The Great Worm Lich

Zhang Lisheng vividly described the story of how the governments of the United States and the First Fleet of Atlantis commissioned him to explore the Shrimp World No. 2, with some plus and minus, lies and fabrications, and even exaggerated the astounding and fascinating feats he went through.

When Guo Caiying finished listening to it, her eyes widened as she said in both amazement and frustration, “Your year went by very excitedly, Junior Brother! Compared to yours, my life of constantly making tea and reading documents is so boring and dull!”

“Aren’t you a diplomat now, Senior Sister? You must be flying around the world all day, and your life should be interesting!” The young man casually replied.

“You’re talking about a stewardess. The life of a diplomat is not so relaxing, especially when I don’t have any foreign-related tasks, it’s mainly administrative work,” The girl sighed and finished the wild berry brew in front of her in a gulp. Smacking her lips together, she frowned and said, “Oh, is this juice? There’s actually such a juice similar to clear water? Well, the taste is not bad, but Junior Brother, don’t you treat people to sake together with sushi?”

“This drink is called wild berry brew. In Kyoto, this is the old school drink that female customers who eat nigiri sushi would usually drink. If you want to drink sake, I’ll ask the server to take a bottle later when they serve us.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that there’s such a thing. I can’t believe that I’ve turned into an ignorant, old-fashioned person as well,” Guo Caiying muttered in Chinese. After complaining, her mood seemed to have gone better as she shook her head and said, “Ah, forget it. I still need to work in the afternoon later. It’s not good for me if I smelled like alcohol, so I think I should just drink the juice. I’ll invite you to a French dinner on my off day and let’s have a round of drinks at that time, okay? Are you free this weekend?”

“Senior Sister, you haven’t changed at all, you’re still so bold and straightforward as last time,” Zhang Lisheng smiled and seized this chance to say,” I’m indeed free this weekend, but I should be in China already that time.”

“You’re going back to China? For what?” The girl asked in shock.

“Investment. I’m going to serve my country after achieving success and winning recognition,” Zhang Lisheng shrugged and said.

“Junior Brother, you don’t have such high awareness and sentiment,” Guo Caiying examined the young man in front and shook her head hard, “What exactly do you want to do when you return to China? Do you need me to help?”

When Zhang Lisheng heard that the girl automatically offered to help without the need for him to open his mouth, his heart secretly jumped with glee, but her expression turned solemn. Looking at Guo Caiying, he asked without warning, “Senior Sister, what kind of changes do you think the Atlanteans will bring to Earth in the future?”

The girl pondered about it seriously before smiling wryly. “Perhaps they would be defeated by a strong enemy that’s beyond their imagination when they’re trying to plunder and colonize the foreign world, which in turn would destroy Earth as well. Perhaps, they would destroy us in one fell swoop after continually conquering the foreign worlds and acquiring heavy materials; or perhaps the Earthlings would slowly be assimilated by the Atlantean civilization, and the whole race would disappear into the universe silently, perhaps… Ah this question is too complicated, Junior Brother. I can’t answer you accurately.”

“You’ve given me enough answers, Senior Sister. Nevertheless, no matter Atlantis’ future might be, as the hub connecting thousands of foreign worlds, Earth’s future is worrying,” Zhang Lisheng shrugged and repeated the excuse that he had already prepared beforehand, “My thoughts are similar to yours, so I plan to find more routes of retreats now. The Shrimp World No. 2, the Noah World, and if I can add on the Kunlun world, then I can be like a cunning rabbit with three burrows.”

“So that’s why you want to return to China to explore your path,” Guo Caiying smiled and shook his head, a sense of pride could be heard in her tone, “This excuse sounds valid, but it’s too far-fetched, Junior Brother. With me here, do you even need to do that?”

“Of course,” A brilliance flashed across Zhang Lisheng’s eyes. With a hint of sharp brilliance in his calm eyes, he said, “Senior Sister, I mean no offense, but I’m Zhang Lisheng. Even if my supernatural power is removed, I’m still a ‘pundit’ who’s called by hundreds of millions of influential natives in the Shrimp World No. 2. Not only that, but I also have a value of assets far exceeds 10 billion dollars, with tens of thousands of employees and extensive influence in Noah World, so there’s no reason for you to shelter me mediocrely in Kunlun World.”

Looking at the young man’s high spirit, the girl inexplicably felt that her heartbeat had suddenly accelerated. She concealed it by lowering her head and could not help but chuckle, “Junior Brother, you were too young when you left China, so there are many things you can’t understand. The political system of our country is a democratic centralism led by one party. If you were not in the ‘institution,’ it’d be impossible for you to have the influence you have in the US, especially now that the management in Kunlun World is peasant regiment’s semi-military based.

“Institution?” Zhang Lisheng asked in puzzlement. “This is a noun. Is there even a difference between being inside and outside?”

“Oh, Junior Brother, the word ‘institution’ is sometimes a noun in China, and sometimes, it refers to a specific identity, that is, you must, must… Ah, forget it, it’s tough for me to explain it to you. I don’t have to explain anything either. After you stay in China for a long time and personally be on the scene to experience it, you’d understand it naturally. Oh, if your idea is to invest in the Kunlun World industry, then I can help you to get some connection if the amount is not too significant. However, this kind of thing has to be discussed in person, and the ‘economic and trade fair’ will only end in ten more days. You should wait for me to return to China first.”

