A gust of wind arose in the afternoon. The fog enveloping the sky dispersed a little, revealing a clear sky.

An electric motorbike brought two people and a dog to a street. They were observing a lofty building at the other end.

That building was Genesis Tower, the headquarters of Genesis Biotech Company.

Yin Molan had gone in and was captured.

Ning Tao had visited this place once, but did not even enter the gate.

The car with Zhang Zeshan drove into the underground carpark of Genesis Tower. It did not emerge again. Ning Tao did not dare approach the building out of fear of being discovered. The Howling Celestial Dog could not eavesdrop on Zhang Zeshan and Song Beikun either from such a distance. Their ambitious plan to follow them had finally ended here. This result was disappointing, but they had to accept it.

“I can change my looks and sneak in,” Jiang Hao said. As she spoke, she covered her face. By the time she put down her hands, she had turned into a stranger. Face changing was an ability granted her by the Ancestor-seeking Elixir. Her speed at face changing was even faster than Lin Qinghua’s, almost as fast as artistes changing face in Sichuan opera.

This face was delicate and absolutely gorgeous, with triangular eyes and brows shaped like willow leaves. Her nose was high and thin, while her lips were tiny like peach blossoms. There was a classical beauty to her appearance.

Ning Tao turned back to look at her and started a little. “Who are you?”

A dainty voice rang out from her small lips resembling peach blossoms. “I’m Xishi. My respects to you, master.”

“Poof…” Ning Tao’s hot breath exhaled on Jiang Hao’s face, stirring her hair.

Jiang Hao glared at Ning Tao. “What kind of response is this?”

Her glare was the same as Xishi’s glare.

For some reason he did not know, Ning Tao suddenly said mischievously, “Promise me, when we make love in the future, don’t change yourself into another woman.”

“You creep!” Jiang Hao was bashful and angered. She punched a delicate fist on Ning Tao’s back.

Thump!

A dull thud.

Ning Tao’s body almost flew away from the electric motorbike.

Although Xishi’s fist was small and dainty, its power was that of an ice demon. Her punch on his back was no different from Li Yuanba raising his fist and delivering a fist on Ning Tao’s spine.

But since he had mastered Powerful Tolerance to Beating and had the Heavenly Gem Magic Garment as protection, Jiang Hao’s punch which could send Mike Tyson to the intensive care unit was just a soft punch to Ning Tao. He bore it calmly, without any tremors in his heart, even accepting it with tenderness.

The Howling Celestial Dog very alertly let drop its canine ears, covering half its face. It pretended not to have heard.

“Um, although you have turned yourself into Xishi, you still can’t go in.” Ning Tao changed the subject.

“Why not?” Jiang Hao was puzzled.

“Sun Pingchuan and Sun Lanxiang are in that building. Even Yin Molan had been captured. There’s a formation in there and I can’t let you risk entering such a dangerous place,” Ning Tao said.

Jiang Hao raised her head and stared at Genesis Tower in the distance. Her black beady eyes showed she was not resigned to fate.

“This result is hard to accept, but we did find out something. At least we know that Zhang Zeshan is in cahoots with the Genesis Biotech Company. He brought my fake elixir prescription here. In other words, Song Beikun must be in this building,” Ning Tao said.

Jiang Hao retracted her gaze. “Let’s go back then.”

“Okay. I have something I need your help at home,” Ning Tao said.

Jiang Hao asked curiously, “What is it that you need my help?”

“Let’s talk at home.” Ning Tao swerved his motorbike around and rode towards their rented courtyard house.

Hu Xiaoji had gone to school. Yin Molan was acting as her bodyguard in Haidi Elementary. Bai Jing had gone to the office, and Qing Zhui was alone in the house. But she was not idle and still practicing in her room. Wisps of demon aura drifted out of the gap of her window. Although sunlight shone down from the rooftop, the feeling was of sinister gloominess.

“Celestial Howling, guard the door. Don’t disturb Mama Jiang from her practice,” Ning Tao said.

The Howling Celestial Dog wagged its tail at Ning Tao. “Okay, Dad.”

Ning Tao then said to Jiang Hao, “Let’s talk in your room.”

“Alright, let’s go.” Jiang Hao was very bold, striding to her room.

Was she worried of bringing this wolf into her room?

No.

Even if she intended to feed the wolf, this wolf could not eat her flesh.

After entering the room, Ning Tao reached out to close the door. Then he went to the window and drew the curtain.

The light in the room immediately became dim. It was very quiet as well. There were some mysterious, inexplicable elements in the air.

Ning Tao stared straight at Jiang Hao. He wanted to speak, but held back words which had sprung to his lips.

Jiang Hao met Ning Tao’s scorching eyes and asked bluntly, “You sure you want it?”

“I…” Ning Tao had not figured out how to broach the subject. He was looking for a natural point of entry.

Jiang Hao was silent for two seconds. Then she spoke, “But you can’t do it.”

Ning Tao started momentarily. There was an awkward look on his face.

Jiang Hao explained, “I mean, you can’t overcome my problem. I will freeze you.” After saying that, she walked to the table by the bed and took up a half-gnawed cucumber.

Crack!

The cucumber froze.

Jiang Hao’s one hand was squeezing the frozen cucumber, the fingers of her other hand were flicking out.

Crack!

The cucumber broke, splintering like rock sugar and falling to the ground.

Jiang Hao stared at Ning Tao, her expression solemn. “Now, are you sure you want it?”

