I Am Your Natural Enemy

”Hey, long time no see. I’ve just returned from the Netherworld, and then some Half-Ghost-God committed suicide at my doorstep, cursing me and my descendants to eat instant noodles without the seasoning packet. I’m genuinely a bit tired...”

King Guilong was taken aback.

”What?”

Wen Yan roughly explained, and King Guilong’s eyes widened.

”How come no one ever told me about these things!”

The slight resentment buried deep in his heart vanished instantly, without a trace.

So much had happened! Just today, another Half-Ghost-God had come to Virtue City, sneaking in by boat. This was outrageous! Someone, or something, was using the waterways to stir up trouble in Virtue City, and he, King Guilong, had been completely unaware.

”It’s nothing, really. Just a pitiful person who was used and couldn’t find their own way out. It’s all been dealt with now, and it’s not quite appropriate to talk about it anymore. Let’s not discuss this. How has your recovery been lately?”

”I’ve been recovering quite well. Although I’ve regressed, I feel more at peace than before. I later realized this was my Dragon Transformation Tribulation; I simply failed to pass it. Being a Flood Dragon now is quite good. I’m content with just that. I watched a video, and I think it made a good point: if you’ve never been beaten down harshly, sooner or later you’re bound to face a severe thrashing.”

”Is that so?”

”That’s roughly what it meant. That’s how I interpret it.”

Wen Yan saw that King Guilong had become calm and peaceful, which reassured him.

”Do you notice any changes in me?”

King Guilong scrutinized Wen Yan for a good while and then shook his head.

”No, I can’t see any. You just seem a bit stronger.”

”Do I seem more affable?”

”You were always quite affable...” King Guilong stated with utter honesty.

Wen Yan sighed inwardly. Right, he’d just encountered the Big Grass Carp, and they’d acted no differently than usual. That settled it. He was now almost certain that the Affinity he possessed was with everything except living creatures.

Other than living beings, the only water-related item he possessed was a Dragon Scale given to him by King Guilong.

He took the Dragon Scale out from his chest, and the moment his hand touched it, a faint light emerged from the Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman on the back of his hand.

This time, as he touched it, he could clearly feel it was a scale from an Azure Dragon, and it was a Reverse Scale, no less...

Huh? Wen Yan was slightly taken aback; he had previously assumed it was just an ordinary Dragon Scale.

Moreover, he could feel a trace of lingering sentiment attached to this Azure Dragon’s Scale, like the thoughts King Guilong had when he gave it to him. It was to help him endure a bit longer, perhaps die a little later, or even save his life.

When he closed his eyes and focused, he could also sense a pure power contained within the Reverse Scale, emanating from the Azure Dragon’s might. That power flowed along his palm—gentle and encompassing, yet also fervent and vigorous—giving him a remarkable sense of familiarity.

Wen Yan opened his eyes. Now, he roughly understood what the second effect of the Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman, Affinity, really meant. He could also begin to apprehend how profound that extremely high Affinity could be.

When he focused his mind on his possessions, he could not only perceive them clearly but also felt an innate ability to guide and control this power, despite having no conscious knowledge of how to do so. It was inexplicable, yet undeniably there.

Wen Yan lifted his head and looked at King Guilong.

King Guilong looked eagerly at him as Wen Yan caressed the Reverse Scale, an idea forming in his mind.

”I’ve just clearly sensed that this is the Azure Dragon’s Scale. You were truly generous to have given me such a thing last time. Now that I think about it, this must be fate. Although you’ve regressed, this Reverse Scale remains as it was. If I return it to you, would it be of great use?”

”It would be somewhat useful. At most, it would only reduce the time for my next Dragon Transformation by half.” King Guilong glanced at the Reverse Scale but ultimately shook his head. ”I gave it to you, so it’s yours. There’s no taking it back.”

He had come to a clear understanding during this period. He realized he might not have truly reached the stage where he was qualified for Dragon Transformation, and that being a Flood Dragon was quite good too.

”Then I’ll keep the scale. I have a special feeling and want to try something. Will you cooperate with me for an experiment?”

”Go ahead. How do you need me to cooperate?”

”Just do as I say.”

Wen Yan’s right hand covered the Azure Dragon’s Scale. He held his breath and focused, becoming increasingly concentrated. He stared at the Reverse Scale, pondering in his mind how to guide that trace of power within the Reverse Scale into his hand.

He was also chanting silently in his heart, ”You originated from King Guilong. Now that he has suffered misfortune and regressed, you are the last vestige of his strength from when he was an Azure Dragon. I believe you are that final seed. He sent you away with a kind heart. Although he failed his tribulation, he still left behind a seed. It’s time to return...”

Gradually, that wandering trace of power followed the Reverse Scale, seeping into his right hand.

In an instant, delicate green scales began to emerge on the back of his right hand, and a distinctive aura, characteristic of an Azure Dragon, manifested in his palm.

Wen Yan extended his hand toward King Guilong and gestured.

”Come on, stick your head out.”

King Guilong stared blankly, dumbfounded by Wen Yan’s hand. He didn’t understand why this was happening, why Wen Yan could draw out the power from the Reverse Scale without suffering a backlash. That power was not something a mere human body of flesh and blood could withstand.

”What are you standing there dazed for? Hurry up,” Wen Yan glared at him and snapped.

For some reason, King Guilong was reminded of a previous occasion, and then of his mother. When she was strict, her gaze was even more terrifying than Wen Yan’s current glare.

He obediently stretched out his head, and Wen Yan’s right hand, with a SLAP, hit him on the nose, making it ache.

But equally, he could feel a trace of weak yet extremely pure power infused into his body, into his Dragon Soul. He felt an irresistible urge to roar, but the sharp pain in his nose immediately stifled the sound.

He shrank his neck, feeling the sensation of transformation—just as when he had first touched the threshold of the Dragon Gate all those years ago—only this time, it was much clearer and more stable.

Wen Yan stretched out his hand, looking at the Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman on the back of his right hand, lost in thought.

”Enlighten the Flood Dragon and guide him onto the righteous path. The entire West River system will benefit, and the creatures along its banks can also be spared from future calamities, gaining an additional 9% progress.”

”Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman, current progress 29%.”

Wen Yan contemplated the Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman’s progress. It seemed his actions were indeed advancing it, just as he had thought. He didn’t even need to cultivate like a normal Taoist.

Then again, that also made sense. Who was to say that what he was doing didn’t count as cultivation? If he could guide King Guilong onto the righteous path, avoid conflicts, and preserve the peace and tranquility of the West River, that too would be an act of immense virtue.