Ning Tao came to a house door, stretched out his hand and knocked.

“Coming, coming.” From the inside came the voice of a woman.

The door opened and Jiang Hao stared astonished at Ning Tao standing outside. She had called Ning Tao only two hours ago and here he was. He would have taken a longer time taking a plane!

Ning Tao said with a smile, “Why, aren't you inviting me in?”

They had not seen each other for a long time. He felt a warm affection for her.

Jiang Hao asked curiously, “How did you come so fast?”

Ning Tao replied, “I am in Beidu since yesterday. I was treating a patient and the moment you called, I came.”

He could not tell Jiang Hao that he had come directly through the convenient door.

Tang Zhen appeared in the living room. She poked out her head and glanced at the door, then walked over with her face wreathed in smiles. “Oh, it's Tao. What a rare guest.” A second later, she started to berate her daughter. “Jiang Hao, what's wrong with you? How can you let Tao stand by the door while you chat? Invite him into the house now. What a girl!”

Jiang Hao rolled her eyes at Tang Zhen and then made way. “Come in.”

Ning Tao entered and opened his medicine chest, taking out two bottles of refined perfume. With his two hands, he offered them to Tang Zhen, smiling as he said, “Auntie, I had a rushed trip. I didn't buy you anything, so I can only give you two bottles of perfume.”

Tang Zhen did not stand on ceremony at all. She stretched out her hands and took the two bottles from Ning Tao. She smiled radiantly. “Why are you so polite? I don't regard you as an outsider. Your parents had died young and if you don't mind, you may think of me as your mom.”

Ning Tao did not dare to answer.

Jiang Hao glared at Tang Zhen. “Mom, you didn't have wine at breakfast, did you?”

Tang Zhen rolled her eyes back at her. “Are you controlling your mom? So what if I did? I was talking to Tao and it's none of your business. Besides, did I say anything wrong? Tao is such a good boy, so surely he needs the pampering of a mom.”

Jiang Hao lightly caressed her forehead. Her head seemed to be swelling and throbbing.

Tang Zhen s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Ning Tao, looking like a mother-in-law observing her potential son-in-law. She gave him a few looks before saying happily, “Tao, I'm visiting the market now. Stay for lunch, won't you? I can put your two bottles to good use and cook you something tasty for lunch.”

Ning Tao nodded. “Okay, I will…”

Before Ning Tao could finish his words, Jiang Hao interrupted him. “Not today. There's an urgent situation at hand. Tao, you have to come with me.”

“Why such urgency?” Ning Tao's expression became slightly solemn.

“Come with me. Let's talk along the way,” Jiang Hao said.

Tang Zhen said unhappily, “I say, what's wrong with you, Jiang Hao? The moment Tao enters, you take him away without even giving him a gla.s.s of water. How can you act this way?”

Jiang Hao's face looked completely serious. “Comrade Tang Zhen, a very important scientist is dying. Tao and I need to hurry and save him. Time is life. You tell me, should I hurry or not?”

Tang Zhen's countenance showed her disappointment, but she no longer said anything.

This was the reason why she had called Ning Tao so early in the morning. On the phone, she merely said that she had something very important to see Ning Tao, asking him to come to Beidu.

Ning Tao could have appeared at her doorstep in the blink of an eye. But he thought better of it. It would have been too fast. So he refined some delicate perfumed cream for Bai Jing, asking Qing Zhui to bring it to her. Then he opened the convenient door and came to Beidu.

His door was on the balcony of this residential building. So it was really convenient to come to her house. It was just a few floors down.

A few seconds later, the off-road jeep “Warrior” departed the residential area and drove onto the road.

“What are you busy with recently?” Jiang Hao asked.

Ning Tao smiled and said, “What else? I'm a doctor, so naturally I'm seeing patients.”

He had actually many things to tell her, like the incident at the Shennongjia chasm and the Feminine-moon people's ruins. But he could not find a way to tell her. Right now, she was a top agent at the Bureau of Special Affairs. His hands were covered with blood. It would only be the right thing to do, hiding those blood-drenched secrets deep in his heart.

“I don't believe you,” Jiang Hao said.

Ning Tao changed the topic. “Let's not talk about me. I called you a few times and you didn't pick up my calls. What are you busy with, by the way?”

“With the project of ancestor seeking,” Worry instantly clouded Jiang Hao's brows and her voice turned solemn. “Liang Keming has defected and Chu Yixiong, who has the nickname 'the Living fossil of the Biological World', had been tasked to set up a research team. They had just discovered something when a serious incident derailed their research.”

“The man you want me to treat is that old scientist, Chu Yixiong?” Ning Tao asked.

Jiang Hao nodded. “He has gone mad and his case is even more complicated than Lin Qinghua's. Even the best doctors from our finest hospitals can't cure him. I recommended you to my superiors and they agreed to let you try.”

Ning Tao was silent for some time before saying, “No problem with treating him. But I don't get it. Since you know that the project of ancestor seeking is a mistake and dangerous too, why continue with it?”

Jiang Hao said, “Must we abandon a project just because it is difficult and dangerous? When our country was just founded, we managed to develop the atomic bomb even though we were poor. Many research scientists were exposed to the radiation and ended up with cancer. If they had feared hards.h.i.+p and death, would our country be so peaceful and affluent now?”

Ning Tao gave a bitter smile. He understood very well that nothing he said could derail the project. In the face of national interest, everything else must give way.

“Perhaps only when I refine the Ancestor-seeking Elixir and give her the complete elixir prescription and the elixir will this project end.” These were the thoughts in Ning Tao's mind.

“Tao, Old Mr. Chu is an old scientist much deserving respect. Please cure him.” Jiang Hao glanced at Ning Tao.

