Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Chen returned to his seat and closed his eyes to rest, but his mental energy remained firmly locked onto the opposite bunk, like the most sophisticated surveillance network.

He could sense that the human traffickers didn't seem to notice anything amiss. The man was still leaning against the wall, pretending to doze off, while the woman had her head down, her hands tightly gripping the cloth bundle, her fingers turning slightly white from the force, showing her extreme tension.

Time ticked by, and the only sounds in the carriage were the rumble of the wheels and snores. After about ten minutes, Wei Chen's mental energy sensed a tall, robust man wearing an old dark blue coat and a worker's hat, walking steadily from the other end of the carriage.

He held an enamel mug in his hand, as if he were going to get hot water. His gaze seemed to casually sweep across the carriage, but when he passed the human traffickers' berth, his peripheral vision lingered for a moment as sharp as a hawk's.

It was a train police officer! Although he was in civilian clothes, his capable and composed demeanor, his sharp eyes, and the barely perceptible exchange of glances between him and the female flight attendant immediately confirmed Wei Chen's identity.

The plainclothes police officer didn't linger. He went straight to the water heater at the other end of the carriage, filled a half-full tub with hot water, found an empty seat, and began chatting quietly with the passenger next to him, a newspaper in his hand, seemingly engrossed in reading. But his presence was like a reassurance, and also like an invisible net, quietly looming over the heads of the human traffickers.

Wei Chen felt reassured, knowing the train police were in position and agreed with his assessment, and began covert observation and surveillance. The real contest was only just beginning. He was like the most patient hunter lurking in the shadows, forming an unspoken understanding with the experienced train police officer.

The carriage remained noisy, with constant clanging sounds, but beneath this seemingly ordinary journey's hustle and bustle, an increasingly heavy and tense atmosphere permeated the air.

As night deepened, the sound of wheels clashing against rails seemed endless, monotonous and soporific. Inside the carriages, most passengers were fast asleep, their snores, teeth grinding, and murmurs mingling with the roar of the train, creating a weary and somber scene of the journey.

Only a few insomniacs either stared out the window at the blurry darkness passing by, or talked in hushed tones, trying to dispel the boredom of the long journey.

However, beneath this seemingly calm surface, three pairs of eyes remain unusually alert in the darkness.

Wei Chen sat upright with his eyes closed, his breathing long and steady, seemingly no different from the other sleepers around him. But his mental power was like an invisible spider web, taking in every move of the couple on the lower bunk opposite him. He could clearly "hear" the frequency changes of their suppressed breathing, and "feel" the subtle tension in their muscles and the shifting of their eyes.

Also maintaining a high level of vigilance was Wang Zhenshan, an undercover police officer sitting at the other end of the carriage, seemingly dozing off. He would occasionally adjust his posture or take a sip of water, but his gaze, like that of a seasoned hunter, silently swept across the target area, observing every detail. He was also waiting, waiting for the perfect opportunity to ensure the child's safety while apprehending the perpetrator in one fell swoop.

Time ticked by in anxious waiting. Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, with only a few lonely lights flashing by occasionally, reminding the train that it was traversing a desolate wilderness. The temperature inside the carriage dropped as the night deepened, and the sleeping passengers instinctively pulled their clothes tighter around themselves.

Wei Chen didn't want to reveal his superhuman strength in front of so many people, so he and the train police officer waited for the right opportunity. The woman's hand never left the child, and Wei Chen and the train police officer didn't take any action.

The human traffickers seemed to gradually lower their guard. The man began to snore softly (Wei Chen could tell it was a pretense), and the woman leaned against the bunk with her eyelids drooping.

But Wei Chen's keen mental senses detected that the man's hand was always near the bulge at his waist, and the woman's hand had never left the cloth bundle containing the tools of the crime and the child.

This is a state of semi-sleep, a state of alertness where they are ready to respond to any unexpected situation. They are not actually asleep.

After an unknown amount of time, the train began to slow down, and the conductor's weary voice came over the loudspeaker: "Next stop: Qingshuihe Station. We have arrived at Qingshuihe Station. We will stop for two minutes. Passengers disembarking at Qingshuihe, please prepare accordingly..."

Qingshuihe, an inconspicuous little station on the map, is located between Jining and Baotou. It's not a major station, with short stops and few passengers getting on and off. Especially at night, the dim lighting and sparse crowds make it an ideal spot for some to slip away unnoticed.

Wei Chen's mental energy surged suddenly, like a bowstring taut. He sensed that at the same moment the station announcement sounded, the couple in the lower bunk opposite him "woke up" almost simultaneously. Their movements were minimal, but the instantaneous changes in their breathing and muscle contractions did not escape his notice.

Can't wait any longer!

