Chapter 21: Into the Noise and Back to the Wild
The city of Qingtang marked the end of Li Ji's brief companionship with the mountaineering team. They were kind people—too kind. Their energy and enthusiasm radiated like the midday sun, relentless and overwhelming. He appreciated their company, but not their intensity. It was better to walk alone again.
Besides, Lei Gong's earlier concern that Li Ji might lose his way en route to Shennongjia was misplaced. This wasn't the vast, uncharted wilderness of Kunlun. He had once come from the United States to the heart of Kunlun on his own, navigating complex terrains and cultural barriers without a hitch. Getting to a relatively tame location like Shennongjia? That was child's play by comparison.
Onboard a domestic flight, Li Ji reclined in his seat, listening absently to the hum of the engines as he considered his next move.
"We'll arrive in Jiangcheng in about an hour," he mused. "It'll be evening by then. Should I fly straight to Shennongjia tonight or take a taxi in the morning?"
He mulled it over in silence. Flying would get him there faster, but it would also be more exhausting. A taxi tomorrow would cost time, but allow him to rest.
"Too many trade-offs. I hate these civilian choices."
Stretching lazily, he reached for the Coke that a flight attendant had handed him and finished it in one gulp. The fizzy sweetness hit him harder than expected. "Even Coke tastes amazing now," he thought. "Last time I was on a flight, they were still serving Jianlibao. That feels like another life."
He made up his mind: one night in Jiangcheng. He'd been tucked away in Kunlun's mountains for so long that the scent of concrete and neon lights felt oddly refreshing. A short detour into modernity wouldn't hurt.
…
Strolling through the city streets later that evening, Li Ji found himself beside a vending machine, dropping coins in like a man on a mission. The familiar clunk of aluminum cans and the hiss of carbonation greeted him over and over. Nearby, a public trash can was already overflowing with crushed cans—each one flattened neatly into a coin-sized disc by his hand.
"When I first came to China around the millennium, you didn't see this many drink options," he remarked to no one in particular. "Now look at it. Four years and the world feels completely different."
He popped open a can of Sprite, drained it, and casually crushed it. The metal caved like paper. Another flick of the wrist and the crushed can arced cleanly into the bin. A group of scavengers lingered nearby, eyeing the stack of aluminum with growing interest. They didn't speak, but their looks said enough. Li Ji gave them a nod, his lips twitching into a faint smile.
"Alright, that's enough soda for one night. Can't be spending all evening fueling the city's recyclers."
He bought two more Cokes, held one in his hand, and walked off sipping the other.
The memory of Jiangcheng's famous crayfish surfaced in his mind. In his previous life, this place had become something of a culinary hotspot. But now, in 2004, it hadn't yet caught on nationwide. Crayfish were still cheap—eight yuan a pound, and if you bought three pounds, you got one free. A good time to indulge.
He found a small shop tucked between larger storefronts. The smell wafting out was enough to make his stomach grumble. As soon as he stepped in, he made his order.
"Sixty pounds of crayfish," he told the wide-eyed owner.
The man blinked. "Boss, you sure it's sixty? Not six?"
Li Ji pulled out his wallet and laid five crisp bills on the counter. "That's four hundred and eighty yuan, right? With the deal, that should be eighty pounds."
The owner hesitated, pulled out a small ultraviolet flashlight, and carefully scanned each bill. Apparently satisfied that Li Ji wasn't passing counterfeit notes, he nodded, took the money, and scurried off.
"Boss, want something to drink?" he asked when he returned.
"No thanks. Just some ice water. I've already had enough sugar to last a week."
The kitchen couldn't handle such a massive order in one go, so the crayfish were prepared in batches. Twenty pounds at a time, four rounds. The first serving arrived alongside a single twenty-yuan bill.
"Here's your change, boss. And the first batch."
Li Ji picked up the money, pocketed it without thinking, then pulled on plastic gloves. He hadn't eaten all day. The first bite confirmed it—spicy, juicy, perfectly seasoned. A mess, but a good one.
"Boss, aren't you waiting for anyone else?" the owner asked, glancing around the empty table.
"Nope. Just me."
He tore into the food with vigor, barely slowing down between shells. The shop owner said nothing, just watched in astonishment as Li Ji worked his way through mountains of seafood.
…
Hours later, belly full and shirt faintly stained with seasoning, Li Ji began hotel hunting. The first one was full. So was the second. By the third, he started getting annoyed.
"Is there some kind of festival today?" he asked the receptionist.
"No, sir," the woman replied with a smile. "But recently, there's been news about wild men appearing in Shennongjia. Everyone's here to see them."
Li Ji raised an eyebrow. "You mean the savage sightings?"
"Yes, it's all over the internet."
Just as he turned to leave, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit stepped beside him.
"You here to chase the wild man too, young fellow?" the man asked, half-smirking.
"Something like that."
"You didn't book ahead? That was your first mistake. The big hotels are full. Maybe try a small inn down an alley—or prepare to nap in an internet cafe."
He gave Li Ji a pitying pat on the shoulder and headed off with his room key.
With few options left, Li Ji made for the nearest internet cafe and fired up a computer. He typed in "Shennongjia" and "Savage." The screen filled with results. Forums buzzed with speculation, stories, even organized "Savage Hunting Parties." One thread boasted over a hundred participants already.
"If they all head in and that creature's actually dangerous…" He trailed off, eyes narrowing.
The thought bothered him enough to shut off the computer and forget he hadn't paid. He stepped outside, crossed the street, and ducked into a quiet alley. There, out of sight, he lifted off the ground and soared into the night sky.
About ten seconds later, a gang of young punks brandishing knives stormed into the alley.
"Where the hell did he go?"
"There's no way out of here—it's a dead end!"
"You think he disappeared? Like, poof?"
"Shut up! Don't say that! Bodhisattva bless us!"
…
Flying through the sky at speed, Li Ji reached Shennongjia in just over half an hour. The night stretched out over the dark, endless canopy below. Lei Gong had already marked the last known location of the creature.
Li Ji hovered for a moment, staring into the silence.
"Time to clock in again," he muttered and descended into the forest.
The tranquility was almost deceptive. Somewhere in the depths, something waited.
And he was ready.
*********
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