Ning Tao fondled the Howling Celestial Dog's beastly head. “Where's Xiaoji?”

The Howling Celestial Dog stared around, looking quite furtive. “She's watching cartoon. I let her choose between Big Brother Bear and Little Brother Bear. Otherwise, she'll keep treating me like a horse. I'm a dog!”

Ning Tao said, “Take good care of her. If she has any strange actions, report to me at once.”

The Howling Celestial Dog said, “Then buy me a cell phone, Dad. I want a smartphone with a big screen.”

Ning Tao was speechless.

Qing Zhui and Jiang Hao were standing in the courtyard within the doorway. One was alluring in green clothes, the other clad in a smart uniform. They made up a visually attractive pair.

“Hao, when did you come back?” Ning Tao stepped in.

Jiang Hao said, “I just came back. My supervisors have approved our request for land. Let's take our breakfast in the house. We'll talk as we eat.”

The breakfast was soy milk with fried dough sticks, prepared by Jiang Hao.

Ning Tao was updated by Jiang Hao on the progress of the project of ancestor seeking. Her supervisors had not only approved the land use, they had a laboratory built. They had also set up a special fund account and credited 5 million as a start-up fund. These were what Ning Tao had asked for. Everything had been approved.

After breakfast, Ning Tao gave Jiang Hao and Qing Zhui each a porcelain vial with the third-version Ancestor-seeking Elixir. Jiang Hao was impatient to take it, but Ning Tao stopped her.

“Don't be impatient. You just had one. Take this some days later. Give your body time to absorb and adjust,” Ning Tao said.

Only then did Jiang Hao give up. She kept that porcelain vial.

Ning Tao said to Qing Zhui and Bai Jing, “As for you two, you may eat that elixir I gave you earlier. Leave this third-version Ancestor-seeking Elixir for future use.”

Bai Jing said, “We'll take it in Shu Province. Your two chat. I'm going to pack our luggage.”

Jiang Hao hesitated for a moment and said, “Let me visit the washroom.”

She was obviously allowing Qing Zhui solitary time with Ning Tao. Her relations.h.i.+p with Qing Zhui and Ning Tao had clearly improved again.

Qing Zhui came to Ning Tao. She said nothing, merely snuggling herself into Ning Tao's arms.

Ning Tao smiled. “There's the convenient door, isn't it? Just bring along a blood lock. I'll look you up once I finish my business.”

“But I can't bear to leave you,” Qing Zhui said quietly.

“When you have dissipated all the sins in your body, you will feel better.” Ning Tao's arms had encircled her waist.

The two of them remained in this posture for a few minutes. They only separated when they heard footsteps outside the door.

Jiang Hao walked in, looking quite embarra.s.sed. “Do I, do I need to go out again?”

Qing Zhui walked up and pulled Jiang Hao to one side. She drew close to her ear and whispered, “Sister Hao, when I have left, finish your business with Brother Ning. It's not good to procrastinate.”

Jiang Hao was startled a little. “What business?”

Qing Zhui said, “What do you think? Of course, the wedding and consummating your marriage.”

Jiang Hao immediately blushed.

Ning Tao pretended not to have heard. He turned around to go. “Well, let me see if Sister Bai needs my help.”

Qing Zhui was acting as his “matchmaker,” preparing Jiang Hao mentally. His presence would prove a hindrance to Qing Zhui's work. Besides, he felt awkward and would rather leave.

He did not help Bai Jing pack her luggage, but went to the living room instead.

Hu Xiaoji was sitting and watching cartoon on TV. The Howling Celestial Dog was keeping her company. Both were enjoying the program. The Howling Celestial Dog's hearing was sharp, so it turned around immediately upon detecting Ning Tao's approach.

An idea suddenly surfaced in Ning Tao's mind. He made a hand gesture to the Howling Celestial Dog and the dog understood him instantly. It rose to leave the living room.

Ning Tao came to Hu Xiaoji's side and sat down cross-legged. He quietly opened his small medicine chest and took out a porcelain vial containing the third-version Ancestor-seeking Elixir. He pulled out the stopper and brought its mouth to Hu Xiaoji's lips.

He was holding his breath throughout this process. He had not touched the Ancestor-seeking Elixir either.

Hu Xiaoji's nose suddenly wriggled. She sniffed the Ancestor-seeking Elixir vigorously twice and suddenly, a greenish light flashed across her black eyes. She opened her mouth and bit down on the porcelain vial.

Ning Tao retracted his hand frantically and stoppered the vial.

Hu Xiaoji suddenly threw herself forward, her chubby hands grabbing at the vial in Ning Tao's hands.

Ning Tao raised the porcelain vial high up in the air.

“Hey!” Hu Xiaoji seemed enraged. She kicked a foot at Ning Tao's lower abdomen.

Thump!

A dull thump. b.u.m on the floor, Ning Tao's body slid many meters away before stopping.

Ning Tao felt stunned astonishment. He did not expect Hu Xiaoji to have such terrifying strength at such a young age. Even if Yin Molan were to kick him, he would not have slid so far! Yet she was just a toddler, and Yin Molan a fighting demon several centuries old!

“Was she really a fox demon in her previous life? Even if she had been reincarnated because of me… she must have retained some of her cultivation from that life?” Such a thought could not help but surface in Ning Tao's mind.

