The Great Worm Lich

To Zhang Lisheng’s surprise, his request was rejected by Lili without hesitation. “Of course not! Baby, you’re in a special situation. It’s too dangerous to go back to Sichuan. You can’t go back, never ever… Moreover, I plan to bring you to see your grandfather and grandmother this winter holiday. Your grandfather will turn 60 on the first Sunday of next year. This is a big day for him and the best day for him to meet you…”

According to the Chinese sexagenary cycle of numbering in the year, a total of sixty years was considered as a cycle called jiazi. To the Chinese people, the 60th birthday could be said as the most important day in one’s life. However, even though Zhang Lisheng did not know much about his grandfather, he knew that he was a senior judge in the New York Court of Appeals.

In America, it was highly unlikely for a state legislature judge with a very high social status to be part of the first generation of immigrants from China.

“60th birthday. Does grandfather still care about such a thing? He’s not from China anyway…” Although Zhang Lisheng felt that his mother’s emotions were not right and what she said did not really make any sense, Zhang Lisheng still tried to defend himself.

“Baby, nationality doesn’t define the sense of belonging for a culture. From a legal point of view, you are not a Chinese citizen as well, aren’t you?”

“I’m different, mom! I grew up in China and my blood is…”

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s the same or whether it’s different, I won’t allow you to go to China! Never!” Emotions flowed out from within Lili as she howled with firm determination.

Zhang Lisheng was dumbstruck. After a moment of silence, he carefully said, “Don’t be angry, mom! I won’t go back to Sichuan if you won’t let me go!”

“Baby, it’s not that I won’t let you go back, b-but China, especially the remote West Sichuan is too dangerous for you. Don’t assume it’s your paradise just because you grew up there! In fact, you have a lot of natural enemies there! Countless amounts of natural enemies! You must never go back there without proper caution, it’s dangerous there!”

Seeing how his mother was not spouting words at random, a strange feeling rose up in Zhang Lisheng’s heart. However, due to the reason that Lili was so overwhelmed with emotions she could barely contain herself, he did not ask anymore and just promised he would never go back to China again.

Under the young man’s clever comforting, Lili calmed down and at this time, he pretended to ask unintentionally: “Mom, you said China has a lot of my natural enemies. What do you mean by that? I’m not a pest or anything…”

“In the eyes of many horrifying extremists, you are indeed a pest.” Hearing her son’s question, Lili hesitated for a moment before whispering in a sullen voice, all in order for him to dismiss the idea of returning to China. “Baby, you mastered the ability to communicate with animals and you should know you are born differently from other ordinary people. How should I put this in words? Well, in the eyes of those people in China who have superpowers, you’re like the Jews who are born with the original sin in front of the mad believers of Christianity They’ll be hostile, hurt, and even kill you for no reason! Not only that, such behavior will not be condemned by their peers but will earn them respect and reputation instead. Do you still remember before I brought you back to New York, you passed out in Chengdu Street’s Qingyang Palace? That time, a girl with an incredible power appeared and was hostile to you. If it wasn’t for the fact that I kept speaking in English and let her misunderstand your origin, perhaps, perhaps the consequences would have been unimaginable. ”

“There was an incident like that? Mom, do you know who those people are?” Zhang Lisheng asked as if he was lost in thoughts.

“I don’t know them at all. However, most of those people were dressed as Taoist priests and monks, but not entirely… Listen, baby! I want you to tell me sincerely you’ll never return to China ever again. Urgh, perhaps this is too difficult for you since, after all, that is the hometown where you grew up. Even if you promise me now, you may not keep your promise in the future… Okay, let us agree on a period of time until you reach 23 years old… No! 30 years old! 30 years old is better! That time, you should look American enough and you would have high social status as well by that time, so nobody will hurt you anymore if you go back to China. Can you promise me, Lisheng? Promise me you’ll only return at the age of thirty. ”

“Of course, mom! You can rest assured I’ll never return to China before I run for president of the US.” Looking at his mother’s eyes eager eyes, Zhang Lisheng nodded and said with a joke.

Lili let out a sigh of relief after hearing it. Sure enough, the young man never brought up his desire of returning to Western Sichuan for a visit again afterward.

In the blink of an eye, Christmas was around the corner. On the night of Christmas Eve, Zhang Lisheng stayed at home and for the first time ever, he saw Stephen Lavin, the Lavin family’s eldest son who came back to New York from California, as well as Randy and Riley, whom he had not seen for a long time after they entered college, who came back almost at the same time with their eldest brother.

As the starting quarterback for the UCLA football team, Stephen, who had long blonde hair with a resolute expression on his face, had a stronger body than his father. However, his personality was different from his appearance. In fact, he was gentle and amicable.

