I Am Your Natural Enemy

Clearly it’s ashes, yet it seems just like when it wasn’t burnt; it won’t crumble even if you touch it.

”Is it the same as last time?”

The Little Fire Seed repeatedly indicated it was the same.

Wen Yan’s brows slightly furrowed; he felt something was off. If a similar incident happened more than a year ago and appeared to be handled very cautiously, why is that person so reckless this time?

Wen Yan walked out from inside.

”Mao Dan, tell me what you know.”

”That night, I happened to pass by and saw that guy, he seemed to have picked up something, like gold.

Then he immediately came back here, I watched him pick up a lighter and light the fire.

He burned down the entire shop, yelling something which I couldn’t quite hear.”

”Did you tell the Scorching Sun Department about this?”

”I haven’t told anyone.” At this point, Mao Dan was a bit embarrassed: ”Back then, I thought he had picked up some gold; I also lingered nearby, hoping to find something.”

Wen Yan said nothing, and Mao Dan seemed to realize how absurd it seemed, hesitated, and sighed.

”Honestly, I was planning to steal something from this shop.

My daughter was hospitalized at the time, and our family was in a dire situation; her children were not dutiful.

Seeing her suffering due to worry about the surgery costs, I couldn’t bear it.

I’m not skilled in anything, recalled this place was quite secluded, with a workshop, I thought of stealing something.

Who would’ve thought, I encountered that guy committing arson.

I didn’t dare tell the Scorching Sun Department anything. When I was young, due to some issues, my daughter was implicated.

If she’s involved now and the Scorching Sun Department starts questioning her, I... alas...”

Only then did Wen Yan understand that the person before him was actually an old ghost, merely maintaining the age he died at on the outside.

”What’s your daughter’s name?”

Mao Dan directly reported the ID number.

Wen Yan checked; good heavens, Mao Dan’s daughter was already eighty, with a lot of underlying health issues, hospitalized several times this year due to two or three illnesses, undergoing conservative treatments due to her age.

”I’ll ask someone to check on her later, though there are a lot of underlying issues...”

Upon hearing this, Mao Dan quickly said.

”I understand, it’s human nature to experience life and death.

My family never had much education, starting with me, always suffering due to lack of knowledge.

My grandson’s generation, the highest education was a high school diploma.

However, my great-granddaughter is a good student, and in half a year she’ll be taking the college entrance exams.

My daughter’s only wish now is to see a true college graduate in the family before she closes her eyes.

If we could delay until then, I... I...”

Saying this, Mao Dan was about to kneel before Wen Yan.

Wen Yan quickly pulled him up, glancing at the data, though there are many underlying illnesses, her spirit is still strong, barring any unforeseen circumstances, living another year shouldn’t be a problem.

”I’ll find someone to ask about it later, I’m not a doctor, so my words aren’t reliable.”

Hearing Wen Yan’s words, Mao Dan actually felt more at ease.

He trusted Wen Yan’s reputation; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken the initiative to come forward this time. He also believed Wen Yan definitely wouldn’t send him to the Scorching Sun Department.

Even though the help offered was minimal, Wen Yan was willing to help him readily, eliminating Mao Dan’s last bit of apprehension.

Gritting his teeth, he began to speak on the main topic he wanted to discuss this time.

”Actually, I came this time to speak to you about another matter.

I heard you wanted to inquire about things here, so I came.

I recently needed money, but couldn’t steal or rob, and a fellow ghost told me a method.

There’s a small town over a hundred kilometers north of the County Town, with a God of Wealth’s Temple there.

Worship the God of Wealth, and if devout enough, you can receive True Nether Coins.

I once helped a gambler, and he told me this.

I even went to worship once, and on the way back, I saw a gold ingot on the roadside.

It was one of those joss paper gold ingots, True Nether Coins that can be exchanged for money.

Seeing that thing reminded me, the shine was exactly like the one I saw that person pick up.

I realized then, genuine gold dropped at night wouldn’t shine so conspicuously in the dirt.

It’s a gold ingot folded from gold paper!

I resisted the temptation and didn’t pick it up.

Later, I secretly watched the ghosts visiting the God of Wealth’s Temple.

Some just received a little benefit, while others suddenly vanished, gone.

Today, even a gambler disappeared, his creditors can’t find him.”

Mao Dan finished speaking, as if drained of energy.

Wen Yan glanced and knew Mao Dan was already prepared for the worst.

Who knows what’s tangled up behind all this; if there were retaliation, it would likely steer clear of humans, but retaliating against Mao Dan as a ghost, certainly plausible.

Wen Yan looked again at the ashes in his hand, pondering.

Paper money, God of Wealth’s Temple, it really is related to money.

From what he gathered, those disappearing were all ghosts, so it hadn’t gained much attention.

After all, ghostly vanishings are far too common.

Passions dispelled may dissipate, if too weak, exposure to sunlight might dissipate them, fighting dissipating ghosts is quite rare.

As Wen Yan contemplated, intending to bring Mao Dan to Lord Zhu, he saw black smoke begin to emerge from Mao Dan’s body, as if deconstructing his ghostly form, teeth gritted.

”Mr. Wen, my daughter’s matter, I entrust it to you.”

Wen Yan swiftly intervened, bestowing a blessing of Yang Energy on Mao Dan, significantly slowing his ghostly form’s disintegration.

Grasping in his pocket, Wen Yan retrieved a pastry and directly stuffed it into Mao Dan’s mouth.

By now, Wen Yan understood why Mao Dan seemed so determined; he already knew leaking information would mean certain death.

Wen Yan extended his hand, placing it on Mao Dan’s back, the fierce Yang Energy suppressing the black smoke gradually.

He chuckled ruefully while observing the black smoke being quelled.

He thought he held some reputation in Guanzhong County, but little did he know, there’s actually something bold enough to strike so brazenly right before his eyes.