Every old Beidu native knew where “Heaven on Earth” was. During the Qing Dynasty, it was a high-end brothel. All its courtesans were dainty and charming, well versed in the arts of zither playing, Go, calligraphy and painting. The n.o.bility of the Manchu dynasty, as well as the officials and squires, would fritter their time away in the brothel. Gradually, this place became a symbol of wealth and status.

This place was now a club teahouse, but only those with wealth and status could frequent this place for tea and business. Ordinary folks could not visit this teahouse at all, since it was only open to its members. Even its lowest members.h.i.+p cost ¥500,000 a year. Premium members must pay at least ¥1 million annually. Common workers or businessmen engaged in small businesses could not afford the members.h.i.+p dues at all.

“Heaven on Earth” was situated next to the imperial gardens. Its edifices were all ancient. Ignorant people might mistake it at a glance for the mansion of a prince, or some tourist attraction.

At eight in the evening, Ning Tao, riding G.o.d's Will with Qing Zhui, arrived at the entrance of Heaven on Earth. Before they could enter, two burly and stocky men, dressed in Manchu attires and each wearing a queue, blocked their way.

“Stay where you are! Do you know what place this is? How dare you barge in!” A man in Manchu attire yelled harshly. With his ferocious expression and posture, he seemed about to box Ning Tao on the ear, had the latter retaliated.

If it weren't for the lights in Heaven on Earth, or the music playing on the pedestrian zone, Ning Tao would have thought himself back in Qing Dynasty.

They were already in a new society. Yet these men were crazy enough to dress themselves in Manchu attires and keep a queue!

Although these were his thoughts, Ning Tao still maintained an outward show of courtesy. “My surname is Su. We are invited here by Old Master Liu s.h.i.+ba. Is he here yet?”

The man in Manchu attire blocking him started to size Ning Tao up. Then, he saw the electric motorbike under him. “Tell me again, who invited you?”

His tone and expression clearly showed his scorn for Ning Tao's mode of transport.

Ning Tao endured the impulse to kick him. “Old Master Liu s.h.i.+ba. Did I make myself clear?”

“Master Liu invited you?” The man in Manchu attire blocking the way did not believe him.

Qing Zhui was quite angry. “Can't you just call him up to verify? Come on!”

The man in Manchu attire glanced at Qing Zhui. She must have been too pretty, or perhaps it was because he would not fight a girl. He did not blow up, but signaled to his companion with his eye instead.

The other man in Manchu attire took out a walkie-talkie and started to talk into it. Then, he nodded at the man blocking them. The expression in his eyes was now quite different.

After verification, the two men in Manchu attires suddenly made way to one side and give Ning Tao a deep bow. They said respectfully, “Please enter, Master Su.”

Ning Tao nodded like an old hand, while he thought to himself, “It looks like Liu s.h.i.+ba is highly regarded here. Could he be the owner?”

The two men in Manchu attires removed the cheval de frise. Ning Tao rode G.o.d's Will into the front courtyard of Heaven on Earth.

There were plenty of strange flowers and rare plants growing in this front courtyard. There was a pavilion, an artificial rock garden, and a pond. The place had the air of a royal mansion.

Ning Tao did not care if he was allowed to ride a motorbike in the garden. He continued ahead on G.o.d's Will. Limousines and racing cars were parked densely by the sides. A car which cost a few million would be considered cheap here.

At the end of the road was a squarish building with a centric square, elegant and cla.s.sical. There was a board above its door, bearing the inscription “Heaven on Earth.” This building was three stories high, with an elevated corridor on each story. There were people on the corridors, leaning against the railing and admiring the scenic landscape. Others were sitting by the window, drinking tea while admiring the moon. Someone was playing an ancient qin. The melody lingered in the air, elegant and refined.

Ning Tao could not help but sigh. “It's so good to be rich.”

The moment G.o.d's Will stopped before the hall, a company of men emerged. The man at the head of the company had white hair and beard. Even his eyebrows were silver. He was tall and lean, and, although his face was creased with wrinkles, he looked sprightly.

He was Liu Jinyin, alias Liu s.h.i.+ba, the oldest tomb-raiding captain alive in this world.

Zeng Xunlong said that he was more than 90, but at first glance, Liu s.h.i.+ba gave Ning Tao the impression that he was far younger. He looked no more than 70.

Before Liu s.h.i.+ba and his company walked to him, Ning Tao had already summoned the states of looking and smelling in his eyes and nose. He was greatly astounded by his scan.

Liu s.h.i.+ba was a master of internal strength. He had vast reserves of internal strength in his innate aura. Although his vitality was weakening, he still gave one the outward impression that he was young and had many years to live. But his vitality had betrayed him. No matter how powerful his internal strength, he could not reverse the laws of nature. His life was nearing its end.

But Liu s.h.i.+ba was not the one who astounded Ning Tao the most. Among the six or seven men with him, there were two old men, if one discounted his bodyguards in Manchu attires. One was in a teal Taoist robe and had a pract.i.tioner's spiritual energy in his innate aura. His cultivation was quite powerful. The other old man, shaven bald, had a demon aura in his innate aura. He emitted a strong fishy stench. Quite obviously, he was a demon.

Ning Tao's heart shook and he wondered to himself, “That stench… Is he a fish demon?”

