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

However, as time went by, Qin Cang gradually realized that everything Liu San did had a deep meaning that could not be escaped. He gradually found that he seemed to have become a tool in Liu San's eyes, and perhaps because of this, he felt as if his fate was firmly controlled by him.

But he didn't want to think about it any further. A voice inside him was already protesting. Feeling so bound, it felt like even breathing was becoming difficult. He looked again at the sketch on the table. The lines were still simple, yet they seemed to hint at the paths he would take. Each path led to a different outcome, and he could only keep going.

"Liu San..." Qin Cang muttered to himself, a wry smile on his face. He already knew that whether he wanted it or not, his relationship with Liu San was destined to become more complicated.

On the phone screen, Liu San sent a message - "I'm here, wait for me."

Qin Cang's heart moved slightly, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Perhaps, Liu San's arrival would allow him to temporarily escape from these complicated thoughts. At least during the meal, he could temporarily put aside all his worries and doubts and enjoy a moment of peace.

The words Liu San said when he just left kept echoing in my mind: "Are you okay?"

He didn't answer, because he knew he wasn't well. In fact, more and more things were making him feel uneasy, as if no matter how he struggled, there was always an invisible force pushing him into the unknown abyss. Although he was still suppressing his emotions at this moment, forcing himself to remain calm, deep down, Qin Cang could not get rid of the suffocating fear.

And today, Qin Cang made a decision - he must take Xiaohu out and leave this place that made him feel confused and depressed.

"Xiao Hu, let's go," Qin Cang whispered, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He knew he could no longer sit idly by, even though it might put them in greater danger. But if he didn't do something, everything would remain stagnant here forever.

Xiaohu stood beside him, looking at Qin Cang with a hint of hesitation. This young man had always been the most special person around Qin Cang, smart, alert, and always showing a natural alertness. But today, the uneasiness in Xiaohu's eyes was stronger than Qin Cang had ever seen.

"Are you sure you want to leave?" Xiaohu asked softly, with a hint of hesitation in his tone.

"I have no other choice." Qin Cang's voice was low, and his eyes became more determined. "If we don't leave, we will be trapped here forever, like a caged bird."

Xiaohu didn't say anything more, just nodded. Qin Cang knew that although Xiaohu always pretended to be more mature and calm than him, he understood the uneasiness hidden in Xiaohu's heart. That always questioning look was like a sharp knife, piercing the deepest part of his heart.

They walked out of the room, passed through several dim corridors, and came to an inconspicuous back door. Qin Cang did not stop for long, but pushed the door open and walked out with Xiaohu.

The air outside was slightly damp, and darkness enveloped the surroundings. Only the dim streetlights shone through the mist, leaving scattered points of light on the ground. Qin Cang took a deep breath. Although he had long been accustomed to this kind of silence, he could not shake off the vague sense of oppression. He knew that this decision was not an easy one and might even bring unpredictable consequences, but there was no turning back.

"Xiao Hu, think it through." Qin Cang suddenly stopped and turned to look at the young man standing behind him.

Xiao Hu's eyes looked particularly profound in the moonlight. He looked at Qin Cang, was silent for a moment, and then whispered, "I know you are making a decision for both of us, but aren't you afraid? Afraid that those people will catch up, afraid of those invisible things?"

Qin Cang's heart trembled. The uneasiness in Xiaohu's eyes was almost unbearable for him. He sighed softly and replied in a low voice, "I'm not afraid anymore. Rather than staying there, unable to do anything, I'd rather take the risk."

Xiao Hu was silent for a moment, as if seriously considering Qin Cang's answer. Finally, he spoke. Although his tone was still calm, there was a hint of determination in his voice: "Since you have decided, then I will accompany you."

Qin Cang felt a surge of warmth in his heart when he heard these words. He knew he wasn't fighting alone. Although their situation was still fraught with danger, at least they had each other to rely on and support.

"Let's go." Qin Cang smiled lightly, took a step forward, and disappeared into the night with Xiaohu.

The two of them walked forward, crossing several streets and heading further afield. Qin Cang had no specific goal and was moving forward entirely on instinct. He only knew that he had to free himself from the feeling of being trapped and find a clear way out.

However, as they moved further and further away from the place that had suffocated Qin Cang, the oppressive feeling did not completely disappear. Instead, it became more subtle, like something hidden in the shadows, silently following them.

"Xiao Hu," Qin Cang suddenly stopped and looked back at the street they had just left. "Do you feel like all this is being orchestrated by someone invisible?"

Xiao Hu frowned slightly, seemingly not fully understanding Qin Cang's meaning, but nodded nonetheless: "Indeed, everything is too coincidental. You see, every choice we make seems to have been cleverly designed."

Qin Cang paused, a sneer on his face: "It's not just a coincidence, it's a carefully planned thing. Liu San..." He paused and murmured softly, "He must know something. I always feel that he is hiding something that we can't see."

"You suspect him?" Xiaohu looked up suddenly, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Qin Cang didn't answer, merely staring into the distant darkness, his brow furrowed. He wondered if Liu San was truly an enemy, or if he truly cared about him as he claimed. Each time, their conversations cautiously veered in some unknown direction, yet he could never grasp the ultimate answer.

"If Liu San is really an enemy, he might find us if we leave now." Qin Cang paused, his eyes becoming even colder. "He will never allow us to leave. After all—"

"Do you think he will stop us directly?" Xiaohu interrupted Qin Cang with a hint of doubt in his tone.

Qin Cang was silent for a moment, then nodded gently: "He knows too much. Perhaps he had foreseen that we would make the decision today."