The Great Worm Lich

After Zhang Lisheng had affirmed the news, he was no longer willing to listen to the taxi driver’s nonsense. Immediately, he took out his mobile phone and searched for the decree the White House’s new owner had just released.

He entered the two keywords “supernatural realm, Presidential Decree” and soon received millions of relevant information on the webpage. Clicking on the relevant link of the US government’s official website situated at the top, he was shocked to read:

“All of the unclaimed land the United States of America found belongs to every citizen of the USA. Here, I, Rand Paul, signed the order to open the coordinate 42° of the New York inland sea…After the adult citizens of the United States of America voluntarily signed the treaty to bear the unpredictable risks, they are free to enter and exit the doors of the supernatural realm to carry out legal farming, commodity trading, and mineral exploration and collection…”

Zhang Lisheng stared at the information on the mobile phone screen and murmured incredulously, “He really has opened up the supernatural realm near the New York inland sea. The heck! Even if the situation underwent a substantial change now, this sudden 180-degree change of policy is too… too… I-Isn’t this Rand Paul a conservative?”

As the young man murmured to himself in the taxi with a dumbfounded look on the streets of New York, a different plot was unfolding from far away. Inside the oval office at the west wing of the White House that symbolized the US authority on the Northwest Avenue in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, the new leader of the free country was sitting on a black leather chair, facing a room full of people. They were gloomy and silent as he asked jubilantly, “How was my performance today, everyone? How was it?”

“Rand, other than being stubborn enough to refuse to listen to any of our advice and on top of being a dictatorial madman, your performance was perfect today,” Hearing this question, Franklin, one of the US President’s best friends who was also one of his political partners who fulfilled his duty as the chief state adviser for the first day today, answered with a blank expression while sitting on another leather chair.

He had a tall and strong body, with hedgehog-like short hair. Even though he did not care about the hair that had become grey on his head, he still looked unusually energetic. However, as he stared into the exceptionally familiar yet unfamiliar face of the White House’s owner, he felt a little worn out.

“Only by being stubborn and mad can we succeed, my dear Franklin. Only by being stubborn and mad can we succeed! Look at this pile of mess that black man left for us! A national defense deficit of 240 billion and thousands of deaths in the supernatural realm! With no explanation at all!”

“Rand! He has also left a newly reclaimed land that has a safe area of more than 64,000 square kilometers to the country!” The short and fat old man sitting in front of Franklin in the oval office patted his tummy habitually and replied without mercy, “History will give him a fair evaluation. Not only that, I can assert that this evaluation mark will not be too low. At the very least, it would not be lower than a madman!”

The old man was called Duke Fahr who was the new minister of the country. He was one of the senators in Washington State and had an extensive influence in the Republican Party. He was also one of the main reasons Rand was allowed to become the Republican presidential candidate. Therefore, he would not show any mercy when he talked to him on a private occasion.

“Minister Duke, I know that my thoughts are a bit aggressive, but in this case, isn’t this the only solution to the problem? Our government doesn’t have the ability to care for the exploration of both supernatural realms, so why don’t we just open one to the public and reawaken the adventurous spirit of the US people, allowing them to become a cowboy again from the conventional city-boys? Just let those business corporations and conglomerates who are always stingy and would do everything possible to evade from paying tax when it’s time to pay to have a good place for them to burn their money…”

“What about the possible danger that this would cause then, Mr. President? The supernatural realm is not the American wasteland occupied by the Indian tribes two hundred years ago. Our understanding of it is still not enough and if an accident occurs, the consequences will be unimaginable. What’s more, you even used the sensitive word ‘Western Movement’ that the Indians…” The only woman in the White House’s oval conference room could not help but raise her own objection.

She was a white woman in her thirties who had her beautiful look hidden under huge black-rimmed glasses. Her serious expression and her innate intellectual temperament would make anyone listen to what she had to say, instead of the usual tall, lanky, and curvy physique wrapped tightly in a tight black suit.

“Margaret.” Turning to look at the new Minister of the Interior he brought into politics, Rand magnanimously said, “The Constitution of the United States gives every citizen the right to choose his own life. We’ll tell the people who want to go to all of the terrible circumstances they may encounter in the supernatural realm and let them decide their own destiny. Wouldn’t this fit the true American spirit more? Moreover, sacrifices cannot be avoided if we want to develop our country. As for the adverse reactions of the Indians, I think that the propaganda word of the “New Westward Movement” is insignificant compared to the inspiring effect it has on the whole country. I know all of you may find my willfulness incomprehensible but two hundred years ago, when Lincoln sparked the Civil War due to his liberations of the black slaves, he was also abandoned by all political allies and was fighting alone…”

