Holding the third-version Ancestor-seeking Elixir in his hand, its elixir scent crept into his nostrils. Soon, Ning Tao had an allergic reaction. His eyes lapsed into darkness and could see no light, nor could he hear any sound. Even more bizarrely, Jiang Hao was standing right next to him, yet he could not smell her odor.

After more than a dozen seconds of darkness, light appeared again before Ning Tao's eyes.

It was a bright moment just before sunset. Outside the window, there were fiery crimson clouds floating in the westerly horizon.

A flock of pigeons were flying in the sky. But they were frozen in this scene.

His father was sitting on a worn fabric sofa, reading the local gazette of Shan City. He could see the date on the newspaper—June 11, 2000. He was only a small boy of five and had not yet attended school. His father was wearing a pair of ordinary spectacles for shortsightedness, and his face was lean. His blue worker's uniform was stained with oil and dirt all over. Even his mother's deft fingers could not wash those stains away.

His mother was on the balcony, picking scallions and garlic bolts. She was still very young at that time, and very pretty, a teacher of an elementary school. The rays of the setting sun shone on her face, lighting it up very distinctly. There was a smile on her lips, as well as frustration and helplessness. The boy by her side was giving her trouble, scattering the vegetable leaves everywhere.

Ning Tao watched his mother, as well as himself who was giving her trouble. This scene from the past was frozen and still. He could feel the warmth of his family and its kins.h.i.+p.

A snowy scene started to appear in the Whisperer 2.0. It had captured some sounds.

“Xiang, our boy will soon be in Twelfth Grade. I want to use some of our money and buy him brain tonics. What do you think?”

“What are you thinking of, dear? How many tonics in the market are authentic? You won't know what's inside them. If you ask me, we have to give him good nutrition, but not buy him tonics but fish. Whenever he comes back, we will cook him fish. Fish is the best brain food.”

“Xiang, here's my salary for the month, ¥2,200.”

“Here's ¥100 as your pocket money.”

“I don't need it. I neither smoke nor drink, and bring my own lunch to the factory every day. Save them for Tao's college fees.”

“Are you sure your son can get into college?”

“Surely he can. He is my son, you know.”

“Hey, don't be so smug… ”

The voices the Whisperer 2.0 had captured were not synchronized with the image. But for Ning Tao, they were the loveliest, most treasurable sounds in the world.

Tears gushed out of Ning Tao's eyes.

This son would like to support his parents, but they were no longer around. This was his heart's wound and the hurdle he needed to overcome.

Ning Tao turned to face his father and knelt. “Dad, I'm back. I was admitted into college and have graduated. Now I'm a doctor. Although I'm not working in a hospital, my work is more meaningful than a hospital job. Your son is now the owner of Sky Clinic, performing the duties of Heaven, punis.h.i.+ng evil and rewarding good…”

His father was still sitting on the worn fabric sofa, reading the newspaper of June 11, 2000. He had not raised his head to glance at him, nor did he respond to his words.

Ning Tao next turned to the balcony and knelt down before his mother. He sobbed. “Mom, I'm back to visit you. You have always been frugal about food and fancy clothes. You won't even buy yourself some nice cosmetics. You have brought me up so painstakingly and paid for my school fees. But although I'm independent now, I can no longer be filial to you… Mom, Heaven had taken you and Dad away. I will tear this Heaven apart and locate you and Dad. I would like to call you two Mom and Dad again. I will tell you what I have gone through after you departed…”

His mother was still sitting on a small wooden stool, frozen in the posture of picking vegetable. She was watching that naughty boy from the corners of her eyes, her expression full of tenderness and indulgence, as well as frustration and helplessness.

Ning Tao took a deep breath and recited in a low voice, “When I was born, my parents left me.”

This former scene from the past vanished like a dissipated mist. Golden sunlight was s.h.i.+ning not before his eyes, but in his heart.

The setting sun was no longer there. There were only dim lamps illuminating the dusk.

Jiang Hao's face was just before him, her eyes full of astonishment and worry. “Tao? Tao?”

Ning Tao grinned. He was no longer sobbing.

He had unraveled that knot in his heart and overcome the hurdle. Only now did he realize that he was afraid to face the fact his parents were gone. To perform duties for Heaven meant that he must be forthright and courageous. He must call what was white white and what was black black. He must love what he ought to love and hate what he ought to hate. He must boldly confront the trials and regrets in his heart!

He kept that third-version Ancestor-seeking Elixir in the porcelain vial and took out “Your Text” from his small medicine chest.

After unfurling the animal hide scroll, the third line appeared on the yellowed hide: “There is no end in this sea of karma, I drift alone in its midst.”

“Huh?” Jiang Hao drew close and asked curiously, “There's another line: 'There is no end in this sea of karma, I drift alone in its midst.' What does it mean?”

Ning Tao's recited it as well inwardly. After reciting it, he suddenly felt his whole world crumbling, all his hopes dashed. His entire world seemed inundated by a great sea, and he himself immersed in it. Wild gales blew and gigantic waves billowed, threatening to engulf him. Negative feelings like darkness, despair, terror and loneliness surged in his heart like tidal waves. He was feeling unbearable pain and his whole body started to shudder!

