I Am Your Natural Enemy

Feng Yao didn't ask any questions; as long as Minister Cai agreed, he just followed orders, not like he would be the one taking the blame anyway.

Wen Yan watched as Feng Yao got everything set up. Nothing was written on the file—just a name, a bank account number, and a one-inch photo for the paperwork.

This wasn't Wen Yan fleecing the Scorching Sun Department for Pei Tugou's benefit. What he told Cai Qidong was the plain and honest truth.

If you can use this even once, ten years of subsidies is still a hell of a bargain.

At first, Wen Yan thought Pei Tugou had gotten into a fight with someone and, after winning, strung the guy up on a lamppost.

But then, after Sparrow Cat mentioned it, he realized he'd seriously underestimated Pei Tugou. It wasn't a fight at all—it was a one-sided steamroll; first encounter and he casually strangled a Professional to death.

And to pull a stunt like that midway proves that the Great Killer Star Pei Tugou actually has his own spiritual intelligence—he can make his own choices. He's not some mechanical device that just picks a target and completes a single job.

That's a big difference.

Professionals' abilities can always advance. Pei Tugou doesn't even know he has any abilities yet; looks like his activation conditions aren't too stable, but that probably won't be the case forever.

All this effort was for that little bastard son who screwed over everyone; really pulling out all the stops.

After all that, Wen Yan collapsed onto the couch.

He made a mental list of what needed doing next.

He'd taken someone's favor; can't just sit around now. He's not the kind to take money and not do the job—ruins your reputation.

The Wu Tingsheng situation finally had some clues; he could keep moving forward on that now.

Nine times out of ten, Wu Tingsheng's family's troubles are connected to He Changfeng too.

And this He Changfeng guy—he's tied to the Changfeng Group over in Yu State.

Since he promised Minister Cai, he'd eventually have to get involved with the Changfeng Group too, but he couldn't reach out first.

He needed to wait—let them make the first move, then things would go a little smoother.

Wen Yan did a few rounds of Scorching Sun Fist in the courtyard to warm up, ordered a whole table of dishes, delivered them to Pei Tugou's home, then cooked up some tangyuan himself. Consider it officially inaugurating the new kitchen.

After the meal, as Feng Yao was about to leave, Wen Yan stopped him again.

"Why are you holding me back again?"

"Doing business, obviously. Any progress, you report to Minister Cai."

"What's that got to do with me?"

"You were there, even followed me—so this is your business. If I brag to Minister Cai, he might not believe me; but if you report it as it happened, he'll definitely believe I did my utmost."

"..."

Feng Yao bared his teeth—now he finally realized Wen Yan had been waiting for him here all along.

No wonder he dragged him into this.

Zhang Laoxi was off to the side watching them clown around, thinking: Feng Yao, you're really naïve, you really thought Wen Yan pulled you along just to give you some vacation? Keep dreaming.

You got nosy, asked something you shouldn't have, got involved, so now who else is he going to find but you?

Wen Yan dragged Feng Yao along to Wu Tingsheng's mansion. This big-shot boss basically does nothing all day, pretty much retired from business, just holes up in Virtue City all the time and never goes anywhere.

Since things were finally moving, of course it was time to give the backer a heads-up.

Wu Tingsheng already knew Wen Yan was back, and someone had moved into that new mansion.

He'd wanted to pay his respects, but saw there weren't any other guests around, so he didn't go over just to be in the way.

Now that Wen Yan showed up on his own, of course Wu Tingsheng greeted him with his usual enthusiasm, hauling Wen Yan straight inside.

"There's some progress—good and bad. I came to report."

"Please, go on." Wu Tingsheng was a bit anxious, torn between hope and fear, wanting to hear the update but afraid it might be something worse.

"The missing part of your son's soul—no way to get it back. It's been too long.

He was hurt by a nasty demon—I dealt with that monster already, right on the spot.

But the new development is, I've pretty much figured out whose soul is making up the extra part in your son.

Overall, I think things are moving in a better direction.

I have some ideas, want to give them a try; depends on how you feel about it."

"What exactly do you want to do?" Wu Tingsheng's hands clenched with tension, but he quickly said, "I don't really understand these things. I'll do whatever you think is right—just tell me what to do."

"I want to try and see if I can draw out that extra soul fragment inside him.

By my guess, if it works out, he might be able to go back to how he was before.

But the main benefit is, he could possibly patch up what's missing from his soul—could even recover fully.

But this is basically a pretty dangerous operation.

After all, as I'm sure you understand, anything to do with souls is risky territory.

Up to you how you want to handle it."

"If we don't try, what happens?"

"If we don't, things will probably stay as they are for now, but who knows about the future."

Wu Tingsheng stayed silent for a long moment, deep in thought.

"If we try, will my boy be happier?"

"Based on what I know so far, if it's successful, he could actually make soul-infused paintings again."

"Then let's do it."

Wu Tingsheng stood up and bowed to Wen Yan.

"Life and death's up to fate. I think my boy would rather risk it all than spend the rest of his life stuck like this. Mr. Wen, do what you must. No matter the result, I can take it—this is my own choice."

"I'll do my best."

Wen Yan had a lot left unsaid, but Wu Tingsheng had already laid it all out so clearly, so he didn't hesitate anymore.