As soon as he entered the house, the tall and strong young man gave out his presents he was hugging to Michelle, Harry, and Gill who threw themselves at him while shouting, “Big Brother Stephen! Big Brother Stephen, you’re back!” After that, he looked at Zhang Lisheng who was standing by the side and said with a smile, “Hey, boy, you must be Lisheng! Can you come and hug the brother you’re meeting for the first time?”

“Of course.” Zhang Lisheng smiled and embraced Stephen warmly. “Hello, Stephen.”

“Hello, Lisheng. Oh, that’s right! This is the gift I bought for you,” Stephen said as he pushed the box he was holding to Zhang Lisheng. “Take a look at it. Do you like it?”

The box contained a set of National Geographic Channel’s high-definition Blu-ray disc called, “Our Planet’s Cherished Animals”. This was a good gift for an introverted nerd at the twelfth grade of high school who was passionate about biological research.

“I like it very much, thank you!” Zhang Lisheng took the DVD out of the box and looked at it as he answered politely.

“My dear brother Lisheng, I originally had a gift for you as well and it’s actually a razor for shaving pigs but unfortunately, I left it on the rain,” Randy, who was by the side, chimed in with a chuckle.

After successfully entering UCLA, this mischievous young man had not changed much despite spending half a year of college life becoming school football teammates with his elder brother.

“Oh shut up, Randy! You must have used your living expenses and scholarships to get a girlfriend. To think you can’t even afford to buy a pig-shaving razor to prank Lisheng. How pathetic! Get lost if you don’t have any gift,” Riley remarked before pulling Randy away with might and began to give his younger siblings his gifts.

Zhang Lisheng obtained an Indian-style monkey woodcarving again. According to Riley who entered the University of Virginia, when she saw this monkey at the flea market near the university, she felt that its style was very similar to that of Zhang Lisheng’s toad statue. For this reason, she bought it and gave it to him as a Christmas present.

Such a reason for picking a gift was amusing but when the young man took the wooden monkey, he still said politely once again, “Thank you, I like it very much.” Every time during such occasions, he would become like the guest in this family instead, not being able to blend in with them no matter what.

Christmas Eve was joyful in every other people’s eyes, but it passed by nonchalantly in Zhang Lisheng’s eyes.

After Christmas Eve, the temperature in New York plummeted. The cold continued all the way until the New Year before it dissipated. On the day the temperature began to rise, Zhang Lisheng woke up early in the morning and drove to pick up Tina, who was returning to her university early in order to complete the Harvard Sisters’ Association’s entrance tasks set by the Harvard Sisters’ Association’s senior sisters she had obtained by drawing lots, to head to the airport.

Of course, the Douglin family would have a professional driver for Tina to use but the fact that the young man braved the cold wind before seven o’clock and appeared outside the gate of one of the remaining few English-style mansions in Manhattan before ringing the doorbell in high spirit would have a different meaning to it.

“Good morning, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?” After the doorbell rang for a few times, an old voice resonated from the monitor’s speaker as it asked.

“Good morning. I’m Zhang Lisheng. I’m here to pick Tina Douglin up to the hotel.”

“Please wait for a bit.”

A few minutes later, a skinny, tall and upright old man dressed in a tuxedo, with his silver hair combed orderly, drove a golf cart from a distant garage and came to the iron gate along the boulevard.

“Welcome to the Douglin family, Mr. Zhang Lisheng.” He got down from the golf cart and opened the iron gate, before bowing politely at the young man. “Please get in the car. I’ll take you to the living room. Mr. Dolby is waiting for you.”

“Erm sir, I’m merely here to pick up Tina…”

“Young Miss is still preparing herself. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for a while before you can see her. Before that, Mr. Dolby hopes he can talk to you.”

Naturally, Zhang Lisheng could not insist on rejecting Tina’s father’s summoning. After pondering over it, he found an excuse and pointed to his car. “I feel like it’s not very convenient for my car to park right here…”

“Somebody will park your car properly later. Young man, if I were at your age and had a beautiful girlfriend, I’d never let his father wait for long if he wanted to see me.”

“Yeah you’re right, sir. What are we still waiting for?” Upon hearing the old man’s words, Zhang Lisheng froze for a moment before running towards the iron gate dexterously and hopping onto the golf cart, knowing he would not be able to escape anyway. At this time, he did not forget to inquire for some information. “Sir, do you know why Mr. Dolby wants to look for me?”

“I’m very sorry, Mr. Zhang. I’m the butler of the Douglin family, not a messenger. However, as an old man who watches Miss Tina growing up and hope that she can be happy for her lifetime, I’ll give you a piece of advice. The two words ‘courtesy’ and ‘composed’ are always the most powerful weapons for a gentleman.” Driving the golf cart, the old man drove the young man to an old mansion, that had its wall covered with green creeping vines, giving off a dark, heaving feeling, as he said with a smile.