“Well, Mr. President, you’re not Abraham Lincoln!” When the White House’s owner was becoming more emotional over the doubts he received, an old man wearing a brown casual outfit who had a faint habitual smile on his face since the beginning, took off his hat and knocked on the desk a few times, before speaking in finality, “We’re also not the ministers nor advisors of the US government that time who just wanted to surrender. We understand your ambition of wanting to create a brand new era, but what you did today was too impetuous, dictatorial, and rash. However, to everyone who’s here, now that the situation has reached this point, as the few ministerial officials in the cabinet, we can only work together to implement the orders the president signed. After all, this is the sacred duties the God and the Constitution of the United States of America have given us. If you don’t agree with me, the office door is just right there, and you can always send in your letter of resignation tomorrow.”

The noisy atmosphere in the room as everyone fought with each other became quiet in an instant the moment the US Secretary of State, Fernand, opened his mouth. Other than President Rand, everyone else had a sullen expression on their faces.

However, as time gradually passed, nobody left at all.

Fernand glanced around the office and smiled. Scratching his head, he gestured to the White House’s owner to continue his speech.

Just like this, due to the strong rising performance of the US President and the Secretary of State, the so-called “New Westward Movement” of the supernatural realm began to launch in full swing throughout the country. The New York inland sea became the new holy land of restless adventurers.

Early in the morning, the sunlight that still contained a lingering scent of midsummer sun shone through the window and the curtain onto Zhang Lisheng’s face.

Sensitively becoming aware of the sun’s heat, the Demon’s image behind him gradually dissipated as the young man opened his eyes. Stretching his arms, he climbed out of the bed.

After washing up, he opened the door and walked downstairs. When he saw his family sitting around the table, he greeted them. “Good morning, mom, Uncle Lavin, Harry…”

“G’morning! Lisheng!” Lavin’s family also greeted Zhang Lisheng who was walking towards the empty seat in the dining room with a smile. Lili dexterously placed a huge plate of large sandwiches and juice in front of him.

“I want Coke, mom!” When the young man saw the orange juice in front, he blinked in dissatisfaction.

“Hurry and eat your breakfast! Drinking too many soft drinks is not good for your body at all, baby!” His mother solemnly clinked her spoon onto the coffee cup. “You should go look at those young people who are sleeping in the open at our lawn. They are thirsty and hungry and will definitely not nitpick on a glass of fresh orange juice.”

“But they have a dream, Auntie Lili! They’re the new pioneer cowboys of this era!” Upon hearing Lili’s words, Randy, who was in New York for a summer vacation, said solemnly.

“The reason they can come to New York to become the new cowboy is that these people don’t have a father who is a policeman! Listen up, son! If you want to mingle with them, I’ll beat the hell out of you using my rifle butt! In two days—yes, only two more days!—you’ll return to Los Angeles with your brother to school, so you better focus on your rugby and try to get the diploma certification!” Upon seeing Randy’s longing look, his father, Lavin, said with a blank expression.

“Dad! Don’t you get it? It’s already a brand new era now! And I have a restless heart that longs for freedom…” Randy looked at his father and said as though he was reciting a poem. However, when he noticed Lavin’s face was gradually turning grave, he quickly gave a light chuckle before changing his topic. “Well, besides, I have a billionaire brother. Lisheng, you’d give me a job with a good pay even if I don’t get the graduation certificate of the UCLA, right?”

“Of course, Randy! I’m willing to spend two to three millions of USD per year so you don’t make a racket beside my ears at the table.”

“Seriously?!” Randy shouted excitedly.

“Randy! Aren’t you ashamed of asking a job from your brother?” Lavin could not help but howl.

“Oh dad, I’m was just joking! You understand and know that I won’t do such a thing, right? What I said just now was just a joke!” Randy made an ‘OK’ gesture to Zhang Lisheng as he spoke.

Zhang Lisheng nodded with a smile.

“Lisheng, have you decided to go to Stanford to study in Biology as a graduate student?” Upon seeing Randy’s gesture, Lavin glared at his second son once again before turning to look at Zhang Lisheng and asking with a softened expression.

“Yes, Uncle Lavin. I have to get an academic title, lest people would call me a nouveau riche! Not only that, I’m really interested in biology as well.”

“Hey, Lisheng! If you’re so interested in biology, you should set up a scientific expedition to explore the supernatural realm!” Upon hearing his words, Randy, who did not know any better, suddenly chimed in with a strange idea. “Didn’t you rely on the two soft beetles you found in the Amazon jungle to become Stanford’s graduate student directly? You’d definitely have a greater gain in the supernatural realm! By that time, I can protect you, but of course, before that, you’d have to sponsor me first…”