The Great Worm Lich

Lili prohibited Zhang Lisheng from driving ever since he was discharged from the hospital. However, compared to other kids, being grounded at home was like a dream that came true for him, because he could focus on cultivating. Unfortunately, the good days did not last too long. It had only been two days when he got Tina’s call while he was cultivating, “Lisheng, are you free? There’s something that I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay, where are you now?”

“I’m on the street in front of your house, just saw your mom driving out.”

“Wait for me,” Zhang Lisheng hung up the phone after saying that and ran out of the house. The sun was intense outside but it was still windy. He looked around the street holding his shoulder. An extended Lincoln started its engine not far away and pulled over before Zhang Lisheng. Tina waved from the driver’s seat as she rolled down the window. “Get up, Lisheng.”

Zhang Lisheng opened the car door and got into the passenger’s seat. He looked around and said while wearing a smile, “This car’s not bad, it’s much bigger than my 7-seater Ford Explorer. How much is it?”

“This is a Lincoln Navigator Extended, you’ll need to order this. The basic spec costs around $200,000.”

“Oh, I should get my second slaughterhouse before considering changing my car then.”

Tina smiled. “Alright Lisheng, you have a bright future. You’ll be able to afford a plane sooner or later. But if you need money urgently, I have a part-time job that pays handsomely for you.”

“I’m willing to hear about the part-time job you’re offering as long as it’s not killing myself in the Amazon with those rich brats who ignores how cruel reality is.”

Tina was stunned after hearing what Zhang Lisheng had said. She only spoke after a moment of silence, “Lisheng, it’s only been a few days since I last saw you and you’ve become so much meaner.”

“I have something that’s even meaner, do you want to hear it? Tina, there are things that can’t be solved with money. You should understand that. In Sichuan jungle, even if you gave Citibank’s treasury to a leopard, it wouldn’t let go of the delicious meat in its mouth…”

“Stop talking Lisheng, you’re scaring me,” Tina covered her ears and shouted, what Zhang Lisheng said seemed to have triggered some traumatic memories that she had. Zhang Lisheng stopped speaking and fell into silence.

Tina fell into silence for a moment too and explained which was a futile effort, “You misunderstood Lisheng. We’re really planning to go to Amazon but we’re definitely not going into the jungle to look for Henry. We just want to stay somewhere closer to him to wait for news.”

“Do you believe what you’ve just said? Communication’s so convenient now, even if we’re in the North Pole…”

“Alright Lisheng, stop talking. I won’t force you if you’re unwilling to help me. I understand your concern,” Tina waved her hand in annoyance and pulled out a document from her car storage box. She tossed it at Zhang Lisheng. “I gave a thorough thought on your plan of purchasing another slaughterhouse and thought the track’s off. You should develop LS Slaughterhouse into a unique large-scale business. I don’t have the mood to explain it to you in detail now, you can look at the proposal…”

“I’ll look at the proposal later. Tina, the Amazon rainforest’s like heaven to me. The reason why I don’t want to go is that the place’s hell to people like… like you, an ignorant New York rich brat. But if you’re really going alone and unwilling to take my advice, I’m willing to ‘wait for news at a place closer to Henry’ with you. The price is that you’ll have to handle the ecological waste at my slaughterhouse when I’m not in New York. Also, you’ll need to find a legit science webpage and post a thread about getting a science expedition team of the same interest together to Amazon during Christmas holiday.”

“Oh, thanks Lisheng,” Tina nodded continuously and said in surprise.

“When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow at 8 a.m. We’re taking United Airlines which will fly straight to a tiny country Tatetutu at the Amazon border. We can apply for visa-on-arrival over there, Henry and that bastard Henrick departed from there. Oh ya, apart from Trish and I, Sheila, Shittu, Walter…”

“You don’t have to tell me who else is going, I’m only guaranteeing your safety. Pick me up before departure tomorrow,” Zhang Lisheng got off the car as he spoke and opened the door. He called Lili when he was walking home.

“Mom, I saw a post online saying that amateur biology enthusiasts are coming up with a team for a science expedition at the Amazon border. I thought it’s interesting, I would like to go.”

