The Great Worm Lich

Industrial or domestic sewage had not polluted the sea near Boston City for a long time, so the seawater was pure and clear while the fish living in the water were very healthy. For this reason, it tasted salty and fishy when it was eaten raw, but the meat was sweet and fresh. Most importantly, it was rich in protein and was very nutritious.

After devouring the fish together with its bones and scales crazily, the flesh buds squirming and growing continuously on the injuries Zhang Lisheng got, whom the sea fish nourished, began to grow bit by bit.

When the young man felt that his injuries had been healed, he muttered to himself, “I have five lives when I’m using the Gate of Death, but I only have one when I’m using the Gate of Sacrifice. I must be more careful. If only I can link the incantations of the Witchcraft’s Gate of Sacrifice and Gate of Death up…”

After he transformed using the lizard’s wizard power, he nihilated his body and swam towards the shore.

The spells of the Gate of Sacrifice and the Gate of Death could be freely switched to one another during a battle, but it would take six breaths for him to retract a Gate of Sacrifice’s Beast Transforming Spell before he could use another type of Beast Transforming Spell. If he wanted to change to the Gate of Death’s incantation, it meant he would need to wait for another six breaths as well. In other words, it would take him 12 breaths to switch between the Gate of Sacrifice’s and Gate of Death’s incantation.

Without his wizard gus there to confuse his enemy, pausing for 12 seconds in a life-and-death battle wouldn’t differ from folding his hand and waiting for his death.

As Zhang Lisheng imagined just how spectacular the scene would be if he combined his original creation of the Gate of Death’s Gu Nest Spell and the Gate of Sacrifice’s Beast Transforming Spell, he nihilated his body and returned to the SUV.

After he solidated his body and was about to put on his swimming trunks, he froze suddenly. Astonished, he realized three pairs of eyes were staring at him eagerly.

“What the hell? Tina, Trish, Sheila! Hadn’t I told you to go to the beach to wait for me?” Zhang Lisheng put on his swimming trunks in panic, annoyed.

“My dear, are you injured?” Tina did not seem to have heard her boyfriend’s shouting. Instead, while holding a blood-stained blanket, she asked, pursing her lips together.

Only then did Zhang Lisheng realize that the girl was holding the blanket he had used to wrap himself in her hands. Stunned, he shrugged and joked, “Yeah I’m a little injured. Don’t worry, my body is special, and as long as I don’t die on-the-spot right away, no matter how serious the injuries are, it can still be cured quickly. Look, I’ve just caught and ate some fish, and now I’m completely recovered already.”

“No! I won’t allow you to say things like ‘die on the spot’! It breaks my heart, you know…” Upon seeing the young man’s nonchalant expression, Tina’s tears dripped right away without reason. “If you hadn’t come to see me, you wouldn’t have encountered any Eye Beast King today! Let alone face some injuries, bleeding, or experiencing any danger! Ever since we got to know you, you have been giving and giving to me, but I clearly saw you being severely injured today! I clearly saw it, but I have been secretly blaming you for being too cold, for being too unwilling to save my classmates and friends, but I’ve forgotten that you almost lost your life because you’re afraid that the monster would injure me if it escaped the stadium… Oh, God! You’re obviously the love of my heart, and you’re obviously 100 times, 1000 times, 10,000 times more important in my heart than those classmates and friends I’ve known from kindergarten to university, but I actually forgot about your injuries and blamed you secretly instead…”

While she was speaking, she gradually broke down. Leaning over the seat, she hugged the thin, blood-stained blanket tightly and burst into tears.

“Erm, it’s not as dangerous as reaching the verge of death when I killed the big eye just now. Really, it hasn’t reached that point yet… Tina, you don’t have to feel so guilty…” Zhang Lisheng’s girlfriend’s sudden breakdown made him feel puzzled, not knowing what he should do. He could only look at Trish and Sheila with ‘help’ in his eyes, but he saw that the two girls were also looking at himself with tears running down their faces while sobbing uncontrollably.

“Okay, perhaps, I shouldn’t say anything, and it’d be better for me to just open my arms for the three of you to cry in my arms.” Faced with such a situation, Zhang Lisheng pondered for a while and stood up before agilely making his way to the middle of the car. Clumsily, he opened his arms and hugged the three emotionally depressed girls in his arms.

Just like this, after crying out loud to their hearts’ contents unscrupulously, the three girls became tired and fell asleep. It was only until the moon had crept onto the sky while reflecting the shining radiance on the sea surface did they wake up one by one in a daze under the young man’s embrace.

“Oh, you’re awake, Trish? Feeling better?” When Zhang Lisheng saw Trish waking up, he awkwardly released his embrace and asked.

Sensing that she was in the young man’s arms, colors crept upon the girl’s face at once with a dazed expression appearing on it. After recalling for some time, she finally nodded and whispered, “Thank you, Lisheng. I feel much better now.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lisheng nodded, but he did not know what to say.

