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

Chapter 488: Relaxation

"I don't need sympathy, nor do I need regrets," he muttered to himself. This statement had become his conviction over the past few years. His calmness and decisiveness stemmed from the countless choices he'd made over the years. Every action he took was driven by one goal: to survive, even if it meant the most brutal means.

Suddenly, a figure flashed by in front of him, and Qin Cang stopped moving almost subconsciously. He held his breath, his body pressed close to the ground, his eyes fixed on a point in front of him, squinting. It was a patrolman, wearing an enemy uniform, slowly walking to the other side of the tent.

"This is my last chance." Qin Cang took a deep breath, his inner tension rising. He knew that as long as this patrolman was there, none of his actions would go smoothly. The entire plan would be changed.

He made a decision almost instantly, gliding like a ghost, using the darkness and his familiarity with the terrain to quietly close in on the patrolman. The enemy didn't notice anything unusual, still looking down at his equipment and leisurely patrolling around the tent.

Qin Cang finally seized a faint ray of light and pounced forward. In that instant, time seemed to stand still. The enemy didn't even have a chance to react before he felt a chill on his neck and was immediately slashed by the blade. The blood gushed out, almost stained everything around him with a red mist.

However, he didn't feel the slightest throbbing in his heart. On the contrary, the instant calmness brought by the blade completely dissipated his inner anxiety. Qin Cang's calmness was a habit. Through countless training and missions, this ability to adapt had been deeply rooted in him.

"No more delay," he muttered to himself, and quickly returned to the darkness with a deadly atmosphere. He knew that every minute and every second was crucial. If the enemy discovered him, all his plans would be in vain.

As he continued to approach the camp, Qin Cang began to feel a growing sense of urgency, as if some irresistible force was forcing him down. He knew he was getting closer and closer to the real core—the enemy commander. If he could break through the defenses there, all counterattacks and resistance would be futile.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Although a faint sense of anxiety still lingered in his heart, it had been controlled by reason. His mind remained clear, and each step was methodical. If he walked too fast, he would easily make mistakes; if he walked too slowly, he might miss the best opportunity.

He finally stood before the massive tent. In the night, it looked like the gaping maw of a giant beast, poised to devour everything. He gazed at the tent's entrance, his mind calculating silently. His heartbeat remained steady, as if everything was under his control.

Qin Cang stood at the edge of the tent, his vision blurring. His breathing remained steady, and though his body was tense, he didn't betray a trace of nervousness. In the night sky, tiny stars shone through the dark clouds, illuminating his resolute face. But the cold glint in his eyes remained as sharp as a blade, cold and incisive.

He didn't approach the tent immediately, but stayed where he was, quietly observing everything around him. However, he had already started to make new plans in his mind - this time, he knew that the situation would not be as simple as he expected.

"It's under guard." Qin Cang frowned slightly, his mind already beginning to carefully plan the next steps. His goal was clear: to directly strike the enemy's command center and destroy the enemy's leadership core. However, this surprise attack was obviously not as easy as he had initially imagined.

In his plan, he had realized that the enemy's defenses weren't limited to the main gate. Every dark corner, every inconspicuous door, could hide a deadly trap. Crucially, the security surrounding the camp was exceptionally tight. If discovered, his advantage would be instantly lost.

Qin Cang glanced around, and after a moment's thought, he had already made a decision. He knew that this game couldn't be won simply by relying on speed and strength, but rather by cleverly exploiting the enemy's laxity and blind spots.

"If I could only find Xiao Hu..." Qin Cang muttered softly. The image of that man surfaced in his mind—Xiao Hu, a cunning and alert young man who had been active near the camp for years, skilled in lurking and reconnaissance, and deeply trusted by Qin Cang. The two had fought side by side many times, and had already formed a tacit understanding. If he were by his side right now, perhaps they could quickly resolve the current predicament.

In this complex situation, Qin Cang's first reaction was to search for Xiao Hu. Although this young man was short and his skills might not match his own, his flexible thinking and quick reactions often surprised him. Qin Cang knew that if he could find him tonight, it would be the key to successfully completing his mission.

He didn't leave immediately, but slowly squatted down, quietly sensing the surrounding atmosphere. At this moment, a slight sound of footsteps broke the silence around him. Qin Cang's eyes instantly became sharp as a knife, keenly aware of the direction of the footsteps. His heart moved instantly, he knew that it was Xiaohu's footsteps.

Sure enough, the grass in front swayed slightly, and then a deep voice was heard: "Qin Cang, don't move, it's me."

Qin Cang nodded slightly, and with a glance, he saw Xiaohu emerge from the darkness. His figure was extremely light and silent, like a ghost. Xiaohu was dressed in dark clothes and walked towards Qin Cang with his head lowered. He had a sly smile on his face, but his eyes revealed an extremely calm light.

"You've come just in time." Qin Cang lowered his voice and whispered, "What did you find?"

Xiao Hu smiled slightly, approached Qin Cang, and lowered his voice to a very low level: "I have bypassed the enemy's outer defense line and found that their patrols have begun to become a little lax. As for the situation in the tent... I heard a few people talking about tonight's banquet. They seemed to be celebrating something and didn't pay much attention to the surrounding movements."

Qin Cang's eyes lit up slightly, and he mentally appreciated Xiao Hu's analysis. Indeed, this kind of laxity was exactly what he wanted to see. The enemy seemed to truly believe they were in a completely safe environment, completely unaware of the threat lurking in the shadows.

"Banquet?" Qin Cang sneered. "That's perfect. Perhaps this is our chance to break through. Have you noticed which side of the tent is most weakly defended?"

Xiaohu nodded. "The eastern defense line is relatively empty, especially behind that woods. I saw one or two patrolmen occasionally passing by, but they didn't do a thorough inspection at all."