Two days later.

An electric motorbike stopped at the entrance of an old folks’ home. Ning Tao dismounted from the motorbike, parked it and stood outside observing the entrance.

On a pillar by the side of the entrance was a board with peeling paint. On it were written the words, “Sunset Old Folks’ Home.” The writing was flaking and somewhat faded. Inside the entrance was a large courtyard, where there were several Banyan trees with other plants. Badly neglected, the trees were dying. Even the plants were sparse. Only weeds were flourishing, sprouting out from flower stands and crevices. Behind that courtyard was a brick building three stories high. It must be several decades old as its exterior walls were badly weathered. There was a slogan written on the wall of the third story, facing the entrance: Come to work happily, and leave safely.

This old folks’ home was probably rebuilt from an abandoned textile or rotary bearings factory.

This Sunset Old Folks’ Home was one of the few spots where Liao Bing found were making calls. Liao Bing had traced four locations, all suburbs of Beidu, in the east, south, west and north. This old folks’ home was the last location. That woman had called Li Biao thrice from here— one call lasting three minutes, another three minutes 35 seconds, and the final one three minutes 58 seconds.

A middle-aged man in a security guard uniform was staring at Ning Tao from the guard’s room through a window. His face was expressionless and he seemed to be studying him secretly.

Ning Tao walked over, took out a Chunghwa cigarette case and drew out a cigarette, offering it to the guard. “Brother, have a puff.”

The security guard accepted Ning Tao’s cigarette and lit it with a lighter on the table. He took a puff and asked drawlingly, “What’s up?”

Ning Tao said, “I have an old man in my family, but my wife and I have to work. No one’s taking care of him. I would like to find him an old folks’ home. I searched on the internet and found this one. So I hurried here to take a look. Since I’ve never done this before, I don’t know what the procedures are. What conditions must I fulfill?”

The security guard said, “Procedures? You don’t need any procedures or conditions. Just one. You must have money. Go in, look for Director Lu and talk to him.”

“Where’s his office?” Ning Tao asked.

The security guard said, “Enter the building and go up the third story. It’s the third office on the left.”

“Thank you. Have another cigarette, brother.” Ning Tao drew out another Chunghwa cigarette and offered it to him.

“You’re too polite. Am I not smoking one?” The security guard said, as he accepted another cigarette from Ning Tao.

Alcohol can clear the way and tobacco bridge differences. Some small problems in society can be resolved with a cigarette.

Ning Tao entered the old folks’ home and as he proceeded, he summoned the states of looking and smelling in his eyes and nose. He saw a few elderly folks sunning themselves on chairs, their innate auras all very feeble. They were wracked with physical ailments. Innate auras streamed in through the windows on the first to third stories, the majority of them very weak. There were about a dozen auras which were young and normal, probably from the staff members of this old folks’ home.

Ning Tao went up the third story to the third office. Before he reached the door, voices emerged from that room.

“When will you divorce that haggish wife of yours?” It was the voice of a woman.

“Don’t be anxious. I’m looking for an excuse. My properties and money have to be transferred too. Otherwise, how can I support a vamp like you? Hehehe…” It was the somewhat unctuous voice of a man.

“You creep, where are you touching?”

“So what if I touch you a bit?”

Following that came the noise of rustling and chaffing.

Ning Tao heard them and started to frown. To do that in the early afternoon must mean this shameless couple was hungry. He simply turned around and went to the other end of the corridor. There were rooms for residents on this story too, as well as offices for staff.

After walking past a staff office, Ning Tao slackened his pace and peered into the room.

A young man shifted his eyes and stared at Ning Tao. Two seconds later, he spoke. “What are you looking at? What’s your job here?”

Ning Tao said, “I’m looking for Director Lu. Is he here?”

In the office was another man and woman. The woman was in a nursing uniform and seemed to be a nurse. She glanced at Ning Tao and said, “You’ve got the wrong room. Director Lu’s office is over at the other end.”

Ning Tao turned back his head and looked. He said, “So sorry, I came the wrong way. I’ll go over now, thank you.”

“Wait.” That young man rose and walked towards Ning Tao.

Ning Tao looked at him, a faint smile hovering on his lips. “What’s up, brother?”

“How did you come in?” The young man was staring at Ning Tao.

Ning Tao fished out that Chunghwa cigarette case and offered him a cigarette. “I came in from the entrance. Have a puff, brother.”

The young man parried Ning Tao’s cigarette with his hand. “Why are you looking for Director Lu?”

Ning Tao said, “I have an elderly man in my family. My wife and I have to work and no one’s taking care of him. So I’m looking for an old folks’ home. I’m here specially to enquire about this place.”

The young man said, “You don’t need to see Director Lu. All our beds are occupied. For the time being, we won’t be accepting any more residents. You can go.”