Ning Tao smiled wryly. “What are you thinking of? I’m asking for your help not because I have desires and want that… I only want you to embrace me, so I can recite my scripture in your arms.”

Jiang Hao was instantly rooted to the spot, her face reddening. She had enticed the wolf into her room and thought it wanted meat. But this wolf was a herbivore.

Ning Tao explained, “I’m stuck in the third line of Your Text. I figured I would need some help before I could master this line.”

“I embrace you and you can master the third line?” Jiang Hao sounded a little unconvinced.

Ning Tao said, “I’m not sure I can, but I would like to try. Can you help me?”

Jiang Hao asked instead, “If I won’t help you, you will go to Qing Zhui, right?”

Ning Tao started a little, then nodded. That was for certain. If Jiang would not help him, the only other person he could ask was Qing Zhui. Bai Jing might be willing to too, but he did not dare ask her.

“Then I’ll help you. You’re not to look for Qing Zhui,” Jiang Hao said.

Ning Tao shrugged. “Let’s start now.”

When he walked towards Jiang Hao, she retreated to her bedside and sat down on the bed. Then she took off her shoes and lay down.

Ning Tao hesitated for a moment and then took off his shoes as well, crawling into her bed.

Jiang Hao leaned over from behind him, embracing him by his waist. Then she said in his ear, “Be good and don’t provoke me. Otherwise, I won’t be able to control my demon power. But if you prefer to turn into an ice popsicle, ignore my advice.”

Their limbs were in contact. As a man who had never touched a woman, how could Ning Tao not react at all? During this brief period, his breaths had become short and frantic. A crimson hue suffused his face due to excitement and nervousness.

Crack!

Ning Tao’s bum was frozen, as the ice rapidly froze upwards.

“You’re having naughty thoughts, huh?” Jiang Hao’s voice rang out and was quavering. Her breathing was actually like Ning Tao’s, short and frantic.

“Calm down, calm down,” Ning Tao said.

“Then you must calm down yourself first,” Jiang Hao said.

Ning Tao took a deep breath and began to recite, “There is no end in this sea of karma. I drift alone in its midst.”

Darkness, coldness, inundation and terror— all these negative feelings welled up in Ning Tao’s heart. Jiang Hao was behind embracing him, yet he could not feel the presence of anyone. He seemed to be alone in this world— utterly alone.

Suddenly, a warm feeling gushed into his heart. And that warm feeling had an icy tinge to it. It was all so familiar— both Jiang Hao’s aura and her tender love.

Throughout the ages, many people had described love as a form of energy. But how many in this world could sense the presence of such loving energy?

Ning Tao could not speak for others, but he knew now he was feeling the presence of such loving energy. It was different from spiritual power, very gentle like sunshine amidst wintry coldness, or a bonfire in the darkness. This energy gave him both warmth and consolation.

“Are you feeling better now?” Jiang Hao said with concern.

Ning Tao nodded, and then recited, “There is no end in this sea of karma. I drift alone in its midst.”

Another wave of loneliness and terror assailed him.

Jiang Hao’s love gushed again into his heart.

Over and over again, he recited the third line of Your Text. Ning Tao soon became familiar with its power, as well as gradually adapting to the terror it caused. But once it reached a certain level, it would not surpass that level. He still felt that something was missing.

What was missing?

Ning Tao thought hard, but he was clueless.

Jiang Hao embraced Ning Tao and kept listening to his chanting. For a moment, she too recited the third line of Your Text. But she felt nothing, nor did she have a reaction.

“Strange. It’s the same scripture, yet I have no reaction at all when I recited it,” Jiang Hao said.

Ning Tao answered, “This is my scripture, not yours. You can chant it, but there won’t be any magic power.”

Jiang Hao was too lazy to continue chanting. She merely went on embracing Ning Tao.

Ning Tao recited a few times but was still stagnated. He said, “Forget it. Let’s stop here for the time being. I must figure out what the problem is.”

Jiang Hao said, “Why don’t I ask Qing Zhui to hug you? I’ll just watch. If any problem crops up, I can help you.”

She was still after all a magnanimous woman. She knew that cultivation was the uppermost goal. She was clearly worried to leave Qing Zhui and Ning Tao alone on the bed. Had they done it, Ning Tao would be chanting a sutra for engendering offspring, not Your Text. Hence. she must still be wary and watch them by the side.

But before Ning Tao could answer her, there were knocks on the door, accompanied by Qing Zhui’s voice. “Brother Ning, Sister Hao, what are you two doing inside?”

There was no weapon unleashed during this first-round fight, but there was gunfire smoke.

“Come in quickly,” Jiang Hao said.

Qing Zhui pushed open the door and walked in. She saw Jiang Hao hugging Ning Tao in the bed, and was immediately embarrassed. “I’ll… I’ll go out right now.”

Ning Tao asked, “Why go out? We aren’t doing anything shameful. I was practicing. Come up the bed too and hug me. Let me try again.”

Jiang Hao jerked up a corner of her mouth, but did not object.

Qing Zhui was affecting shyness, but in the end, she took off her shoes and went up the bed, embracing Ning Tao from his front. She was clearly nervous and embarrassed. If it had only been she and Ning Tao, she would have not reacted this way. But Jiang Hao was also in the bed. The situation had become complicated.

The three of them had turned into a sandwich biscuit. Neither woman spoke. The atmosphere was now downright awkward.

Ning Tao spent at least two minutes acclimatizing himself to being sandwiched between two women. Then he recited loudly, “There is no end in this sea of karma. I drift alone in its midst.”