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

"Xiao Hu." Qin Cang whispered his name, as if speaking to himself and his former companion. "What path have you chosen? Do you really want to give up everything and stand with that man? No matter what you choose, I will not let you disappear from my world forever."

"Captain, what should we do?" the cavalryman asked again, with some anxiety in his eyes.

Qin Cang stared into the distance, his brows slightly relaxed, and his calm tone carried an unquestionable force: "Go, inform everyone, and take action tonight. We must bring Xiaohu back."

Night fell, the sky darkened. A heavy sense of oppression hung in the air, even breathing seemed to carry a weight of pain. Qin Cang walked alone on a deserted path, his heart swirling with endless waves. The man he once considered a brother, the man he once considered like a brother, was getting farther and farther away, as if he had never truly existed. Xiaohu, the man with the bright sunshine and the warm smile, was now buried deep in this endless darkness.

"Xiao Hu, what are you thinking about?" Qin Cang muttered to himself, his steps becoming heavier. With each step, the dust beneath his feet gradually dispersed and vanished like a memory of the past.

He knew that tonight's confrontation wasn't just a contest with Liu San, but a battle with the depths of his own heart. Xiaohu, the brother he'd once fought alongside on the battlefield, was no longer the man Qin Cang had known. The word "betrayal" lingered in his mind like a stubborn cancer, refusing to leave. Qin Cang could even clearly feel the powerlessness of being abandoned by Xiaohu, gradually crushing him.

He had been walking for so long that the surrounding scenery was like an indecipherable painting, blurry and indescribable. His thoughts were no longer focused on the road beneath his feet, but drifted in a sea of ​​memories. Back then, Xiaohu was still that energetic young man, constantly joking around the camp and playfully entertaining everyone. He always managed to dispel all tension and stress with a seemingly relaxed manner, and Qin Cang, the seemingly cold and strong man, also found a rare peace in his laughter.

But now, that beautiful time has long been torn to pieces by reality.

"Xiao Hu, you've given up on me, haven't you?" Qin Cang murmured, a hint of sadness in his voice. He recalled Xiao Hu's back as he left, and at that moment, it was as if a thorn had pierced his heart deeply.

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed from the darkness ahead. Qin Cang snapped back to his senses, quickly turned around, and glanced sharply ahead. It was his men; the cavalry had finally arrived.

"Captain, what's going on?" The cavalry rushed to his side and quickly surrounded him. Although it was late at night and the surroundings were pitch black, Qin Cang could clearly hear their rapid breathing and low voices. There was anxiety and tension in their eyes, and they clearly knew how important tonight's mission was.

Qin Cang glanced around, took a deep breath, and finally spoke: "Keep moving forward, we must take that place tonight."

"But Captain, over there..." one of the cavalrymen hesitated and said, "The guards there have been reinforced. The enemy's defenses are much stricter than we expected. And..."

"And what?" Qin Cang's tone suddenly turned cold and he interrupted the cavalryman.

The cavalryman lowered his head and spoke cautiously, "And we have to be careful. Liu San may have known we were coming and has prepared countermeasures."

"What are you afraid of?!" Qin Cang's eyes flashed with a cold light, and the smile on the corner of his mouth was a bit sarcastic, "Does he think he can stop me?"

After saying this, he turned around without pausing and continued forward. His steps were steady and resolute, as if he had already decided that there was no turning back. Seeing this, the other cavalrymen followed closely behind him. Although they were also filled with worries, Qin Cang's determination and unquestionable strength made them follow silently.

As they walked, the night wind blew fiercely, and the surrounding trees rustled in the wind. The tension in the air grew, like a string being stretched tighter and tighter, ready to break at any moment. Qin Cang spoke little to anyone, his heart filled with so much entanglement and pain, and he had only one goal left: to bring Xiaohu back.

Suddenly, Qin Cang stopped. Everyone stopped and looked at him in confusion. He turned to the side, his eyes flickering with a complex emotion. At that moment, it was as if even the air was still.

"Xiao Hu." Qin Cang whispered, as if talking to himself, but also as if talking to those standing beside him, "If you were here, I could feel your presence."

His voice was so soft that almost no one could hear, but every word seemed to strike at the deepest part of his heart. Where was Xiaohu, the man who once smiled so brightly? Was he still under Liu San's control, like a bound chess piece, at the mercy of others?

Just then, a familiar figure appeared from the front. It was Xiao Hu. Standing not far away, his back slightly hunched, he still wore his old military uniform, but his face lacked the usual smile. Qin Cang's heart sank, and he walked towards him almost at full speed, his heartbeat accelerating in his chest.

"Xiao Hu!" Qin Cang growled, his voice almost so depressing that it was hard to breathe.

Xiao Hu slowly turned around, his eyes, which had always sparkled with light, now looked dim. The moment he saw Qin Cang, his expression remained unchanged. He just lowered his head slightly, as if he was ready to face anything.

"Qin Cang." Xiaohu's voice was so cold that it was almost devoid of warmth. "You're too late."

Qin Cang felt a sharp pain in his heart. The words "too late" were like a sharp knife, cutting open the wound in his heart. He stopped and stared at Xiao Hu, his eyes flashing with complex emotions: "What are you doing? Why are you standing on Liu San's side?"

Xiao Hu was silent for a moment, his eyes slightly confused. He looked at Qin Cang, then sighed and whispered, "I have no choice."

"You don't have a choice?" Qin Cang's voice was a little hoarse, his eyes filled with confusion and anger, "What are you talking about? Xiaohu, you were not like this before!"

"I've never abandoned you." Xiaohu finally raised his head, a glint of determination in his eyes. "But there are some things that you and I can't change. I see things more clearly than you. You only know how to fight, but you don't know what I need to survive."