I Am Your Natural Enemy

And this kind of protection was done in three layers.

Wen Yan carried the warhead, stepped into the Styx River, went underwater, walked dozens of meters, then dug a hole at the bottom and buried the warhead inside.

This thing was impossible for him to bring back; hiding it anywhere else just didn’t feel safe to him.

This is the best spot. So far, except for himself, there shouldn’t be anyone else able to dive under the water to dig out this warhead.

At the same time, to meet these conditions—having no soul, being shielded by Scorching Sun’s protection, and not drowning—there shouldn’t be a second person, right?

No, you’d have to add another condition: knowing how to find your way, without getting lost here.

Once the warhead was buried, Wen Yan came out of the water and began to pack his things.

After tidying up and dragging a large bag of materials, he entered the Styx again, and just as he started his return journey, a talisman suddenly fell from the sky, landed in the Styx, and instantly turned to ash and vanished.

Meanwhile, at Fuyu Mountain, the Fourth Great-uncle Master who was sending a message frowned deeply.

”Can’t find him anymore…”

”What do you mean? Something happened?” The Seventh Uncle Master was startled, and Ancestor quickly asked.

”No, probably just that it couldn’t be delivered to him. He might already be back, or maybe he’s on the way.”

”Don’t talk with so many pauses, you’re going to scare us to death.”

”Are you guys going to go over there?”

”Don’t know what’s going on right now, but the Scorching Sun Department says that the Zhongnan Outcast is probably the Temple Keeper of that Statue Ghost.

This guy made a trip to the Huai River, and also delivered a message there. Most likely, he’s already aware of Wen Yan, and went to the Water Monarch to stir up trouble.”

If that’s the case, he definitely knows Wen Yan went to the Netherworld.

Then, he’s probably after Wen Yan for revenge.”

”How does he know Wen Yan did it? Lots of people have entered the Netherworld before.”

The Fourth Great-uncle Master sighed.

”Do you think someone that crazy would bother fact-checking? He doesn’t care; as long as he knows you were there and you had even the slightest chance of doing it, then in his mind, it was you. The way he’s acting now, he’s clearly lost it. He’s looking to die, and before he does, he’ll pull some stunt for payback. That’s what’s most troublesome.”

”I’ll go over this time.”

”No, let me go—you can’t handle it.”

”…” The Seventh Great-uncle Master’s face turned dark, and he stopped talking.

…

Wen Yan walked in the water for a long time. After returning to the Nether Soul Realm, he went upstream, traced the whole Yin River, and finally climbed ashore.

Upon getting up on land, he saw two Ghosts already waiting for him.

”Mr. Wen, Prince asked me to wait here—he wants to bring you over right away.” The Royal Guard Brother approached, smiling as he gave a respectful greeting.

”Something happened?”

”Yes, something did happen. I’m not too sure about the details.” The smiling brother didn’t say much more.

They got into a papier-mâché taxi, sped wildly through the Nether Soul Realm, and returned to the Rakshasa Ghost Market.

He met with Lord Zhu, and Lord Zhu grabbed Wen Yan and recounted everything that had happened in the past few days.

The more Wen Yan listened, the deeper he frowned.

Previously, he figured someone living was part of it; he hadn’t expected that the other side’s identity was actually a Temple Keeper.

”Be careful. The fact that you fell into the Netherworld and came back was already known by a few people.

Now, with that lunatic spreading rumors and inciting trouble everywhere, I’m afraid even more are aware.

You have to realize—that place is the Netherworld, rumored to be a step beyond the Nether Soul Realm, a true Nether Spirit Paradise.

After countless years of subtle influence, plus the fact some have gone in before…

Even knowing there’s probably nothing there, there will still be plenty of Ghosts wanting to go.

You’re the only confirmed guide so far.

You ought to know what that means.”

Wen Yan immediately started to feel headache.

If it was living people, he wouldn’t worry so much. But there are way, way too many Ghosts who fixate on things, and also Ghosts who aren’t very rational.

Those Ghosts won’t care about anything else…

Just recently, he’d been marveling at how living people always carried a peculiar, dreamy filter for things they hadn’t obtained or experienced themselves.

If you put it on a Ghost, that filter gets three times thicker.

…

At the same time, a sand transport ship was moving upstream from the lower West River. The Zhongnan Outcast was buried motionless in the sand pile, his Yang Energy steadily fading, replaced by a growing Yin Qi.

Even the Scorching Sun Department’s drone thermal sensors could no longer trace his form.

The sand ship kept moving upcurrent. When it neared Virtue City, darkness fell, black clouds covered the moon, and the Zhongnan Outcast slipped ashore in secret, quietly latching onto a car.

Now, a wave of ill and ominous energy began to surge from his body, spreading all around.

People nearby—including those planted by the Scorching Sun Department—started suffering various strokes of bad luck simply from being tainted by this aura.

Some surveillance cameras even caught his image, but due to various reasons, no one ever happened to notice him.

Soon after, from the southern riverbanks of Virtue City, he weaved through the outskirts and made his way to the north.

At this point, the Taoist stopped hiding his tracks, heading straight for the edge villas on the northern end of the city.

By now, roadside lamps already sported all kinds of strange hanging ornaments.

The Taoist’s face was expressionless; his complexion grew ever darker and his eyes dulled further.

When he glimpsed the iron fence of the northern villa district in the distance, suddenly the thick stench of blood hit his nose.

Pei Tugou, garbed in Blood Clothes still dripping with fresh blood, bared two rows of white teeth, holding a blood-red rope, and walked over from afar.

That pure intent to kill, that dense murderous Qi, was like a violent wind and rain, sweeping right at him.

The Taoist’s steps involuntarily faltered; his body’s instincts screamed at him to run away.

The Taoist raised his head, showing a trace of a smile, and resolutely took a step forward.

At the same time, the ill fortune on him grew, almost visibly thickening.

In the next instant, his sight flickered—Pei Tugou vanished from view.

The blood-red rope slipped tight around the Zhongnan Outcast’s neck, slowly constricting.

Pei Tugou held the Blood Rope with one hand. At his feet, a trail of blood began to appear. He dragged the Zhongnan Outcast toward an empty streetlamp in the distance.

Just as he climbed onto the lamppost, standing sideways along its pole, a voice called from afar.

”Wait a minute.”

The Fourth Great-uncle Master frowned deeply, staying far away. The murderous energy around Pei Tugou was too intense, and cultivators like him couldn’t afford to get tainted with that stuff.

Pei Tugou glanced at the Fourth Great-uncle Master, said nothing, and kept moving forward.

The Fourth Great-uncle Master sighed quietly. He said,

”He came here to die—right here, by your hand, strung up on this streetlight.”

Pei Tugou paused, looking at the Fourth Great-uncle Master. He was much more willing to listen now than before.

”Look at his hand—see that talisman?

That’s a Treasure Talisman he was given. His end is near; dying by your hand right now is just for one last spell before he goes.

If you grant his wish, this place will never know peace again.”