Tibetan border, Tingri Everest Base Camp.

Rays of the sunset fell on Mount Everest. The white icy mountains had been dyed golden, creating an incredibly holy and sacred visual impact. Not far away, there was a temple with a s.h.i.+ning golden roof, and it formed yet another holy and sacred view.

The off-road vehicle stopped in an empty spot at the base. The Tibetan driver spoke in relatively stiff Mandarin, “Friend, we're here, you may get off the car.”

The youth who was on the car took out his wallet and paid, then picked up the small medicine chest by his feet and got off the car. Following him off the car were a young woman and a dog.

That small exploration team was Ning Tao, Qing Zhui and Howling Celestial Dog all the way from Guan City.

Ning Tao patted the car door. “Thank you, mister. We'll take your car too when we return.”

A pure smile appeared on the Tibetan's tanned face. “No problem, I wish you a happy journey.”

Howling Celestial Dog opened its mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

Qing Zhui squeezed its mouth close and only released it until the Tibetan driver drove away, then said sternly, “Were you going to speak just now?”

Howling Celestial Dog nodded.

Qing Zhui glared at it. “n.o.body would think you're a mute if you didn't speak like a human.”

Howling Celestial Dog said, “I want to pee…”

Qing Zhui raised her hand.

Howling Celestial Dog then switched its speech, “Woof woof! Woof woof woof…”

Ning Tao smiled. “Go pee. We'll wait for you here.”

Howling Celestial Dog then ran towards a quiet spot.

Qing Zhui groused, “Did it think it was really a human just because it could speak like one? It even had to run so far away to pee.”

Ning Tao smiled saying, “The Heavenly Hound tripod gave it heightened sensibilities and wisdom. It's not like any other dog, so it's normal for it to be hygiene-conscious. Don't be too fierce to it. It's already very obedient.”

Qing Zhui pouted. “You treat it nicer than you treat me.”

Ning Tao put an arm around her shoulder and said gleefully, “Why are you getting jealous over a dog? Let's go find a place to stay then understand the situation around here.”

With Ning Tao's embrace, Qing Zhui instantly smiled. She was actually not jealous at all because Howling Celestial Dog was a male dog. As the unofficial mistress of the house, she definitely had to train the new dog of their household.

Howling Celestial Dog ran back after peeing and followed behind Ning Tao and Qing Zhui. A pair of black and white eyes were looking left and right, appearing to be very smart and lively.

After locating the management of the base camp, they were informed that only one tent was available for rent. Ning Tao was vexed while Qing Zhui was gleeful.

Ning Tao paid for the tent, then was led by the management staff to a row of tents. A group of tourists were starting a fire on the ground; some were preparing ingredients and equipment for a barbecue. It seemed like they were preparing for a campfire night.

The group consisted of mostly youths. There was only an older man. His face was tanned and filled with signs of aging. His gaze was sharp. Beside him sat a Tibetan Mastiff, which was huge and appeared to be very fierce.

The management staff brought Ning Tao and Qing Zhui to a small tent. “It's this tent. Come look for me if you need anything.”

“Okay, thank you,” Ning Tao said.

The management staff turned to leave, then turned to look at Qing Zhui after taking a few steps. Qing Zhui was like a mascot which would attract attention anywhere she went.

“Let's go in and take a look.” Ning Tao lifted the curtain of the tent and entered.

Qing Zhui pointed at Howling Celestial Dog's nose and said, “You'll stay outside and guard after the tent.”

Howling Celestial Dog wagged its tail at Qing Zhui with a bright smile. “Okay… woof woof!”

Qing Zhui glared at Howling Celestial Dog speechlessly, then entered the tent.

Howling Celestial Dog squatted by the entrance of the tent obediently. While watching the Tibetan Mastiff on the opposite side, it muttered to itself, “ABCDEFG…G, what's after G? d.a.m.n it, isn't the English alphabet too difficult?” Father why did you make me learn English… ahhh!”

Inside the tent, Ning Tao furrowed his brows.

There was not even a single bed inside the tent. A piece of moisture-proof canvas was laid across the floor, and placed on top of it was a mattress, 1.5 meters wide of poor quality. Other than that, there was a thick blanket which looked filthy and had a heavy stench.

How were they going to sleep in such a place?

Yet Qing Zhui looked like she was very happy. “Brother Ning, the blanket is so dirty, so let's not use it tonight. The mattress is enough. I'm not afraid of the cold, you can hug me to sleep; it will feel very warm.”

Ning Tao looked at that 1.5 meter wide mattress, and his head ached. With such a narrow mattress, wouldn't he have to hug her even if he did not want to? As a practicing doctor, he was unafraid of the cold as well. It would not be a problem even if he had slept naked on the peak of Mount Everest. However, he was afraid of snakes…

Before Ning Tao could say anything, Qing Zhui had started cleaning up the “room” which Ning Tao and her were going to stay in.

Ning Tao could no longer be bothered with those issues. He opened the small medicine chest and took the map out, studying the route carefully.

The journey from the base camp to the location marked by Zhu Hongqin was at least about 20 kilometers away. For an ordinary climber, it would take at least two to three days to reach that place. The nearest route was actually to cross Everest then descend to South Col located within Nepal.

