Searching for someone in northern Myanmar, and you call that earning tuition fees?

The train continued its journey through the night, and the noise in the carriages gradually subsided.

Su Ming leaned back in his seat, holding the book "Advanced Physics" in his hands, but his eyes weren't focused on the pages. A flash of light from outside the window cast flickering shadows on his face.

The scene of subduing Zhang Daqiang just now drew admiring glances from the surrounding passengers. But Su Ming knew very well that his ability to instantly identify the other party was not due to any innate talent, but rather a skill that his grandfather had painstakingly instilled in him from childhood using the most clumsy yet solid methods.

His thoughts drifted back to ten years ago.

He was only eight years old at the time, and had just been sent to the orphanage.

The old director said that a retired veteran was willing to adopt him. Su Ming remembered the first time he saw his grandfather—a thin old man, wearing a faded military green jacket, standing at the entrance of the orphanage, carrying a faded canvas bag.

"Kid, come with me." Grandpa's voice was hoarse, but firm.

Su Ming thought at the time that he could finally have a normal family like other children.

On the very first day, his grandfather took him into the deep mountains on the outskirts of the city.

"See that tree?" Grandpa pointed to an ordinary pine tree in the distance. "Tell me, what animals have passed by here recently?"

Eight-year-old Su Ming was bewildered. He stared at the tree for a long time but couldn't see anything.

Grandpa wasn't angry. He simply squatted down and pointed to a patch of soil near the tree roots: "Look here, the soil has been pressed into a shallow pit, with fine claw marks around the edges. Based on the depth and shape of the pit, we can determine it was an adult wild rabbit, weighing about two kilograms."

"Look here again," Grandpa pointed to the tree trunk. "There are fresh scratches on the bark, about thirty centimeters above the ground, which means this rabbit stopped here, probably sharpening its claws."

"Look here last." Grandpa parted the grass beside him. "The grass blades are bent over facing east, which means the rabbit went east. And since these blades haven't fully straightened up yet, it means no more than two hours have passed."

Su Ming's eyes widened.

"That's trace analysis," Grandpa stood up, patting the dirt off his hands. "Any living thing leaves a trace wherever it goes. As long as you learn to observe and analyze, there's nothing in this world you can't find."

From that day on, Su Ming's childhood became a long training exercise.

Every morning at five o'clock, his grandfather would wake him up on time and take him into the mountains. Sometimes it was to track animals, sometimes to identify plants, and sometimes to learn how to survive in the wild.

"Remember, observation isn't about seeing with your eyes, it's about thinking with your brain," Grandpa always said. "Every detail you see should form a complete picture in your mind."

Su Ming initially found the training incredibly tedious, but gradually, he discovered that he was able to "see" things that others couldn't.

The angle at which a fallen leaf is positioned can tell you which direction the wind is blowing from.

The depth of a footprint allows him to judge the other person's weight and gait.

A broken branch can reveal when someone passed by.

Besides trace evidence analysis, his grandfather also taught him carpentry.

"Carpentry is a good craft." In his family's small workshop, Grandpa taught him how to use a plane, chisel, and saw. "But more importantly, carpentry teaches you precision. A difference of one millimeter, and the mortise and tenon won't fit. A difference of one degree, and the angle will be wrong."

Su Ming learned how to create intricate structures using the simplest tools. He learned how to judge the strength and toughness of wood by observing its grain. He learned how to pry open a seemingly sturdy lock with a single wooden strip.

"Mechanics, geometry, materials science—these aren't things you learn from books," Grandpa said. "These are skills etched into your very being."

In the evenings, Grandpa would take out those yellowed notebooks and tell him stories from his time in the reconnaissance company.

"Back then, we didn't have any high-tech equipment." Grandpa lit a cigarette, his gaze drifting into the distance. "We relied on these eyes, these hands, and this brain."

"Once, we needed to locate a secret enemy stronghold. Our superiors only provided a general location; we had no other clues."

"I led my classmates and we spent three days exploring the mountains. Finally, we discovered something amiss by a stream."

"What's wrong?" Su Ming asked.

"There was oil in the stream," Grandpa said. "It was very faint, the kind of oil an ordinary person wouldn't even notice. But I knew it was from a diesel engine leak. We followed the stream upstream and found the hideout."

"Observe, analyze, reason, verify." Grandpa stubbed out his cigarette. "That's the skill of a scout."

Su Ming memorized all these stories and techniques.

He began to practice on his own initiative. Every time he went to school, he would observe everyone he met on the way. He would notice the stains on their clothes, the wear and tear on their shoes, their walking posture, their tone of voice, and even the subtle changes in their eyes.

He integrated and reconstructed this information in his mind, creating a complete portrait.

At first, his judgments were often wrong. But his grandfather told him, "It's okay to be wrong; the important thing is to know why you're wrong."

Gradually, Su Ming's accuracy rate increased.

He can tell a person's profession just by looking at the calluses on their hands.

He can deduce what a person did that day just by looking at the wrinkles in their clothes.

He can even tell whether someone is lying by looking at their micro-expressions when they speak.

When I turned fifteen, my grandfather fell ill.

Late-stage lung cancer.

The doctor said he has at most six months left.

Grandpa remained calm. He called Su Ming to his bedside, took his hand, and said, "What I taught you wasn't to make you a detective or a hero."

"I just hope that you can use these skills to protect yourself and the people you care about."

"Remember, technology is static, but people are dynamic. No matter how skilled you are, if you misuse it, you'll only harm yourself and others."

