Volume 4 Chapter 5 (1/2)
Book 4 Chapter 5 – The Beef Noodles that Disappeared
With every cast of Lightning flash, Li Yiming could teleport about 500 meters. This was his only way to catch up to the plane, since he did not have any other ways to fly. It took him the combined power of his newly acquired level five and the Thunder Purity form to catch up to the plane right as it was about to land. Even so, Li Yiming appeared on his seat with a red face and a forehead covered with sweat.
As the cabin door opened, the pa.s.sengers, who had narrowly escaped death, rushed out, each feeling incredibly lucky for their good fortune. Li Yiming's cutting off the power in the cabin proved to be a great idea; amidst the panic, no one actually noticed that someone had gone missing and reappeared later on.
Instead of leaving the plane in a hurry like the other people, Li Yiming sat quietly and listened to the other pa.s.sengers. He felt immensely satisfied knowing that he deserved these words of grat.i.tude, and it brought a dumb-looking smile onto his face. He closed his eyes and wiped away his sweat, still panting heavily from his effort to catch up to the plane.
”Sir, the plane has landed. You can disembark now.” The stewardess' soft voice was heard.
”Can I just have a moment?” Li Yiming raised his head with difficulty. He could feel that the front of his s.h.i.+rt was beginning to become damp with sweat.
”But…” The stewardess was the same one who had been fantasizing about an encounter later with Li Yiming, but seeing him in such a state made her frown. 'This guy, he looks charming and courageous, but he's actually a wimp? Look at him, being scared like this after a storm. Don't tell me that he p.i.s.sed in his pants?'
”What happened to him?” Another flight crew walked up and looked at the whole scene curiously. Li Yiming was the only pa.s.senger still left on the plane.
”I think he's frightened.” The first stewardess did not hide her contempt when she answered.
'Frightened?' Li Yiming was baffled. He could see the derision on the stewardess' face. He sighed, a little annoyed, and started a shaking walk toward the exit of the cabin.
”Are you okay? Do I need to call for medical personnel?” The other stewardess, who had not been affected by her emotions, was worried about Li Yiming's well-being.
”It's okay, I'm a little scared, that's all.” Li Yiming waved his arm and answered in a rather disappointed tone.
However, as soon as he left the airport, Li Yiming recovered from his bad mood. He was proud of what he had just accomplished. 'I have found my direction. To guard the way, to see it through, and to protect others with my power. That's the way I have found.' 1
Li Yiming hopped into a cab and took a deep breath. 'Hangzhou, I'm back.'
He rode the taxi to the Second Wen District, the place Mr. Kong had told him about. After getting off the taxi, he checked into a hotel room, took a shower to wash off his fatigue and started wandering the streets.
”h.e.l.lo, sir. May I ask if there's someone called Qing He lives in this neighborhood?” Li Yiming arrived at the window of the security room and pushed a pack of cigarettes across the counter.
”What is it?” The old door-guard looked at the pack of cigarettes with an alarmed expression and did not reach out for it.
”Someone ordered a cake here, but I lost the delivery ticket on the way. I remember that the person lives here. Could you…” Li Yiming feigned at embarra.s.sment as he took out a cake he had bought in a shop right around the hotel.
”The only thing you have is a name?” The old man's suspicions lessened when he saw the cake. He picked up Li Yiming's cigarette and stood up with the little amount of authority he could garnish. It seemed like the only place someone like him could find some kind of self-worth was in front of a delivery boy.
”Please, if I can't deliver this cake on time, I'll get in trouble at work. My boss… She's very strict for things like that.” Li Yiming put another pack of cigarettes on the office desk and squeezed out a flattering smile.
”Young people nowadays. You're way too careless. How could you lose the delivery ticket? How do you expect me to remember the hundreds of people that live here?” The old man straightened his outfit, threw his newspaper on his desk at just the right spot so that it removed the cigarette from sight, and pulled out a small notebook from the drawer.
”Nothing. I have all of the delivery records here. Either you've got the wrong address or the people you're looking for never shops online.” After searching through the logs with squinted eyes for a while, the old man gave a disappointing answer.
”There's no one by that name?”
”The logs for all deliveries into the neighborhood are here. If you really wanted to find out, then you could go ask the managing office. But I don't think you'll find what you're looking for over there either. It sounds like an internet username more than a real name. There's no way you would find an internet name there. You should just call back and ask again. Young men like you should be courageous and accept the responsibility for your mistake. It's not that big of a deal to lose the delivery ticket. If you just talk to your boss, I'm sure she'll understand. Life isn't easy for anyone, I remember back in my days…” The packet of cigarette has had its intended effects almost immediately. The old man dropped his facade of authority and started to lecture Li Yiming.
”Yes, yes. You're absolutely right. I'll give a call to the shop right away.” A bead of cold sweat rolled down Li Yiming's forehead, and he made a polite escape from the security booth. 'Well, that didn't work. But with only Qing He and the name of this district, how am I going to find him? Even if I did go to the residential office, it's not like if they're going to give me information just like that. It'll take way more than just a pack of cigarette. On top of it, that old man is right. Qing He sounds like a username more than anything.'
Li Yiming wandered into a small noodle restaurant with his cake. Finding Qing He would be a long shot, so he decided to take a break and eat first.
”A bowl of beef noodle, please. With extra beef and an egg.” Li Yiming looked at the menu that hung on the wall and ordered a meal without thinking much about it.