Chapter 468 I Lie to You and You Lie to Me

The door of the ICU room opened again. Su Shanshan and Ning Tao emerged. Through the gap between them, they could see the hero Meng Bo sitting up on his bed, waving at the door. Yet before Ning Tao entered this ICU room, he was still bedridden and in a coma. Diyun Hospital would release many reports on his ailing condition every day.

It was a miracle in medical history.

The man who created this miracle was a roving doctor with a small wooden chest slung over his shoulder. He was standing beside Su Shanshan, with many important personages before him.

Su Shanshan reached out and shut the door of the ICU room again. She still remembered Ning Tao’s instructions and was afraid Meng Bo’s recovery might be affected.

As they could not see Meng Bo, the eyes of everyone converged on Ning Tao.

“Doctor Ning, please say a few words.” Su Shanshan seemed very agitated. Not only because Ning Tao had cured her husband, but also because so many important personages were visiting Meng Bo. She felt the honor and pride of their presence.

Ning Tao said, “Um.. the man is cured. Time for me to go.”

“You… are going?” Su Shanshan was instantly flabbergasted. She had thought Ning Tao would give a long speech, yet Ning Tao had said only a brief sentence. Now is the time for you to accept all the praise and adulation, yet you are leaving?

Ning Tao smiled and said, “I have something else need to do. And Mr. Meng can start preparing for his discharge from hospital. Anytime you’re ready, give me a call. I will give Mr. Meng a check-up, and also resolve your problem.”

Su Shanshan now remembered Ning Tao had spoken about curing her cervical problem. Ning Tao had been reserved about it, yet her face still flushed a little. She merely nodded gently.

“Okay then, that’s it. Goodbye.” Ning Tao left immediately after that.

“Hey, lad, which hospital are you from?”

“How can you leave just like that?”

“Hey lad, would you like to work for our military hospital?”

“Lad… ”

Quite a few spoke out amid the company to retain him. But Ning Tao left even quicker after they spoke.

If Ning Tao was still that intern from Shan City Medical University, these important personages would undoubtedly be offering him a chance to fulfill his dream. Yet their support was not in the least meaningful for him now. These bigwigs were no different to him from pedestrians on the road. He did not care for them at all.

Tang Jianyi and Shen Jiaqi ran after him.

“Doctor Ning, could you show me the medication you used?” They were indeed professionals. Tang Jianyi could see Ning Tao’s medication was the crux to his successful treatment of Meng Bo.

Ning Tao did not wish to say a single word to Tang Jianyi. He continued his way.

“Doctor Ning, I… ” Out of nervousness and impatience, Shen Jiaqi reached out and grabbed Ning Tao’s arm, not allowing him to go.

Ning Tao looked at this quiet and slim intern in astonishment. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Shen Jiaqi frantically released Ning Tao’s arm and said timidly, “Doctor Ning, I… I… would like to be your student.”

Ning Tao started a little and then strode out again. As he walked, he said, “Sorry, I’m not taking any protégées.”

Shen Jiaqi wanted to go after him, but was stopped by Tang Jianyi. Her lips moved but she could not say what she wanted.

Tang Jianyi snorted coldly. “What arrogance. So many leaders are supporting you, yet you won’t accept their help. Serve you right for being a roving doctor.”

His jealous words nipped with a sourish tang, permeating the entire corridor.

Ning Tao merely gave a nonchalant smile. He could not be bothered about a small fry like him.

A nurse walked past Shen Jiaqi and Tang Jianyi, heading for the stairway after Ning Tao.

Ning Tao heard footsteps behind but did not turn back. After reaching the stairway, he descended the stairs.

That nurse also followed him and quickened her pace. She managed to catch up with Ning Tao.

Ning Tao glanced at the nurse. It was an unfamiliar face, yet he said, “Is your Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman so cheap, that you must keep using it?”

That nurse was indeed Tang Zixian who had changed her looks using the Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman. Su Shanshan did not allow her to see Meng Bo, but she had her ways. She turned herself into a nurse using the Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman, sneaking into the ICU ward’s monitoring room. She managed to watch the entire treatment process live on camera.

“You’re not a good friend. That Colonel Su stopped me from entering, yet you didn’t say a single word on my behalf.” Tang Zixian grumbled to Ning Tao.

Ning Tao eyed her. “Me, not a good friend? Before we came, you didn’t even tell me who I was treating. And you had no appointment with them. You had totally shamed me. Yet you are saying I’m a poor friend?”

“Alright, let’s call it quits.” Tang Zixian seemed rather indifferent to his accusation.

Ning Tao slackened his pace. As he descended the stairs, he asked probingly, “Be honest. Of course you won’t get me to treat Meng Bo for nothing. What do you hope to gain?”

Tang Zixian quickened her pace and walked past Ning Tao. “Nothing. I’m also a Hua Country citizen. He is our hero, so I brought you here to treat him. What motive can I have?”

Ning Tao asked, “Do you really have no motive?”

Tang Zixian stopped walking and turned to look at Ning Tao. “What motive do you think I have?”

Ning Tao smiled. “You won’t tell me even if you have one, right?”

Tang Zixian smiled and continued, “There’s really no secret I am hiding from you.”

Ning Tao nodded. “Fine then, let’s go.”

