Shadows of the Golden Triangle

Chapter 1: Infiltration

Xu Chenzhou stood by the window of a run-down inn in Mong La, Myanmar, looking out through the rusted iron bars at the muddy street. Three black Toyota SUVs roared past, splashing muddy water over the roadside vendors' stalls, but no one dared complain. He knew they belonged to the Peng family.

"They've rounded up another batch of swine," the innkeeper said behind Xu Chenzhou in heavily accented Chinese. "The third batch this month."

Xu Chenzhou didn't turn around. He simply murmured, "Mm." His fingers absently traced the ten-centimeter scar on his left wrist.