I Am Your Natural Enemy

Back when Wen Yan was in the Nanyang Union, a force headed south, seemingly summoned, but was intercepted, though the braid was caught.

These past few days have been spent clearing the surroundings and completing reconnaissance, confirming the main party. Today is inventory clearance.

They didn’t let Wen Yan take part in this, and the Scorching Sun Department felt there was no need for Wen Yan’s involvement either. This was part of the logistical and rear stabilization they provided when Wen Yan was out on missions.

The heavy weaponry was set up, and in the command center, someone grinned, revealing two rows of big white teeth.

”As per the planned schedule, fire towards the target coordinates.”

”Don’t hold back!”

In the dark night, the sound of breaking through the air continued to resound, and seconds later, at the target hilltop, the temple keeper sat inside the temple, staring with a grim face at the distant sky where flames appeared.

”Master, I’ve said it before, you shouldn’t get involved. This is courting death, why won’t you believe me?”

He bowed low on the prayer mat, knocking his head once.

”Years ago, you saved my life; today this life is returned to you.”

On the altar stood a statue with wide, angry eyes, dressed like the Official Robes of the Old Zhu Family; the statue’s expression seemed even more enraged, but was utterly powerless against what was about to transpire.

Representing Divine Land’s military might and the will of Divine Land’s officials, this was inherently manifested in violent expressions, crushing their temples and temple gods.

All his temples were demolished; this was the place where he found fortune, and it was also the last temple; he could go nowhere.

The sky’s flames illuminated the hilltop, and when the statue gazed upward, it seemingly saw a mass of artillery, imbued with the will of Divine Land’s officials and the fate of Divine Land, rolling down.

There was no escape, no vitality; this was no ordinary explosion.

This was the felling of mountains and destruction of temples, severing its foundations.

A crack appeared on the statue; a touch of divine light emerged, flowing out, enveloping the kneeling temple keeper and flinging him to the other side of the mountain.

The temple keeper, encased in a halo, vanished swiftly in shock.

The temple keeper who had prepared for death was sent away by the god he worshiped, conveying what he had to do last.

What they did together, now sent him to die, none shall leave without pain.

When the temple keeper felt the surrounding halo dissipate, he saw the distant mountain burst into flames, with deafening explosions.

The connection between him and the god he worshiped dissolved completely.

The divine essence there was forcibly obliterated, and the halo vanished entirely.

The explosions persisted, flames flickered; the temple keeper stared blankly into the distance, realizing what previously meant little to him—minutes were enough to erase that hilltop.

He bowed low to the ground once more, expressing a salute—he had once almost perished in the wilderness, rescued, he continued to worship and eventually became a temple keeper.

Now that he was prepared to die together, his god paid a great price to send him away.

He understood why; it was his duty to reveal everything, sparing his god from bearing it alone.

He turned away, ready to accomplish these tasks, ensuring others would follow him in burial.

He traveled for two hours, crossing a stream barely up to his ankles; just as he nearly made it, something inexplicably tripped him, causing him to stagger and hit his head on a stone, rendering him unconscious.

Despite his swoon, his face plunged downward, his body shuddered slightly, and soon he lay motionless in the water.

Moments later, a chilling wind passed, revealing his lost soul, which treaded on his corpse, crossing the stream and continuing towards the distance.

Soon, the temple keeper’s lost soul disappeared into the night.

In the distance, cars sped towards here.

A few minutes later, several off-road vehicles halted nearby; a few fully-armed soldiers disembarked, spotting the temple keeper lying by the stream.

Turning the temple keeper over, they saw his face and identified him instantly.

”Report, identity confirmed—it’s the target, already deceased.”

”Bring him back.”

”Yes.”

The body was taken away, vanishing rapidly.

...

After finishing the daily rituals, Wen Yan felt acquainted days had returned.

Previously, after daily cultivation, the routine task was transcending the Black Mountain Stone Sculpture.

Since the Black Mountain Stone Sculpture was transcended, Wen Yan felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Now the transcendence tasks had resumed, performing daily rituals; he, however, felt life had suddenly become fulfilling.

Upon returning home, washing up, and going to sleep, early the next morning, Wen Yan was awoken by a phone call.

It was his personal phone ringing, with an unfamiliar number.

He answered, hearing an ecstatic female voice over the call.

”Mr. Li, finally got through to you; I’ve been unable to reach you, worried all along. Haven’t seen you in so long; do you have time lately? If possible, remember to visit our company—your dividends for the year have arrived; do you want them deposited on which card or prefer to collect cash? Visiting our company comes with extra gifts, although if inconvenient, you can have someone collect them for you.”

Wen Yan moved the phone slightly away; before he said a word, the caller had rattled off excessively.

”You’ve dialed the wrong number.”

”Ah, sorry sir, I...”

Wen Yan hung up; only after hanging up did the words stir his memory—he seemed to have heard this somewhere before...