The man sat up silently and scanned the carriage warily. He saw that most of the passengers were still asleep, and the flight attendants seemed to be dozing in the crew room as well (the female flight attendant was not present for the time being, as planned).

He gently nudged the woman beside him. She immediately understood, and the two began packing their things with lightning speed and subtle movements. The man zipped up the black handbag, his movements somewhat rough, as if he couldn't wait. The woman clutched the homespun bundle tightly to her chest, her other hand reaching for the still-sleeping child, preparing to pick him up.

The opportunity is fleeting! You must act the instant they pick up the child and are about to get up! At this moment, their attention is focused on the child, their hands are occupied, and they are at their lowest point of alertness and most restricted in their actions!

Wei Chen suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze now devoid of any sleepiness, only a cold clarity. He made no unnecessary movements, his eyes flashing like lightning as he quickly swept over Wang Zhenshan, the plainclothes police officer at the other end of the carriage.

Almost simultaneously, the train police officer who had been keeping his head down also raised his head. Their eyes met briefly in the air, and they both saw the resolute and decisive decision in each other's eyes—now!

We can't wait any longer! Once they pick up the child or stand up completely, they might pull out a weapon, take the child hostage, or even act desperately and injure other passengers!

Just as the woman's rough fingers touched the blanket covering the child, and she was about to pull the child into her arms, just as the man picked up his bag, stepped one foot off the edge of the bunk, shifted his weight forward, and had not yet fully regained his balance—

"Railway police! Don't move!" A deep and authoritative shout rang out like thunder in the relatively quiet carriage!

The one who shouted was Wang Zhenshan! Like a cheetah that had been poised for a long time, he suddenly leaped up from his seat, his movements as swift as the wind, and pounced straight at them! His right hand was already on the holster at his waist, and his left hand was pointing forward, his target clear, aimed directly at the human traffickers!

Almost at the same time as Wang Zhenshan shouted, Wei Chen also moved! He didn't rush like the train police, but instead, his body swayed as if he had springs under his feet, or like a shadow skimming across the ground, and he instantly sprang up from the window seat, taking a steady and silent step to block the aisle, blocking the direction in which the couple was trying to rush towards the carriage door!

His movements were swift and silent, yet possessed a peculiar rhythm, as if he had calculated every step in advance, precisely blocking all possible escape routes for the other party, while also not getting too close to avoid provoking the other party to immediately attack the child.

This sudden turn of events was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake! Most of the sleeping passengers in the carriage were startled awake, opening their eyes in bewilderment, not knowing what had happened. Passengers nearby were startled by the tense scene, gasping for breath and instinctively shrinking back to make way.

The human traffickers were utterly terrified! The sudden shout and the two rapidly approaching figures made their minds go blank for a moment! The fierce look on the man's face was instantly replaced by immense fear, and the bag in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

The woman trembled with fright, her arm, which had just been halfway around the child, froze in mid-air. She let out a short scream, and the cloth bundle in her arms fell to the ground, spilling out the white sealing strips and thin hemp rope inside.

"Child!" Wei Chen reacted swiftly. In the instant the woman's arms loosened in shock, he stepped forward and his right hand shot out like lightning. Not to attack the woman, but to gently yet quickly catch the child who was about to slip from her arms!

At the same time, he used his left hand to push away the woman's stiff arm, and then took the child steadily. He quickly took two steps back and got out of the woman's control!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye! Wei Chen's movements were dazzlingly fast, yet incredibly precise, as if he had rehearsed them a thousand times. The child's safety was the top priority!

"My child! You're taking my child!!" After a brief moment of stunned silence, the woman burst into a heart-wrenching wail, frantically trying to lunge forward to snatch the child, but was stopped by Wang Zhenshan, who had already rushed up to her.

"Railway police! Squat down! Hands behind your head!" Wang Zhenshan shouted sternly, his voice filled with unquestionable authority, while simultaneously displaying his identification and police badge.

The man finally realized what was happening. Seeing his child snatched away, the train police blocking his way, and his escape route blocked by the young man, he knew something was wrong. His face immediately contorted with extreme panic and innocence, and he cried out in a tearful voice, "Police officers! It's a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! We're taking our child back to our hometown for medical treatment! That's my own son! You can't take my son away!" As he shouted, he tried to get around Wang Zhenshan to pull Wei Chen away, while simultaneously gesturing to the woman with his eyes.

The woman understood, and her wailing grew even louder. She plopped down on the ground, pounding her fists on the floor, and began to wail: "This is outrageous! The railway police are snatching my child! Everyone come quick! Help! They're taking my son away! My son..." Tears streamed down her face as she put on a convincing performance, attempting to create chaos and confuse the uninformed passengers by making a scene.

The surrounding passengers were agitated by the sudden turn of events and the woman's heart-wrenching cries. Many looked on with surprise and uncertainty and began to whisper among themselves.