The Howling Celestial Dog dashed in and started to glare around furiously. It cracked open its beastly mouth, its canine fangs sharp and glittering. A dog is Man's most loyal friend. Most dogs are so loyal that they will sacrifice their lives for their master, let alone this cultivation dog which was refined by Ning Tao using the Heavenly Hound tripod. Never mind Hu Xiaoji—even if Qing Zhui or Jiang Hao were to harm Ning Tao, it would desperately block before Ning Tao to protect him.

But just at this moment, the greenish light in Hu Xiaoji's eyes died away. Her sanity returned to that point before she reacted to the Ancestor-seeking Elixir. She stared at Ning Tao, suddenly opening her arms and saying childishly to him, “Hug me, Mom.”

The Howling Celestial Dog blocked before Ning Tao.

Ning Tao said, “Don't worry, Celestial Howling Dog. No need to be so anxious.”

Only then did the Howling Celestial Dog move away.

Hu Xiaoji threw herself headlong into Ning Tao's arms and reached out her hand to fondle his clothes. “Mom, I want milk.”

Ning Tao did not stop her. He wondered to himself inwardly, “Just now, when she attacked me, was she spurred on by memories of her past life? What did she recall?”

The Howling Celestial Dog said, “Dad, are you alright?”

Ning Tao replied, “I'm fine, don't worry.”

The Howling Celestial Dog said, “I have overindulged this kid. Later, I will give her a talking-to.”

Rip!

The sound of fabric ripping. Ning Tao's s.h.i.+rt was ripped apart in an instant by Hu Xiaoji. Her eyes s.h.i.+ning, she bit down.

“Ah… ” Ning Tao's mouth emitted a strange sound. His face was looking as bizarrely as you could imagine.

She was indeed sucking her mom's teat.

But the teat of this “Mom” was too small. It could not eject milk and so was pointless for suckling. But this seemed not to affect her fondness for his milk.

“Stop sucking… ah… will you let go or not… If you won't, I'm going to spank you!” Ning Tao's growls resounded throughout the living room.

The scene was too terrible to behold. The Howling Celestial Dog lifted up a paw to cover its eyes.

After Qing Zhui and Bai Jing's departure, the house at once became much quieter. Ning Tao had spent his entire day with Jiang Hao, teaching her to control her demon power. But the entire process was punis.h.i.+ng. He had been frozen by Jiang Hao ten times.

In the interim, Ning Tao called up Yin Molan a few times. But Yin Molan's cell phone was always turned off. For some reason, he began to feel worry in his heart.

Night had fallen. An electric motorbike drove into a road by the Imperial Gardens. Ning Tao was driving and Jiang Hao was sitting behind him. Her posture was far more reserved than Qing Zhui's, merely holding on to his waist without leaning on his back. Nor was she tightly clasping his waist.

“How far more?” Jiang Hao asked.

Ning Tao answered, “We have arrived. It's just ahead.”

Heaven on Earth was just before them. There were two men in Manchu costumes wearing a queue guarding the entrance.

Jiang Hao poked out her head over Ning Tao's shoulder. She glanced at them. “We're indeed here. I haven't visited this place before. So there are still people dressed in Manchu costumes keeping a queue. They must be nuts.”

In a flash, the electric motorbike G.o.d's Will had arrived at the entrance. The two men in Manchu costumes saw Ning Tao and gave him a respectful bow. Then they deftly removed the cheval de frise.

“Doctor Ning, Master s.h.i.+ba is waiting for you inside,” one of the men said.

Ning Tao nodded. He was too lazy to get down his motorbike. Revving the engine, he rode G.o.d's Will through the entrance.

The flea market was only open once every month. It was a bustling scene last night and many limousines were parked by the road. Tonight, it was deserted, without even a car there.

When he arrived at the main building of Heaven on Earth, Ning Tao immediately braked. He dismounted G.o.d's Will after Jiang Hao got down the motorbike. Then he brought Jiang Hao to the entrance of the front hall.

Eight men in Manchu costumes were standing before the hall, four on each side. When they saw Ning Tao arrive, they all bowed and greeted him respectfully, “Good day, Doctor Ning.”

Ning Tao merely nodded nonchalantly before leading Jiang Hao in.

Liu s.h.i.+ba was not in the main hall. Nor were Reverend Qingsong and Hai Dongfang.

A man in Manchu costume said, “Doctor Ning, Master s.h.i.+ba is waiting for you in the study at the backyard. Please follow me.”

Ning Tao said, “Don't bother, I will go there myself.”

After traversing the front hall and a corridor, Ning Tao brought Jiang Hao to the backyard. The building by the backyard was lit, but no one seemed to be around.

“Tao, I've been wanting to ask you a question the whole day.” Jiang Hao had not spoken much throughout the journey. She seemed to have remembered something, now that they were nearing their destination.

Ning Tao was not anxious. He slackened his pace. “What question?”

Jiang Hao hesitated for a moment before speaking. “What Qing Zhui said to me, was it your idea?”

Ning Tao pretended not to have understood. “What did she say?”

Jiang Hao glared at Ning Tao. “She said we must get married and consumm… Don't tell me you heard nothing.”

Ning Tao smiled awkwardly. “Why are you asking me this?”

“Don't bother. Just tell me the answer,” Jiang Hao said.

"Read latest chapters at Wuxiaworld.site

Ning Tao asked her instead, “What do you think?”

“Is it you who are asking the question, or me?”

“Wait!” Ning Tao suddenly halted his steps. His eyes turned to gaze at the building they were about to enter. His expression had become solemn.

“Don't change the subject,” Jiang Hao said, displeased.

Ning Tao said, “No… there's a stench of blood from the inside!”

Jiang Hao was instantly stunned to the spot.