After staying silent for over ten seconds and feeling that the atmosphere was getting awkward, he summoned his courage and consoled, “You have gone through so many things today, so it’s good that you vented your negative emotions. Even though the three of you have cried too much, I know that girls… I mean, it’s okay for girls to cry a lot…”

As the young man was speaking, Trish, who was in his arms, suddenly stretched her neck out and kissed him on his lips. “Shut up baby, don’t say anything and just hold me like this quietly…”

Then, she shrunk herself again in his arms and buried her burning cheek on his shoulder.

Upon feeling a different sweetness on his lips, Zhang Lisheng’s body froze completely. Even when Tina and Sheila had finally awakened, there was still a stunned expression on his face, but Trish had already treated him the same as she always did.

The girl’s spirit had obviously been lifted after the rest which also reminded them that they had had no water or food the entire day, but unfortunately, the hawkers that were selling drinks and snacks on the beaches had already called it a day.

“The hell? I just realized that the hawkers in Boston are actually not so business-minded. They have actually closed at the time when I can eat an entire seafood chowder and pan-fried lobster!” Looking out at the dark beach outside the window, despite having an unkempt and unwashed appearance, Tina, who had already become full of vigor, dejectedly leaped back to the driving seat from the middle of the car. “Guys, what would you like to have for dinner tonight?”

“Oh, Tina, since you’ve already mentioned seafood chowder and pan-fried lobster, let’s go to the ‘Blue Marine’ to eat seafood,” Sheila smacked the back of the front seat and replied. “Hurry, girl! I’m starving too!”

“Let me start the car first,” Tina smiled and started the car, before turning into the road and joining the traffic.

On the way to the restaurant, dim light candles and white cards could be seen placed on both sides of the street. The people that were paying tributes stood in the street while praying silently. From time to time, some people would hug and weep together.

“Even if they want to pay their tributes, they shouldn’t place a candle at the scene. Look at how they’re placed randomly on the streets. After they have finished crying today, it would be the cleaners’ turn to cry tomorrow,” Zhang Lisheng looked at the sorrowful scene on the street, and he, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was afraid that the three girls would once again break down, so he quickly muttered, “Before we fill our stomach, let’s listen to some happy songs to feed our spirit instead.”

He wanted to turn on the music player but accidentally pressed on the broadcast button instead.

At once, a magnetic and melancholic male voice echoed in the car. “… about 200,000 people have gathered in front of the ruins of Harvard Stadium while filling the entire block and lighting white candles to mourn for the victims of the disaster. Boston is softly telling the young souls who have passed away to not be afraid. Fly to where the light in the sky is, you’re not alone, for we’re together with you under God’s watch…”

The atmosphere in the car that was gradually becoming livelier became heavy once again. Zhang Lisheng opened his mouth and murmured, “Ha, I’m really an idiot. I can’t believe that I could actually press the wrong button…”

“Baby, I know that you care about us. Don’t worry, we won’t be too sad now after we’ve cried our hearts out. Women are stronger than men. We are fine.” Tina suddenly smiled and interrupted her boyfriend’s murmur.

The young man became silent for a moment before answering in a whisper, “I just don’t wish for you guys to keep hearing the news of the disaster in the morning and relive the pain again and again…”

“You’re so sweet, Lisheng. Unfortunately, I’m afraid it’s impossible,” When Trish, who was sitting behind Zhang Lisheng, heard what he said, she stared at the countless candlelights outside the window and said, “Because everyone in Boston is crying tonight…”

Just like what the girl said, there was no corner in the US’ city of wisdom that was not immersed in sorrow tonight. The giant stage on Charles River no longer had any cheers nor music. Even though bars still opened, as usual, there was no laughter resonating in it. Nightclubs did not even open at all. The restaurants opened as usual, but the diners were dining in as though they were mute with very few people interacting with each other. Not only that, but this sorrowful atmosphere even lasted every day during the period Zhang Lisheng stayed in Boston. After two weeks, when Tina, Trish, and Sheila went to the airport to see him off, there were still people who were placing new cards on the streets.

“Oh, this city is making me feel more and more depressed now! It’s so shiny, but there seems to be no sunlight at all. Are you guys sure that you don’t want to go back to New York?” After reaching the airport and getting out of the SUV, Zhang Lisheng took a deep breath and asked once again.

“We’re fine, baby. The school has resumed its usual classes, and our lives are getting back on track. We don’t want to leave,” Tina walked out of the car and shook her head.

“Especially now that Boston is a city that’s receiving the most attention from the US Department of Homeland Security. The United States National Guard stationed here has already formed a formation of Steel Warriors, so it’s safer to stay here,” Sheila added.

“Oh, but New York has a huge military base that has been expanded…” Zhang Lisheng grinned and strode quickly to the airport lobby while casually saying, “But it’s your freedom to stay wherever you want to. This is your life. Besides, it’s not a bad thing continuing your studies too, but remember to see a psychiatrist after staying here for a long time.”

“Lisheng, the three of us you’ve known for a long time have already taken up psychology classes as an elective. We have already become each other’s emotional garbage bins for a long time now. You don’t have to worry about any psychological problems arising,” Trish, who was following beside the young man, answered.