That customer was Lin Qinghua.

He still looked so soft-spoken and handsome. The Western suit he was wearing, his tie, spectacles and hairstyle all suited him well. One glance, and everyone could tell he was from an affluent family, a social elite who was highly educated.

But Ning Tao knew he was no longer the same Lin Qinghua. He was a new demon in the enemy camp.

Ning Tao had cured his demon illness and that treatment was recorded as “bad debt”. It actually made Lin Qinghua the person he was now. If Ning Tao had another chance, would he have cured Lin Qinghua of his demon illness? Even Ning Tao himself did not know the answer.

Lin Qinghua rose, his face wearing a smile. “Master, Madams, good evening. Please have a seat.”

Him calling Ning Tao Master made Ning Tao unhappy. He walked over. “Hey lad, how many times must I say to you, I am not your Master.”

Lin Qinghua smiled. “I will just call you Master in my heart.”

“Really?” An unfathomable smile hovered on Ning Tao’s lips too. “In Florence, on the rooftop of Florence Cathedral, did you regard me as your Master when you fired at me?”

The smile on Lin Qinghua’s face instantly froze.

Qing Zhui’s eyes were emitting a greenish light. Murderous aura permeated her entire body. She seemed almost about to strike.

Jiang Hao reached out and tugged Qing Zhui’s hand and the latter’s palm froze a little. She could not unleash her snake claws. Although she was submissive and obedient like a lamb before Ning Tao, she easily lost her temper before outsiders since she was a merciless snake demon. Although Jiang Hao seemed brutal, she was far calmer than Qing Zhui in such situations. She was the one who had tugged Qing Zhui’s hand, signaling for her to remain calm. The male head of their family had not given them the signal to strike, so they certainly could not be rash.

The atmosphere had changed because of Ning Tao’s words. The conversation had reached an impasse.

Lin Qingyu spoke to break the ice. She smiled. “What are you two chatting about? I don’t understand it at all. Let’s change the topic. Take a seat, all of you.” Then she addressed the waiter by the dining table, “Everyone’s here. You can start serving.”

“Alright, Miss. Please wait for a moment.” The waiter went off.

Ning Tao took his seat, while Qing Zhui and Jiang Hao sat beside him, one on either side.

Lin Qinghua also sat down on his dining chair. Lin Qingyu sat beside him.

Although this restaurant was no battleground, this long rectangular table was demarcated into two in the middle. Any carelessness and the two parties would exchange blows.

Ning Tao spoke. “Qinghua, are you here this time on official business? Or did you miss home and come back for a visit?”

Lin Qinghua’s expression was completely composed. “Both.”

Ning Tao smiled. “I’ve always admired your ability to lie with a straight face. I know very well why you have come back this time.”

Lin Qinghua went silent for a while before saying, “Everyone has their own destiny. When I first met you, I wanted to be a man like you— strong, confident, attractive to women, and always standing on the side of justice. Like those heroes in movies…”

Ning Tao smiled. He had never felt himself to be some hero, but he was too lazy to refute him.

Lin Qinghua continued, “But no matter how hard I tried, I could never be a man like you. I can only be myself. I have my own destiny to fulfill. I’m unhappy that our relationship has come to such a pass. But no matter what, you’re still the person I respect most in my heart. I will always regard you as my Master.”

Qing Zhui gave a cold snort. “You fired at my husband; how dare you claim he is your Master!”

Jiang Hao only stared intently at Lin Qinghua. She had been observing him, as well as the other people in this restaurant and its every corner.

Lin Qinghua said blandly, “Please calm down, Madame.”

“I’m not your Madame.” Qing Zhui’s eyes were like two sharp blades.

Ning Tao knocked Qing Zhui’s thigh with his under the table.

Qing Zhui started a little and soon calmed down. Ning Tao’s signal to her was far more effective than Jiang Hao’s.

Ning Tao said blandly, “Qinghua, you don’t need to beat around the bush. I had not expected you to turn up, but I know what you want. I’m telling you, I can pretend nothing has happened between us, but you must stop.”

Lin Qinghua remained quiet.

Lin Qingyu’s eyes had never left Ning Tao’s face. The expression in her eyes was complex. No one knew what she was thinking.

Ning Tao said, “The Black Fire Company is an infamous mercenary company. Wasn’t your lab blown up by them? They have committed countless atrocities in South America, Middle East and Africa. As practitioners, we can look at a problem ignoring our country and race, but we must discern between good and evil. Let me ask you: the Black Fire Company is so vicious and wicked, so why are you still working for them?”

Lin Qinghua smiled. “See, I’m not wrong, am I? You truly resemble those heroes in movies. I can’t refute you with some highfalutin reasoning. But you spoke well and were very natural.”

Ning Tao frowned a little. He was remonstrating so earnestly for this prodigal son to turn back, yet this was the result. Although outwardly Lin Qinghua seemed to be complimenting him, he could sense sarcasm in his tone.

At this moment, two waiters came to them, one pushing a food trolley, the other holding a decanter. The one pushing the trolley started to serve the dishes, while the other poured wine into their glasses.

After the waiters left, Lin Qingyu raised his wine glass. “Let’s stop discussing such solemn matters. We rarely meet, so cheers.”

