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

Chapter 526: Not even daring to breathe

Xiaohu was usually straightforward and outspoken, and he hated Liu San's ability to rely on his seniority in the team to do less dirty work. A few days ago, over a trivial matter, the two had argued outside the kitchen door, nearly coming to blows. Now that the bullet was lost, Liu San was the first to jump out and grab it, clearly taking the opportunity for revenge.

Qin Cang stubbed out his cigarette on a tree trunk and said in a low voice, "Xiao Hu, was last night your last patrol?"

Xiaohu gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Where's the bullet bag?"

"I didn't lose it!" Xiaohu stood up suddenly, his eyes red. "I counted three times, it's not lost!"

"Oh, you're still talking nonsense." Liu San sneered, "You said it wasn't lost, but the bullet can grow legs and run away?"

The soldiers nearby were silent, their eyes flickering. Bullets were the lifeblood of the army; even one missing round was a major issue, let alone a whole bag. Xiaohu was a new recruit, young, and no one in the team stood by him.

Qin Cang narrowed his eyes, with a cold look in his eyes, and slowly said: "Xiao Hu, let me ask again, where did the bullet go?"

Xiaohu's chest heaved violently, and he opened his mouth several times, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

Silence spread in the air, making it hard to breathe.

Liu San curled his lips and snorted coldly, "I think he should be tied up and sent to the company headquarters for interrogation by the company commander. If the bullets are lost, our entire company will be in trouble."

Xiaohu's face flushed crimson, his lips trembling. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He bit his lip tightly, like a cornered wolf.

Qin Cang slowly reached into his pocket, took out a cigarette case, slowly took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and whispered: "Liu San."

Liu San immediately straightened up: "Platoon leader."

"Where were you last night?"

Liu San's eyes flickered, then he pretended to be calm: "I was sleeping. Guo Laoliu can testify."

"Sleeping?" Qin Cang narrowed his eyes and said lightly, "You sleep soundly."

The air seemed to freeze in an instant, and everyone around held their breath.

Liu San's expression froze slightly, and the smile on his lips began to fade. "What do you mean, Platoon Leader?"

Qin Cang ignored him, slowly stood up, walked to Xiaohu, and looked at him sharply: "Xiaohu, do you dare to swear?"

Xiao Hu's face flushed crimson, his teeth chattering. "I dare you! If I take the bullet, I'll be wiped out!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone around gasped. Such an oath was the most poisonous among soldiers, and no one dared to make it casually.

Qin Cang nodded, a faint light flashed in his eyes, then turned and stared at Liu San, his voice low: "Do you dare?"

Liu San's expression changed instantly, his mouth moved a few times, but in the end he said nothing.

Qin Cang slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes cold: "Check everyone's luggage."

The soldiers looked at each other, and no one dared to move.

Qin Cang's eyes swept over the crowd, and his voice was low and sharp: "Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

The veterans hurriedly began to move, opening their backpacks one by one. Clothes, rations, and ammunition were all piled on the ground. As time passed, the only sound in the air was the rustling of fabric.

Suddenly, a coarse cloth package was opened, and a bag of bullets rolled out, falling to the mud with a clang.

Everyone's eyes instantly fell on the bag of bullets.

The owner of the package was Liu San.

The scene was deathly silent.

Xiaohu's fists were clenched tightly, his eyes were burning with anger, and his whole body was shaking.

Liu San's face turned pale instantly, his mouth opened, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

Qin Cang walked over slowly, bent down to pick up the bullet bag, patted the dirt off it, and his eyes were as cold as a knife.

Liu San's lips trembled, the color drained from his face as if someone had drained it. He froze in place. The soldiers around him stared at him, their eyes filled with surprise, suspicion, and even a hint of disgust. The bullets scattered on the muddy ground were like the heaviest evidence, weighing down the air.

Qin Cang narrowed his eyes, a half-burned cigarette between his fingers, the wisps of smoke drifting in the air. He didn't speak immediately, his eyes fixed on Liu San's face like a hawk, as if trying to extract the truth from every subtle expression on his face.

Can't believe it.

This thought pierced Qin Cang's mind like a nail. The bullets were lost, Xiao Hu was wrongly accused, and Liu San was the first to stand up and bite the bullet, his face too impatient and cruel. But was Liu San really greedy for those few bullets? Qin Cang still felt it was wrong.

He knew Liu San all too well. He'd gotten by for years, relying on his smooth talking and cunning ways, but he wasn't very courageous. He'd often resorted to slacking off and being stingy, relying on his seniority. But was he really going to risk his life stealing bullets, and then hiding them in his bag? That didn't seem like Liu San's style.

But Liu San's expression now clearly told Qin Cang that this man was definitely hiding something.

"say."

Qin Cang's voice was very soft, like a bullet shell sliding out of a gun barrel at night, cold and sharp.

Liu San's throat moved, his eyes were a little evasive, and he pursed his lips several times before he stammered, "Platoon Leader, I... I really don't know..."

"You don't know?" Qin Cang sneered, pressing the cigarette butt hard on the bark, making a hoarse sound. "The bag grew legs and ran into your bag?"

"I really didn't take it!" Liu San suddenly looked up as if he was pricked by a needle. His voice rose high, and there was a trace of panic in his eyes, and it seemed to be mixed with a bit of unwillingness. "I just don't understand how this bullet got to me!"

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the crowds murmured among them. Several veterans glanced back and forth between Xiaohu and Liu San, their eyes filled with hesitation. Xiaohu had been in the ranks only a short time, but he was known for his straightforward nature and honesty. Liu San, on the other hand, was known for his usual gossip and his frequent attempts to sow discord behind the scenes. But when the situation finally turned sour, no one dared to be the first to speak up and accuse him.

Qin Cang felt as if a stone was pressing on his heart, heavy.

He didn't rush to interrogate Liu San. Instead, he slowly squatted down and picked up the bullets scattered on the ground one by one. His fingertips brushed against the cold metal, and the suspicion in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Too obvious.

If Liu San really dared to steal the bullet, he would never have hidden it in his bag. But if it was a frame-up, who could have slipped the bullet in without making a sound?

Qin Cang raised his head and slowly scanned the dozen or so people standing around him. Each one had a different expression on his face. The veterans' eyes were evasive, the new recruits were bewildered, and a few of the timid ones didn't even dare to breathe.

The anxiety in the air grew thicker.

"I'll ask you one last time." Qin Cang's voice pierced through people's hearts like a knife. "Who was hanging around Little Tiger's post last night?"

No one spoke.

Only the wind blew, stirring up a wisp of fine dust from the mud.