Two days later.
An electric motorbike stopped at the entrance of an old folks' home. Ning Tao dismounted from the motorbike, parked it and stood outside observing the entrance.
On a pillar by the side of the entrance was a board with peeling paint. On it were written the words, "Sunset Old Folks' Home." The writing was flaking and somewhat faded. Inside the entrance was a large courtyard, where there were several Banyan trees with other plants. Badly neglected, the trees were dying. Even the plants were sparse. Only weeds were flourishing, sprouting out from flower stands and crevices. Behind that courtyard was a brick building three stories high. It must be several decades old as its exterior walls were badly weathered. There was a slogan written on the wall of the third story, facing the entrance: Come to work happily, and leave safely.
This old folks' home was probably rebuilt from an abandoned textile or rotary bearings factory.
<Night had descended. Smog from Beidu enveloped the sky. One could not see the moon or the stars.Han Wei was standing on the balcony of his small maisonette, his eyes gazing at the village entrance. A country road was there without any street lamps, engulfed in darkness. He was looking quite anxious, with some uneasiness in his eyes.He was "Department Head Han" of the Sunset Old Folks' Home. The appearance of Ning Tao in the day left him uneasy, like a mouse encountering a cat. But strangely, he could not put his finger on the reason why.His small maisonette was the grandest building of the entire village, and he the wealthiest man here. His former playmates and classmates regarded him as their idol and toadied to him, hoping he could help them make money. But he did not accede to their wishes. The reason was that his fortune was made from underhanded means, and could not see daylight.Suddenly a light shone in from the road at t
Ning Tao reached out and touched Wu Moli's belly, injecting a whiff of spiritual power to try to stabilize her fetus. He was treating her inner organs from the abuse she suffered.This was the most he could do. He would not help Wu Moli resolve her problem. Every pitiful person must have committed some detestable deed. Her husband was earning a living outside and supporting the family, yet she was having an adulterous affair behind him. A crook like Han Wei had even made her pregnant. It was a kind of sin. Were he to take Wu Moli to Sky Clinic, the good-evil tripod would have showed a scowling face."Qing Zhui, take her back home. Don't wake her," Ning Tao said.Qing Zhui nodded. She went and left with Wu Moli in her arms.Ning Tao then said, "Celestial Howling, enough. Release him."Only then did the Howling Celestial Dog release Han Wei. It bared its canine fangs and glared at him, its rows of teeth gleaming coldly.
There was no contact person on the phone screen, only a number.Jiang Hao asked coldly, "Who is it?"Han Wei's voice was trembling. "I... don't know. I really don't."Jiang Hao handed the cell phone to Han Wei. "Pick up the call."Ning Tao reminded him. "If you say even a word wrong, I will no longer hold back my dog."The Howling Celestial Dog's canine mouth emitted a threatening snarl. "Growl...""I... I won't say anything wrong. I will say whatever you ask me to.""Pick up the call like you normally do," Ning Tao said. He glanced at the Howling Celestial Dog and it stopped its growls.Beep, beep, beep... beep, beep, beep...Qing Zhui and Jiang Hao also held their breaths. Jiang Hao swiped up the reception panel and touched the hands-free button.Han Wei took a deep breath. "Who is it?"The voice of a woman emerged from the cell phone. "Why
In the brightly illuminated villa, a woman was taking out wads of banknotes from her safe, as well as some U.S. currency and a passport. There was a suitcase by her side, filled with cash, valuable jewelry and luxurious watches.This woman was around 50 with ordinary looks and figure. She was plainly dressed and resembled a common street sweeper, but her small eyes gave one the impression of sinister cunning. Anyone who knew physiognomy could see that she was no kind soul.She was Hou Meiling.Knock, knock, knock...There were knocks at the door.Hou Meiling swiftly threw the last few wads from the safe into her suitcase. Then she locked the suitcase and pushed it under her bed. Only then did she walk to the door. When she reached the door, she asked in a low voice, "Who is it?""Sister Hou, it's me." From outside the door came the voice of a man. "Something cropped up."Hou Meiling opened the
Hou Meiling's eyes were full of shock and suspicion. "Who are you?"Hong Li's sight focused on Ning Tao, the expression in his eyes sharp as blades.Ning Tao ignored her and strode towards that girl.Master He fumed. "Damn, since when can every Tom, Dick or Harry enter Diecui Villa? Who are you?"Ning Tao's voice was cold. "I'm your creditor. Not only you, everyone in this house owes me a mountain of debts. Tonight is the time you people repay me.""Why are you guys in a daze? Attack him!" Master He bellowed as if mad. "I don't care what you do to the guy, but leave the two girls to me!"Ning Tao snickered and continued walking towards that girl.Hou Meiling suddenly seemed to realize something, and she bellowed at Hong Li, "Kill this person!"Hong Li misunderstood her and thought she meant the girl he was holding hostage. The military knife in his hand immediately sliced down the
It was totally silent inside the Sky Clinic. Good and evil energy were swirling inside the good-evil tripod. The amount of evil energy was still far more abundant than good energy, so much that black and white couldn't be clearly set apart.The "consultation" at Diecui Villa had earned him about 4000 points of sin of evil intention and only a few merits of good intention from that girl. Even though the significant treatment fee was a good thing for paying rent, it wasn't any good for his cultivation.A round of cultivation was completed and Ning Tao was in great pain.A huge amount of sin of evil intention had been accumulated in the good-evil tripod. With every breath he took, he would draw in a huge amount of evil energy. Once those evil energy had surpassed a certain amount, it would bring decay to his body and spirit, causing him great pain."Ah!" Ning Tao yelled in frustration. The turbulent spiritual power inside him was like
Ning Tao had fulfilled the promise to spread the news that the skull fragment from the Emei sect was with him. Still, it was also equivalent to inviting trouble. He had expected the first ones to come looking for him would be Nicholas Conway or the powers behind the Genesis Biotech Company, but...He did not expect to see Tang Zixian.She looked quite different from the one he knew. She seemed more celestial, so beautiful, as if she were completely removed from the mundane. However, Ning Tao couldn't tell whether it was the appearance of her original self or if it was the Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman at work.After all, he couldn't lift her skirt to check whether she was using the Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman. If he used his sense of smell to detect the scent of a certain area then he would be able to arrive at a conclusion. However, his senses would be violated and it would also be embarrassing. Also, he was the owner of the Sky Clinic.
It was none other than Lin Qingyu inside the Maserati. He was thinking of her just before he took Hu Xiaoji to school, yet he did not expect that she would appear out of the blue before him.A few months back, Lin Qingyu was taken from the Guan City rental apartment by Lin Qinghua and was never heard from again. Ning Tao had thought of her more than once. He had also analyzed her situation many times, but still failed to arrive at a conclusion. Then she suddenly appeared before him, still as youthful and beautiful as before, as if she had only left for a vacation.The corners of Lin Qingyu's lips turned upwards, revealing a somewhat cheeky smirk. "Why? Don't you recognize me anymore?"Ning Tao then made full sense of what was going on. "Qingyu, when did you return?"Lin Qingyu continued, "I've already been back for a few days. Let's find some place to have some drinks. I want to talk to you, is it okay?"Ning Tao didn'