I Am Your Natural Enemy

After midnight struck, Wen Yan pulled out the Gray Cloth that had been hiding in the box to rest.

”Come on, it’s a new day now. You think transformation is that easy? Keep going, let me see where your limit is.”

With Gray Cloth in hand, he cultivated relentlessly until sunrise. When the sun was up and all the students at home had finished breakfast and left for school,

Wen Yan was going to continue his training, but found that Gray Cloth had already disappeared somewhere to rest again.

Since he wasn’t sleepy at all, he just continued and pulled out Black Mountain, and kept transcending him.

Lately things had piled up, and bitter cultivation took time, so he’d been transcending Black Mountain less frequently than before.

After finishing today’s quota of transcendence, he finally called up Granny Fox.

”Hello, Grandma...”

”Wen Yan, is it urgent?”

”Not really.”

”Then wait a minute, let me pay first... Hey, hey, you in front, what are you doing cutting in line? Such a grown person, how can you be so shameless... We agreed to queue, max fifty per person...”

Wen Yan stared at his hung up phone, thinking about the voice he’d vaguely overheard on the call.

He thought, Old Lady Fox was really getting more down-to-earth with age—she’d even started scrambling for eggs at the supermarket in the morning.

After a few minutes, Granny Fox called back.

”Hello, Wen Yan, what’s up? I just went and snatched some proper free range eggs, pretty cheap too.”

”You really keep a healthy routine, Grandma.”

”Moving around more does no harm.”

”I’ve got something I want to consult you about.”

”Go ahead.”

”Third Brother Hu, Grandma, do you know about him?”

”Yeah, I’m the one who sent him in myself. He thrashed a street-smart Siberian tiger up in the Northeast, a Northeast leopard, and even a member of a Golden Eagle family—crippled them all.

By the time that happened, the reason didn’t actually matter much anymore.

He’s one of the few remaining Tu Shan bloodlines after all—I couldn’t just stand by and watch him get beaten to death.

When I found out, I sent him to turn himself in at the Scorching Sun Department.

Got thirty-eight years. Won’t get out for at least thirty years.

If he sits for another ten-plus years and behaves, they might let him out.”

”Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

Wen Yan pondered for a moment and said,

”Evil Suppression Detention Center—last night, someone broke in to jailbreak. One of their targets was Third Brother Hu. I can’t share more details.”

”That’s fine, that’s enough. Whatever you want to know, just ask.”

”Alright, thanks, Grandma.”

After she hung up, Granny Fox carried the fresh free-range eggs she’d just bought, and instead of walking, just called a car right home.

When she got home, she looked at her dumb grandson.

”Pack up your things. I’ve got something to take care of, and I’m sending you somewhere else for a while.”

While having her grandson pack, Granny Fox deftly boxed up some of her own things at home as well.

Then she grabbed her phone, scrolled through her contact list, thought for a long time, and in the end, called Wen Yan again.

”Wen Yan, I’ve got a favor to ask.”

”Go ahead, Grandma.”

”I need to go out for a bit. I don’t feel safe leaving my grandson at home alone.”

This silly kid could get sold off and still help count the money.

I want to leave him at your place for a while, is that alright?

No need to look after him too much, just don’t let him starve.”

If he dares act up, just break one of his legs.

Don’t go easy—if you don’t break his leg, when I’m back I’ll break both.”

”No problem, just send him over. My house has a steward, knows how to take care of people, cooks great food too, though the taste is a bit geared towards Guanzhong County. Not sure if your boy can get used to it.”

”He’ll get used to it. If he’s picky, beat him within an inch of his life.”

After hanging up, Granny Fox let out a long breath.

The Little Fox poked half his head out the doorway. Listening to this, he started to sense something was wrong.

”Grandma, did something happen?”

”Nothing. You’ll go stay in Virtue City for a while. Even if the sky falls, it won’t crush you. There’s something I need to take care of, I won’t have time for you.”

”Oh...” The Little Fox was naive, inexperienced—but not truly stupid.

He could guess something big was definitely up—otherwise, his grandma wouldn’t go raiding eggs at the supermarket, then take a cab home, spending more on fare than she saved.

Before this, his grandma always despised that sort of behavior...

On the other side, after Wen Yan hung up, even though Granny Fox hadn’t said it straight out, he basically understood. Most likely she was worried Little Fox might be in danger. After all, that tail of his was just too distinctive.

Wen Yan glanced around at his own already bustling household. Whatever, he thought, when you’re covered in lice, what’s one more? One more person, one more pair of chopsticks is all.

Wen Yan took the job and didn’t think much more about it. Virtue City had some reputation these days. Anyone not looking for death probably wouldn’t dare come close.

With Gray Cloth nowhere to be found, Wen Yan gave up on morning practice for now, and from the Nether Path arrived at Guanzhong County.

He found Lord Zhu to act as a go-between and soon located the family he needed, and discussions about setting up the stele went smoothly.

By noon, he arrived at the northern part of Guanzhong County City—a lush and lively spot backed by hills and facing water. Wen Yan looked at the grave marker, lit incense with his own Yang Energy, waved the flame out, and stuck it in front of the mound.

Then, using equipment, he hoisted the grave marker straight up, and dug out the stone sculpture beneath.

This sculpture was badly weathered. At first glance it looked like a small beast curled up tightly, sound asleep, but the details were now indistinct—you couldn’t even tell exactly what it was.

At this moment, a prompt flashed in Wen Yan’s mind.

”Wild Fox Spirit stone carving.

From a primordial era neither worshipped nor vilified, and not yet mingled with the secular world.

Fox demons called ’jing’—collectively, wild fox spirits.

Can eat people, but eating people does not transmit Gu insects.”

Wen Yan put away the stone carving. He more or less understood now why people were looking for Third Brother Hu.

And also understood why Granny Fox wanted to send the probably-not-yet-fully-healed Little Fox to his place.

Setting down the stele and righting it, Wen Yan looked at the name carved upon it, and smiled.

”Thank you. Just a small token. Please accept it.”

He reached out and blessed the stele with innate Yang Energy, then used Yang Energy again to trace over the Tomb Master’s name on the stone.

Scholar Tu was right—being buried here certainly brings fortune to the descendants. The Tomb Master’s descendants would benefit plenty, and this would even link some karma. How they made use of it, though, was up to them.

With these arrangements done and about to leave, Wen Yan faintly heard a tiny thanks from within the tomb, and was asked to wait a moment.

He turned his head and saw, on the mound behind the stele, a thin book had appeared silently out of nowhere.

On the pages, two large words were written: Burial Scripture.