Ning Tao had earned over 2000 sins of evil intention from that “business deal” which had been made by eating Sweet Glutinous Rice b.a.l.l.s with Peanut Coating. Even though it had already ended, it had taught Ning Tao a way of getting rich—if he wanted to earn sin of evil intention, he could specially look for debt collectors.

Actually, operating the clinic was very much like running a business, which you would get the hang of gradually. And so, earning treatment fees had grown increasingly easier.

The next morning, when Ning Tao was called from the clinic by Bai Jing to go to the rental apartment for breakfast, Yin Molan had just returned on his motorbike.

“Are there any news of those two boys yet?” Ning Tao asked.

Yin Molan got off the bike. “Let's talk inside.”

After entering the apartment, Yin Molan very naturally filled a bowl of porridge for himself, and started eating after seating himself at the table.

Bai Jing huffed and said, “You were after all the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Ming dynasty, a n.o.ble official. Could you at least have some pride and eat before coming?”

Qing Zhui added in dissatisfaction, “Yeah, that's right. I cooked this porridge for Brother Ning, not you.”

Yin Molan did not care at all, drinking the porridge as he spoke, “I went to Bai Sheng's company to look for those two boys. I couldn't find them. Then I went to Yinyue Mountain, and guess what I found there?”

His words had successfully diverted the attention of the snake demon sisters.

Bai Jing said, “We've combed through Yinyue Mountain and found nothing. What did you find?”

Yin Molan said, “I saw those two boys, right at the spot where the explosion occurred…”

With that, he drank a mouthful of porridge.

Ning Tao was getting anxious, and urged, “Then?”

Yin Molan said calmly, “A woman took them away.”

Ning Tao was slightly stunned. “A woman?”

Yin Molan said, “An incredible woman. She seemed to have realized I was watching, but she did not retaliate. All she did was take the two boys away.”

“What did she look like?” Ning Tao asked.

Yin Molan said, “She was wearing a long black robe with a huge hood, like an Arabian woman. I want to know what she looks like too.”

Ning Tao: “…”

“Then?” Qing Zhui asked.

Yin Molan said, “She left with the two boys. I couldn't tell what was her ability and didn't know whether she had any companions, so I didn't dare follow her.”

Ning Tao was instantly reminded of the words Bai Sheng had not managed to finish right before his death. “Before his death, Bai Sheng had mentioned someone, but was destroyed by the good-evil tripod before he could finish talking. Could it be that woman? Also, Bai Sheng is a demon, but those two boys are pract.i.tioners. They do not belong together. Could they be the people sent by the woman to accompany Bai Sheng?”

Yin Molan pondered for a moment. “No idea.”

Ning Tao was reminded of Bai Sheng's other ident.i.ty, the bishop.

Got to know someone, and entered the way of the money…

“Could there be an organization behind Bai Sheng?”

Ring, ring…

Ning Tao's cell phone suddenly rang. He stopped pondering, taking his phone out and glancing at it. Then he picked up the call.

An hour later, the Prosperous House.

When Ning Tao arrived at the entrance on his G.o.d's Will electric motorbike. Xin Changjiang and Xin Zhiyu were already waiting there.

Once they saw Ning Tao coming, the Xin father and son approached quickly.

“Doctor Ning, you finally came. We're so…” Xin Changjiang's voice was slightly choked, “We're… so grateful that you could come…”

Xin Zhiyu was standing beside Xin Changjiang. He seemed to be down spirited; his expression was complicated, and did not dare to look right into Ning Tao's eyes.

Ning Tao got off the G.o.d's Will electric motorbike and went straight to the topic, “Where's she?”

“Please come with me,” Xin Changjiang said, then turned around to lead the way.

“I…” Xin Zhiyu approached nearer. “Doctor Ning, let me help you with the bike.”

Ning Tao said, “It's fine. My bike is heavy, you won't be able to move it. Don't need to be cordial with me. I have my rules for treating patients; let's just follow the rules.”

Xin Zhiyu's lips moved. He seemed like he wanted to say something but he didn't.

The call earlier on was made by him. Zhu Hongqin was critically ill. The hospital had already given a notice of critical medical state, and had advised to transfer the patient to a better hospital overseas. However, Zhu Hongqin had insisted on returning home, and made him call Ning Tao.

Ning Tao went there right after picking up the call and making some quick preparations.

Qing Zhui had intended to tag along, but Bai Jing had dragged her away to shop for office equipment at the mall. There were many things to deal with after the Shenzhou Company was registered and Bai Jing could not handle all of it alone. It was impossible to expect Yin Molan to be of help. Even though Qing Zhui was a little adorkable, she could at least be of some use.

After entering the Prosperous House, Ning Tao followed the Xin family father and son into a room.

Zhu Hongqin was lying on a bed. Her face was entirely pale, her eyes were sunken. She looked like she had been completely drained of life.

Ning Tao knew what was happening even without diagnosing her. Bai Sheng had died; the Viper-like Insect planted in her body by Bai Sheng would also die. It shared a life with its host, so it would definitely implicate them while in its death throes. In fact, he had already predicted such a situation when he received Xin Zhiyu's call. To him, Zhu Hongqin's “illness” could be treated even without going through the means of the clinic.

“Doctor Ning…” Xin Zhiyu instantly broke down as he watched Zhu Hongqin who was on the verge of death. He sobbed and said, “I beg you, please save my mother. I can give you anything you want.”

Upon hearing Xin Zhiyu's voice, Zhu Hongqin opened her eyes. With a glance at Ning Tao, a shred of hope was lit up in her eyes. She said with a hoa.r.s.e voice, “Doctor Ning, save me…”

Ning Tao said coolly, “It wouldn't be impossible for me to save you. It depends on what you can offer me.”

