Zhou Cheng found it peculiar that Brother Pan would come to the China-Burma border if he was following the leads provided by Jiang Yan. He should have gone to Vietnam instead. Yet Brother Pan specifically came to the China-Burma border, where his trail went cold. Was Third Brother here to investigate evidence? Zhou Cheng began doubting his judgment.

In pursuit of clues, he had even ventured into the chaotic Golden Triangle, Asia’s largest opium cultivation and drug manufacturing and trafficking region. In the 1950s, the Golden Triangle produced only dozens of tons of drugs annually. The 1960s saw rapid development, with annual production reaching 200 tons. By the early 1980s, production had reached a terrifying 700 tons… and showed trends of continued rapid growth. While Zhou Cheng found nothing in Burma, he did uncover something in the Golden Triangle.

Whether Brother Pan had been here was uncertain, but Jiang Wu had! Someone with a lame foot – it had to be Jiang Wu.

Jiang Wu involved in drugs? He must have truly gone mad! But why would he get involved? Others took such risks for wealth, but born into the Jiang family, Jiang Wu was never destined for poverty.

“Unless he needs money beyond what the Jiang family can provide, or…”

Zhou Cheng wiped the sweat from his face. The dense rainforest here made the climate humid and stuffy. Such environments easily reminded him of his days on the front line – not particularly pleasant memories.

Or perhaps Jiang Wu needed more than just money.

The Mekong River flows south from Qinghai in China, passing through six countries over its 4,000-kilometer length, cutting through Southeast Asia’s mountains. Deep valleys, rapid tributaries, gorges, and cliffs created numerous traffic blind spots – the reason the Golden Triangle remained difficult to control effectively. Zhou Cheng planned to use this route to infiltrate Vietnam.

He needed to avoid detection by both drug traffickers and officials.

Zhou Cheng found a guide who agreed to lead him into Vietnam. Following their arrangement, he went to meet at a Southeast Asian-style grass hut.

Something felt wrong the moment he stepped through the door. Zhou Cheng instantly thrust his trident dagger to the right. A hand grabbed his wrist. Zhou Cheng crouched and swept with his right foot, but his opponent blocked that attack too!

In the darkness, Zhou Cheng’s every move was lethal, but his opponent was equally skilled.

Zhou Cheng finally found an opening, sliding his trident toward the opponent’s neck, about to slice the carotid artery – then forcefully stopped himself.

“Third Brother, stop playing!”

The other person laughed heartily: “You recognized me early on.”

How could he not? Initially, he couldn’t see clearly in the pitch-black room. But once they engaged in combat, Zhou Cheng knew immediately.

Pan Baohua had taught him his fighting style – how could a disciple not recognize his master’s moves, no matter how well-concealed?

Pan Baohua stepped forward, revealing his distinctive face, and gave Zhou Cheng a solid embrace: “I knew you’d come, kid!”

Zhou Cheng couldn’t help smiling too. It was the unspoken understanding developed from years of fighting side by side.

“If you didn’t want me to come, you wouldn’t have shown yourself in Pengcheng.”

Zhou Cheng’s smile faded when he noticed a new long scar on Pan Baohua’s bandit-like face that could frighten children. It crossed his cheek near his ear – any closer and it would have severed his ear!

Pan Baohua didn’t care at all. One more scar or less wouldn’t affect his eating or sleeping. Even without any scars, he still wouldn’t be as handsome as Zhou Cheng – Third Brother Pan was always optimistic. Besides, what kind of man doesn’t have scars? Each scar was a medal!

Zhou Cheng wasn’t concerned about appearances. Given Third Brother’s skills, it wasn’t easy for someone to wound him.

“Third Brother, did you fight with Jiang Wu?”

Pan Baohua shook his head with a cold smile, “That coward Jiang Wu hides away and lets others do his dirty work. He’s not worthy of being called a man, just a gutless wretch!”

Zhou Cheng frowned, “Since meeting him once in Shijiazhuang, he’s disappeared. Has he been active here recently?”

Pan Baohua nodded, “I didn’t want to drag you into this, but your temperament’s not much different from mine – you wouldn’t be deterred anyway.”

Naturally. Zhou Cheng wouldn’t rest easy until Jiang Wu was finished. For Third Brother, for himself, and Xiaolan, he couldn’t allow such a threat to remain at large.

Zhou Cheng extended his hand, “Third Brother, let’s work together one more time.”

Pan Three acted disgusted, grimacing, but still reached out to bump fists with Zhou Cheng before clasping hands.

“What did you learn at that academy anyway?”

He was joking about his disgust, but Zhou Cheng gave it serious thought: “You know, I did learn some new things.”

Whether the theoretical knowledge could be applied in practice – well, they could test it on Jiang Wu.

“Third Brother, did you check locally if Jiang Yan’s documents were genuine? Are there survivors and witnesses?”

This was crucial. They could eliminate Jiang Wu quietly, but Pan Three’s charges of uncontrolled violence would never be cleared. Zhou Cheng still wanted to go through official channels… without aftermath concerns, bringing down the Nanjing Jiang family together. The Jiang family sheltered Jiang Wu and helped cover up his crimes – they should face the consequences!

Pan Three seemed distracted, lost in thought.

“If Jiang Wu is connected to 129 deaths, and the Jiang family covered up his crimes, do you think any survivors or witnesses would still be alive?”

129 lives. The document Jiang Yan provided flickered through Zhou Cheng’s mind again. It was a transcript.

There’s an international convention that warring nations shouldn’t harm civilians. Though difficult to achieve in reality, with artillery being indiscriminate and civilian casualties inevitable… accidental injury and killing versus intentional torture and murder were completely different matters.

Zhou Cheng didn’t know if Jiang Wu was naturally cruel or had made wrong judgments, but the 129 deaths were fact.

“I still believe Jiang Yan wouldn’t deceive us.”

Zhou Cheng suddenly brought this up.

Pan Three understood immediately, “But you don’t trust Jiang Wu or the Jiang family. You’re afraid they’re using Jiang Yan as a pawn.”

Were the Jiang family and Jiang Wu waiting for him and Zhou Cheng to uncover everything? Pan Three didn’t know.

Zhou Cheng paused, “…Then Jiang Yan is truly pitiful.”

Indeed, too pitiful.

That girl Jiang Yan, is unrequited in love, and unsuccessful in relationships.

These were minor issues. She was a Jiang family daughter, smart and beautiful, with great prospects at work.

However, the Jiang family treated her as a disposable pawn. The more doting she received before, the more painful it would be when the truth came out.

Pan Baohua felt sympathetic: “That girl’s fate is tragic.”

Too bad he wasn’t as handsome as Chengzi – Jiang Yan wouldn’t look his way. She could fancy Chengzi, but Chengzi had his own woman… Bah! Why were relationships between men and women so complicated? They couldn’t even settle things with a good fight.

Pan Baohua scratched his head – this was truly a problem of the century!

No, stop thinking about it, or he’d go crazy too.

Fortunately, he didn’t plan to marry – saved him lots of trouble.

They were discussing serious matters before Pan Three suddenly derailed the conversation. Zhou Cheng stayed focused:

“Just this one thing won’t do… Third Brother, why don’t you find a wife?”