As the owner of Sky Clinic cultivating the Way of Heaven, he had encountered many demons. But it was the first time he had come across a fish demon. So inevitably, he felt curious.

Qing Zhui released her arms around Ning Tao's waist and got down G.o.d's Will. She stared warily at the approaching men.

Ning Tao parked his motorbike and whispered to Qing Zhui, “Be calm. Don't act recklessly.”

Qing Zhui nodded.

“Haha! Is this Mr. Su?” Liu s.h.i.+ba had welcomed him several paces away. He looked very cordial.

Ning Tao smiled and said, “Yes, I am. And you must be Old Master Liu s.h.i.+ba?”

“Yes, that's me.” Liu s.h.i.+ba came up and extended his hand.

Ning Tao shook Liu s.h.i.+ba's hand. “You're an eminent man. It's an honor to meet you.”

Although he was fluent in such niceties, his scalp still tingled. He did not know if he was having gooseb.u.mps.

They could now be considered acquaintances.

Liu s.h.i.+ba looked at Qing Zhui, a guarded vigilance flas.h.i.+ng across his eyes. Yet he maintained an innocent smile on his face. “And who may this beauty be?”

Ning Tao said, “She's my girlfriend, Su Qing.”

“Her surname is also Su? Pleased to meet you.” Liu s.h.i.+ba extended his hand to Qing Zhui.

But Qing Zhui did not give him her hand. She merely curtsied a little. Only Ning Tao could touch her hand. Other men could not even shake it.

“Hoho…” Liu s.h.i.+ba laughed awkwardly and changed the topic. “Let me introduce these two men to you. This is Reverend Qingsong from Mount Lao.”

Reverend Qingsong in a teal Taoist robe cupped his fist in a salute. “Greetings, Mr. Su and Miss Su.”

Ning Tao also returned the cupped fist salute. “So it's Reverend Qingsong. Such an eminent man. It's an honor to meet you.”

Ning Tao knew full well that he had not heard of this priest, even in his dreams.

Qing Zhui also gave Reverend Qingsong a curtsy.

Liu s.h.i.+ba raised his hand a little, gesturing at the fish demon. “This is Mr. Hai Dongfang from the Eastern Seas.”

Hai Dongfang also gave a cupped fist salute. “Greetings, Mr. Su and Miss Su.”

Ning Tao replied politely, “You are an eminent man too. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Qing Zhui gave another slight curtsy. She said nothing.

Liu s.h.i.+ba said, “Mr. Su, let's go in and talk.”

Ning Tao smiled. “Yes, I have called on Old Master Liu to talk.”

At this moment, a middle-aged woman suddenly appeared at the entrance of the hall. She was dressed in Chinese Tang costume and had a tall nose and a broad forehead. She looked quite like a n.o.blewoman. She stared at Ning Tao and proclaimed loudly, “Mr. Su? Ning Tao, when did you change your surname?”

Ning Tao's eyes fell on this woman in Chinese Tang costume. He found her rather familiar, but could not quite place her. For some unknown reason, he recalled a villain he had killed, Huai Kebing. This woman's face was 80% identical to Huai Kebing's. His heart trembled. “Is she… related to Huai Kebing?”

The woman in Chinese Tang costume gave a cold snicker. “You're so busy that you must have forgotten a man.”

Ning Tao knew full well who she was referring to, but he still said calmly, “This is the first time we have met, Madam. I wonder who is it that you meant?”

The woman in Chinese Tang costume gave a cold snort. “I mean my son, Huai Kebing.”

She was indeed Tang Huaiyu.

Although Ning Tao had never met Tang Huaiyu before, he knew who Huai Kebing's mother was. He now observed both Liu s.h.i.+ba as well as Reverend Qingsong and Hai Dongfang from the corners of his eyes. What surprised him was that the three men remained quite composed even after Tang Huaiyu had revealed his true ident.i.ty. They were not enraged by him hiding his ident.i.ty.

Ning Tao smiled. “So it's the mother of my old friend Brother Huai. Glad to meet you. I wonder how Kebing's doing now?”

Tang Huaiyu's eyes were chilling, hiding an intense hatred. “Ning Tao, you know full well what you have done. My son won't die for nothing. As long as I am alive, I won't let you live in peace.”

Ning Tao smiled and said, “Your words are so strange, Madam. I don't get you at all.”

Tang Huaiyu gave a snort and s.h.i.+fted her eyes to Liu s.h.i.+ba. “Master s.h.i.+ba, this man has hidden his real name, and yet you still treat him like an eminent guest. If news of this spreads, the reputation of “Heaven on Earth” will be tarnished.”

Liu s.h.i.+ba started to chuckle. “I actually know Mr. Ning's true ident.i.ty. But since he preferred to keep it a secret, I allowed him to. Nowadays, many people go by aliases and pseudonyms. I only value his personal worth, not his name.”

“Humph!” Tang Huaiyu gave another snort and turned to enter the hall.

“After you, Mr. Ning.” Liu s.h.i.+ba gestured for Ning Tao to go first.

Ning Tao did not explain why he had hidden his true ident.i.ty. He raised his right arm slightly and Qing Zhui slipped her hand into it, walking with him into Heaven on Earth.

The moment he entered, Ning Tao saw two more familiar faces.