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

"Alright," Qin Cang interrupted their conversation calmly. "Let's talk about this after we've finished our journey. Now, let's not waste our breath."

The shadowy figure shrugged nonchalantly and continued leading the way.

Xiao Hu quietly approached Qin Cang and whispered, "You believe him?"

"Believe it or not, you have to walk this road." Qin Cang's voice was very soft, but it revealed an undeniable coldness. "As long as you get out, I have my own way of making him tell the truth."

Xiao Hu felt slightly relieved. Having followed Qin Cang for so many years, he had long understood when this man was telling the truth and when he was lying. Now, he could clearly hear the signs in Qin Cang's tone that he was preparing to kill.

The secret passage grew increasingly narrow, and water began to seep from above, the cold water meandering down the stone walls, chilling him to the bone as it landed on the back of his neck. Xiao Hu instinctively shrank his neck, but his heart sank deeper and deeper. He sensed a growing unease; the longer he walked this path, the more uneasy he felt.

Eight people to meet them? Fully armed? Why so thorough? If they were truly friendly forces, why would they go to such lengths to deal with just the two of them? Moreover... the shadowy figure's steps were too steady, too familiar, so familiar that it didn't seem like a last-minute rescue, but rather like someone who had been waiting there all along, just waiting for them to walk into a trap.

The moment the thought crossed Xiao Hu's mind, a chill ran down his spine. He glanced furtively at the dark, thin figure in front of him and felt that this person was more sinister and cunning than the wolves lurking in the forest.

"Brother Qin," Xiao Hu called softly.

"Shut up," Qin Cang suddenly said coldly. "Watch your step, don't slip."

Xiao Hu was taken aback, but then he understood. This was a warning, and also an implication. His heart tightened, and he immediately shut his mouth, saying nothing more, only keeping his fingers on the gun handle, remaining cautious at every step.

Finally, a sliver of light appeared ahead. It was a half-open stone door, behind which a faint firelight flickered, and the sounds of low conversation could be faintly heard.

The dark figure stopped, turned to the side, and said, "We're here."

"Go in first," Qin Cang coldly ordered.

The dark figure shrugged, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Afraid I'll harm you?"

"It's always better to play it safe," Qin Cang said calmly.

The dark figure chuckled softly and stepped inside. Qin Cang and Xiao Hu followed slowly in. Behind the stone door was a spacious cavern with a few lanterns lit. Sure enough, eight people sat on either side, all cold-faced and silent, their guns gleaming, their auras steady—clearly well-trained assassins.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"We've arrived, so change your clothes now," the shadowy figure chuckled. "I've had them prepared for you."

He waved his hand, and immediately someone brought out two sets of black clothes and a dagger. Little Tiger looked at the size of the clothes and realized that they had been measured beforehand, which made him even more terrified.

Qin Cang took the clothes, his expression indifferent: "You've certainly put a lot of thought into this."

"Of course." The shadowy figure's smile deepened. "If you can't get out, wouldn't all my efforts have been in vain?"

"If I really can't get out, you won't live to see tomorrow either." Qin Cang finished speaking and suddenly attacked.

His dagger, already drawn in a swift motion, lashed out, aiming straight for the shadowy figure's throat! Caught off guard, the figure stumbled backward, a bloody gash appearing on their shoulder. The other eight reacted with lightning speed, instantly turning their guns around.

boom--

The moment the dark muzzle of the gun was raised, Qin Cang had already rolled out, his pistol striking first, spitting muzzle flash, and the two assassins fell to the ground! At the same instant, Xiao Hu also drew his gun and fired. Although his movements were slightly clumsy, they were ruthless and decisive, forcing the two back.

"Charge out!" Qin Cang shouted coldly, his figure approaching like a ghost, his dagger flashing coldly, and he slashed at the throat again!

The situation spiraled out of control in an instant. The dark figure, clutching his bleeding shoulder, staggered back, cursing incessantly: "Kill them! Leave no one alive!"

"Little Tiger, cover him." Qin Cang shouted in a low voice, his voice as steady as iron, as if the sudden change in the situation was not enough to shake him in the slightest.

"Alright!" Xiao Hu gritted his teeth and responded, firing two bursts to accurately suppress the few assassins who tried to approach. Shell casings ricocheted to the ground, sending sparks flying. His heart sank deeper and deeper. This formation, this rhythm, these people… were no ordinary desperados. Their training, reactions, and teamwork were exceptionally skillful, even exuding a cold, murderous aura that seemed out of place in this desolate wilderness.

They probably... made a wrong step and entered the most dangerous part of the game.

"Boy, you've got some guts." The shadowy figure sneered, hiding behind the concealed stone door. His voice was as cold as a snake crawling out of a rock crevice. "Too bad, your guts won't save you. From today onwards, there will be no more 'Little Tiger' and 'Qin Cang' in this world."

"You're quite stubborn." Qin Cang frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the enemy's hiding place like a knife, but he felt no panic. He knew very well that neither their bullets nor their stamina were enough to sustain a prolonged tug-of-war. If it dragged on any longer, they would inevitably be worn down and killed in this cave by these suicide soldiers.

He wasn't afraid of death, but he disdained being trapped and killed. That kind of death was too pathetic.

"Brother Qin, what do we do now?" Xiao Hu asked breathlessly in a low voice, his palms already damp with sweat, the gun handle slipping between his fingers, but he refused to let go. He knew that if he let go now, there would be no chance of turning the tide.

Qin Cang's gaze swept heavily across the surroundings. Although the cave was large, there was only one entrance and exit. The dark figures had clearly planned this all along, even blocking their escape route. His gaze lingered for a moment among the pile of broken wooden crates. There... seemed to be something unusual there.

"Little Tiger, smoke bomb," he suddenly whispered.

Xiao Hu was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening and pulled out a scratched tin can from his pocket. He had brought it with him before leaving. Some people might laugh at how these things weren't commonly used these days, but he and Qin Cang both understood that any overlooked inch of survival space could eventually carve out a way out in a desperate situation.

"Throw it out," Qin Cang said in a deep voice.

A flash of fire, and the iron can tumbled across the ground, landing in front of the enemy lines, exploding with a deafening roar. Thick white smoke instantly filled the air, obscuring all vision. The assassins were thrown into chaos, cursing and retreating.

"Little Tiger, follow me!" Qin Cang's voice was low and sharp as he shot through the smoke like an arrow, heading straight for the pile of wooden crates. He had made the right gamble; there was a hidden world behind it, a half-hidden stone crevice concealed in the shadows, completely undetectable unless one was right in front of it.

He kicked aside the rubble, crouched low, and slipped into a crevice. A chilling wind swept through the darkness, carrying the smell of dirt and decay, yet it was more reassuring than the hail of bullets. He turned and pulled Xiao Hu behind him, then ripped off a piece of rubble to roughly seal the exit.

"Brother Qin...where is down here?" Xiao Hu held his breath, trying his best to calm himself down, but his heart was still pounding like a war drum.