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

"Friend?" Liu San smiled contemptuously. "Qin Cang, I've always considered you a friend, but what about you? Have you ever considered my feelings? Do you think I'm willing to sit in this cold room and listen to you talk nonsense? Do you think that what you do for me can solve everything?"

Qin Cang was stunned. He had never imagined Liu San's anger would be so deep. Every time, he thought he was doing the right thing, every time, he tried his best to buy time for Liu San and clear his name. However, in Liu San's eyes, all this was just futile self-righteousness.

"What do you want?" Qin Cang finally couldn't help himself, his voice became low and urgent, "If you really want to get help, then you should put aside your prejudice and trust me."

Liu San stared at him, his eyes flickering with an unpredictable emotion. His eyes flushed, clearly a long-suppressed emotion finally bursting forth. "Trust you? Do you know what I've been through? Do you know how powerless I feel when I see all the injustice? Do you think I can trust you unconditionally?"

Qin Cang's heart felt like it had been struck hard, and an intense pain instantly surged into his chest. Liu San before him seemed a stranger, and the brotherhood they once shared seemed to be deeply severed at this moment. Qin Cang's hands tightly gripped the table, his inner anger and grievances intertwined into a surging torrent.

"Do you really want to think of me like this?" Qin Cang's voice was low and urgent. "Everything I did was for you. I don't care whether you trust me or not. I just hope you can understand that I am always by your side."

At that moment, time seemed to freeze. In Qin Cang's eyes, Liu San's face felt both familiar and unfamiliar. For years, they had fought side by side, trusting each other, but now, all that connection seemed to be shattered by this sudden rift. The anger, suspicion, and helpless exhaustion in Liu San's eyes pierced Qin Cang's heart. Every word felt like a knife slicing through his chest.

"Do you know how much pain I'm in?" Liu San suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice. "Do you think I want this? From being a hero on the battlefield to now, being pointed at and even suspected by you. I have no way out, and you are still here lecturing me, telling me what to do!"

Qin Cang's face turned pale instantly. He had never imagined that behind Liu San's anger, there was such deep despair. In those years, Liu San had always been the most trustworthy person around him, but now, the man before him was raging and silent, like a wounded wolf, howling to protect himself from being devoured.

Qin Cang lowered his head, feeling a surge of guilt and helplessness. What had he done wrong? He only wanted to help Liu San, to help him out of his predicament, to clear his name. But it was clear that he had made too many mistakes, too deep.

"Liu San," he said in a low voice, trying to calm himself. "I never doubted you. I know what you've been through, what you've endured. I empathize with all your pain." He paused, looking out the window, as if contemplating how to proceed. "But today, I'm more than just a comrade, a friend. I have my responsibilities, and my persistence."

Liu San stared at him, his eyes still filled with confusion and anger, as if he couldn't hear anything he said. Qin Cang took a deep breath, determined to let go of all his pride and concerns. "Do you think I'm by your side to blame you, to help you, to put pressure on you? No, Liu San. Everything I do is to help you live a better life, to help you escape from that trap, to stand up and live your own future."

After a moment's silence, Liu San's eyes flushed slightly, as he seemed to be caught up in a complex mix of emotions. Qin Cang saw all that confusion and struggle. He could sense the invisible pain deep within Liu San's heart, a soul suffocated by injustice, quietly corroding his once strong exterior. However, Qin Cang knew clearly that to break free from this, he would need more patience and a way to break through Liu San's inner defenses.

Suddenly, Liu San stood up, his back to Qin Cang, and said in a low and hoarse voice, "You're right. I shouldn't have taken all my anger out on you." There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, "But you know what, Qin Cang? Sometimes, a person no longer has the energy to trust anyone, even himself."

Qin Cang stood up, walked behind Liu San, and patted his shoulder gently: "I know you are in pain now. I know you are struggling, like a person trapped in the darkness, not knowing how to get out. I can't go through the pain for you, but I can be by your side and accompany you on the journey."

Liu San didn't respond. He just stood there, his head slightly lowered, as if lost in some deep thought. Qin Cang's gaze lingered on his back for a few seconds. In the end, he said nothing more and just walked towards the door silently.

"Xiao Hu, let's go out for a walk." Qin Cang suddenly spoke, his voice without a trace of emotion.

Xiaohu walked in from outside and saw the silence between the two. He nodded silently and said, "Okay, let's go for a walk."

The oppressive atmosphere in the air did not ease as the two of them walked out the door, but Qin Cang knew that now was not the time to discuss it. He needed to temporarily get away from it all, give each other some space, and calmly think about the next move.

The street light gradually brightened, yet the surrounding silence only made Qin Cang feel even more weighed down. The memories of the past seemed to weigh heavily on his mind. He knew that Liu San's inner hardness wouldn't be easily broken, but he remained steadfast in his decision—no matter what, he didn't want to see Liu San continue to struggle in this loneliness and pain.

As they walked, the crowds of pedestrians bustled around them, the cries of vendors echoed in the marketplace, and life seemed as ordinary and busy as ever. Yet, Qin Cang felt his steps growing heavier. With every step, he seemed to hear Liu San's inner voice, the uneasiness and resistance hammering at his soul.

"Xiao Hu." Qin Cang suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, "Do you think I did the right thing?"

Xiaohu turned to look at him, frowning slightly. "Brother, I support every step you take. However, you also have to understand that some things can't be forced." He paused and continued, "Liu San doesn't trust you now, not because you did anything wrong, but because his heart is broken. It's not that he doesn't want to believe you, but that he no longer trusts anyone, not even himself."