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

Chapter 541 Can Hear Who's Coming

"Captain, the inspection is complete." Just as Qin Cang was lost in thought, Xiaohu quietly returned, his voice low and powerful. Qin Cang came back from his thoughts, his eyes instantly clear.

"What's the situation?" Qin Cang asked softly, his voice low but with an unquestionable majesty.

"Be careful, the enemy has begun to disperse and is approaching us." Xiaohu frowned slightly, his expression serious. "They seem to have noticed our presence and are starting to adjust their formation."

Qin Cang took a deep breath, his expression growing more serious. The enemy was beginning to disperse, a dangerous sign. They might be searching for weaknesses in the team, or preparing for a decisive battle. At this moment, he finally pulled himself out of his contemplation, realizing that time was running out.

"Action." Qin Cang said firmly, without a trace of hesitation in his tone, "We can't wait any longer. We must strike the enemy a fatal blow before they are fully prepared."

He turned and stared at the darkness ahead, the tension and determination within him once again surging. Though the situation was uncertain, he knew now that he had no time to hesitate. Every second of delay could cost them their chance to fight.

"Xiaohu, lead the team." Qin Cang's voice remained firm, and his gaze turned to the team members again, "We cannot retreat, and no one can stop."

"Liu San, can't you try a different approach? We want to win, not rely on a bloody fight." Xiaohu gritted his teeth, his eyes burning.

"Change your approach?" Liu San sneered, shaking off the ash from his cigarette. "Do you think war is like treating someone to a meal? Do you think the enemy will reason with you? Xiaohu, there's no such thing as gentleness on the battlefield. There's only killing and being killed!"

Xiaohu clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with rage. His voice was low but incredibly powerful, "We can use strategies. We don't have to fight every battle! Look at our casualties these past few days? We fought tooth and nail, but what did we get in return? A position? The enemy could take it back in a day! It's not that I don't want to fight, I just want to win more meaningfully!"

Liu San snorted coldly, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Xiao Hu. "Are you a coward, or something else? The enemy is already at our throats. Is there any point in talking to them? On the battlefield, there's no room for compromise. The only way to survive is to kill them completely!"

Xiaohu glared, his lips trembling slightly. He knew that Liu San might only see him as an idealist, but he couldn't bear to see his brothers sacrificed in vain. He had experienced bloody battles, seen comrades fall beside him, their blood soaking the earth. He knew the cruelty of war, but precisely because of this, he couldn't accept this relentless, relentless fighting style. He hoped to reduce unnecessary casualties through wisdom and strategy, rather than blindly charging and risking his life on the battlefield.

The courtyard was eerily quiet for a moment, the only sound being the wind, which rustled the tattered curtains in the corner. Qin Cang finally stood up and slowly walked between the two men. His steady gaze swept over Liu San and then fell on Xiao Hu. He said slowly, "That's enough. Is there any point in arguing? The enemy won't give you time to argue. We need a clear decision, not just wrangling here."

His voice was low, but it carried an undeniable authority that temporarily eased the tension. Liu San reluctantly averted his gaze, while Xiao Hu pursed his lips tightly, his eyes still gleaming with a gleam of unyielding determination.

Qin Cang held up his cigarette and slowly exhaled a puff of white smoke. His eyes were calm, but his mind was thinking rapidly. He understood Liu San's point of view and Xiao Hu's persistence. Both of them were right, but the question was, how could he win the battle while avoiding unnecessary sacrifice?

After a moment's contemplation, he slowly said, "We can't fight to the death, but we can't be afraid of fighting either. Xiaohu, you're right. We do need to use strategy, but strategy alone is not enough. Liu San, your idea also makes sense, but if we only rely on hard fighting, our brothers will be worn down sooner or later. War is not black and white. We must find a balance."

Xiaohu frowned slightly and whispered, "How do you balance it?"

Qin Cang's eyes were sharp as knives as he spoke slowly, "If the enemy comes, we'll give them a head-on blow, but we can't let them know our true strength. Liu San, you lead a team to defend the front, but don't fight too hard. This will give the enemy the illusion that we're vulnerable. Xiao Hu, you'll be in charge of the ambush. Take advantage of the enemy's underestimation and wait for them to come up, then we'll strike back."

Liu San snorted coldly: "I'm afraid they won't be fooled."

Qin Cang smiled slightly, with a cold glint in his eyes: "They will definitely be fooled, because they also think we are just guys who are fighting for our lives."

Liu San stared at Qin Cang. After a long while, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "Okay, I'll listen to you, but if it doesn't work, I won't show mercy anymore."

Xiaohu clenched his fists and said in a deep voice, "I won't let my brothers die in vain."

The night was dark, and the campfire burned. The flames danced, illuminating Qin Cang's deep face. He sat on a rock, a stick in his hand, stirring the fire from time to time. Sparks flew everywhere, and the air was filled with the smell of burning wood. His brow was furrowed, his eyes were cold, and his heart was filled with a tangled mess that he couldn't sort out.

Liu San's stubbornness had left Qin Cang feeling suffocated. It wasn't that he didn't understand Liu San's anger; in fact, he knew full well that it wasn't simply due to a disagreement over fighting style, but rather to a long period of accumulated repression and dissatisfaction. Qin Cang knew that Liu San believed in the path of blood and fire, believing that direct impact was the only effective means on the battlefield. The strategy he had proposed this time was tantamount to challenging his beliefs.

But Qin Cang wasn't one to back down easily. He'd fought countless battles, each one leaving an indelible mark on him. Charging into battle could win, but without proper technique, it would only lead to his men's deaths. He didn't want to see his soldiers fall one by one, and he didn't want to ruin a victory that could have been won more easily due to recklessness. The problem was, Liu San didn't seem to agree.

Thinking of this, Qin Cang clenched the stick in his hand and threw it into the fire fiercely. The flames instantly jumped up and crackled, as if reflecting the irritation in his heart. At this moment, footsteps came from the darkness. He didn't need to look up to hear who was coming.

"Xiao Hu, don't try to persuade me." Qin Cang said in a cold tone, his eyes still fixed on the fire.

Xiaohu stood aside, silent for a moment, then sighed and slowly squatted down, clasping his hands on his knees, staring at the dancing flames: "Are you two going to stay like this forever?"