Ning Tao gathered his thoughts. “I will try my best. Don't worry, if there's no accident, I should be able to cure him.”

“Your words have rea.s.sured me.” Jiang Hao gave Ning Tao another glance. “By the way, where's that pretty nurse of yours? Why hasn't she come along?”

“Watch the road while you drive…”

“Are you trying to change the topic?”

As they chatted, the off-road jeep arrived at a sanatorium. Jiang Hao parked the jeep and brought Ning Tao into a detached villa.

The moment they entered, an old lady with silver hair and a young man came up and greeted them. The lady's face was enthusiastic, but there was also some curiosity and perplexity in her eyes. The young man was tall and handsome. His appearance and deportment were good. One glance and one could tell he was an elite talent brought up in an old intellectual family. He had knowledge and good breeding.

Ning Tao stood beside Jiang Hao. He did not feel at all restrained.

Jiang Hao introduced them to him. “Doctor Ning, let me introduce these people to you. This auntie is Old Mr. Chu's wife, Yang Lingzhi. This is his son, Chu Haoze.” Then she added, “Auntie Yang, Mr. Chu, this is Doctor Ning Tao whom I have specially engaged.”

Chu Haoze came forward to shake Ning Tao's hand. He was polite. “h.e.l.lo, Doctor Ning. We finally have you here.”

Ning Tao answered, “You're most welcome. This is only my duty.”

Yang Lingzhi also came up to shake Ning Tao's hand. “Doctor Ning, I'm not someone who speaks well. I will only say this: I'm leaving my husband in your hands.”

Ning Tao replied, “I will definitely do my best. Please take me to see Old Mr. Chu.”

“Please follow me, Doctor Ning.” Chu Haoze led the way.

Ning Tao turned back and glanced at Jiang Hao before leaving with him.

Jiang Hao understood well the rules of Ning Tao's treatment. She went with them as well. But before she could catch up with Ning Tao, Yang Lingzhi caught her by the wrist.

“Jiang, please stay. I have something to talk to you,” Yang Lingzhi said.

Jiang Hao asked, “What do you wish to say, Auntie Yang?”

Yang Lingzhi pulled Jiang Hao a few steps to the side and said, “Jiang, this Doctor Ning whom you have brought here is so young. And he only has a small medicine chest with him. Can he do the job?”

Jiang Hao said with a smile, “Don't worry, Auntie Yang. This doctor whom I have engaged is no ordinary doctor. He is a miracle doctor. There was once another patient with the same symptoms as Old Mr. Chu and Doctor Ning cured him. So don't worry.”

Yang Lingzhi sighed. “Given the circ.u.mstances, we can only let him try.”

She obviously still did not believe in Ning Tao's miraculous medical skills.

Jiang Hao did not bother to explain. She said, “Auntie Yang, let's go along and take a look.”

Ning Tao had actually overheard their conversation. But he was used to the doubting att.i.tudes of his patients and their family members. He was too lazy to present himself as merchandise. He might as well use the extra time and energy in cultivating his spiritual power beside the good-evil tripod.

In front of him, Chu Haoze had halted before a door. He stretched out his hand and knocked, “Dad, the doctor's here.”

From the room came an angry growl, “Scram!”

Chu Haoze turned back and glanced at Ning Tao, his expression embarra.s.sed. “Doctor Ning, I'm sorry. The ailment's bothering my father again. When he is fine, he doesn't act so rudely.”

Ning Tao said, “It doesn't matter. No need for apologies. Just open the door.”

Chu Haoze pushed the door open and walked in.

Ning Tao followed him in. He saw in a glance a scrawny old man on a plastic bench. His face was smeared with pigments of many colors. A bed sheet was cloaked around his shoulders. There was a long plastic broom in his hand.

This old man was Chu Yixiong, the eminent elderly scientist in the biology field. But right now, he looked like a child.

The rims of Chu Haoze's eyes were moist. He said tenderly, “Dad, put down those things. Doctor Ning is here to treat you.”

Yang Lingzhi, who had just come to the door, gave a sigh. She stretched out her hand and wiped the corner of her eyes.

Chu Yixiong suddenly gave a loud growl. “I am the ill.u.s.trious Lyu Bu! Wouldst thou battle me?”

Lyu Bu? Ning Tao thought to himself, “Lin Qinghua thought himself Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and this Old Mr. Chu thought of himself as Lyu Bu. Lin Qinghua's elixir prescription had very few ingredients and his ingredients were all wrong. After turning into a new demon, he also acquired the ability to change his looks. This Old Mr. Chu has a piece of Zhu Hongyu's skull. The elixir power of his Ancestor-seeking Elixir must be even stronger. Could he have acquired some demon power or special abilities?”

“Red Hare, charge!” Chu Yixiong clipped his thighs on the plastic bench and s.h.i.+fted it clumsily over. Then, he extended his broom to poke Ning Tao's thigh.

Ning Tao did not dodge. He summoned the states of looking and smelling to his eyes and nose.

Chu Haoze stretched out his arm and grabbed the broom. “Be good and cooperate, dad!”

Ning Tao said, “Mr. Chu, please go out. Leave your father with me.”

“Alright, I'll leave first.” Chu Haoze released the broom and walked out.

Ning Tao added, “I have my own set of rules when treating my patients. When I'm treating Old Mr. Chu, no one must enter the room. Can you people do that?”

“Yes,” Chu Haoze a.s.sented and then left the room.

Jiang Hao pulled the door shut and stood by the door. It was not the first time she was guarding Ning Tao's door. Although Ning Tao had not said anything, she knew exactly what to do.