The trio came to an alley, walking side by side. At the end of the alley was Sky Clinic.

There were two reasons why Ning Tao had been willing to take Tang Zixian and Master Fakong into Sky Clinic. One was because of the secrets of the Feminine-moon people. Although their ruins were buried underground, he still had the cloudy ore they left behind. His Blade of the Solar Eclipse and Whisperer were also forged partly out of this ore. Unraveling the secrets of the Feminine-moon people meant he might be able to raise the functionalities of these two “magic tools”. Also, he had always felt curious about that ma.s.sive stone eggs formation left behind by the Feminine-moon people.

The second reason was that both Tang Zixian and Master Fakong were pract.i.tioners with good energy. Master Fakong especially was a highly respected monk. He felt that Master Fakong was dependable as a guarantor.

Actually, it all pointed to one fact. Even if he brought Tang Zixian and Master Fakong into Sky Clinic, what could they do there? Could they set fire to the clinic, or tear it down?

“It's just ahead.” Ning Tao pointed at Sky Clinic at the end of the alley. As they walked, he said, “I need to remind the two of you. You can visit the clinic, but don't touch anything inside.”

“Amitabha.” Master Fakong chanted Buddha's name. “Patron Ning can rest a.s.sured. I know these rules.”

Ning Tao glanced at Tang Zixian from the corners of his eyes. But he found her staring straight at Sky Clinic, her eyes smoldering. His heart quivered and he wondered, “Does she know the origins of this clinic?”

At the entrance, Ning Tao unlocked the door with the key and walked in first. “Please enter.”

Master Fakong and Tang Zixian exchanged glances and both stepped into Sky Clinic.

Ning Tao released his hand and the door of Sky Clinic clicked shut automatically. If Tang Zixian did not tell him the secret he wished to know, he would lock them in. Then she and Master Fakong would be trapped in this clinic.

There was a grinning face on the good-evil tripod. Green fumes spiraled. Tang Zixian was a cultivating heroine and she had good energy on her body, but it was moderate. Master Fakong was an eminent monk who had devoted himself to Buddhist practices. He had performed centuries of charitable works. As expected, the good energy on his body was abundant.

Ning Tao said, “Look wherever you like. You are free to ask any questions. I will tell you if I know the answer.”

Tang Zixian walked to the good-evil tripod, her eyes full of astonishment and curiosity.

Master Fakong's response was completely different from Tang Zixian's. The moment he saw the good-evil tripod, his expression became intense and he put his palms together. “Amitabha.”

Tang Zixian spoke. “Your clinic is really special, but I don't believe you built it yourself. Who constructed it? How did this tripod come about?”

She had asked two questions at one go. Ning Tao had been wondering if she knew the origins of this clinic, but hearing this, he no longer harbored any hopes. He felt quite disappointed, but was not really surprised. Since the Qin Dynasty, Chen Pingdao had been the owner of this clinic. Yet even that man did not know the origins of this clinic. So surely Ning Tao could not expect Tang Zixian to!

So he must still unravel the mystery of this clinic himself.

Tang Zixian s.h.i.+fted her eyes to look at Ning Tao. “Didn't you say we are free to ask any questions? So why aren't you talking?”

Ning Tao was about to speak, when Master Fakong said, “Patron Tang, don't ask, don't doubt, and don't be disrespectful.”

Tang Zixian was instantly rooted to the spot. Master Fakong had told her not to do these three things, but she could not understand why. She seemed to realize something from Master Fakong's strange response. There was an additional degree of solemnity and reverence in her brows.

This reverence was the awe of the G.o.ds.

Master Fakong knelt before the good-evil tripod, his palms put together. He announced loudly, “Amitabha. The height of ways of Heaven cannot be visualized by mortal eyes. It is hidden amidst misty clouds. The length of ways of Heaven is like the distance between stars. The beings in the samsara are puny and cannot overcome the cycles of death and rebirth. I am truly blessed to have seen this divine item! Amitabha!”

Ning Tao heard every single word of his declaration. He thought to himself, “Master Fakong is indeed exceptional. He can sense the aura of Heaven the moment he entered. But he could only sense its presence, he knows nothing else.”

Tang Zixian also kowtowed thrice like Master Fakong. She mumbled something, but he did not know what.

Master Fakong stood up and stared straight into Ning Tao's eyes. He said meaningfully, “Patron Ning, you are chosen by Heaven. I hope you conduct yourself well and not stray into erroneous ways. You'd better break your sinful relations.h.i.+ps with those two snake demons. Don't regret when it's too late.”

Ning Tao felt a headache coming. “Reverend, let's talk about this next time.”

Tang Zixian also rose from the floor. She looked at Ning Tao. “How did you become the owner of this place?”

Ning Tao said, “Master Faking has already made it clear. I am chosen by Heaven. I was born to inherit this clinic. There is a system of inheritance but I haven't quite figured it out yet. If you want to know more, you can look for Chen Pingdao. He knows much more than I do.”

“Chen Pingdao?” Tang Zixian shook her head. “Don't know him. Haven't even heard of this name.”

Master Fakong also said, “I haven't heard of him either.”

