The convenient door opened. What greeted them was darkness, and a sky with sparse stars which were barely discernible. But those insignificant lights were not enough to dispel the darkness.

Here was where Chen Pingdao had been hiding. A secret cave within a settlement in Pointe-Noire, Gangde, Africa.

Bai Jing waved her hand and the Bright Light of the Sea of Misery flew out, hovering above the company. Its flashing lights immediately illuminated their sight.

Whoosh!

An arrow suddenly streaked towards the Bright Light of the Sea of Misery.

Bai Jing waved her hand vigorously, and the Bright Light of the Sea of Misery swerved to one side, avoiding the arrow.

Ning Tao said loudly, “Senior Chen, what do you mean by this? I’ve brought my family to visit you and yet you welcomed us with an arrow! Since you don’t welcome us, we shall leave. Then I will message my WeChat group and…”

Before Ning Tao could finish his words, Chen Pingdao’s voice rang out from the other side. “Why can’t you leave me quietly alone? Never mind you, why bring such a big company with you? What do you want?”

Chen Pingdao walked out of the forest, a bow in his hand and a quiver full of arrows slung across his shoulder. He was dressed in rough hempen cloth and his hair was long and grayish. He seemed like an archer from the Qin Dynasty, only that his face had none of the imposing demeanor of an archer. He looked frustrated yet helpless.

Ning Tao smiled. “Senior Chen, it’s been a long time. You’re looking a lot better. I’m here to take refuge. I hope you can receive me and my family.”

Chen Pingdao immediately pulled a long face and flatly rejected. “You must be bringing your girlfriends here for vacation! Sorry, you can’t!”

“Woof, woof, woof!” The Howling Celestial Dog suddenly dashed out from behind Ning Tao, barking at Chen Pingdao.

Chen Pingdao’s eyes shifted to the Howling Celestial Dog. Suddenly, there was a smile on his long face. He said to it, “Come here, doggie.”

The Howling Celestial Dog said, “What for? I’m not gay.”

Its words dumbfounded Chen Pingdao like a bolt of lightning. He said only after a long while, “It… it isn’t a dog demon, so how can it talk? What kind of dog is this?”

Ning Tao said with a smile, “It’s a long story. Can we go into your house, have some tea and chat in the meantime?”

Chen Pingdao smiled wryly. “Although you helped release me, you’re giving me trouble now. Never mind. There are karmic causes and consequences. I can never hide from you— it’s my retribution. You and your family may stay, but please build your own house. Unless you have a good reason to, don’t come into my house, this dog excepted.” And he pointed at the Howling Celestial Dog.

Ning Tao said, “Qing Zhui, Hao, Sister Bai and Senior Yin, you four look around. We’ll build a house wherever you like here. This place has abundant spiritual energy and is conducive to cultivation. In summer and winter, we can visit here to beat the heat or cold.” Then he added, “Come with me, Celestial Howling. Let’s visit Senior Chen’s house.”

“Okay, Dad,” said the Howling Celestial Dog. While it spoke, its eyes continued to observe Chen Pingdao. For some strange reason, it felt an inexplicable closeness to Chen Pingdao.

Qing Zhui, Jiang Hao, Bai Jing and Yin Molan all bowed slightly to Chen Pingdao, as a gesture of respect to the owner of the house. Then they left to look for a place to build their house. The three women laughed and bantered among themselves, while Yin Molan chatted with Hu Xiaoji in his arms. There was not even the least bit of nervousness from these so-called “refugees”.

Ning Tao brought the Howling Celestial Dog to Chen Pingdao’s house, and then into a thatched hut. There was a tea table and cushions there for sitting. It looked like a special room for drinking tea.

Chen Pingdao brewed three cups of tea and offered one to the Howling Celestial Dog. After serving them tea, he looked at the Howling Celestial Dog. “Why don’t you stay with me, doggie? Be my companion. I will cook good food for you every day.”

The Howling Celestial Dog opened its mouth slightly, looking contemptuous. “Old man, do you have Wi-Fi, mobile network or broadband here?”

Chen Pingdao shook his head.

The Howling Celestial Dog answered, “Then there’s no reason to stay. I can’t even play with my cell phone, let alone TikTok. But if Dad and my Mamas all insist on staying, I will keep them and you company.”

A smile finally appeared on Chen Pingdao’s face. “Okay, okay. You’re welcome to stay and visit me anytime you like.”

Ning Tao had also expected such a reaction. The Taoist Heavenly Hound— his moniker alone implied that he would be a caring pet owner who loved dogs.

After a light chat and two sips of tea, Chen Pingdao broached the subject. “You say you are hiding from trouble. What happened?”

Ning Tao briefly recounted how he rescued the hostages in Holy Mountain, and how he managed to shatter Wu Yue’s flying sword in front of the clinic. Then he said, “This was what happened. Both Wu Yue and Nicholas Conway would like to seize my elixir prescription, and I’m not their match once I leave the clinic. Although I can easily escape, my family members can’t. So we’re here to hide for a time. I’m also taking this opportunity to collect spiritual materials and refine the Ancestor-seeking Elixir, since I can still pay the rental fee this month.”

