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

"Are you sure?" Liu San asked hesitantly, his voice low and filled with a hint of nervousness he couldn't conceal. "What if they already know we're coming, or..." He didn't continue, but he knew in his heart that there were too many "what ifs" in this world, and each "what if" meant unforeseen danger.

Qin Cang looked at him, his eyes as calm as the abyss. "Sometimes, we need to take the initiative to face unknown dangers instead of waiting in the dark. I believe you can handle this situation."

Liu San's heart was filled with mixed emotions. Qin Cang's confidence and calmness always made people feel at ease, but this time, Liu San knew that behind Qin Cang's decision was not simple trust, but a deep understanding of the situation and a high regard for their mission.

"I understand." Liu San took a deep breath and finally nodded, "I'll go."

Qin Cang nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving Liu San, as if silently calculating everything. Liu San's footsteps gradually faded away, his back becoming blurred in the dim light. Qin Cang stood there, staring at the direction Liu San had left, his heart trembling. He had long been accustomed to facing difficulties alone, but this time, the uneasiness in his heart could not be shaken off.

Liu San walked out of the room, enveloped by the darkness outside. He could feel the heavy pressure on him, as if every step was treading on the edge of a cliff. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and walked towards the center of the village. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the silent night, and every step seemed to remind him that this step might mean the outbreak of a storm.

The houses in the village were not far away. Liu San stared straight ahead, his heart beating fast. Every time he saw a window, he would pause for a moment to carefully observe the movement inside. But no matter what, the surroundings were still quiet, as if everything had stopped breathing.

Finally, he stood in front of the first house. There was nothing unusual at the door, and the silence in the air made it almost possible for him to hear his own breathing. Liu San reached out and knocked on the door, the sound remarkably clear in the still night. The knock echoed in the empty village road, and for a long time, there was no response. Liu San's heartbeat seemed to suddenly accelerate at this moment, and his eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly.

A few seconds later, a faint movement finally came from inside the house. The doorknob slowly turned, and with a soft creak, the door slowly opened, revealing a blurry old man in front of Liu San.

"What's the matter?" The old man's voice was low and hoarse, and his eyes were filled with a hint of vigilance.

Liu San looked at him calmly and spoke quickly: "I want to ask, has anything unusual happened in the village recently? We heard some noises and want to know what happened."

The old man's eyes flickered slightly, and he seemed a little hesitant. After a moment, he finally spoke slowly, "Nothing special. Everything is normal in the village. Where are you from?"

"We are from other places and are passing by here." Liu San was alert and tried his best to remain calm and answer in a calm tone.

The old man's eyes were no longer so vigilant, and seemed to relax a little. He glanced at Liu San's back, and a complicated expression flashed in his eyes. "Outsiders? Well, you guys should be careful. It's not safe to go out at this time."

"Why?" Liu San quickly took over the topic, his inner vigilance could not be ignored.

A hint of hesitation flashed across the old man's eyes, but he quickly whispered, "Some things are best kept secret from outsiders. If you're okay, leave early. The atmosphere in the village hasn't been good lately."

"The atmosphere isn't very good?" Liu San frowned, feeling even more confused. "What do you mean?"

"Alas..." The old man sighed, a trace of fatigue in his eyes, "In short, the world outside is no longer as stable as before. If you have something to do, leave as soon as possible and don't delay any longer." After saying that, he didn't say anything else, his eyes flashed with an unknown meaning, and then he closed the door.

Liu San stood there, watching the door close again, his heart filled with confusion. He felt as if he were trapped in a vast fog, with no direction ahead and no way out. The vagueness and caution in the old man's words made him unable to ignore a vague fear.

He turned around and walked quickly back to Qin Cang, his brows furrowed, obviously still confused.

"How is it?" Qin Cang asked, his voice as calm as water, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"He didn't say much," Liu San said in a low voice, "He just asked me to leave early, saying that the atmosphere here was not very good."

"The atmosphere isn't good?" Qin Cang raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of doubt flashing across his eyes. "Your words are unclear, as if you're hiding some secret."

It was a dog, running out of the path outside the village. It looked frightened, running on all fours, its ears pressed against its head, its eyes filled with anxiety and fear. Instead of running toward the village, it ran straight towards the mountain, at a rapid speed, as if some instinct had driven it to flee.

"What is that?" Liu San asked softly, his eyes fixed on the dog that was getting farther and farther away.

Qin Cang's heart suddenly tightened. His deep intuition told him that this scene was far from simple. Dogs are humans' most loyal companions, but they are also among the most sensitive animals. Its fearful reaction at night must have a reason. Could the dog have sensed some danger? Or perhaps it had seen some threat that humans could not perceive?

"It's running away." Qin Cang's voice was low, almost talking to himself, with a hint of deep thought in his eyes, "What does it know?"

Liu San suddenly felt an inexplicable chill in his heart. He subconsciously glanced toward the mountain. The mountain, shrouded in darkness, seemed unusually quiet. There was no wind blowing, only the sound of running dogs echoing in the empty night.

"Should we go over and take a look?" Liu San couldn't help but suggest. He felt a vague sense of unease in his heart, as if something was approaching.

Qin Cang frowned slightly and thought for a moment. "Go," he finally said, his voice without hesitation, only a calm determination. "We can't miss any possible clues."

Without another word, the two quickly followed the path outside the village, heading toward the mountain. The dog ran quickly, already reaching the edge of the forest. As they approached, the outline of the mountain became clearer, though the dim night light made it difficult to see clearly. The surrounding trees were tall and dense, their leaves rustling, as if hiding some unknown secret.