After completing the ticket processing, Wang Liansheng and Ling Chengyan didn’t let Old Xie leave, but left Wang Liansheng and Shi Tou, while she took Little Xing to the neighboring compartment.

Traveling with children, she understood the worry of leaving them unattended.

In the neighboring compartment were two young people who had booked upper and lower berths but took two lower ones. Ling Chengyan showed their tickets, and the young man occupying their berth quickly moved to the upper berth on the other side.

Little Xing slept on the upper berth, Ling Chengyan on the lower berth, and the carriage quickly returned to quietness.

Before falling asleep, it began to rain heavily, pouring down on the roof and windows, gradually blending into a constant whooshing sound.

The rain was so loud that even the clatter of the train became less obvious.

The noise was overwhelming, and Ling Chengyan slept lightly, waking at any unexpected change.

The moment she opened her eyes, the rain was clearer, but the clatter that served as background noise had vanished.

She lay silently for five minutes, the train unmoving, resting quietly as if asleep.

While pondering whether to get up and check, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the compartment. Was it a crew member?

Turning over, she deftly climbed down without making a sound; the two young men and Little Xing were asleep, none aware.

She approached the door, raised her hand, nearly touching the handle when she heard a low curse from outside: "Damn it, why are they all locked!"

Ling Chengyan paused with her fingertips on the door lock handle, listening intently—

"Brother!" A joyful shout accompanied by the click of a door lock being opened.

The door on the right side of the compartment opened, someone walked in.

Ling Chengyan raised an eyebrow slightly but remained still. Anyway, Wang Liansheng and Shi Tou were on the left side. People who bought sleeper tickets yet didn’t lock their compartment deserved some lesson.

Moreover, it’s true for catching thieves or cheaters.

Quiet rustling sounds came from the right compartment. In a few minutes, the person left, their footsteps moving further away, testing the locks of other compartments.

Who knew if these thieves suddenly got lucky; the next two compartments were unlocked.

Ling Chengyan calculated that after crossing three compartments, they would leave the sleeper compartment. Only then did Ling Chengyan silently open the compartment door and step out.

The second-to-last compartment was unlocked, and one thief was keeping watch at the door while the other smoothly sneaked inside.

Ling Chengyan moved quickly and quietly. Within a few breaths, she reached the target position and tapped once, rendering the lookout thief unconscious.

She caught him, propped him against the wall, and then stood silently at the door, waiting.

Crash! A sudden loud noise from within the compartment! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Before the thief could escape, a passenger shouted loudly, "There’s a thief, catch the thief... ah!"

The ’ah’ hadn’t faded when a bang sounded, followed by the noise of a fall.

Ling Chengyan moved, facing the thief trying to dodge passengers and flee, she raised her leg and kicked!

The person didn’t even grunt, flying back into the compartment, landing with a thud against the small partition in the middle, followed by a miserable scream!

The back might be hurt but wouldn’t break.

Ling Chengyan stepped forward, grabbed the man, swiftly pulled off his outerwear, then tied his hands behind his back.

She casually tossed the thief toward the door and leaned down to check on the shouting passenger.

"Hey, are you awake? Can you speak?"

"... Yes!"

The small table was stacked with several beer bottles. The sound was caused by the thief knocking them over, and he had grabbed one to hit the passenger.

This passenger, still groggy from either the alcohol or the impact, fuzzily uttered a word.

Good, as long as he can speak.

Ling Chengyan pulled up the person who had fallen on the lower berth, sat him up, and turned. The other three berth occupants were all awake, some sitting, some standing, looking at her bewilderedly.

"Call the police!" Ling Chengyan ordered directly.

These men, all in their thirties and forties, two wearing glasses, dressed with a hint of scholarly or technical demeanor, seemed to be academics or tech professionals not accustomed to traveling, were all somewhat dazed by the incident.

Ling Chengyan, experienced in command, knew in such situations, words were futile; direct instructions are more effective.

As expected, the three immediately began moving, the one on the lower berth hurriedly threw off his covers to get down, only to realize he was wearing only underwear, with a young woman Ling Chengyan in the compartment, hastily retracting his leg.

Ling Chengyan’s gaze remained steady, her expression unchanged, as she stepped out.

The sleeper compartments had dedicated attendants and were close to the dining car; after all the noise and commotion, surely the crew and police must have noticed something.

Why hadn’t anyone come to check yet?

While pondering, Ling Chengyan stepped out of the sleeper compartment, reached over and tied up the lookout she had incapacitated.

The two thieves were stacked head and feet at the compartment door.

She clapped her hands and retreated two steps, the stuporous people in the compartment finally emerging, two nodding to her, expressing gratitude.

Ling Chengyan nodded back: "Quick, go call someone."

She could help catch thieves, but dealing with them required professionals.

The two passengers jogged toward the dining car, pulling open the sleeper compartment door, when suddenly they heard muffled noises coming from the other end.

Oh, was there crying too?

Ling Chengyan frowned slightly, but her gaze moved to the two people who had walked out of the compartment, one being the passenger who had shouted "catch the thief" and got hit.

"Keep an eye on them; when the police come, just hand them over," Ling Chengyan pointed to the two on the floor, preparing to leave.

Sneaking a glance, she saw the doors of Wang Liansheng and Little Xing’s compartments were open; someone was peering over.

One was Old Xie and the other was Little Xing.

She spoke, not waiting for their reaction, turned around, and walked back, pulling Little Xing away from peering out: "Awake now?"

"Mm." Little Xing replied drowsily, rubbing her eyes, then asked, "Mom, what happened?"

Ling Chengyan, unconcerned, replied, "Two thieves tried to steal something. It’s fine now, go back to sleep."

"Okay." Little Xing nodded, but when reaching the berth said, "Mom, I want to sleep with you."