Chapter 2: Catching the Sheep

The young man who called himself "Xiao Jiu" left quickly. After he was gone, Tanwei and Old Pu sat down at the table again, and Naya poured them more wine.

As Naya walked away, Tanwei’s gaze followed the young man’s graceful figure, a thoughtful expression flashing across his face.

“Brother Wei, should I have someone bring another pack of medicine?” Old Pu cautiously asked after observing Tanwei’s expression.

Tanwei shook his head. “No rush. He’s not going anywhere here anyway.”

Hearing this, Old Pu fell silent.

After a while, Tanwei suddenly spoke. “Find out about that Chinese guy from earlier—where he’s staying.”

Old Pu didn’t ask why and nodded. He immediately took out his phone and walked off to a secluded spot.

Half an hour later.

About three or four kilometers from the beach, in a forested area, there was a village called Eastside. Many guesthouses dotted the village, and the young man who called himself "Xiao Jiu" stayed in one of them.

The guesthouse was a four-story building with white walls covered by a climbing blue-flower vine. The bluish-purple flowers covered the entire wall, vibrant and full of life.

Xiao Jiu arrived on a motorcycle and parked at the door. Just as he was about to get off, he heard someone upstairs call out to him, “Hi~”

Looking up, he saw two foreign girls leaning on the second-floor railing, smiling at him.

He waved back and then lowered his head, heading inside. Before he could enter, the two girls suddenly burst into laughter at something they said. Their clear laughter was carried by the cool mountain breeze into the house, lifting the spirits wonderfully.

Inside the guesthouse lobby, the girl at the front desk was watching TV. Hearing the noise, she looked up and smiled at Xiao Jiu, greeting him in Southern Thai.

Xiao Jiu smiled and responded.

The room he rented was on the top floor—a suite with two rooms and a large terrace.

Faint music drifted from inside. Xiao Jiu opened the door, and the music immediately grew louder. The glass doors leading to the terrace were open, sunlight pouring in and casting a brilliant glow.

On the terrace, a man lay shirtless on a lounge chair, sunbathing.

Xiao Jiu walked over and sat down on another lounge chair beside him.

“Why back so early?” the man asked lazily, wearing sunglasses—whether his eyes were open or not was unclear.

Xiao Jiu imitated him, taking off his floral shirt and reclining.

“Dongcuo had to return to Krabi town; the ferry was too late,” he answered slowly.

The man said nothing further.

After a moment, Xiao Jiu glanced at him.

“What’s up?” the man suddenly asked.

Xiao Jiu hesitated, then said, “Brother, I got into some trouble today. Might be some issues later on.”

The man was silent for a moment before asking, “What kind of trouble?”

“The girl in the beer truck on the east side of the beach—you remember her?” Xiao Jiu probed.

The man was quiet again, then said, “So, you played hero and saved her?”

Xiao Jiu smiled sheepishly, scratching his hair. “Not exactly. Someone tried to slip her some drugs, and I just couldn’t stand by.”

“Did you hit them?” the man asked.

Xiao Jiu hurriedly shook his head. “No, not that. But those two guys saw I was Chinese and probably got some bad ideas.”

“Who were they?” The man thought for a moment, then asked.

Xiao Jiu replied, “One of them was called Tanwei. I heard the girl call him Brother Wei. He must be that Tanwei we heard about earlier.”

The man snorted. “You’re quite the troublemaker. There’s only one tough guy on this island, and you went and pissed him off!” He sat up.

His bare torso was muscular and well-defined, the brown skin marked by numerous jagged scars, a shocking sight.

“You caused this mess yourself, so you deal with it. I still want to stay on Lanta Island; you better watch your limits!” The man stood, turning to head inside.

Xiao Jiu rubbed his nose and smiled. “Got it, Brother!”

Inside, the man stopped by the tea cabinet, poured a glass of water, then looked back toward the young man lying on the terrace.

Since leaving the mainland six months ago, this kid’s personality had changed a lot.

He used to be taciturn, but now he talked more and smiled more when facing him. Not a bad thing.

Almost three years ago, they nearly died in that forest. Now, it was a rebirth, a shedding of all past burdens, leaving them light and free.

He was pleased with these changes—this was how a young man should be: clear, at ease, carefree, just like he had been in his youth.

The next day at noon.

Xiao Jiu and the man had just finished their meal and exited the restaurant when several people approached. Walking in the center was none other than Tanwei, the man Xiao Jiu had clashed with the day before.

Tanwei smiled and waved at him.

Xiao Jiu stopped, slightly turning to quietly introduce to the man beside him, “This is Tanwei, Brother Wei.” Then he smiled broadly and called out, “Brother Wei, what a coincidence!”

It was indeed a coincidence, but whether it was genuine or contrived was hard to say.

There were dozens of restaurants on Lanta Island; how could they be so lucky to run into each other here?

Tanwei stepped forward a few paces, glanced over the man beside Xiao Jiu, and asked, “Who’s this?”

Xiao Jiu smiled. “Oh, this is my brother!”

“Hello, Brother Wei!” The man extended his hand toward Tanwei.

Tanwei shook his hand with a smile and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Zhong Yuan,” the man replied. “Brother Wei, your Chinese is really good!”

Tanwei chuckled. “In today’s world, the more you know, the more opportunities you get.”

Zhong Yuan nodded, then asked, “Brother Wei, are you here to eat?”

“No, just here on business. Have you eaten?” Tanwei asked.

“Yes,” Zhong Yuan answered, “Well then, Brother Wei, you go ahead. We’ll leave now.”

Tanwei smiled, staring at him for a second or two before saying, “I promised to buy Xiao Jiu a drink yesterday. Since we’ve met, how about this: there’s a new bar in the village. If you two are free tonight, let’s go have some drinks?”

Zhong Yuan turned to Xiao Jiu, smiling, and asked, “Xiao Jiu?”

A brief flicker of embarrassment passed over Xiao Jiu’s face before he answered Tanwei, “Since Brother Wei invited, of course we’re free. See you tonight!”

“Good! See you tonight!” Tanwei agreed, then led his men aside.

After Zhong Yuan smiled at Xiao Jiu and walked away, Tanwei’s smile gradually faded. He turned and instructed his men, “Tell Old Pu to get ready. We’re catching the sheep tonight!”