I Am Your Natural Enemy

”As long as there are no other issues.” Wen Yan placed the box of chocolates back into the sealed container.

”I advise you not to overthink this, nor invest too much effort into research.

People use their lifespan as consumables, maybe three months of life to turn into a gold coin.

Eating this gold coin, you’re unlikely to even gain a month’s lifespan.

Once some things start, it’s hard to stop.

After the formation of interest groups, it’s even more impossible to stop.

The ancestors have warned several times before.

Individuals doing this have a limited impact, but when organizations do it, the nature is entirely different.”

”Oh, Old Meng, you’ve gained quite the insight since you came in, haven’t you?”

”I’m just a wandering merchant. Of course, I hope our Divine Land can be a bit stronger, and the Scorching Sun Department becomes stronger steadily. This way, even if I’m making trouble outside, I have no way out. When I come back to confinement, those dogs outside can only watch helplessly, unable to touch a hair on me.”

Wen Yan laughed heartily. Old Meng is refreshingly clear-headed.

Indeed, recently, when outsiders have challenged the Scorching Sun Department, no one’s gone to face them. The diplomats just retaliated verbally directly.

The times have changed.

”Alright, continue your reformation. This place has regular routines, and you seem healthier.

Maybe when you come out, you might live a couple more years.

Oh, and there’s one more thing, do you know if there’s any demon in Nanyang?”

”Nanyang is full of demons. Over there, even the heretical cultivators’ ancestral artifacts are possibly demon skulls. You don’t know even that?”

”...”

Wen Yan’s face turned dark.

In Divine Land, if a demon is discovered, even the Wudang Sect Leader would personally come down to snatch it.

How could he know that the heretical cultivators in Nanyang are so brazen?

”Is it really that outrageous?”

”What’s so outrageous? Some ordinary people over there can point you to some master or other.

The culture, customs, and social atmosphere differ vastly. They don’t see the need to hide it.

Do you think everywhere is like the Three Mountains and Five Ridges?

Inside Divine Land, demons are nearly extinct, not daring to show themselves, why?

Isn’t it because hundreds of years ago, there were relentless people who chased demons down for sixty years straight?

If these demons had even a little sense, they’d know to be afraid.”

”Alright...”

Wen Yan fell silent, deciding to check the records himself later, as Old Meng couldn’t be concise and clear about it.

Upon returning from the detention center, Wen Yan immediately took the little girl, said to have less than two months to live, away.

He hadn’t even left the Scorching Sun Department when Feng Yao told him that the thing he was previously asked for help with had indeed been found out by some, and even a few not-so-rational internal staff knew about it.

One of them even privately praised Feng Yao intensely during a chat.

After reading the Sage Diagram, hearing such praise only made Feng Yao feel he could almost hide away in embarrassment.

Wen Yan didn’t mind. He’s just a tool at this point.

On the way back, the frail little girl sat next to him, staring out the car window, with no apparent will to live.

After traveling halfway, the little girl finally turned her head to look at Wen Yan.

”Brother Wen, can you tell me how many years my dad might get?”

”How would I know that? I’m just here because I was invited to take you to see a doctor. I’m often teased for being clueless without common knowledge, so don’t make it hard for me with such questions.”

”...” The little girl was momentarily stunned.

She actually didn’t know why her father was arrested, just guessing it was something big.

By asking how many years, she could gauge how severe the situation was.

But she hadn’t expected Wen Yan to shut down the question so directly.

She hesitated for a while, unsure of how to continue.

Looking at the little girl, Wen Yan, feeling the Heart Fire burning in his chest, thought for a moment and decided to offer some comfort.

”Don’t overthink it. The grown-ups’ issues are their own.

Your concern should only be how to cooperate with the treatment.

Think about yourself. If you only have two months to live.

No matter how your dad’s situation pans out, you won’t see it.”

”If I had died earlier, perhaps my dad wouldn’t have been caught...” The little girl’s gaze was empty, murmuring to herself.

”What kind of nonsense are you talking about?

I’m taking you to see a very skilled doctor.

If you cooperate well and get treated, it’ll be invaluable experience.

This is meritorious.

I heard you’re very smart, so you should understand I’m not deceiving you.

Instead of overthinking, why not ponder where you went before your illness?

Encountered any abnormal people or things or any peculiar events.

To put it bluntly, even if you pass away in two months.

If you can think of something important now, it could count as meritorious for your dad.”

Although Wen Yan wasn’t very polite, the astute little girl understood that the more he told it like it is, the more it was true.

”Alright, I’ll listen to Brother Wen, do you have paper and a pen?”

Wen Yan took out a tablet next to him and handed it to the little girl.

She didn’t cry or make a fuss. After a brief moment of confusion, she started thinking and recording as Wen Yan suggested.

Recollecting while jotting down everything she could from over half a year ago.

Even though she didn’t exactly understand why Wen Yan was asking her to do this.

Wen Yan remained silent. He actually understood her current psychological state better than those in the Scorching Sun Department, because he’d been through it.

He needed to give her something to do, something worthwhile.

Arriving in Virtue City, Wen Yan didn’t go home, directly taking the little girl to Wei’s Medical Hall.

Wei Jing was lying on a recliner, holding a phone, looking at who knows what.

”Old Wei, there’s a patient, could you take a look?”

Wei Jing raised his head, and as the little girl stepped within three meters of him, he slightly frowned.

”She’s quite ill, hasn’t she been to a hospital?”

”She has, but the hospital said just go home and eat whatever she wants.”

”...” Wei Jing glanced at Wen Yan and couldn’t help laughing, unsure if it was out of annoyance or amusement.

”Then why bring her here?”

”A last-ditch attempt, worth a try. Among the people I know, you’re the best at healing.”

Wei Jing wanted to say it seemed a bit much to say this in front of a child.

But upon seeing the girl laugh herself, Wei Jing sighed and chose not to say anything.

A patient has come, after all, you don’t refuse before examining.

”Have a seat, let me take a look first.”

First, Wei Jing assessed the girl’s overall condition, then asked a few questions before taking her pulse.

A few minutes later, Wei Jing released her wrist.

”How is it? Can it be treated?”

”It can be treated, but it’s a bit troublesome.”

”What’s her illness?”

”Parasite infection.”

”Huh???” Wen Yan’s eyes widened: ”I may not be poorly educated, so don’t fool me!”