“Anything you want. Tell us a sum,” Xin Zhiyu said.

Ning Tao turned to look at Xin Zhiyu. “After the series of events, do you still think that money is omnipotent?”

“I…” Xin Zhiyu wanted to say more but stopped. He cowered, avoiding Ning Tao's gaze.

Ning Tao's tone suddenly changed. “Alright then. There's a charity company which is in preparations, and it's lacking funds. The company is called Shenzhou Charity Company. You can search online for its donation account. Donate some money there.”

Xin Zhiyu was stunned. He did not expect the sharp turn in Ning Tao's att.i.tude. One moment he was saying money was not omnipotent, and in the next, he had asked them to donate money.

Xin Changjiang said sternly, “What are you doing there? Quickly do as Doctor Ning said!”

Xin Zhiyu quickly left the room, as if he had just woken up from a dream.

Ning Tao said, “You may leave too. I want to talk to your wife.”

“Okay, I know your rules. I'll leave now.” Xin Changjiang had left the room as well, and closed the door behind him.

Ning Tao walked to the bedside. He grabbed onto Zhu Hongqin's wrist and charged a shred of spiritual power into it, restoring some vitality into her. At the same time, he had also activated the state of looking to locate the Viper-like Insect's exact position within her innate aura.

Very quickly, he had found it. As expected, the Viper-like Insect which Bai Sheng had planted in Zhu Hongqin was within her womb.

Very quickly, Zhu Hongqin looked much better and well. She said slowly, “I know that you're a cultivating doctor… If you could save Bai Jing then you can save me… I also know what you want… so… cough cough…”

Ning Tao released her hand. “So, let's not waste any more time. I have a few questions for you. Tell me what you know and I'll let you live.”

It was the first time Ning Tao was doing something like asking for money and setting conditions. Firstly, it was because removing the Viper-like Insect inside Zhu Hongqin did not require the clinic at all. It was only a matter of a Sacred Needle. Besides, it was completely logical for a doctor to take fees for treatment. Though, he should also not ask for more than what he deserved. A pract.i.tioner could not be greedy. Otherwise, one's heart of the way would be easily destabilized. It was why he had made Xin Zhiyu donate it himself. It would be up to him to donate how much he wished to; it was up to fate.

“Of course,” Zhu Hongqin's voice was very frail.

Ning Tao said, “Here's my first question. When you were working for Bai Sheng, did you ever hear him mentioning anyone of a special ident.i.ty? Or, have you seen anyone of a special ident.i.ty?”

Zhu Hongqin shook her head. “We only made contact through phone for work. I have not even met him in person ever since he released me. How could I know any of that?”

“My second question. Where is the exact location where Zhu Hongyu died at the Holy Mountain?”

Zhu Hongqin said, “I've already prepared a map for you. It's right inside the drawer of the nightstand. You'll see it once you open it.”

Ning Tao opened the nightstand's drawer, and saw a map indeed. He took the map, opened it and looked at it.

The Holy Mountain was actually Mount Everest. There were red markings made on the map indicating a route, and a circle was also drawn. The area which was circled was clearly the location where Zhu Hongqin had been murdered, and it was near the side of Nepal. It was no wonder then that Hanks was able to find a clue with a piece of bone in Nepal.

“But there's no use. I've been there more than ten times, but there was still not a clue I could find,” Zhu Hongqin said.

Ning Tao said, “You don't have to worry about that. My last question for you. Tell me, what's your relations.h.i.+p with Zhu Hongyu? Don't tell me some sort of bulls.h.i.+t like how the men of the Xin family only marries women with the Zhu surname. I don't buy that.”

Zhu Hongqin fell silent before speaking pensively, “Perhaps you might find it unbelievable… it's like a spiritual child incarnation… I never knew about anything like that, until the year I was 18… Something in my head just seemed to have awakened one day, then I gained knowledge of many things… I knew where she had died. I even knew that I would be marrying a man from the Xin family… Some feelings grew increasingly stronger… Then, I felt like I was another woman… Zhu Hongyu… But as I grew older, the feeling grew weaker, and now I've almost lost the feeling entirely.”

Ning Tao frowned. Zhu Hongqin described her experience as “spiritual child incarnation”, but he felt that it could be a spiritual possession or perhaps a spell had been cast by someone.

Zhu Hongqin looked at Ning Tao, seemingly trying to judge from his eyes whether he had believed her words.

Yet there was not a slight change in Ning Tao's expression. “One more question. The elixir prescription you gave to Bai Sheng, is it real or fake?”

Zhu Hongqin said, “Two of the spiritual materials are fake.”

Ning Tao smiled instantly. “This question seems to be redundant. How could a woman like you not have any reservations? Alright, I'll treat you now.”

After ten minutes, Ning Tao left the room.

Xin Changjiang and Xin Zhiyu approached him immediately.

Xin Zhiyu said, “Doctor Ning, I've donated ten million dollars to that charity company you've mentioned. Is it enough?”

Ning Tao was surprised. He did not expect Xin Zhiyu to donate so much. Yet, he remained calm on the exterior, saying, “It's enough. Seeing that you're so filial, I'll give you a piece of advice. Don't oppress others with your money in the future. The heavens are watching your every move, you would suffer from retribution.”

Xin Changjiang nodded.

Ning Tao continued speaking, “Alright, your mother is okay now. You can go in to visit her. I have something to do so I'll be leaving.”

Xin Changjiang held back his urge to charge in to see Zhu Hongqin. He said cordially, “Doctor Ning, how about staying for a meal?”

“No, it's fine, we're not that close.” With that, Ning Tao strode away.

The Xin family father and son were stunned, then rushed into Zhu Hongqin's room immediately.