“Tao, what's wrong with you?” Jiang Hao immediately tensed up and caught Ning Tao in her arms, trying to offer him consolation and warmth.

Her voice, her intimate odor and love, as well as her body, offered for Ning Tao a life-saving rope. For some reason, he shoved Jiang Hao suddenly to the floor.

“Tao, what are you doing? Calm down… don't…” Jiang Hao suddenly realized what Ning Tao wanted. This situation had arisen so abruptly and strangely, that she had no time to respond adequately. She was not mentally prepared at all. As she struggled and pushed, her eyes flitted inadvertently to the altar photo on the wall. Her heart started to soften and she said to herself, “Forget it. After all, I have kowtowed to his parents and acknowledged myself as their daughter-in-law. If your precious son wants me, I will let him have it. It's only a matter of time…”

Jiang Hao suddenly quietened down and Ning Tao naturally did not hesitate, tearing off her clothes. Jiang Hao's jacket had been cast to the floor. One second later, he was frantically trying to pull off Jiang Hao's jeans.

Her belt had become a hindrance. This belt with an automatic buckle was jammed. He could not undo it. After a few unsuccessful tries, sweat began to gather on his forehead. He seemed like a new recruit on the battlefield, not knowing how to unsheathe his sword and was exceedingly clumsy.

Jiang Hao felt anxiety on his behalf, but she must show reserve. She would not help him with this.

Click!

The buckle finally came undone.

Ning Tao pounced forward like a wild beast…

Crack!

Within a second, his entire person had been frozen into an ice statue. He was on top of Jiang Hao, but only his eyes in his whole body could move.

Jiang Hao sighed and stretched out her arms to push Ning Tao away.

Ning Tao's body rolled twice on the floor, only stopping when he hit the tea table.

Jiang Hao pulled up her jeans and picked up her jacket. As she tidied herself, she studied her ice sculpture with a totally innocent expression on her face.

Pow!

The ice was shattered. Ning Tao emerged, frantically tidying his clothes.

Jiang Hao turned around to face the altar of Ning Tao's parents. She coughed drily. “Mom and Dad, don't blame me. Blame your son for being useless. If you want grandchildren, you'd have to wait a bit longer.”

Ning Tao had no words to refute her. Yes, if he could, why hadn't he done that? She was already cooperating. But he simply couldn't. Could he blame her?

He was like a mute taking bitter medicine—bitter medicine that was pollution-free and all-natural.

This farce had dissipated all the negative feelings in Ning Tao's heart. He had a new understanding of “Your Text”.

Upon reciting the first line, the divine bell would toll. He would steady his cultivation heart and dispel evil.

The second line could unravel the knot in his heart. He knew that regrets and imperfections were common in life, and understood that one ought to cultivate nature's way.

Although he did not know the use and meaning of the third line, from what had just happened, it was far more profound and difficult than the second.

“You alright?” Jiang Hao was still a soft-hearted woman, her bark being worse than her bite. Very soon, she decided to show Ning Tao concern again.

Ning Tao said, “I'm alright. This third line is too difficult.” He gave an awkward smile and said, “So sorry for what happened. I, I don't know what had happened to me just now. I was too impulsive…”

Jiang Hao thought for a moment and seemed to recall something. “You mean you don't really want that, but you did it because of that third line?”

Ning Tao nodded. “I know you are untouchable. But I still can't curb my impulse.”

“Then next time, you can only recite the third line by my side.” Jiang Hao was staring straight at Ning Tao, seemingly awaiting his promise.

Ning Tao gave a wry smile. “Alright, I will only recite it by your side. Can you not freeze me?”

Jiang Hao spread out her hands. “I was too agitated. Maybe I will freeze you whenever I suffer big emotional fluctuations. So… I can't give you the guarantee. Look, I'm no longer angry with you and had even cooperated. You were the one who couldn't do it.”

Ning Tao was speechless.

“Let's go back. We must visit that plot of land before noon today. Jia Yinhong is overseeing its construction. My superiors are giving such support, you should at least show your face. Otherwise, you will be slighting them,” Jiang Hao said.

Ning Tao replied, “Very well, I'll listen to you. Let's light another incense for my parents and then go.”

The two of them went to the altar, lit an incense stick, kowtowed and then stuck the stick in the incense pot.

Ning Tao's heart experienced great calmness throughout this entire process. He missed them and felt great affection for them, but he no longer experienced any sadness.

In this world, life is always accompanied by death.

The dead will rest in peace while the living move on.

Concerning some people and emotions, one must learn to let go when one has to.

Jiang Hao thrust the incense stick into the incense pot and said in a low voice, “Mom and Dad, I'm leaving with Tao now. We will visit you again to offer you incense. Please protect Tao and let him overcome his hurdle, so that you two can see your grandchildren. Really, it isn't my fault…”

Ning Tao let his head drop.

If his father and mother in Heaven were to heard this one-sided account, how anxious would they get? They might even send him tonics from Heaven.