Ning Tao merely smiled and said nothing. The reason why he had mentioned Chen Pingdao's name on this occasion was because he believed both Tang Zixian and Master Fakong would remember him. They might even look for him. He had been searching for Chen Pingdao all this while. There would be a higher chance of locating Chen Pingdao if two more people with connections searched.

Tang Zixian's eyes s.h.i.+fted to a rack. On it was placed the delicate perfumed tripod, the rotten broken tripod, and the Heavenly Hound tripod. She walked over, remarking at the same time, “There are quite a lot of magic tripods here for refining pills.”

Ning Tao said, “You can't use any of them, so don't even have designs on them. You promised to tell me the Feminine-moon people's secrets after visiting my clinic. Now is the time to make good your word.”

But Tang Zixian did not tell him any secret. Instead, she reached out and grabbed the delicate perfumed tripod. The moment she grabbed it, she injected spiritual power into the tripod.

There was no reaction from the delicate perfumed tripod.

Tang Zixian's hands suddenly released a spiritual fire, scorching the walls of the delicate perfumed tripod.

There was still no response from the delicate perfumed tripod.

Ning Tao did not stop her two actions. He merely said blandly, “Didn't I tell you before you come? You can look, but don't touch anything. And I have already made myself clear. You can't use any of these items here. So are you satisfied now?”

“You are so petty.” Tang Zixian put the delicate perfumed tripod back to the rack, then walked towards the Scriptures & Scrolls Store.

Ning Tao did not stop her and merely stared. He finally understood. To expect a woman to honor her word was no different from believing that the National Football Team would qualify for the World Cup.

Tang Zixian reached out to push the door of the Scriptures & Scrolls Store.

The door of the Scriptures & Scrolls Store did not budge.

Ning Tao had already guessed what she was going to do the moment she walked towards the store. He didn't want her to see the spiritual field and precious herbs inside. But he wasn't worried that she could push the door open. Tang Zixian could not even open his small medicine chest, let alone this door of the Scriptures & Scrolls Store.

“What's behind this door?” Tang Zixian turned back to look at Ning Tao.

Ning Tao shrugged. “I don't know. I can't open it myself.”

Tang Zixian asked suspiciously, “You are the owner here. Surely you can?”

Ning Tao said, “You did not fulfill your promise, but are doubting my words. Are you reneging on your promise?”

Master Fakong said, “Amitabha.”

Tang Zixian next walked to the Elixirs & Equipment Store. She reached out and pushed the door.

The door of the Elixirs & Equipment Store also did not budge.

Tang Zixian s.h.i.+fted her eyes to Ning Tao. “I don't believe you can't open it. Come and push. I will only believe you if you can't push it open. Since you permitted me to visit, let me take a leisurely tour of your premises. Otherwise, why should I fulfill my promise?”

Ning Tao walked over, his hands pressing against the door of the Elixirs & Equipment Store. He summoned his energy and started pus.h.i.+ng.

But the door of the Elixirs & Equipment Store did not budge.

He needed to use treatment fees to open the door. If not, even he could not open it, let alone Tang Zixian. But since Tang Zixian wanted to test if he was telling the truth, he was glad to verify his words.

“So do you believe me now?” Ning Tao put down his hands and stared at Tang Zixian. “Now's the time for you to make good your promise.”

“Let's go out first.” Tang Zixian walked towards the entrance.

“Amitabha.” Master Fakong chanted Buddha's name again and walked towards the main door.

Ning Tao remained where he was, watching their departing figures, a faint smile hovering on his lips.

Tang Zixian reached out to open the door, but it did not budge. She tried again, putting in more strength this time, but the door remained shut. She turned to look at Ning Tao, a tinge of anger in her eyes. “What do you mean by this?”

Ning Tao's face was wearing a smile. “You want a tour and I gave you that. You told me you would disclose the secrets of the Feminine-moon people. Yet you kept mum all this while. Now you asked me what I meant by this? I would like to ask you, what do you mean by this?”

Master Fakong intoned, “Amitabha.”

Ning Tao said, “Reverend, you are our intermediary. Now's the time for you to be impartial, yet you only keep chanting Buddha's name. Don't you find it inappropriate?”

Master Fakong said, “Amitabha.”

Ning Tao's heart br.i.m.m.i.n.g with words, but he could not utter even one.

At this moment, Tang Zixian suddenly used her shoulder to ram the door.

Master Fakong gasped, “Don't!”

But his warning was too late. Tang Zixian's shoulder had rammed against the door of Sky Clinic.

Bang!

The ear-shattering sound of a collision. But the door of the Sky Clinic did not budge.

Dong!

From the good-evil tripod resounded a hum. Almost instantaneously, Tang Zixian's body flew backwards in a rebound. She flew only two steps before cras.h.i.+ng to the floor. She opened her mouth and threw out a mouthful of blood. She felt like someone soaring in the air being oppressed by an invisible divinity. Her internal organs were all injured!

Master Fakong hastily knelt down. “Amitabha. Patron Tang, you cannot deceive the ways of Heaven. You must fulfill your promise.”

As the hum of the tripod became softer, Tang Zixian felt the oppression on her body subside. She started to pant strenuously, giving the good-evil tripod an instinctive glance. She found that the smiling face on the tripod had turned into a scowl. Her heart s.h.i.+vered and she said, “It's a long story…”