He had just given Tang Zixian the last chance to tell the truth. Had she disclosed her secret, he would be her friend. He might even consider taking her to the moon. Yet she had chosen to deceive him again. Since this was the case, he would not need to share any information about Meng Bo with her.

“Next time, take me along when Su Shanshan treats you to dinner at her place,” Tang Zixian said.

Ning Tao’s face wore a smile. “Of course I will take you along. But now is the time for you to fulfill your promise. Tell me that piece of information about the alchemist.”

“You aren’t bluffing me, are you?” Tang Zixian was staring straight at Ning Tao.

Ning Tao said, “If you continue this way, how can we ever hope to cooperate?”

Tang Zixian was silent for a while before continuing. “That man is the Spiritual Cat Deity. His name is Shan Yi, a doctor from late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. A superior practitioner managed to unlock his spiritual abilities and he abandoned medicine to become a practitioner. He has medical foundation as well as experience in treating patients. He has achieved much in refining pills. Ever since the end of the Qing Dynasty, he has been Wu Yue’s follower. But he kept a low profile. However, recent events have thrust him in the limelight again.”

The moment he heard the name “Spiritual Cat Deity,” a strange feeling welled up in Ning Tao’s heart. It was not just because of the man, but also Tang Zixian.

The Spiritual Cat Deity, Shan Yi, had been thrown in the limelight. Even practitioners in the WeChat Practitioners’ Club were discussing this man. Now Tang Zixian had come and given him this piece of information. Although no one in the club knew Shan Yi was under Wu Yue, the rest of the intelligence was somewhat stale. And it all seemed to be too much of a coincidence.

Although he thought this, Ning Tao still showed his gratitude with a smile. “Thank you. This piece of intelligence is very helpful to me.”

The two of them left the ward building. A horde of reporters converged up to them, asking Ning Tao questions in a cacophony of voices.

Ning Tao raised his hands and shouted, “I won’t take any interviews. I will just say a few words. I am a volunteer doctor from Shenzhou Charity Company. If you want to know more, go interview their supervisor, Bai Jing. And if anyone has a rare or difficult illness, go and ask Shenzhou Charity Company. They will help tide you through the illness. That’s all.”

After saying these words, Ning Tao squeezed past the reporters besieging him and sprinted away from Diyun Hospital.

“I didn’t expect you to give that snake demon’s company a free advertisement. You don’t want both sisters, do you?” Tang Zixian caught up with him and commented mockingly.

“That’s my private affair. I won’t have you comment on it,” Ning Tao said without giving any explanation. Although Shenzhou Charity Company seemed to be Bai Jing’s company, it was in fact his very own treatment company. So many reporters wanted to interview him, so of course he must help himself and advertise. He could use the popular Meng Bo to publicize Shenzhou Charity Company. It would be more effective than spending millions on a TV commercial.

Before her retreat, Bai Jing had thought of a way for him to earn merits of good intention. She was not out of her retreat yet, but Ning Tao had already found her many “patients.” He believed that after this, many patients with rare and hard-to-cure diseases would enquire after Shenzhou Charity Company. All he needed to do then was to pick patients with some merits of good intention, and make them do more charitable deeds. Once they had earned enough merits, he would reap the rewards.

What was this?

Entrepreneurial management!

Could Chen Pingdao with his conservative, 2,000-year-old mind think of such a scheme?

On the road before the hospital, that worn Volkswagen Jetta was already gone. It had clearly been towed away.

Ning Tao said, “Let’s part here. I’m hailing a cab home.”

Tang Zixian said, “Okay then. Remember to take me along when Su Shanshan invites you home.”

Ning Tao nodded. “Sure, sure.”

Take her along?

He wouldn’t. He was just paying her lip service.

“And I believe Master Fakong will soon confirm the time and venue. Once he decides, I will look for you,” Tang Zixian said.

Ning Tao said forthrightly, “Okay, I will show up in support of Master Fakong.”

The two of them stood by the road waiting for transport. Ning Tao requested for a Didi taxi, but no cab driver responded to his trip request. A few minutes later, a Bugatti Veyron suddenly stopped before them.

The car window wound down and a familiar face poked out from the car. He was smiling and greeting Ning Tao. “Hi, Doctor Ning! Long time no see.”

That person was Tu Wenjin.

It seemed that while escaping from the Feminine-moon people’s ruins, Tang Zixian had not abandoned him.

“Hello, Mr. Tu.” Ning Tao greeted him.

Tang Zixian said, “Should I get Wenjin to send you home first? He can pick me up later.”

Ning Tao looked at the taxi app and said, “No need. My taxi is coming soon.”

“Okay then, I shall make a move first. Keep in touch.” After these words, Tang Zixian opened the car door and got into the car.

“Goodbye, Doctor Ning.” Tu Wenjin waved at Ning Tao from inside the car. Then he started the engine and drove away.

Ning Tao saw the Bugatti Veyron drive away and wondered to himself, “Nicholas Conway and Wu Yue are after the Ancestor-seeking Elixir. But she doesn’t seem to be after that. What really does she want?”

A BYD Auto F3 stopped beside Ning Tao. A bald head poked out from the car window. “Brother, did you ask for a cab?”

Ning Tao gathered his thoughts and said yes. Then he opened the car door and got into the car.