Su Ming nodded, his eyes reddening.

Grandpa added, "In my life, I've met too many smart people. But the one who truly succeeds isn't the smartest, but the one who is most patient, most patient, and most discreet."

"You're still young, and your sharp edges are too prominent. In the future, when you encounter problems, you need to learn to conceal your abilities and show weakness."

"Remember, the most dangerous hunters often look like their prey."

Three months later, Grandpa passed away.

Su Ming buried him in that deep mountain, next to the pine tree where he first learned to track.

On the tombstone, Su Ming inscribed only one line: Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away.

After that, Su Ming returned to the orphanage. He began using the skills his grandfather had taught him to take on simple tasks on the "Zhongxun" platform: finding cats, dogs, lost elderly people, and debtors who had absconded.

He completed every task cleanly and efficiently.

His credit score is getting higher and higher, and his level is also climbing.

But he never accepts orders from overseas, nor does he accept commissions involving violence.

Until this time.

Five hundred thousand.

This number was one he couldn't refuse.

It wasn't because he was greedy, but because the younger brothers and sisters in the orphanage really needed money.

The old director's health is deteriorating day by day, and the orphanage's finances are becoming increasingly strained. If no solution is found, those children may not even be able to go to school.

Looking at the scenery rushing past the window, Su Ming murmured to himself, "Grandpa, I know you don't want me to take risks. But this time, I have to go."

"It's not about being a hero, it's just about giving those children a future."

He closed his eyes and began to simulate the terrain of the Angla region in his mind.

According to information he gathered on the dark web, District K is located in the eastern part of Angla Province, near a tributary of the Salween River. It was originally an abandoned industrial area, which was later transformed into an industrial park by a telecom fraud syndicate.

The park covers an area of ​​approximately 3,000 acres and is surrounded by a three-meter-high wall covered with high-voltage electric grids and surveillance cameras. The interior is divided into office areas, dormitory areas, factory areas, and a "training area".

The so-called "training area" was actually a place where "piglet" were imprisoned.

Those lured here are forced to engage in telecommunications fraud. If they disobey, they are either beaten or sold to even darker places.

Su Ming's goal is to find the client's daughter in this hell on earth and bring her out safely.

He knew it was an almost impossible task.

But Grandpa once said, "Nothing is absolutely impossible in this world. As long as you find the pattern and the loophole, even the strongest fortress can be breached."

Su Ming opened his eyes, his gaze becoming incredibly resolute.

He took the faded military satchel out of his backpack and checked its contents again.

The folding boning knife had been sharpened to an unparalleled edge. It was left to him by his grandfather, and he used it on the battlefield back then.

The compass, though it looks old, is extremely accurate. It's the tool my grandfather used for locating things in the mountains and forests.

The kite string is as thin as a hair, but extremely strong. Grandpa said that this kind of string can be used to set traps or for climbing.

And those few yellowed notebooks, which record Grandpa's life experiences.

Su Ming carefully put these things away, then took out his phone and opened the information sent by the client.

The target girl's name is Lin Yue, she is nineteen years old and just graduated from high school. She went missing a month ago while traveling in Southeast Asia with some online friends.

According to the last known location, her cell phone signal disappeared near the border of Angla province.

The client is Lin Yue's father, an ordinary small business owner. He has already reported the incident to the police, but because it involves overseas entities, the process is complicated and time-consuming.

He couldn't wait.

So he posted this commission on the "Zhongxun" platform, with a reward of up to 500,000 yuan.

Su Ming marked the location of Angla on the map and then began to formulate a plan.

First, he needs to get into Angla.

Secondly, he needs to find a "guide" who can take him into the K area.

Finally, he needs to find Lin Yue and bring her out without alerting the park guards.

Every step was fraught with danger.

But Su Ming did not back down.

He remembered his grandfather's words: "The most dangerous hunters often look like the prey."

He decided to pretend to be a deceived "piglet" and voluntarily enter the K area.

In this way, he can move freely within the organization without arousing suspicion.

Of course, this plan is extremely risky. Once exposed, he might not even have a chance to escape.

But Su Ming believed that with his observation and analytical skills, he could find the loopholes in the park and escape successfully.

The sound of a train whistle interrupted his thoughts.

The train attendant's voice came over the loudspeaker: "Passengers, the train is about to arrive at Ruicheng, a border city in Yunnan Province. Passengers who are preparing to disembark, please gather your luggage in advance."

Su Ming stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

The surrounding passengers looked at him with admiration, and several middle-aged women even took his hand and gave him some fruit and snacks.

"Have a safe journey, my dear child!"

"You're so brave, you're sure to have a great future!"

Su Ming smiled and thanked him, then walked towards the car door.

The train slowly pulled up to the platform.

Su Ming got out of the car and took a deep breath.

There was a damp smell in the air, mixed with a faint floral fragrance.

This is the unique atmosphere of a border city.

He took out his phone and opened a contact on the dark web.

[Scholar: I have arrived in Ruicheng and am preparing to cross the border.]

The other party quickly replied: "[Blind Snakehead Li is waiting for you at Duantou Slope. Password: Old Carpenter's Wood Shavings.]"

Su Ming put away his phone and walked out of the station.

As night falls, this border town is brightly lit, but behind the prosperity lie countless unknown secrets.

Su Ming knew that from this moment on, he had embarked on a path of no return.

But he did not hesitate.

Because a girl is waiting for rescue.

He was her only hope.