“Oh, a science expedition in Amazon sounds great but baby, it’s too far. It’s a rainforest…”

“Mom, I lived in Sichuan mountain for 16 years. Why would I be afraid of some rainforest? It’s only the border. Moreover, I have… you know, the talent to communicate with animals. I’ll be safe there. I’m determined to be a biologist, I can’t be afraid of going into a jungle for a science expedition.”

“What you said is right but this is too sudden. Can we talk about this when I get home?”

“We’re leaving tomorrow, we need to book a plane ticket now. Oh ya, Tina’s in the expedition team too. Do you remember Tina?”

“Tina Douglin? She’s going to Amazon for a science expedition too!” Lili shouted out of surprise. She went out of her way to learn about this New York socialite after hearing about her identity from Randy back at Michelle’s ward. Lili knew very well of what kind of girl she was. “Oh, I understand baby. Hmm, alright then. You can go to Amazon for the science expedition but remember, you’re only 16, you’re still a kid. So don’t be, you know, too… too…”

“Thanks, mom, I’ll be careful,” Zhang Lisheng hung up the call contently, he could not help but reveal a smile at the edge of his lips as he walked home. The family gathered at dinner. Lili announced that Zhang Lisheng would be going to Amazon for a science expedition tomorrow when his sister from another father Gill was eating baked potato while complaining about her best friend Nikolai who was traveling in Iceland instead of New York.

“Amazon, you’re going to the real Amazon! Why can’t I even go to Disneyland’s Mountain Splash but Lisheng’s going to the real Amazon?” Naturally, the news made the kids who were bored at home envious, especially Randy.

Sullo replied casually while peeling off the potatoes’ skins, “It’s simple, Lisheng has a legit reason to. Furthermore, he’s paying all of the travel expenses with the money he made. I’ll agree if you’re going for the high school football training camp in Tennessee, I’ll even pay for you.”

“I haven’t lost my mind to be fighting with a bunch of bulls during Christmas holiday… Okay, I’ll admit that I’m a bad son, not that dad and Aunt Lili isn’t fair to me,” Randy sighed in gloom and looked at Zhang Lisheng. “Hey brother, have fun in Amazon.”

Zhang Lisheng smiled without saying anything. At that moment, Sullo hesitated before speaking again while he looked very serious now, “Dr. Fracture appeared again, the victim this time was a nurse from Queens Hospital. She was dead for a few days when we found her in a rented apartment in Manhattan’s blue-collar zone. She was so swollen like a Big Mac…”

“Come on dad, we’re eating.”

“I know that you guys are eating, that’s why I’m telling you now to get the image into your head. Listen, from today onwards, none of you are allowed to go out at night. You guys can only stay home until Christmas holiday’s over. All of your friends aren’t in New York anyway…”

“Come on, I could go out and have fun even if I’m the last man standing in New York…” Randy complained loudly.

“Stop bargaining with me, you can have fun at home too. New York’s too empty now, everywhere’s dangerous. You’ll understand why I’m doing this if you think of Michelle who is in the hospital now. Be a great example to your brothers and sisters, son,” Sullo said in all seriousness while looking at Randy. Randy sighed helplessly and nodded.

After dinner, Lili packed for Zhang Lisheng and filled a big suitcase while nagging. She hugged Zhang Lisheng when packing was done. “Baby, I don’t want you to leave,” Tears began rolling down her face.

“I’ll be home after three weeks mom.”

“But I’m already missing you even before you left,” Lili mumbled while looking at her son’s skinny cheeks. She had eyes filled with love. On the next morning, Lili woke up first thing in the morning and made Zhang Lisheng a beef pie and a glass of fresh apple juice. Zhang Lisheng finished the food clumsily. ‘Chirp chirp chirp…’, his phone happened to ring when he finished the last drop of juice and cleaned his mouth.

It was Tina who called, “Lisheng, are you ready? I’m already waiting outside.”

“I’m ready, I’ll come out now,” Zhang Lisheng carried his backpack and said goodbye to Lili as he grabbed the luggage, “Mom, Tina just called. I’m leaving now.”

“Your shoulder hasn’t healed yet, I’ll send you out,” Lili packed a few steaming-hot beef pies that she had just baked and packet juice into a paper bag agilely. She then took over the luggage from Zhang Lisheng. “Give Ms. Tina the pies and juice. She might not have breakfast yet since she woke up so early. As a man, you should learn to take care of the girls around you.”