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

He was covered in mud, but he protected the map as if he were protecting his life.

A complex wave of emotions surged in Qin Cang's heart, but he suppressed it forcefully. He couldn't let his emotions interfere with his judgment, and he couldn't let any unnecessary emotions waste his time.

He turned to look at Liu San, who was squatting next to him, and said in a deep voice, "Liu San, take your knife and go ahead to explore the road and confirm the direction. Don't go too far. Come back immediately if you encounter any problems."

Liu San looked up, his face pale, but he still gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes!"

Although his voice was trembling, there was a firm determination in his eyes.

Qin Cang knew that in this kind of rainy forest, the road conditions would change drastically. A map alone was not enough; someone had to scout the area. Otherwise, if the large group set out and got stuck in the mud, they would be dead if the enemy caught up with them.

"Remember," Qin Cang added, his voice as low as if sharpening against the back of a knife. "Direction is the most important thing. It's better to take a longer detour than to go the wrong way."

Liu San nodded, hurriedly tightened his military uniform, put away the communicator, lowered his body, and disappeared into the darkness and rain.

Qin Cang stood there, staring straight ahead without blinking. He knew better than anyone that sending Liu San was a gamble—a gamble on time, fate, and the lives of all of them. He didn't even pin his hopes on Liu San alone. He had already silently decided that if anything happened to Liu San, he would take the fall.

But he didn't say this out loud. He knew that as the leader of the team, his every expression and every action would be seen by his brothers and would affect their morale.

Qin Cang closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his expression had returned to calm.

Xiao Hu leaned against a tree, feeling the chill of the earth seeping slowly through his back and into his bones. With great effort, he opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of Qin Cang, standing like a jagged rock in the wind and rain. He felt an indescribable sense of security.

He licked his cracked lips and asked in a hoarse voice, "Lao Qin, can we really get through?"

He felt a little timid when he asked this question, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to hear a positive answer, even if it was just a lie.

Qin Cang heard it, but didn't turn around immediately. He stared at the dark rain curtain in the forest, as if he could see the future from it. After a few seconds, he slowly said, "Yes."

It was just one word, but it was as heavy as a rock, smashing into Xiaohu's heart.

Xiao Hu forced a smile, closed his eyes, and stopped asking questions. He knew that if Qin Cang said "yes," he would definitely do his best to achieve it. This trust didn't require any more words.

Time passed by minute by minute. The sound of the rain gradually subsided, but the mud on the ground became deeper. The damp and cold air wrapped around everyone's ankles like a venomous snake, and the tension in their hearts grew tighter and tighter in the torment.

Qin Cang stood still, his eyes fixed on the darkness. His heartbeat was slow, yet heavy, each beat pounding against his eardrums. Every second felt like a drain. He calculated that if Liu San was alright, he'd be back in twenty minutes at most. If it took more than half an hour—he'd have to find another way.

A slight rustling sound came from his ears, and Qin Cang looked up suddenly, his hand already on the hilt of the knife at his waist. A few seconds later, he saw a thin figure stumbling out of the woods.

It’s Liu San.

Liu San's face was covered in mud, and his trouser legs were stained with swamp grass, but his eyes were shining. "Found it! There's a rocky slope 500 meters ahead. We can get over it! The mud isn't deep, so we can walk!"

Qin Cang felt relieved, but he didn't show it. He just nodded, his voice still calm: "Are there any enemies on the road?"

Liu San panted and shook his head. "I didn't see any sentries, nor did I hear any gunfire. But... the rain was so heavy that I couldn't see clearly from a distance."

A fierce glint flashed in Qin Cang's eyes. He understood that in this kind of weather, the enemy wouldn't dare to go out on patrol easily. This was their opportunity.

He turned and looked at his brothers huddled in the rain, their faces etched with fatigue, yet they still held their weapons tightly. His heart tightened, but he spoke calmly, "Everyone, listen up! Three minutes to assemble and get ready to go! Follow the route Xiaohu gave us. Liu San will lead the way, and Lao Yang will cover the rear. Move quickly!"

Even before he finished speaking, the brothers had already started moving. Even though their hands and feet were numb and their clothes were soaked, each of them still gritted their teeth and persevered in the rainy night, like reeds about to break but still holding on.

When Xiaohu was pulled up by Lao Yang, his legs gave way and he almost fell back, but he gritted his teeth and stood up stubbornly. He knew he couldn't hold back any longer.

Qin Cang walked over, patted Xiaohu on the shoulder, and whispered, "Follow me later, don't run around."

Xiaohu grinned, revealing a rain-soaked but remarkably determined smile: "Understood, Lao Qin."

Qin Cang looked at him, his heart suddenly aching. At this age, he should be pursuing his dreams and living a carefree life, but he had grown up prematurely in the mud and smoke of war. He suppressed his emotions and said in a low voice, "Remember, life is the most important thing. Only by getting out alive can you have a chance to fight back."

Xiaohu nodded vigorously, his eyes clear.

Qin Cang waved his hand, and the team, like a silent long dragon, followed the direction indicated by Liu San and quietly entered the depths of the night.

On a rainy night, the only sounds left are the sound of mud and water splashing and the echo of the heartbeat pounding in the chest.

Everyone knew in their hearts that this night might be the last time they would walk side by side, but no one backed down.

In the darkness, Qin Cang shouted in a low voice: "Go!"

Qin Cang walked in the front, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply. The rain gradually subsided, but the fog that permeated the forest grew thicker, like a ghost emerging from the earth, reducing the field of vision to just a few meters. He knew they were approaching the enemy's outer patrol area, and danger was always around them.

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from the distant bushes, delicate yet extremely harsh. Qin Cang paused and raised his left hand, signaling the entire team to stop.

For a moment, the entire team seemed to be frozen, everyone held their breath, and only the sound of raindrops dripping along the leaves was left, clear and sharp.

Xiao Hu stood behind Qin Cang, his palms sweating with nervousness. He subconsciously touched the hilt of the knife at his waist, his heart pounding. His intuition told him that something was wrong ahead.

Qin Cang narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the grass.

A few breaths later, a figure stumbled out of the mist, soaking wet, his face etched with fear and exhaustion. He wore the same military uniform as them, but his disheveled posture made it clear at first glance that he was one of them.

It was Zhang Ergou, the scout vanguard in the team.