Chen Pingdao asked worriedly, “Those enemies you mentioned, will they pursue you here?”

Ning Tao answered, “They’re unlikely to. If you want me to leave soon, help me.”

Chen Pingdao heard him and started to wave his hand. “I’m a person who abhors bloodshed. I won’t fight for you. Don’t ever mention this again.”

Ning Tao smiled. “I never expect you to confront Nicholas Conway or Wu Yue together with me. Since you won’t fight on my behalf, help me find spiritual materials. You’re more than 2,000 years old. You’ve visited so many places. You should know better than me where these spiritual materials can be found. Like the Authentic Ambergris— where can I find it?”

Chen Pingdao thought for a while before giving his answer. “This is actually a very simple question. Just think and you can come up with the answer. Our Chinese race claims to be the descendants of the dragon. Our sea is called the Eastern Sea, and there are plenty of folktales on the Eastern Sea Dragon King. You can surely find the Authentic Ambergris in the Eastern Sea.”

Chen Pingdao’s words enlightened Ning Tao. He also remembered someone. That shark spirit Yang Sheng he knew through Zhang Chengdong, the imperial Qing physician— he could probably help him find the Authentic Ambergris!

Chen Pingdao said, “Give me a list of all the spiritual materials you need. I will tell you where to find them. There’s a reason for me living here in seclusion. There are plenty of spiritual materials here. I think I can settle all your needs in a few days’ time.”

Ning Tao said politely, “I know you could help, Senior Chen. I will write you a list.”

Chen Pingdao said, “Although I was released by the clinic, I am still its former owner. I can’t run the clinic well but you can. I don’t wish to see you die. I hope you can go on running the clinic and take it to unprecedented heights.”

A flicker of a smile hovered on Ning Tao’s lips. His resentment against Chen Pingdao immediately dissipated. He opened his small medicine chest and took out an ordinary prescription to write his list.

Half an hour later, Ning Tao appeared alone in the end of the Pointe-Noire settlement, next to the stone house beside the waterfall. He left a blood lock there. No one would dare wipe it away.

There was a large quantity of precious medicinal herbs and spiritual materials stacked in this stone house. Ning Tao had never revisited this house since taking away the medicinal herbs and spiritual materials. A long time had gone. The natives of the Pointe-Noire settlement had collected so much for him again, two of which were required for refining his new Ancestor-seeking Elixirs. It was like a timely gift of coals during winter.

Ning Tao was overjoyed. “I won’t take your things for nothing. I will go back and discuss with Bai Jing. The Shenzhou Charity Company will use Pointe-Noire as its overseas base. May it take root and grow in the African continent.”

He was in no hurry to take these precious herbs and spiritual materials back to Sky Clinic. He walked out. He had hidden his whole family here and must not only pay a visit to Chen Pingdao, but also Chieftain Male Eagle.

The night sky of Pointe-Noire was dark and completely untainted. Stars were twinkling in the murky blue sky, as if speaking a mysterious language, narrating to sentient beings the mysteries of the entire universe. If he could understand it, he might know everything.

Ning Tao seemed to realize something, but he couldn’t really explain it. Human beings were extremely small compared to this universe. Even he, a cultivating doctor, was a mere speck of dust amidst the stars and the planets, not to mention all those common people working from nine to five.

Where was the heavenly realm?

Was the heavenly realm a higher civilization?

Could there be an even higher world and civilization, surpassing the heavenly realm?

He did not know.

Since the ancient times, countless practitioners and demons had cultivated hard to fight and overcome heaven. They were merely trying to unravel this mystery and see the “truth”.

Quite unconsciously, he had arrived at the dwelling places of the Pointe-Noire settlement. Ning Tao saw a few tribal warriors on night sentry. They also saw him and one of them ran to report to Chieftain Male Eagle. The rest of the warriors put down their weapons and knelt, muttering something unintelligible.

Ning Tao could not understand their words, but he could guess these tribal warriors were worshiping him like a god. He went forward and helped these warriors up. Then, clustered in their midst, he walked towards Chieftain Male Eagle’s royal tent. These warriors yelled as they walked. More and more Pointe-Noire natives came out of their houses, yelling and congregating around Ning Tao. The crowd swelled.

Before Ning Tao had reached the royal tent, Chieftain Male Eagle was already out, clad in a tiger hide and holding his scepter studded with gems and human bones. He came to Ning Tao and dropped to his knees.

Ning Tao held out his hands to help Chieftain Male Eagle up. He asked in English, “Chieftain Male Eagle, my wives and I would like to live here for a while. Is it okay with you?”

Chieftain Male Eagle said reverentially, “You’re our guardian god, so your wives will be our goddesses too. You may stay however long you like.”

The following night was destined to be a festive night full of songs and dance.