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

Every footstep felt like a knife stabbing into his heart. Every step could mean life or death. He could hear his breathing becoming increasingly rapid, his heartbeat accelerating, as if he could feel the urgency of every second.

At this moment, Qin Cang's mind was already calculating his next move. He knew they couldn't linger in this open area any longer. They had to quickly pass through the dense forest, avoid the enemy's pursuit, and find a more advantageous terrain to rearrange the battle.

"That hill..." Qin Cang's eyes suddenly lit up. Seeing a raised area in the distance, he immediately made a judgment. "Let's go there. There's a better view and it's concealed enough."

Xiaohu looked at Qin Cang, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but then he nodded. "Understood, Captain Qin."

Although Xiaohu did not fully understand Qin Cang's plan, he understood one thing: no matter what decision Qin Cang made, it must have been well thought out, and the only thing he could do was to follow suit with all his strength.

At this time, Qin Cang's speed was getting faster and faster. He led Xiaohu through the forest quickly, trying to minimize the sound and taking every step with extreme caution. After several quick turns, they finally successfully approached the location of the hill.

Standing at the foot of the hill, Qin Cang stopped and took a breath. The images in his mind kept changing, and his nerves were tense again.

"Xiao Hu, climb up!" Qin Cang ordered in a low voice, "You go up there to scout, and I'll provide cover down there."

Xiaohu was stunned for a moment, a hint of uneasiness in his eyes, "What can I do? The enemy will catch up soon."

Qin Cang's gaze became more determined, and his voice became deeper, yet full of command: "If you don't go, the enemy will catch up with us faster. You have a better field of view and can buy us some time."

Xiao Hu looked at Qin Cang's sharp eyes and felt an irresistible force. Yes, now they could only rely on Qin Cang's judgment and their cooperation. He took a deep breath and nodded: "I understand."

Qin Cang patted Xiao Hu's shoulder vigorously, his eyes flashing with understanding and encouragement. He turned around and began to pick up the debris around him, preparing to use the terrain of the hill to build a simple defense.

Gradually, the sound of the enemy's pursuit filled the air. Qin Cang could sense their approach; the enemy had clearly determined their direction through some means. Time was running out, and he had to make all preparations before the enemy discovered him.

He slid to the side of the hill, quickly finding cover behind a large rock, and crouched down, silently observing the movements around him. Even with his heartbeat accelerating, his breathing remained steady, maintaining a calm judgment.

Every minute seemed much longer than usual.

He knew that if the enemy attacked at this moment, they would undoubtedly use the hilltop's angle to observe. If they could fully utilize this time, they could counterattack from different angles. And Xiaohu, as their "eyes," would be the key to victory or defeat.

The night sky above the hill was starless, and the surrounding darkness was deep and silent. Qin Cang's sight was always firmly locked on the enemy gradually approaching from the bottom of the hill. Every time the enemy got closer, he could hear his own rapid breathing and the uncontrollable tension in his heart, but he still tried his best to remain calm.

"Xiaohu, are you there?" Qin Cang whispered softly. Although his voice was very low, it was still loud enough to penetrate the silent night and reach Xiaohu's ears on the hill.

After a brief silence, Xiaohu's voice came: "Up there, I can see the enemy's movements clearly."

Qin Cang frowned slightly, knowing what Xiao Hu meant, "Speak."

"They're divided into two teams, one at the bottom of the hill, and the other waiting on the side. They're clearly preparing to surround us from multiple directions." Xiaohu's voice was a hint of nervousness, but more of a firm determination. "Their main force is likely in the rear. I estimate that if we don't act quickly, the enemy will completely block our retreat."

Qin Cang's heart sank slightly. The enemy had noticed their movements and quickly adjusted their tactics, attempting to encircle them. Their current position was no longer safe.

"We're running out of time." Qin Cang's voice was deep and powerful, carrying a pressure that couldn't be ignored. "Prepare to evacuate. Once the enemy concentrates their firepower, we must quickly break their encirclement."

"Why, are you in a bad mood?" A voice broke his thoughts.

Qin Cang looked up and saw Liu San approaching, wine jug in hand, his expression seemingly impassive. Liu San was the kind of person who seemed unmoved by anything, as if he could remain calm and composed no matter the predicament. Qin Cang nodded and sighed softly.

"Tell me, are we really on the right path?" Qin Cang's voice was low, with a hint of imperceptible fatigue.

Liu San sat down next to him and handed him the wine jug. Qin Cang didn't take it, but just looked at the wine, as if thinking about some profound truth.

"Are you also thinking," Liu San's eyes were like sharp blades, "that we have gone too far and there is no turning back."

"You know that's not what I'm talking about." Qin Cang finally spoke, his eyes turning to the dark forest in the distance, where it seemed nothing could be seen or touched. His voice was low, but it couldn't hide the helplessness in it. "Liu San, Xiaohu is getting more and more unreasonable."

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Liu San's face, but it held an indescribable chill. "You mean, he doesn't understand the rules?"

"He doesn't understand, but he doesn't understand the principles we follow." Qin Cang paused, his brows furrowed. "You know I've always noticed that kid is a bit impatient, but now he's completely lost his patience and has even started to question everything we do."

"So what?" Liu San said calmly, "Don't you think he's a young man with more blood than the rest of us? He's energetic, courageous, and willing to take responsibility. How many years has it been since we've seen a kid like him?"

Qin Cang's eyes flickered. He knew Liu San was trying to say that young people like Xiaohu were indeed rare talents. But he knew that such impulsiveness and eagerness for quick success, without guidance, would ultimately lead to self-destruction.

"So what if he's impulsive?" Qin Cang asked, "Can he be as patient and tolerant as we are? He only sees the scenery in front of him, but not the price behind it. I don't want to see him like a wild horse that has broken free from its reins, and ultimately destroy everything because of a momentary impulse."