“Why are they all occupied?” Ning Tao showed a disappointed face.

The young man raised his eyebrows slightly. “What a nuisance you are. Didn’t I say there isn’t any bed left? Must I explain it to you?”

“Then I will visit another home.” Ning Tao turned to go.

Behind him, that nurse asked, “Department Head Han, aren’t there still many beds left? Why did you say there is none?”

The young man said, “Don’t be such a nosy parker. Why are you taking so long to wipe that window? Are you idling on your salary? Go and wipe it clean now!”

A faint cold smile hovered on Ning Tao’s lips. In that Department Head Han’s innate aura, he could detect a lot of evil energy. From his reaction to strangers and the tone of his voice, Ning Tao was certain this old folks’ home was related to that woman. He had visited four places and this was the only one which was right.

When he reached the stairway, Ning Tao halted his steps.

From the Director’s office suddenly came the voice of a woman. She seemed to have been bitten by some bug, her voice quavering coquettishly.

Ning Tao strode towards the Director’s office. He stretched out his hand and knocked.

“Who is it?” Went Director Lu’s voice.

“Director Lu, I have something to see you about. Is it convenient for you to talk?” Ning Tao asked.

Behind the door, there was the sound of rustling—someone putting on clothes. One minute later, the door to the office opened. The person opening it was a woman in her 20s. She was voluptuous with heavy make-up, looking quite alluring. She must have experienced something, as her whole face was flushed crimson.

The woman opened the door and walked past Ning Tao. As she brushed past his shoulder, she glanced intentionally at him.

Ning Tao was staring at her too. She had neither evil energy nor good energy on her body— not the woman he was looking for. He was not surprised by this outcome. That woman was someone who could control crooks like Li Biao, so how could she be Director Lu’s mistress?

In the office, a lean, middle-aged man with near-sighted glasses was staring straight at Ning Tao. “Who are you?”

Ning Tao walked over and took out his Chunghwa cigarette case. He pulled out a cigarette and proffered it to the man. “Director Lu, I am wondering if I can bring my old folk here for caregiving.”

“I don’t smoke. Take the cigarette away.” Director Lu’s face was stern.

Ning Tao put the cigarette back into the case. “I’m sorry, Director Lu. Would you grant me this request?”

Director Lu replied, “So long as you have money. Pay 10,000 as a deposit first, then bring the man here.”

Ning Tao said, “Money’s not a problem. I just would like to understand the situation. How many nurses are there in this old folks’ home?”

“18 professional nurses, with other staff members like cooks, nutritionists, doctors and gardeners. Scores of them.”

Ning Tao said, “So this home isn’t small. Can I take a look at the nurses’ files?”

Director Lu frowned. “You’re so troublesome. Give me a minute.”

But before he could go to his filing cabinet and take out the nurses’ files, the young man called Mr. Han suddenly appeared at the door. He sounded enraged. “Why are you still here? Don’t you understand human language?”

Ning Tao said, “I didn’t do anything. I’m just clarifying something. I can ask, can’t I?”

“Get out! There are no more beds here!” The young man called Mr. Han pushed Ning Tao.

Ning Tao stumbled and nearly fell. He said angrily, “So you have no more beds left. Why are you pushing me? I won’t bring my dad to this old folks’ home even if it’s free!”

The young man called Mr. Han raised his fist.

Ning Tao instinctively ducked, turned and ran out. The moment he emerged, there was no longer tension and fear on his face, merely a faint, cold smile hovering on his lips.

Back at the entrance, the security guard was answering a call servilely. The moment he saw Ning Tao, he waved his hand vigorously, signaling for him to leave quickly.

Ning Tao did not stop to chat with the security guard. He mounted his electric motorbike God’s Will and left. As he rode past a corner outside Sunset Old Folks’ Home, he stopped his motorbike and pulled out his cell phone to make a call.

“Found the man. I believe he will leave the old folks’ home soon. You two, be alert and not lose him,” Ning Tao said.

From the cell phone came Jiang Hao’s voice. “Don’t look down on us! Have you forgotten what my job is?”

Ning Tao smiled. “Okay, okay. Call me hubby again.”

“Me, call you hubby? I called you that at Haidi Elementary just for show. Call you hubby now? Dream on.” Although Jiang Hao sounded determined, her voice was full of joy.

Ning Tao smiled even more happily. “Alright.”

“Pooh!” Jiang Hao hung up the phone.

Ning Tao kept his cell phone and asked himself, “When will she stop freezing…?”

He did not know how to resolve the problem of freezing. Even now, he had not figured out a way to deal with it.

A few minutes later, a Toyota drove out peremptorily from the old folks’ home in the opposite direction.

Ning Tao caught a glimpse of it from the corner of the wall. Then he went after it on God’s Will.