After looking at the route carefully, Ning Tao thought to himself, “Back then, how did Zhu Hongyu end up in such a place? And who killed her?”

A whiff of pleasant scent pa.s.sed by Ning Tao's nostrils. He looked over and saw Qing Zhui taking off her outerwear, sitting on the ground cross-legged. Her upper body which was only wearing a bra was releasing a light fog. Her long tongue was vibrating nonstop in midair.

That scent was the scent of the fog. The stench inside the tent had instantly weakened, and all that was left was her scent.

“What was that?” Ning Tao asked with curiosity.

Qing Zhui revealed a smile. “It's snake venom scent.”

“Your saliva?”

“It's snake venom scent,” Qing Zhui corrected solemnly.

Outside the tent, Howling Celestial Dog was also sticking out its tongue and wagging it incessantly. Then after a few seconds, it stopped. “d.a.m.n it. Why don't I have dog venom scent?”

On the opposite side, that middle-aged man released the dog leash in his hand and whispered, “Go!”

That Tibetan Mastiff suddenly charged towards Howling Celestial Dog.

Howling Celestial Dog lifted its head instantly, staring at the charging Tibetan Mastiff. Within a few seconds, it seemed to have confirmed something then got up rapidly from the ground. “Scram… woof woof woof!”

Of course the Tibetan Mastiff would not heed such a warning. It instantly pounced before the Howling Celestial Dog, leaping and biting on the Howling Celestial Dog's neck.

Howling Celestial Dog jumped, its body leaned backwards, both of its legs kicked the Tibetan Mastiff's chest forcefully.

Thump!

The Tibetan Mastiff which weighed at least 50 kilograms shrieked. Its body was thrown backwards like a broken kite for about seven to eight meters in distance before landing on the ground. It could no longer get up after collapsing, blood coming profusely from its mouth.

Howling Celestial Dog scolded, “Fool. Would I have told you that I possess superpowers?”

It actually did not know that it was the spiritual power bestowed to it by the Heavenly Hound tripod.

On the other side, the owner of the Tibetan Mastiff was stunned.

The few youths who were preparing for the campfire night had collectively stopped what they were doing at the same time, watching the unconscious Tibetan Mastiff lying on the ground and the field dog with the “sky” word written on its forehead which had sent it flying with a kick.

The Tibetan Mastiff had the reputation of being the most vicious type of dog in the world. It would be as effortless as a flip of the paw for it to kill a field dog, but what had just happened was that, a field dog had sent a Tibetan Mastiff flying with a kick, leaving it gravely injured!

Ning Tao and Qing Zhui came out from the tent.

Ning Tao saw the Tibetan Mastiff which was lying on the ground vomiting blood then glanced at Howling Celestial Dog. “What happened?”

Qing Zhui reached out to squeeze Howling Celestial Dog's mouth.

“Oo oo… oo oo…” m.u.f.fled noises came from Howling Celestial Dog's mouth.

Snowflakes of The Whisperer surged. Howling Celestial Dog's voice resounded in Ning Tao's head, “That person harbors bad intentions. He had ordered his dog to bite me. “I even heard that he was telling his people that Mistress Qing was very pretty and said that if it were possible…”

Then it did not continue speaking, but Ning Tao knew it had to be some really awful things.

It was nothing strange to meet anyone who was eyeing Qing Zhui when a man like him had brought a s.e.x symbol like her to such a wilderness. That middle-aged man had clearly intended to make his Tibetan Mastiff get rid of Howling Celestial Dog to test his reaction. If he were a timid person and had no ability to protect his woman, then the other party could have acted more audaciously.

At that moment, that middle-aged man and a few young men approached. Each of them had a vicious look on their faces, especially so for the middle-aged man. The way he looked at Ning Tao looked as if he were going to explode.

Ning Tao had already checked every of them with the state of looking and hearing during that time. Those youths were ordinary people. That middle-aged man was a true martial arts pract.i.tioner who knew kung fu. He was not surprised at all by that; instead, he was surprised that those people were carrying guns. He had detected the smell of guns on them.

Those people were more than meets the eye.

Ning Tao stood before Qing Zhui and Howling Celestial Dog.

“Hey!” The middle-aged man spoke up. He said angrily, “Your dog injured my dog. How are we going to settle this?”

Ning Tao said, “It seems like your dog was the one that charged over and started this, right? My dog was simply guarding before my tent. You've got to speak rationally.”

“You want me to speak rationally?” The middle-aged man was so angry that he laughed. “Hahaha! He wants to talk rationally with me!”

A gleam of green blue flashed by in Qing Zhui's eyes; her gaze was icy cold.

Ning Tao said, “You guys enter the tent. I'll settle it here.”

Qing Zhui hesitated and said nothing, then turned to enter the tent. Regardless of whenever and whatever, as long as it was something that Ning Tao asked her to do, she would obey.

Howling Celestial Dog had also followed her into the tent.

The middle-aged man and the few youths had surrounded him instantly.

The middle-aged man said fiercely, “My Tibetan Mastiff is worth a million, what do you want to do about it?”

Ning Tao said coolly, “What do you want to do?”

“Compensate me with money!” The middle-aged man sneered, “If you can't pay up then let me play with your gal, and I'll let the matter slide.”

A youth suddenly reached out to lift the curtains of the tent.