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

He suddenly seemed to realize that Qin Cang wasn't simply worried about Xiaohu's future; it was more about a certain emotion deep within his heart. Perhaps Qin Cang wouldn't admit it, but he had invested some hidden emotion in this decision. Perhaps it was that emotion that made him display a unique kind of vulnerability in the face of this life-or-death decision.

Qin Cang didn't answer. His eyes became empty, as if he was recalling every detail of the past. Liu San was shocked, and finally realized that Qin Cang's sadness didn't come from his personal concern for Xiaohu, but because he had never let go of someone, someone who had fought side by side with him.

"You still think..." Liu San paused, as if he couldn't bear it, "If Xiaohu can return to the team and grow from it, will he become the second you?"

Qin Cang lowered his head slightly, and in that moment, his eyes grew even calmer. Liu San saw a long-hidden loneliness flash across his eyes, as if no one in this vast land could truly approach him. His sadness stemmed not only from Xiaohu's departure, but more from the sense of loss stemming from his own past. Liu San suddenly understood that Qin Cang saw Xiaohu not just as a member of the team, but more as a reflection of his own past, a young man full of passion and impulse, and all of that was long gone.

"I hope he can find his own way." Qin Cang finally spoke, his voice becoming low and filled with a long-lost sadness, "But if he can't make it this far, I'm afraid he'll never find it again."

Liu San fell silent. He knew that Qin Cang's heart harbored too much pain and regret. These emotions, like wounds buried deep within him, had only just begun to surface today. Qin Cang had never truly revealed his vulnerability or pain. He had always been the fearless, calm, and decisive leader who brought hope to everyone, yet never let anyone see the depths of his loneliness.

"Can't you stop him?" Liu San asked, his eyes full of concern. The complex look in Qin Cang's eyes made him feel a little overwhelmed, as if all the answers had already surfaced, but he was still stuck in the same place, unable to find the right choice.

Qin Cang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "He has made his decision. I have no right to interfere."

His voice choked with sobs, the long-suppressed emotions surging like a river, nearly causing him to lose control in an instant. Qin Cang had never been so vulnerable, or even so painful. He had always told himself that his duty was to lead the team to victory, to guide them through all difficulties. But today, facing Xiaohu's departure, he realized that he, too, was unable to avoid the pain and struggle deep within.

Liu San watched Qin Cang's back, a complex wave of emotions welling up in his heart. This man seemed to live forever in his own world. The unspoken pain, the past he had never let go of, were destined to continue to intertwine and perpetuate within this team. Perhaps, each of them was just a passing guest in Qin Cang's life, passing by in a hurry, taking away his loneliness and heartache.

Qin Cang's fingers tightened, his heartbeat quickening. Liu San, the man who had repeatedly intimidated the world with his "iron-blooded" spirit in battle after battle, finally appeared before him today. It wasn't for some military reason, but because of a man beside him—Xiao Hu.

Xiaohu, Qin Cang's battle partner from years ago, had faced countless life-or-death situations together. Qin Cang held a deep bond with Xiaohu. But not long ago, Xiaohu had suddenly vanished from his life. No one knew where he had gone, not even he himself, who had never mentioned it.

However, recent news linked Liu San's name to Xiao Hu's disappearance. Qin Cang's previously calm mood was suddenly shaken. His intuition told him that the person he once trusted deeply might have fallen into an irreversible abyss.

That day, the wind blew rather strongly as Qin Cang walked through the camp, heading straight ahead. The air around the camp was thick with the smell of gunpowder. Although the enemy hadn't yet approached, the thick tension already made him uneasy. He paid no attention to his surroundings, instead heading straight for a designated destination—a place he once knew well, a corner buried with countless memories.

"Liu San..." Qin Cang whispered the name, the curve of his mouth was faintly visible, but his eyes were full of coldness.

Not far away, a figure slowly emerged, dressed in neat military uniform and walking with a firm step. Behind him, a black flag fluttered in the wind, as if heralding a new order, or perhaps an impending disaster.

Liu San, the man standing at the front of the crowd, carried a heavy mission and an endless debt of blood. His eyes were cold, as if nothing could shake his resolve. Qin Cang's arrival, however, brought a faint smile to his face—a smile that held a hint of unspoken coldness.

"You're finally here." Liu San spoke in a steady voice, with a hint of oppression that could not be ignored.

Qin Cang didn't answer, but just watched him silently. Although Liu San in front of him had a calm temperament, the murderous aura in him never faded.

"You want to find Xiaohu?" Liu San's voice suddenly sounded, as if he could see through the doubts in Qin Cang's heart.

Qin Cang was slightly startled. He had never mentioned Xiao Hu's name before, so how could Liu San know it? He lowered his head, his eyes deep, "Do you know where he is?"

Liu San's smile grew more pronounced. His fingers gently lifted the wine glass, as if enjoying the tranquility of the moment. "Xiao Hu? He's no longer the Xiao Hu you knew."

"What did you do to him?" Qin Cang finally couldn't suppress his inner anger, and his voice was so cold that it was almost impossible to look directly at him.

Liu San's eyes remained calm. He took a sip of wine, as if everything was under his control. "You are too naive, Qin Cang. Do you think Xiao Hu is just an insignificant soldier? He has his value and his choices. You are just a poor wretch left behind by him."

Before he finished speaking, Qin Cang clenched his fists, his joints crackling, the rage in his heart almost swallowing him. The memories of those days of life and death together, those battles side by side, like an unstoppable torrent, surged into his heart at this moment.

"Xiao Hu is my brother." Qin Cang whispered with determination in his tone.

"Brother?" Liu San sneered, "He's no longer your brother. Have you forgotten how he abandoned you and ran away that night? Have you forgotten?"