Ning Tao summoned the state of smelling in his nose. There was no problem with the wine and dishes, but he did not raise his glass.

A tinge of sadness flashed across Lin Qingyu’s eyes. “Why won’t you even have a glass of wine with me?”

Only then did Ning Tao raise his glass.

He did not know what Lin Qinghua had undergone. As for her loyalty to Nicholas Conway, Ning Tao knew Lin Qingyu was innocent. She was also a victim. Why would he get angry with her over Lin Qinghua?

After Ning Tao raised his wine glass. Jiang Hao and Qing Zhui did so too.

“Although I don’t know what the future is like, I hope we will all be well.” Lin Qingyu’s voice has gone a little hoarse from emotion, and she downed the red wine in the glass with her neck raised.

Ning Tao took a sip and put down the glass. “Qinghua, I’ve said everything I should. If you still insist on working for Nicholas Conway, I have nothing to say. But I must give you a warning. That encounter in Florence is the last time I will tolerate you. If you attack me again, or the people around me, then sorry, I will kill you.”

The corner of Lin Qinghua’s lips twitched slightly. He seemed about to speak, but finally said nothing.

A tinge of a cruel smile hovered on Qing Zhui’s lips. If things really went that far, she would be happy to kill Lin Qinghua.

“You…” In the end, Lin Qingyu could not control her emotions, two teardrops rolling down the corners of her eyes. “Must you go so far? We used to get along fine. Why have things turned out this way?”

Ning Tao felt a dull pain in his heart. He looked at Lin Qinghua. “She’s your sister. Don’t hurt her anymore.”

Lin Qinghua remained silent, with no expression at all on his face.

“We’ve already drunk the wine. And I have finished what I must say. Goodbye.” Ning Tao rose to leave.

Qing Zhui and Jiang Hao also got up and followed Ning Tao, leaving.

“Tao…” Lin Qingyu could not help but stand up. But she did not know what to say.

Ning Tao turned back and glanced at Lin Qingyu. He gave her a gentle smile. “Take care.”

Lin Qingyu nodded, tears falling from her eyes.

At this moment, Lin Qinghua stood up and spoke. “Give up. If you keep that thing, you’ll be the enemy of all men. A precious stone will land its innocent possessor in trouble. I’m sure you have heard of this story. If you insist and won’t give it up, you will die. Your enemy is far more powerful than you can imagine.”

Ning Tao remarked blandly, “I practice the ways of Heaven and my destiny belongs to Heaven. I don’t care even if I go against the whole world.”

“I have nothing more to say,” Lin Qinghua said.

Ning Tao said, “You’d better look out for yourself.”

Lin Qinghua merely stared at Ning Tao, without saying another word.

When they walked out of the hotel, the frosty night wind assailed them on their faces, almost penetrating their skin and freezing their bones. Quite unconsciously, harsh winter had arrived.

“I didn’t expect him to meet us like this. Wasn’t he afraid we might kill him?” Qing Zhui asked.

Jiang Hao said, “It’s a bit strange. As a man who will even make use of his sister, there must be a motive behind his every action. He made use of Lin Qingyu to see us. He can’t be only after a chat, right?”

Ning Tao suddenly remembered something. “Let’s go!”

A big group suddenly dashed out from one side of the restaurant. There were policemen, as well as a dozen youths whom one could see at a glance were gangsters.

The young man with the pompadour pointed at Ning Tao. “It’s him, officer! That woman with him has a gun!”

The policemen immediately pulled out their guns and one of them yelled, “Stay where you are and don’t move! Raise your hands!”

Ning Tao glanced at the policemen and the young man with the pompadour. The premonition in his heart grew stronger. He said, “Hao, I will leave everything here in your charge. Qing Zhui, come with me.”

“Okay.” Although Jiang Hao did not know what was happening, her reply was very direct without the least hesitation.

Ning Tao sprinted towards the restaurant.

Qing Zhui followed him closely behind.

“Stop!” A policeman shouted.

Ning Tao and Qing Zhui did not even glance at him. In a flash, they had dashed into the restaurant.

The policemen wanted to go after them, but Jiang Hao berated, “All of you, put down your guns! Which branch are you from? Who is your commissioner?”

Her words froze the policemen.

Jiang Hao took out her credentials and held it up in her hand, striding towards the policemen and gangsters. “Arrest these men!”

The policemen had seen Jiang Hao’s credentials clearly, and turned instinctively to execute her order.

The youth with the pompadour knew things were against them. He turned and fled.

Jiang Hao suddenly reacted. She suddenly sprinted the distance of a few meters and leaped into the air. One foot of hers kicked the young man’s back.

Bam!

The youth with the pompadour was kicked up into the air. He crashed against the lamp post before landing on the ground. His nostrils and mouth were bleeding and he could not get up.

Jiang Hao walked to the youth with the pompadour and pulled his head up by his hair. Her voice was cold. “What’s your relationship with Lin Qinghua?”

“Who… who is Lin Qinghua?” The eyes of the youth with the pompadour sparkled.

Jiang Hao brutally slammed his head against the lamp post. There was a muffled thud and a big dent suddenly appeared on the lamp post.

The youth with the pompadour lay paralyzed on the ground, unable to move.

The policemen all stared at one another.

What kind of man could bear with this female police superintendent?