“Well, then let’s go back together,” Zhang Lisheng said with delight, “Thank you, Senior Sister.”

“You’re welcome. You didn’t ask me anything when you saved my life, after all.” Guo Caiying shrugged and shook her head.

After both of them had finished discussing the pressing issue, they both chatted and laughed with each other while finishing their lunch. Naturally, the girl returned to the consulate to continue her afternoon work, while the young man stopped a taxi to go to a telecommunications service provider to register for a new phone number using his driver’s license. Then, he bought a new smartphone and tried to contact his friends and family.

He was unlucky enough to encounter something unlikely: he could not go through his mother and girlfriend’s numbers. It was clear that they were still in the Noah World. He could reach Charlie, his asset manager’s mobile phone, but just like last time, his secretary picked it up instead. That person respectfully told Zhang Lisheng that all of the executives of the LS Group were now in the Noah World to prepare for the grand opening ceremony for the 30 chain cinemas of their newly established film company in different oasis cities at the same time, which also meant that Maddie was not in New York either.

Just like this, after making several unfruitful calls in front of the telecommunications company, the young man frowned and put away his mobile phone. He looked around the street and did not know where to go. Unconsciously, he took out his phone again and dialed a number.

This was just a move that he made out of the blue. He did not expect the phone to connect at all. However, to his surprise, his call was picked up after a few rings, with a hoarse voice that was forcefully raised in spirit resonated from the other end of the call. “Lisheng, is that you?”

“Oh, hey Trish, it’s me. I just returned from the Shrimp World No. 2. How are you? You aren’t with Tina now?” The young man asked in shock.

The phone went silent for a long time. After half a minute, Trish asked in a slightly trembling voice, “Oh, Tina is still in the Noah World. Don’t tell me that you hadn’t called her yet?”

“I’ve called her phone already, but it went straight to voicemail. I thought that I wouldn’t be able to reach you too, but I still gave it a try. To my surprise, it actually connected,” Zhang Lisheng answered truthfully.

This answer was not the best for the girl, but it was not that bad. Tired, she smiled and said, “Of course it would connect. I’ve been back on Earth for more than a month already.”

“For more than a month? Can you get such a long holiday? How’s your work?” The young man was stunned. “Wait, your voice doesn’t sound okay. Trish, what happened?”

“Nothing, I quit my job. I can rest however long I want now. My life has become much more fun now, I no longer have to worry about my image and get myself away from weed and alcohol…” the voice on the phone receiver suddenly broke off, which was closely followed by a falling sound and glass bottle rolling and colliding with something.

“Quit your job? Isn’t becoming a hypocritical politician to serve the general public your dream? Why would you…” when Zhang Lisheng was asking, he suddenly seemed to have remembered something. Shutting his mouth, he fell into silence for a long time before asking in a whisper, “Where are you now?”

“Washington Capitol Hill, I want to prove that I am an Earthling. A true Earthling,” The girl’s voice was hoarse, weak, and exhausted.

“Capitol Hill? Prove that you’re an Earthling….” Trish’s words elicited a few conjectures in Zhang Lisheng’s mind, but all these did not have good endings, “This is so f*cked up! No matter what you plan to do, put them all on hold first. Wait for me, do you hear me?”

“Are you coming to look for me? No! I don’t need you! I’m strong! Everything’s fine! Really, everything’s fine! Oh, my phone’s battery is running out. I forgot to charge it yesterday. I gotta hang up first. Bye, Lisheng, Bye…” Trish spoke incoherently and hastily hung up her phone. When the young man called her again, it had already gone to voicemail.

Zhang Lisheng made several calls, but it was still the same, making him want to crush the phone in his hand. After thinking about it, he hastily stopped a taxi and rushed to JFK airport.

On the way, he called Charlie’s secretary again, ordering hurriedly without beating around the bush, “I need to go to Washington Capitol Hill immediately. I don’t care if you would schedule a private jet route for me or a civilian flight, get the fastest one for me! It’s urgent, understood? It’s very urgent!”

“Yes, sir, please wait a moment.” The person at the other end of the line hurriedly replied and hung up the phone.

The Indian taxi driver with his head wrapped in a reddish-brown headband saw Zhang Lisheng frowning from the rearview mirror, so he said with a strange accent, “Young man, don’t worry. You need to face everything with a calm mind…”

“Hey, ‘Mr. Gandhi,’ I’m not in a yoga class now…” The young man blurted out. However, when he saw that the driver showed a ‘fool’s haste is no speed’ expression as he shut his mouth, Zhang Lisheng asked instead, “Mr. Driver, you always drive your customers around the city all day, so I’d like to know please, is there a lot of anti-Atlantis demonstrations in New York recently?”

“I’d usually come across one or two every few days, but it’s much less now compared to several months ago,” The driver replied with a shake of his head. “It’s said that most of the demonstrators have already gone to Washington… Oh, hey, you’re in such a haste to go Washington. Could it be that…”