back.

At this time, Liu San was still imprisoned in that dark cell, exhausted physically and mentally, and almost lost hope. He was once a brave soldier who had made great contributions to his country, but because of a trumped-up crime, he ended up like this.

He was unaware of Qin Cang's actions, nor could he know the complexity and depth of the conspiracy behind it. He was just an ordinary person who had been wronged, standing in the endless darkness, silently waiting for that faint ray of hope.

But he didn't know that his friend who had fought alongside him, Qin Cang, who had stood up for him, was silently searching for the truth for him and uncovering the layers of mystery.

As the night deepened, the cold wind still howled across the wilderness, as if some invisible force were roaming this silent world. Qin Cang walked along the weed-covered path, his steps steady and determined. The sword in his hand was wet with sweat, the cold blade contrasting sharply with the warmth of his palm. He recalled the details of the past few days more than once, every seemingly insignificant clue swirling in his mind, unable to dissipate.

Liu San, the wronged man, was practically ruthlessly pushed into the abyss. And Qin Cang couldn't ignore the guilt he felt—if he had been more decisive, could he have avoided this injustice? But what would have been the point? The lost opportunity could not be recovered. The only thing left to do was to make things right, even if it cost him his life.

He recalled Liu San's appearance—the man imprisoned, his eyes brimming with a stubbornness and determination that didn't belong there. How could he possibly believe Liu San was a suspect in the assassination? Even if Liu San truly had a dark secret, that didn't make him a criminal. Qin Cang had sat by the campfire with Liu San countless nights, listening to his stories of the battlefield, those times that had filled him with passion and honor. Liu San was a man devoted to others. His loyalty and perseverance had long been deeply etched in Qin Cang's heart.

At that time, Qin Cang had felt that if Liu San truly had scheming intentions, he would at least be able to conceal them and not be pushed to such a point. That was a pure nature, far removed from conspiracy. He clearly remembered the look in Liu San's eyes during one drunken scene: a look of frankness within a firmness, not a cunning attempt to escape something.

"He can't be the assassin." Qin Cang whispered to himself, the determination in his eyes becoming more intense.

Just as he reached a dilapidated hut, his steps suddenly stopped. There was some dirt scattered on the small stone slab in front of the door, obviously someone had passed by. He looked back and looked around, but there was still nothing unusual. He reached out and pushed open the rickety wooden door, and a musty smell hit him. The house was empty, with only a tattered table and an oil lamp that had accumulated dust for a long time. Qin Cang's eyes swept over everything in the house, and a calm wave in his heart. This place seemed to have been the hiding place of a wanted criminal or an underground intelligence agent - he thought of the secret letter in the clue.

He approached the table and reached out to flip through some rags and documents. Suddenly, his eye caught a slightly yellowed piece of paper. It was written briefly, the words simple yet profound: "Shadow is not a killer. Time will prove it."

Qin Cang's heart sank, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Shadow, this name, he seemed to have heard it somewhere. Liu San had never mentioned this word, but the meaningful tone seemed to be hinting at something, or conveying some kind of message.

He carefully unfolded the note and read it. The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, clearly indicating a high spirit. The meaning of this passage was clear: the so-called "shadow" was not the murderer, but it hinted at a larger situation. Qin Cang's heart tightened. What did this mean? It meant that Liu San was not just an unjust victim, but seemed to be implicated in a more complex conspiracy.