I Am Your Natural Enemy

Wen Yan looked at the Ghost Bone in his hand, the whole Ghost burned away, and at last there was only a mouth left—really a hard mouth to the end.

Inside the seventeen transparent teeth, there were all kinds of scenes: a woman washing diapers, riding a bicycle, carrying a tightly wrapped child, traveling down a winter street.

And then to the simple daily meals, taking care through winter and summer, cold and warm—it all looked so ordinary.

But seeing these ordinary yet day after day, year after year scenes, Wen Yan let out a long sigh.

The love from Lu Jing’s mother to Lu Jing had already been taken more than half away, the speed was really fast. A few days later and it might be gone completely.

At this moment, looking at these teeth, intact even under his flames, he didn’t know how to return what had been taken.

He held up the Ghost Bone, came over to Lu Jing, brought the Ghost Bone close to her—but even after touching, there was still no reaction.

Wen Yan looked at Tong Si who followed behind.

”Can you see anything?”

Tong Si manifested her grim eyes, gazed at those translucent teeth, and shook her head.

”They’re already fixed in place. This is not ordinary gold or silver that you can just return once it’s taken.

Once it’s taken, it’s gone—even if that Ghost was already dead just now, it can’t be returned.”

Wen Yan looked at Meng An, who also shook his head.

”Although they look like a set of frozen dreams, they’re actually not.

It’s like knife wounds that won’t kill right away, but when someone finally bleeds out and dies, you can’t say those earlier cuts did nothing.

This is an irreversible harm, not just ordinary taking.”

Wen Yan held the Ghost Bone and let out a long sigh.

”Accidentally burned him to death, should’ve held back a bit.

Now I kind of understand why in the legends, so many righteous people catch an evil ghost and don’t kill it.

Stories say it’s about mercy, about giving guidance.

But I think, honestly, killing it straight away wouldn’t feel satisfying enough.

You have to suppress it on a sunny mountaintop, nag it every day, chant scriptures, try to transcend it for decades.

Cutting flesh with a dull knife for dozens of years, then finally purifying it.

You even get a good reputation for being merciful, praised by everyone.

The answer has always been right there in the stories. Pity I realized too late.”

Wen Yan was full of regret, feeling sorry for not reading more, not learning more things.

If he had understood the deeper meaning sooner, at least he wouldn’t be regretting like this now.

Tong Si stood by, her eyes suddenly clearing, lowering her head a little, pretending not to hear.

He was so spooked by Wen Yan’s interpretation that his whole body went tense. This guy really dares to say anything, not afraid at all that others might hear and talk.

Meng An looked completely baffled. Is that really how those stories are meant to be understood?

Hiss—not thinking about it, the more he thinks such wicked thoughts, the more they get inside his head.

Wen Yan held the Ghost Bone, a constant irritability gnawing at his heart. This was damage that had already been done, unfixable, unrecoverable.

If the wounds were just visible on the body, he would be fine, but this sort of harm—holding it in his hand changed everything.

Just then, a squirrel with a big fluffy tail came hopping up to the second floor.

”Doctor Meng, Scorching Sun Department people have appeared nearby.”

The big squirrel hid in the doorway; seeing Wen Yan, a flicker of fear appeared in its eyes.

Wen Yan’s burst of yang energy had been too fierce. The receptionist girl didn’t have much yin evil energy on her, but after being hit by it, she couldn’t maintain her disguise and had to revert to her real form.

Meng An glanced at Wen Yan, realizing he’d uncovered a huge secret. In this situation, he’d definitely have to help Wen Yan cover up, couldn’t let others know Wen Yan was Tuoba Martial God.

He gave Wen Yan a meaningful look, and immediately grabbed a lab coat to wear.

”I’ll handle them, you guys don’t have to worry.”

Wen Yan glanced at the big squirrel crouched in the doorway, poking out her head, still with some fear in her eyes. Judging from the voice, this must be the receptionist from earlier. He waved her over.

”Sorry, got you caught up in this. Are you hurt?”

”N-no, no problem... I’ll be fine in a bit...”

Wen Yan reached out his hand and tapped toward her. The big squirrel’s whole body froze, too scared to move, then a stream of yang energy blessed her body.

The big squirrel’s eyes opened wide, and she hurried off into the distance, rushing into a room, where she transformed back into human form and dressed again.

On the first-floor sofa, Meng An had already pulled down the rolling gate and was sitting there waiting.

When he sensed someone approaching, Meng An thought for a moment, rubbed his own face, and short black-and-white fur began to appear on his face, his head showing some features of his true form.

Hearing someone knocking at the door outside, he glanced out the window—he was familiar with the Scorching Sun Department people. He lifted the rolling gate, partially in his true form, taking the initiative.

”Did something happen? Is something stirring up trouble in the city that even Tuoba Martial God was alarmed?”

”Nothing, just a routine patrol. Everything okay here?”

”All good here, just treating a patient. Got forced back into my true form, but fortunately the patient was asleep or it would have been a nuisance if they saw.”

”As long as it’s fine. Just keep your doors closed today, and if anything happens, contact me directly.”