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

Liu San's lips trembled slightly, as if he was trying to hide something, but he didn't know how to speak. Qin Cang's gaze was like a sharp knife, cutting through his already broken disguise.

"You're wrong, Commander." Liu San lowered his head and sneered, "I've never betrayed you, nor have I ever made any deals with you."

However, Qin Cang no longer believed Liu San's words. He slowly approached, his tone becoming more resolute, "You don't need to hide it anymore. I've known for a long time that you've been interacting with people outside, and these actions can't be just for yourself."

Liu San froze, his body trembling slightly. His face paled, evidently from the mounting pressure within him. Qin Cang's judgment wasn't merely intellectual insight; it was a deep-seated intuition. Liu San had once been so resolute and resolute, but now, his every move betrayed a certain unease and confusion.

"Do you think I will believe what you said?" Qin Cang's voice became calmer. "You know, Liu San, I have enough reasons to doubt you. There is enough evidence. You can no longer justify yourself."

Liu San's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head, as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. Qin Cang could see that Liu San's heart was shaken. He wanted to defend himself, but found that he couldn't find the right words. A deep anxiety and uneasiness gradually spread across his face.

"You have no reason to defend yourself." Qin Cang's eyes flashed with a coldness, "Everything you are doing now has already deviated from our original intention."

A huge wave of anger and helplessness surged in Liu San's heart. He raised his head, looked directly into Qin Cang's eyes, and said in a low voice: "You are right, I did have contact, but it was not a betrayal. I have not done anything to let you down."

However, Qin Cang was not moved by his almost pleading look. He knew that Liu San's heart was no longer pure, and even though he was speaking in defense, his inner turmoil was obvious.

Not far away, Xiao Hu stood by, quietly observing all this. He could clearly sense the tension in the atmosphere, a complex expression flashing across his eyes. As a loyal subordinate of Qin Cang, he had long known that Liu San was no longer the comrade they once were. Although he still felt a little reluctant, the situation before him was irreversible.

"Xiao Hu, keep an eye on him." Qin Cang suddenly turned his head and said coldly to Xiao Hu.

Xiaohu's heart sank. He knew he could no longer harbor any illusions about Liu San. "Yes, Commander," he gritted his teeth, secretly resolving that his loyalty lay in only one direction, and Liu San could no longer be trusted.

However, before Qin Cang made his decision, he turned back and gave Liu San a deep look, a look of pity in his eyes. "Liu San, I really hope you can make the right choice. You know, the trust and friendship we once had shouldn't be destroyed so easily."

Liu San was stunned. He lowered his head, staring at his clenched fists, his inner struggle intensifying. Qin Cang's gaze made it impossible for him to escape the unease within him. He knew that Qin Cang wasn't simply doubting him; he saw through his deepest inner conflict. Could he turn back? If so, was there still a chance to repair this broken relationship?

However, what Liu San knew more clearly in his heart was that he was already deeply trapped in it, getting deeper and deeper, unable to extricate himself.

After several days of observation, Qin Cang and Xiao Hu quietly ambushed Liu San, monitoring his every move. Liu San went out more and more frequently at night, and each time he went out, his destination seemed to be unclear. Qin Cang had already made up his mind: no matter what, this time, he would thoroughly investigate Liu San's activities.

It was late at night, and only a few people remained on guard in the camp. Qin Cang and Xiao Hu made their way silently through the darkness, approaching Liu San's tent. Moonlight shone through the dense clouds, and the air was as cold as a blade, cutting through the skin with a biting chill.

They crouched down, hiding in a patch of bushes, their eyes fixed on Liu San's tent. Qin Cang's heart was beating wildly. Although he looked calm on the outside, the pressure in his heart was like a mountain pressing down on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe easily.

"Xiao Hu, remember, never reveal your identity." Qin Cang said in a low voice, his voice almost blending with the sound of the wind.

"I understand." Xiaohu nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. Although they had given up their trust in Liu San, the doubts in their hearts remained unresolved. Tonight, they had to thoroughly understand Liu San's true motives.

"Tianlang received. Retreat immediately. The return point is Linkou on the southern line. The secondary mission is terminated. The main mission is postponed. Awaiting further instructions."

Short, calm, no explanation, as usual.

He stared at the lines of code-written information, his expression darkening.

Retreat? Now? He suppressed the irritation and resentment that welled up in him. Retreat meant abandoning the current investigation, and it could also mean... completely cutting off any leads on Liu San.

His mind quickly replayed the scenes of last night—the blueprints, the secret conversation, the four-person meeting, and Liu San's disappearance. He didn't believe it was just a coincidence, and he didn't believe this was a mission that could be "terminated."

But an order is an order, and there is no room for negotiation. He knew very well that if he disobeyed it, not only would he become a pariah, but even Xiaohu would be implicated.

He stood up slowly, his movements stiff but careful, and put the radio back into his backpack. Xiaohu also came over and blinked at him.

"What happened?"

Qin Cang swallowed his saliva and said calmly, "We have to retreat according to the order from above."

"Retreat? Then... what about Brother Liu San?" Xiaohu's voice suddenly became anxious, and he stood up with an expression of unacceptable surprise on his face.

"I want to know too." Qin Cang stared at the direction outside the forest and said in a deep voice, "But now that this order has come, we can't touch him."

"So we're just going to leave like this? We...we're just going to watch him stay there, in case he..."

"I said, I can't move." Qin Cang interrupted him, his tone unconsciously becoming cold and hard, "Now is not the time for us to make a decision."

Xiaohu gritted his teeth and said nothing for a long while. He simply lowered his head and sheathed the knife in his hand, but his movements were extremely slow. His eyes dimmed, like a trapped little animal, full of depression but unable to vent.

Qin Cang knew that no matter how much he said, it would be useless. He was also heartbroken. But it was precisely because of this that he had to remain calm. One person's will wavering was nothing, but when two people were in chaos, it was a collapse.