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

Their plan has been exposed, that much is certain. The reason he hasn't let Liu San and the others know yet is because he knows that once they do, they will try to find a way to survive.

Even if it costs my life.

He couldn't let that happen a second time. Liu San already had one hand crippled; if something else happened... he didn't dare think about it.

The wind rustled through the leaves of the trees.

"You're really lucky." A low, hoarse voice suddenly rang in his ear.

Qin Cang suddenly opened his eyes and saw a tall, thin figure standing among the shadows of the trees, his robes fluttering in the wind, his eyes fixed on him like those of a hawk.

"Who are you?" Qin Cang slowly stood up, his body swaying slightly, but he steadied himself.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not one of them." The man slowly approached, revealing a chiseled face with scrutinizing eyes. "I'm here to see if you're dead or not."

"Who sent you?"

“Nobody sent me.” The man grinned, a hint of wildness in his smile. “I came of my own accord.”

A hint of alertness flashed in Qin Cang's eyes, and his hand quietly rested on the short knife at his waist.

Upon seeing this, the man laughed loudly, raised a tattered burlap sack in his hand, and casually tossed it aside. With a series of dry "thump-thump" sounds, he revealed several dried rabbit legs, along with a bundle made of some dry grass.

"Eat up, I know you're hungry." The man said casually. "If you don't eat, no one will collect your body if you die in this forest."

Qin Cang didn't move, his gaze piercing his face like a knife.

The man clicked his tongue: "Believe it or not, it's up to you. I just thought you were interesting since you've been alive for three days. Anyone else would have been a corpse by now in that ambush."

"Are you looking at me?"

"Of course. I've been watching you since the first day you entered the forest."

"Are you a hunter?"

"I used to, but I don't do it anymore."

"Do you have any connection with them?"

“No.” The man suddenly became serious. “But I know who they are.”

Qin Cang's eyes narrowed slightly: "Speak."

“They’re not the same group you used to deal with. They’re more ruthless, more heartless, and more patient. You killed three of them, and they won’t let you get away with it.”

“I never expected them to let me go.”

“But you don’t even have any food.” The man pointed to the small pool of water. “Eat this to get through the night, or draw your sword and fight me to the death, and see who starves to death.”

Qin Cang remained silent.

He knew this wasn't the time to fight head-on; he needed to recover, even if it was just for a day. Those rabbit legs, though dry and hard, could indeed save his life.

He slowly bent down, picked up a piece of dried meat, took a bite, and chewed. It was so dry that it was almost hard to swallow, but his stomach seemed to be ignited, and a warm life force burst forth instantly.

"What's your name?" he asked vaguely.

"My name is Wolf Cripple." The man smiled, reached out and opened the sack, and sat down to the side. "I have a small place, not far away. If you can hold on, I'll take you there to avoid the trouble for a couple of days."

Qin Cang didn't speak, continuing to eat the dried meat, but his eyes became increasingly clear.

Qin Cang's eyes flickered as he looked at him, pondering, "You mean that dilapidated temple?"

“How could that be?” Wolf Cripple shook his head. “That place has already been watched. Do you think no one noticed the commotion you made when you escaped from there? I’m taking you to the old cellar in the back mountain. It used to be used to store wine, but it’s abandoned now. However, there’s a hidden ditch underneath. The water is clear, and there are rats and rabbits around. There’s also some old moss that can be used as medicine.”

"Is there really food?"

“Yes, and they’re not inanimate objects.” He winked slyly. “People hunt for wild food there all year round. They have everything: rabbits, badgers, pheasants, fish, and shrimp. It’s just a bit of a walk.”

Qin Cang silently tightened his belt, tying the rag around his wrist to cover the wounds. He didn't ask about Xiao Hu and Liu San's whereabouts; there was no need to now. He knew they had already split up according to plan and would return to the rendezvous point once night fell. His trip was to solve the problems of food and lodging.

He and the lame wolf walked for two hours until it was completely dark. The chirping of insects in the forest grew more intense, and the rustling of the grass underfoot constantly stimulated their nerves. Qin Cang walked at the back, vigilant but not slow.

Finally, a thick bluestone slab appeared behind a slope hidden by rocks. The lame wolf squatted down, reached out and fiddled with the edge a few times. With a snap, the slab loosened, revealing a dark, gloomy hole, from which a chill rushed out.

"Go down, watch your step, there's a ladder."

Qin Cang gripped the rock wall with one hand and reached into the cave with the other, carefully descending the slippery stone steps. He could hear the sound of water droplets falling into a pool, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and dampness, along with a faint smell of smoke.

When he reached the bottom, his eyes lit up. It was a burnt stone cellar with charred walls. In the corner, there were some old cooking utensils and an iron pot leaning against the wall. Although it looked simple, it had a long-lost sense of life.

"How is it?" The lame wolf lit a flint and ignited some dry firewood. As the flames flickered, he took out some cured meat and a few fruits that looked like wild beans from a stone jar. "I come back every few days to leave some food. You've made it in time."

Qin Cang nodded, subtly glancing around before his eyes fell on an inconspicuous slanted crevice in the cave wall. The crevice bore traces of smoke, clearly indicating that someone had lit a fire there for warmth; several fresh scratches remained on the smoke.

He didn't say anything, but simply kept it in mind.

Wolf Cripple chopped the dried meat into small pieces and cooked it with wild beans and dried mushrooms. The pot soon filled with a fragrant aroma. He sat by the fire, cupping his hands around the flames, and muttered under his breath, "Your two brothers are probably starving by now."

“They have a way to deal with it,” Qin Cang said, stirring the boiling soup in the pot. The aroma of meat stirred the emptiness churning in his stomach, but he endured it, remaining calm and composed.

The lame wolf stared at him and smiled, "You're wary of me."

"Of course." Qin Cang did not deny it, looking up at him. "At this time, trusting the wrong person can lead to death."

"Hahahaha!" The lame wolf suddenly threw his head back and laughed. "That's right, it's because of someone like you that I think you're worth saving." He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer, saying, "But I have to remind you, you must leave this place before noon tomorrow."

"why?"

“Someone has their eye on this mountain. Hunters, woodcutters, and merchants have all disappeared.” He paused, then grinned. “Moreover, someone has offered a high price to put your name on the wanted list.”

Qin Cang's eyes turned cold: "How did you know?"

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the forest and have a lot of information,” the lame wolf chuckled. “I’ve survived this long because I don’t ask or tell, I only sell information and not my life.”