I Am Your Natural Enemy

Qing Xuzi quickly called the Great Demons who were obviously not the target, telling them to stay home and not come out to watch the excitement. They shouldn’t just come to watch the excitement, misunderstand the situation, and then mistakenly think someone is attacking, rashly trying to help a neighbor, only to end up being used as a shield.

Qing Xuzi thought that the Great Demons in seclusion at Qingcheng should be relatively peaceful, having completely shed their wild nature, possibly even more peaceful than most people.

But with Wen Yan’s arrival, he didn’t dare to guarantee that all Great Demons were like that.

He quickly had two Ghosts carry a bamboo sedan chair, transporting him swiftly through the mountains as he dialed numbers on his cell phone.

Fortunately, he had embraced modern scientific inventions before and had even proactively provided every Great Demon in seclusion at Mount Qingcheng with a mobile phone and charging equipment, saying it was for easy contact.

Now, it was proving incredibly handy.

After making several calls in a row, Qing Xuzi felt much more relieved.

He could accept it if it was just one Great Demon, but he feared that an entire nest might accidentally get wiped out.

「...」

Wen Yan, leading his group up the mountain path, soon arrived deep within a bamboo forest.

There stood a bamboo cottage, covered with fallen bamboo leaves, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. It was quite simple and rustic.

In the small courtyard before the bamboo house, an old man with his white hair tied up and a white beard, wearing a robe, sat boiling tea on a small charcoal stove.

Upon seeing Wen Yan and his party, he revealed a slight smile and gestured with his hand.

”Visitors are guests. Please, have a seat.”

Upon seeing the man, Wen Yan immediately received a prompt.

”Glutton (Human Nature) (1/5)”

”One of the five parts into which the Glutton has split.

He is the manifestation of a sliver of humanity that the Ferocious Beast cultivated after many years among humans.

He represents the part that contains human nature.”

”What to do is up to you, up to him.”

”Temporary Abilities:

1: Slaughtering Dragon Platform

2: Bone-Scraping Knife.”

Wen Yan was secretly shocked. These corresponding Temporary Abilities... they’re actually different?!

He didn’t need to examine the Slaughtering Dragon Platform, so he switched his focus to the Bone-Scraping Knife to take a glance.

”Originating from a physician’s bone-scraping technique, with the patient’s cooperation, it can scrape the bone to remove most afflictions from the patient’s body.”

After carefully considering this information, Wen Yan waved to the others, motioning for them to wait outside.

Wen Yan walked in himself and sat opposite the old man.

The old man’s demeanor was serene, his eyes held a trace of worldly weariness, and his movements were steady and unhurried, exuding an air of composed tranquility.

He warmed a cup and poured tea for Wen Yan.

”This is tea I grew myself in the bamboo forest. Though not from any famous old mountain, it’s crisp, refreshing, and subtly pleasant. Moreover, this is a new tea from the last few days. It has a slight astringency, but the aftertaste is even better. If you don’t mind, please have a taste.”

Wen Yan smiled, showed no hesitation, lifted the teacup in acknowledgement, and savored it carefully.

”Indeed. There’s nothing overpowering in its flavor; all aspects are very well balanced.”

The old man, seeing Wen Yan’s composed demeanor, showed no hesitation himself and wasn’t at all worried about Wen Yan playing any tricks. He offered a slight smile and said, ”I have sensed the other parts. It seems the others, after all, couldn’t restrain themselves and have committed grave mistakes.”

”Yes. He devoured organs donated by kind-hearted people at their time of death, organs that contained the great vows they made in their final moments.”

Upon hearing this, the old man’s gaze trembled slightly; he was still somewhat shocked.

He had assumed they merely reverted to cannibalism, but this was far worse.

”Supreme Taiyi Savior Heavenly Master...”

The old man closed his eyes slightly, chanting the holy name, and sighed softly, ”I once counseled them that in this Human Era, one must not act against the Mandate of Heaven.

”The last time, they suffered a great calamity, yet somehow, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of survival remained.

”That was a chance for life, but also a shackle.

”By assuming the name of a Dragon Son and vanishing into obscurity with the dragons, they could avoid that calamity.

”But once the name of Dragon Son is shouldered, it can never be shed.

”This name is a path to surviving the calamity, yet it is also a blade hanging over their heads.

”If they didn’t seize this opportunity to completely reform and walk the righteous path, then eventually, the day would come when this blade would fall, and there would be no more chances for life.

”They seemed to heed my counsel back then. But now, it appears they still couldn’t resist, couldn’t control their true nature.

”Then let it all end here.”

The old man sat still, closed his eyes, and seemed prepared to accept his fate.

Wen Yan looked at the old man and cupped his hands.

”I am Wen Yan. May I ask how I should address you, Senior?”

”I am merely a demon dwelling alone in this bamboo forest, without name or surname. You may call me the Bamboo Forest Demon.”

”You are quite free-spirited, Senior.”

”I was once a part of him. I roamed the human world, studied scriptures, and witnessed suffering.

”I have heard scholars lecture with hearts as bright as the morning sun, and I have listened to the resonant, enlightening words of venerable elders.

”Though I was never fully reformed by their teachings, a seed was nonetheless planted within me.

”The beauty of poetry, the incisive edge of prose, the brilliant True Intent within writings—I have witnessed them all.

”After all, I have truly experienced this human world.

”I have seen and experienced more than most.

”Truly, I have no regrets.

”As long as my body remains Immortal, he is not truly gone.

”I came into being because of him. Today, I shall return this life to him, and so, it will be complete.”

The Bamboo Forest Demon’s expression was tranquil, his eyes peaceful. There was no struggle, no regret.

Wen Yan knew the Bamboo Forest Demon had made his choice.

Now, it was Wen Yan’s turn to make his.