I Am Your Natural Enemy

Early in the morning, Wen Yan came to the hospital and, as usual, brought a box of Soothing Milk for the Fox Demon. This was mainly out of concern for the Fox Demon’s new, fragile body. It might indeed be at risk of receiving a critical illness notice due to lactose intolerance.

As of today, the Demon Fox had awakened and been transferred to a regular ward, able to eat on her own. Aside from the milk, Wen Yan also brought her a bowl of Wonton Soup. Watching the Demon Fox gobble it down, seemingly without chewing, Wen Yan noted that eating manners appeared to be of no concern to her. Wen Yan probably understood that in the Great Wilderness, such eating habits might even be considered refined.

After the Demon Fox finished eating, Wen Yan sat beside the hospital bed, peeling an orange, and casually asked, ”Your consciousness is clear now, right? Well, I have something to ask you.”

”Ask away. I definitely won’t hide anything I know from you,” the Demon Fox replied crisply, a habitual trace of a smile on her face, showing a hint of seductiveness.

”What’s your name?”

The question caught the Demon Fox off guard; she hadn’t expected it. She hesitated for a moment, then said, ”My surname is Bai, my given name is Jiahui.”

”I’m Wen Yan,” he introduced himself as well. Just asking for a name seemed to make Bai Jiahui relax considerably.

”Mainly, I want to ask you, who was hunting you before you came here? What’s his name, and does he have any distinctive features?”

”That guy definitely can’t come over here.”

”Don’t be so certain. Before this, had you ever imagined you would come here in such a manner?”

Bai Jiahui thought hard and shook her head. She really had never imagined that the legends and little stories her elders told her were true. If she hadn’t been driven to desperation, she wouldn’t have responded to that distant, ancient, and even rather crude summoning. As she expected, although the summoning helped her rebuild her physical body, it came with significant flaws. If Wen Yan hadn’t saved her, she would definitely have been doomed. Her current body was far inferior to what it used to be, perhaps even worse than a newborn Little Fox. She considered seriously, what if that guy really could come over here?

”In the Great Wilderness, one must not casually tell others their name or call out someone else’s name. Surnames, clan names, given names, and courtesy names are the most direct mediums for pinpointing someone. Some entities can very easily locate a specific individual through these. So, many beings actually lack complete surnames and names. I can’t speak his name directly here; it could indeed lead him to me.”

”A canine type, right?”

”His name does contain the character for ’dog,’ but he doesn’t look like a dog at all.”

”What are the other characters in his name?”

”He’s usually called Chi. He is the Natural Enemy of the Fox Clan, and there exists a blood feud between him and our clan. My great-great-grandmother died at his hands.

That year, during the great full moon, Emperor’s Syrup fell in Qing Qiu, a rare festive occasion for the Fox Clan. Foxes performed Moon Worship, and many Little Foxes were born on that day. Little Foxes born after drinking Emperor’s Syrup could turn out to be rare geniuses. It was also a rare opportunity to reverse the generational dilution of our bloodline. My clan hadn’t seen a Nine-tailed Fox for a very, very long time.

That year, the world’s colors changed, and The Last Dharma suddenly descended. The original great full moon, in less time than it takes to eat a meal, was suddenly tainted by a blood moon with his arrival. With this ill omen, nearly all the Little Foxes born that day perished in the ensuing battle.

My great-great-grandmother fought that guy, and both suffered grievous injuries. She clung to life for three days before succumbing to her injuries, and that guy, also severely wounded, vanished without a trace.

It wasn’t until this year, when he showed clear signs of recovery, that the guy reappeared. He came to kill me, and to avoid involving others, I left Qing Qiu.”

Wen Yan silently listened to Bai Jiahui recount these events. He had suspected before that it was certainly no accidental encounter. Otherwise, Bai Jiahui wouldn’t have responded to the summoning so decisively, willing to abandon her physical body to come here.

”What else?”

”I am the only Demon Fox born during that brief period of the great full moon that year who is still alive. All the rest were killed by him. If he kills and devours me, he can complete an advancement, growing even stronger. That would be far more effective than killing ten thousand other foxes. As long as I escaped, he definitely wouldn’t waste time targeting other foxes.

Now that I’m over here, he will definitely try to find a way to come, though I can’t think of any way he could do that. Without a summoning, without a marker, there’s only a path that can’t really be called a path.

That portal doesn’t belong to the Qing Qiu foxes; it’s from Tu Shan. Tu Shan has been silent for many, many years, with no news of any activity there. But it’s not a place where anyone can just force their way in. That cur wouldn’t dare go there, and even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to find the path.

I just don’t know what method he’s using now to extend his power over here. He certainly wouldn’t risk it in the short term. I had a summoning and a marker, and I still came over at great risk. Crossing that portal inevitably led to the destruction of one’s physical body. He wouldn’t accept such a result. If his physical body were destroyed, it would be tantamount to his path forward being severed and his life’s power turning to nothing.”

”Got it. You rest well and don’t worry about anything else. If you have any problems, call me.” Wen Yan left a mobile phone and showed Bai Jiahui how to use it and how to make calls.