I Am Your Natural Enemy

The faint corpse energy was captured by special equipment set up by the Scorching Sun Department, which informed their personnel, and they immediately dispatched people for manual inspection and confirmation.

This was not particularly surprising because there are actually quite a few things that can generate faint corpse energy.

Generally, by judging from the index, the corpse energy of a walking dead might not be low, and it could be something else, such as newly unearthed Ming Qi.

Members of the Scorching Sun Department on duty at the train station hurried to the scene at once. Following the guidance of the instruments, they used the station’s cameras to conduct an initial AI screening.

This was just a standard procedure, but unexpectedly, the first round of screening provided an answer.

The video highlighted an elderly man carrying a bamboo basket, appearing to have some difficulty moving, but the AI quickly assessed him, using existing extensive data, and determined that his gait closely matched that of a walking dead.

The people from the Scorching Sun Department did not alarm anyone else in the station. They equipped themselves with necessary items and, dressed in staff uniforms, approached the elderly man.

Close-range detection using portable equipment showed that the elderly man was indeed the source of the corpse energy, though it was very weak.

The two staff members exchanged glances, looked at the surrounding passersby, and immediately reported to their captain.

The order was to operate according to the standard plan, focusing mainly on close observation while ensuring no harm was posed to others, and avoiding any provocative actions.

They discreetly followed the elderly man, leaving the station together. Once outside, the staff’s ferry vehicle slowly approached, offering him a ride free of charge under the pretext of assisting passengers with mobility issues.

The elderly man looked pale and asked, ”From the government?”

”Yes, from the government, it’s free,” they replied.

Hearing this, the elderly man reluctantly agreed. At this point, a staff member behind him quickly stepped forward, assisted the man onto the ferry, and discreetly pressed a Yellow Talisman against him, as a test.

The Yellow Talisman was a standard design, capable of easily suppressing the mobility of walking dead and also restraining the actions of ordinary little ghosts.

Although its power was not significant, it was effective in most situations.

The staff’s test yielded no results, as the elderly man’s movements remained unaffected.

Meanwhile, one hand of the staff member held the elderly man’s wrist, clearly feeling that his hand was very cold, but they did manage to detect a pulse.

The pulse was notably slower than that of a normal person, and it carried a palpable weakness even perceptible to laypeople.

”Elder, where are you going?”

”Virtue City.” The elder’s eyes seemed somewhat vacant, and he took some time to reply.

”Alright, we’ll take you to the station.” The staff, without revealing that it wasn’t necessary to leave the station to reach Virtue City, requiring only an internal transfer, escorted the man under the pretense of helping purchase tickets, thereby acquiring his ID card.

The ID card ran through the machine and quickly identified his identity, simplifying the remaining procedures.

In less than twenty minutes, Wen Yan’s phone began to ring.

”Hello, is this Expert Wen Yan? I’m Xiao Liu from the Yu State Scorching Sun Department stationed at the Yu State train station.”

”Yes, this is me. What’s the matter?”

”It’s like this...” Xiao Liu recounted the situation, concluding, ”That’s about the gist of it. We’ve brought this elder to the Yu State Scorching Sun Department, but he seems to lack clarity in his consciousness. He only mentioned looking for you, but was unclear about many things.”

”Understood, I’ll be there immediately.” Wen Yan furrowed his brows, sensing an ominous feeling from the description.

From the account, he realized who it was—the wise elder from the Ye Clan Village, a learned man despite being in his seventies or eighties, still striving to learn how to use a phone.

He quickly called Feng Wei for assistance to clear a path.

Then, he checked Brother Ye’s number and called him.

Brother Ye and his group were searching everywhere for the village elder. Upon awakening in the morning to find him gone, they initially thought he was still sleeping, until someone came by later and they realized he was missing.

Wen Yan informed them, then borrowed the Nether Path, taking a shortcut through the Rakshasa Ghost Market, emerging directly from an alley in Yu State via the market’s exit.

Boarding the vehicle, he swiftly arrived at the Scorching Sun Department. Even before the door was opened, he sensed the corpse energy—a sensation distinct and second nature to him, as he was particularly sensitive to such energies, as well as to the presence of ghosts.

Without any technological aid, he could discern it.

Wen Yan extended his hand, pushed open the door, and spotted the village elder inside.

During their last meeting, though the elder’s skin was lined with wrinkles and appeared aged, he carried a serene smile, his eyes somewhat clouded with age yet bright and spirited.

It was a composure and tranquility borne from age and experience, an acceptance of everything nonsensical after a long lifetime.

Wen Yan recalled the braided girl boastfully recounting how this elder had joined the army at the age of thirteen, having been to war. By twenty, the war ended, and due to a matter involving a curse, he returned to the village.

The first time he learned to read was during his military service, motivated by a desire to understand orders and learn how to calculate shell trajectories.

He was one of the few long-lived elders in the village, where the average life expectancy was far below normal standards.

Despite his lack of formal education, past experiences endowed him with substantial wisdom for living.

However, current sight of him emitting faint corpse energy, looking quite unwell, his complexion ashen, eyes somewhat vacant, left him appearing a bit spiritless.