Chapter 111: The Search

I had obtained some items from the King of Loufan’s treasure trove, which I could sell to him. At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it, since I wasn’t short of money at the moment.

However, Black Sunglasses said, “You need to understand: now that you’re involved, the expenses ahead will be considerable. The little money you have won’t be enough. It’s better to keep some funds handy. Once you return, you must be extremely cautious. The Old Ghost and his men will undoubtedly be looking for you and me everywhere. I’m not worried about myself—I have ways to shake them off, and once I reach my destination, they won’t dare follow me further. But you’re different. So be very careful. If anything happens, call this number. This person is trustworthy.”

With that, Black Sunglasses handed me a slip of paper bearing a phone number—unlike the mobile numbers he’d given me before, this was a landline. I didn’t think much of it but still asked, “Why are you helping me? We used to be enemies, after all.”

He glanced around and chuckled before replying, “That was then, but it doesn’t stop us from being something like half-friends now. Besides, you’ll definitely need me in the future, and I might need your help too. So, our cooperation isn’t over. Also, you’re not a bad kid—I don’t dislike you, haha.”

Seeing Black Sunglasses grin broadly, I muttered to myself, “Half-friends? Am I half a person, then?” Nonetheless, I remained silent and began thinking about what I had to do after returning to the capital—there was so much to handle. But the immediate priority was finding Li Ling. I had already tried calling her seven or eight times, only to get a switched-off response each time. This frustrated me deeply.

Soon enough, Black Sunglasses’ boarding time arrived. Watching him enter the checkpoint, I waved casually, and he returned the gesture. That was our farewell. Perhaps the Old Ghost and his men hadn’t caught on yet. In any case, I sensed no suspicious figures nearby—after all, this was an airport, not as chaotic as a train station.

After grabbing a simple bite, I prepared to board my flight. I slept again on the plane, and by just past nine at night, I arrived in the capital. Upon landing, I hailed a taxi. Initially, I intended to go straight home, but then I recalled Black Sunglasses’ warning and suspected my neighborhood might no longer be safe—or at least under surveillance.

With that thought, I changed my plans and headed to a friend’s place to stay the night. I would make further arrangements during the day.

This friend was my closest companion from university, Zhang Cheng—a hefty man weighing around two hundred pounds. Though unreliable in many ways, he was fiercely loyal and the best friend I had. I called him, and it didn’t take long for him to pick up, sounding groggy. When I said my name, he exclaimed:

“Damn! You’re alive! I thought you’d been kidnapped and forced to work in a coal mine in Shanxi. If I hadn’t heard from you soon, I was going to report you missing. Where are you? I’m coming to find you!”

Normally, I might have teased him back, but now, hearing those words warmed my heart. It made me feel that someone still cared about me in this world. So, I told him I was downstairs at his place, and the fat man promptly hung up.

Not long after, I saw him hurriedly come down the stairs in his pajamas. Seeing his figure, a faint smile finally tugged at my lips. At that moment, I felt my body and mind relax somewhat. Having a true friend like him allowed me to let down my guard, at least temporarily.

It was nearly ten o’clock at night when Zhang Cheng arrived downstairs, still in his pajamas. His face showed not only excitement but also deep concern. His first question was where I had been lately.

I gave a wry smile and said, “That’s a long story. Let’s find a place to talk it over.”

I glanced around cautiously but saw no suspicious people. Although Zhang Cheng was impulsive and reckless, he was sharp. Seeing my state, he quickly took me inside to his home.

Zhang Cheng’s house was a modest two-bedroom apartment. His parents were ordinary civil servants. Tonight, they were away visiting his grandmother, who was unwell.

Once upstairs, before I could even sit on the couch, Zhang Cheng blurted out, “I’m not saying this to criticize you, but you’re even more impulsive than me. Tell me, did you get into trouble? How serious is it? If it’s criminal, how long would you be sentenced? This isn’t good... no, no, we should turn ourselves in!”

His words stunned me momentarily, but then I realized he had misunderstood. He thought I’d disappeared because I was hiding from trouble. Before I could explain, he continued, “Well, you’re still young. If you went inside, that’d be game over. Come on, tell me what happened—I’ll help you figure it out!”

Seeing his anxious expression, I was genuinely touched. I smiled and said, “Don’t jump to conclusions. Relax, I didn’t do anything wrong. And don’t look at me like that—I’m not lying to you. What kind of relationship do we have?”

He studied me for a moment, apparently convinced I wasn’t lying, which eased his tension considerably. Then he asked many questions: where I had been, and why I was so nervous.

I hesitated, torn not because I doubted telling him the truth, but because I knew I shouldn’t involve him. I had long resolved never to drag him into this mess. Even I was almost drowning in it—how could I risk him, an ordinary man, when my life was already on the line? I struggled over how to frame a lie he would accept.

After much thought, I told Zhang Cheng that during the holiday, I had gone traveling. By chance, I joined an archaeological team and went on a perilous expedition. Along the way, I offended some powerful people who retaliated against me secretly, but I managed to deal with them. I was cautious now, fearing further revenge.