Chapter 112: At Last, You’re Here

This lie was a mix of truth and fabrication. The truthful parts were mere generalizations, which only made it more convincing. As the saying goes, the most brilliant lie is the one laced with the truth.

Zhang Cheng’s expression shifted as he listened to my story. At first, he was intrigued, but his face gradually darkened. By the time I reached the part about offending a gang and suffering their retaliation, he was filled with righteous indignation. Zhang Cheng knew my combat skills and never worried about me getting into fights, but this was different. In his mind, gangs were bottom-feeders who would stop at nothing, and those who sought revenge were surely treacherous and ruthless. He imagined the situation must have been dire, and his clenched fists betrayed his fury.

While moved by his concern, I also felt a sense of helplessness. I couldn't tell him the truth. In fact, my account was already a simplified, mostly fabricated version. If he knew the reality—that the danger I faced was far more terrifying than any gang—I could only imagine his reaction.

Still, Zhang Cheng remained deeply worried, pulling at me to ask questions and checking me over to see if I was missing any limbs. I laughed helplessly, "Alright, I'll tell you the rest later. For now, get your master something to eat; I’m starving."

Though Zhang Cheng could be unreliable at times, he had a knack for cooking. At my words, he rushed to the kitchen, and after half an hour of clattering, a table full of meat and vegetable dishes appeared, looking incredibly appetizing. As I ate his Kung Pao chicken, I asked, "By the way, what have you been up to lately?"

Zhang Cheng chuckled, looking a bit sheepish. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Ever since I lost touch with you, I didn't have much going on. As luck would have it, I ended up getting a girlfriend..."

He went on to recount the story, and I listened with genuine interest. Later, I gave him a rough overview of my own life, though I carefully omitted the sensitive parts—my physical condition, the secrets of the Guli Kingdom, and the harrowing experiences of the last six months. I kept it all to myself, simply because I didn't want him to worry.

It had been nearly a year since I graduated. My classmates and friends had largely found stable jobs and clear paths, while I remained adrift. I often pondered my own fate and future, only to conclude that I had neither—a truly pathetic realization.

Five months ago, Zhang Cheng had been hired by a large, reputable company. Instead of pursuing a civil service career like most of our peers, he had landed a high-paying, well-regarded position. Now, with a stable life and a girlfriend, I was genuinely happy for him.

I stayed at Zhang Cheng’s place that night, and we talked well into the early hours. After he went to bed, I lay awake thinking about tomorrow. My priority was to find Li Ling, but I had few leads. Moreover, in my current state, I could easily be tracked by Old Ghost. While his organization wouldn't dare move against me openly in the capital, they could cause immense trouble from the shadows. I decided I needed to leave Zhang Cheng’s side as soon as possible; I couldn't let my problems destroy the stable life he had worked so hard to build.

Lost in these thoughts, drowsiness eventually took over. When I woke the next morning, the smell of breakfast greeted me. Zhang Cheng was already in the kitchen. I dove into the meal without hesitation, and afterward, he asked about my plans, offering to take a day off to accompany me. I knew he was just worried about my safety.

I declined, telling him I needed to head home to settle some personal matters. Knowing my family situation—specifically that my parents had passed away—he assumed I had private affairs to attend to and didn't press further. "Alright then, just be careful. But this is the capital; I doubt those people would dare do anything to you here."

I nodded, got dressed, and we left together. After watching him board the bus, I hailed a taxi and told the driver to take me to the Institute of Archaeology. It was the only place I could think of that might have any connection to Li Ling.

The Institute was a satellite campus of Beijing University. It covered a large area but was sparsely populated, as archaeology was a niche and unpopular field of study. As I walked through the gates, a sense of aimlessness washed over me. What could I do even if I were here? I wandered the campus, torn between my options. Should I return to the Tomb Keeper clan first? But my original plan had been to bring back the two medicinal pills. Without Li Ling and without the pills, what good would my return do?

Everything hinged on finding Li Ling. Thinking this, I pulled out my phone and dialed her number again. Still powered off. A surge of irritation rose within me.

Just then, a voice called out—a voice that sounded strangely familiar.

"Yun! Is that you? Thank God, it really is you! Oh, it’s wonderful, I’ve finally found you!"

I looked toward the source of the voice. A foreign girl stood there with long golden hair and a beautiful, doll-like face. More striking still was her incredible figure. It was Anna.

Back in the desert, I hadn't paid her much mind, and the harsh environment had obscured her beauty. Now, I realized just how stunning she truly was, possessing a captivating, exotic charm.