I Am Your Natural Enemy

Soon, panic began to spread, but for most people, as long as they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they didn't really feel much.

By the afternoon, a short video shot right up at a patient's face was uploaded, and then—thanks to big data—delivered straight to an influencer who thrived on anti-establishment traffic, and the hype got started.

Within two hours, more and more locals in Virtue City who stumbled upon that sensational video started to get anxious.

With people continually organizing the evacuation, the whole process started to go much more smoothly.

Wen Yan scrolled through the videos, clicking his tongue in amazement—no wonder Cai Heizi used this move, this kind of hype really worked wonders.

He packed up his own valuables, took Pei Tugou's family, and had them get into a car arranged by Wu Tingsheng, letting them leave first.

He wanted to bring Old Zhao and the five brothers too, but Old Zhao would rather die than leave, so Wen Yan could only have the five brothers dismember Old Zhao, seal him inside a Jade Talisman, then pull out a Jade Pot, stuff Old Zhao's talisman in, and have the five brothers go inside to keep an eye on him.

A day went by, and once night fell, Virtue City suddenly became desolate—the shops were closed, hardly a single car in sight.

But the evacuation continued.

Early next morning, Wen Yan drove through the streets, watching the wind blow leaves and litter down the road, suddenly realizing that if no one cleaned up for just one day, even the cleanest streets could get this messy with trash and leaves.

The field agents armed to the teeth began going building by building, street by street.

They didn't even need to knock door to door. With their mobile stations, thermal imagers, and all kinds of gear cranked up, they swept through—catching anyone left behind or hiding.

By the second day after the evacuation began, overall progress had already exceeded expectations.

None of this really had much to do with Wen Yan, and he couldn't get involved even if he wanted to.

He was working with the people from Scorching Sun Department, combing through huge stacks of info Liu Qiying had brought over, trying to spot anything useful inside.

Based on his experience these past few days, some of these generated Temporary Abilities seemed to have appeared before.

He needed to do his homework ahead of time, so if the Natural Enemy Profession ended up generating the corresponding ability, he wouldn't be left clueless about its use.

...

Amid mist-shrouded mountains.

An old Taoist with silver hair and beard sat by the edge of a cliff. Behind him was a high-standard, sprawling Dharma Altar spanning over a thousand meters. The wind roared, but the old man sat lotus-style, motionless. Not even a single sheet of paper on the altar behind him fluttered.

Behind him, a purple-robed Taoist approached.

"Heavenly Master, the Scorching Sun Department has extended another invitation."

The old Taoist opened his eyes and glanced at the sea of clouds before the cliff.

"What's happening here cannot afford the slightest failure.

I've already calculated the last matter—if I acted, it wouldn't have changed a thing.

This time it's just a demon from the Foreign Domain.

So what if it can't die, it's still useless."

The purple-robed Taoist looked somewhat helpless.

"Heavenly Master, that's exactly what I said, but the Scorching Sun Department—they can't bet the lives of a whole city."

"Just deliver my Magic Sword. When the time comes, I'll set up the altar and perform the rites from here. For an ignorant demon, it has no idea why, after all these years, none of those so-called demons or devils dare set foot in the Divine Land."

A Wooden Sword flew out, landing in the purple-robed Taoist's hand.

"Understood." The purple-robed Taoist offered a salute and left with the Magic Sword.

The Heavenly Master walked to the edge of the cliff, gazing at the churning sea of clouds. He gently stomped his foot, and the candles atop the Dharma Altar suddenly burst into brilliant flame. Thunder boomed within the sea of clouds, lightning flashing and rumbling. After a few breaths, tranquility returned.

The Old Celestial Master continued to sit at the cliff's edge, eyes closed, breathing and meditating, unmoving.

...

After one day, apart from staff, Virtue City was almost entirely empty.

As time drew near, even the regular field agents began to withdraw from the city proper.

An enormous city—with over a million people—was evacuated within two intense days, everyone gone in chaotic but orderly fashion.

Around Virtue City, within a hundred li radius, everyone was evacuated. At the hundred-li border, Scorching Sun Department set up blockades at all key routes.

"Don't worry too much. As long as you let go, there's no problem that can't be solved."

Seventh Great-Uncle Master comforted Wen Yan by his side.

"Just in time to slay a devil and boost your health." Eighth Uncle-Master Ancestor was more direct.

Wen Yan hadn't even spoken, but already these two Uncle-Masters turned up. With so much movement here, they'd have to be dense not to notice.

"I've looked over those documents. Have you ever wondered, why things are so wild out there, they've been fighting the Church for over a thousand years, but here—there's almost nothing?" Seventh Great-Uncle Master asked.

"Why?"

"Looking at those records, I remembered an old entry from our Fuyu Mountain. It matches up with those so-called devils and demons.

Back when the Sacred Fire Sect was just starting, their teachings and rituals were all over the place.

At that time, the land where the Demon Kingdom now sits was full of small states.

The Demon Kingdom wanted to unify all those little countries around them, and among the things they worshipped was a demon.

Our original grudge with the Sacred Fire Sect started when the Thirteenth Ancestor nearly refined that unkillable demon to death.

The demon escaped far away and was never seen again—which was the beginning of our feud with Sacred Fire Sect.

Looking at new records today, by all descriptions, that demon fled west—clear to the farthest west.

After a few centuries, it likely recovered enough, and started clashing with the Church."

Wen Yan was a bit stunned—seriously, there was such a thing?

Eighth Uncle-Master Ancestor curled his lips, a bit dismissive.

"Those demons, honestly, mostly don't like coming around the Divine Land, probably because of some not-so-pleasant memories—enough to last them many, many years. If it hadn't been for..."

"Eighth Uncle-Master Ancestor, if it hadn't been for what?"

"If the Thirteenth Ancestor hadn't died young, Fuyu Mountain would have at least two Demon King skulls in our collection right now." Eighth Uncle-Master Ancestor answered lightly.

Wen Yan studied Eighth Uncle-Master Ancestor, feeling like that wasn't what he was originally about to say.

Before Wen Yan could ask more, Eighth Uncle-Master Ancestor pulled out a rough, deep red stone the size of a baby's fist from his sleeve and handed it over.

"This is Scorching Sun Jade from the inventory—named by the Thirteenth Ancestor himself. It's way more effective than Blood Warm Jade, keep it on you for protection."

Then Seventh Great-Uncle Master thrust a wooden box with a shoulder strap at Wen Yan.

"Wear it for protection and don't lose it—it needs to be returned later."

"What is it?"

"The current Heavenly Master's Magic Sword."