Open A Clinic To Cultivate Myself Chapter 373

Near noon, it started to rain. Large drops of rain fell from the sky. The pedestrians on the streets all sheltered themselves at nearby stores.

Ning Tao crossed the street and came to a cafe. His clothes were all drenched, but his small medicine chest was still dry, untouched by the rain.

“Sir, what would you like?” A waitress asked politely.

“Let me have a cup of latte. Also, give me a cake.” Ning Tao picked a seat by the window and sat down.

“Sure. Please wait for a while.” The waitress left.

Ning Tao watched the street through the window. It was still raining and there were scarcely any pedestrians on the street.

The waitress soon returned with a cup of latte and a cake. “Please enjoy, sir.”

Ning Tao nodded, took away the teaspoon and took a sip of the coffee. Then he took out his cell phone to read the messages from the Pract.i.tioners' Club. Zhang Chengdong, the imperial Qing physician had promised to find him an Iron Plaintain. He wanted to know if he had left any messages behind.

Opening the Pract.i.tioners' Club WeChat group, he did not see any messages from Zhang Chengdong, the imperial Qing physician. Instead, there was a great deal of junk messages.

Bai Shengsheng, the White Hare Spirit said, “Ah, oh dear. I have had too many carrots these few days. I have put on four kilograms! Does anyone here have slimming pills? I will trade them with my spiritual materials.”

Divine Horse of the Steppes replied, “I have a Yak p.e.n.i.s. They say it's good for slimming. Would you like it?”

Bai Shengsheng, the White Hare Spirit said, “Get lost!”

“Next-door Pract.i.tioner Old w.a.n.g” said, “Don't you think that the U.S. needs to be bashed? They are raising the tariffs. I want to kill that moron, Rump!”

Black Bear Spirit from Changbai Mountains replied, “Old w.a.n.g, this is a pract.i.tioners' club, not a political one. Dynasties wax and wane. We pract.i.tioners aren't concerned about them. Don't let such secular feelings distract you from the Way. If you really want to go, bring me back a limited edition Harley-Davidson. We can't buy them here.”

Lei Zhenzi from Lingxiao Sect appeared, “@Doctor Ning, show yourself.”

Wolf from the Northwest asked, “Why are you calling @Doctor Ning?”

Lei Zhenzi from Lingxiao Sect said, “Don't you know? A high-end club was raided last night at the west outskirts of Beidu. The person who did that was none other than our group admin, Doctor Ning. He's wanted all over the city now. Haven't you fellows heard such big news?”

“Sure-to-be-Immortal Liu Qiangzhong” also asked, “Ah? Are you telling the truth? I haven't gone through the nine years of compulsory education. Don't deceive me, do you understand? (This last line was written in English.)”

Lei Zhenzi from Lingxiao Sect said, “Don't show off your English. I am telling the truth. Doctor Ning must have run off. Our group may be disbanded.”

“Sure-to-be Immortal Liu Qiangzhong” answered, “Let me be the group admin instead. This is the trading platform of pract.i.tioners. It can't be disbanded just like that.”

Ning Tao sent a message, “I'm alright. It's all a misunderstanding. Don't make wild guesses.”

Bai Shengsheng, the White Hare Spirit said, “Doctor Ning, you have finally surfaced. Refine some slimming pills for me. I will pay you with spiritual materials.”

Doctor Ning replied, “We'll talk next time.”

Lei Zhenzi from Lingxiao Sect said, “Doctor Ning, so sorry. I got the news from the intelligence unit of our Lingxiao Sect. I asked for you before I did any verification.”

Doctor Ning answered, “No problem. By the way, has anyone seen my friend Yin Molan? Does anyone have news of him?”

None of the one dozen active members responded to say they had.

Ning Tao felt a heaviness in his heart. The more this dragged on, the more complicated Yin Molan's predicament would be. And his own situation would also become more precarious.

A sudden message flashed across the cell phone screen. It was from Zhang Chengdong, the imperial Qing physician, “@Doctor Ning, I am in Hainan Island. I'm going to meet that pract.i.tioner friend of mine. I have already contacted him along the way. He said he has an Iron Plaintain and can let you have it. But he has conditions.”

Ning Tao sent them a message, “@Zhang Chengdong, the imperial Qing physician, what conditions did your friend raise?”

Zhang Chengdong, the imperial Qing physician answered, “He didn't say on the phone. I will know after we meet. I will let you know the moment I find out. Wait for my good news.”

Doctor Ning replied, “Thank you. I will repay you lavishly once the deal goes through.”

A fragrant scent suddenly wafted to his nose. A woman had come to his table. She did not greet him, sitting instead directly on the opposite.

Ning Tao exited the WeChat group. His eyes s.h.i.+fted to that woman's body.

She was in her early 30s and looked quite ordinary. Her figure had gone to seed. She was clad in a gray jacket, with long pants and khaki outdoor shoes. The combination seemed inapt. But Ning Tao knew it was not her real appearance. In reality she was very pretty, because she was Tang Zixian.

“You don't mind wasting your Yingu Soul-suppressing Talismans, do you?” These were Ning Tao's opening remarks.

He had come to meet Tang Zixian.

Tang Zixian said, “Better be more careful. The situation is more complicated than I think, so we had better take care.”

Ning Tao's heart quivered. “Did you find out anything?”

Tang Zixian said, “First let me join your Pract.i.tioners' Club. Then I will tell you.”

Ning Tao opened the QR code of the Pract.i.tioners' Club and slid his cell phone across the table to Tang Zixian.

Tang Zixian took out her cell phone and scanned the code.

Ning Tao soon received the admission request. The name was “Dream Pursuer”. He could not help but smile. He had not expected a cultivating heroine like Tang Zixian to be so literary. But he did approve her request.

He knew Tang Zixian had joined the Pract.i.tioners' Club to get his messages. But he did not care. He could easily kick her out of the group anytime, but he now needed information from her.

In the group, “Next-door Pract.i.tioner Old w.a.n.g” appeared, “Welcome, new pract.i.tioner friend. Please report your bust, waist and hip measurements!”

Bai Shengsheng, the White Hare Spirit said, “250, 360, 720.”

Lei Zhenzi from Lingxiao Sect sent, “…”

But Tang Zixian was too lazy to even greet them. She kept the cell phone immediately and said, “A group of secularized pract.i.tioners and demons. Modern life must have been too cozy. They have lost their way. They no longer have the heart for cultivation.”

Ning Tao replied blandly, “There is an old saying, 'All roads lead to Rome.' I will give it a twist and say that 'All roads lead to the heavenly realm.' Pract.i.tioners in ancient times must refrain from s.e.x and desires. Some didn't even take spicy or animal foods. But still, most failed in their cultivation and only a few attained immortality. Times are changing and pract.i.tioners and demons must move along with the times. It's alright to adapt a little. I feel they are fine. In the end, what's most important is to be happy, not so much whether you attain immortality or not.”

“Hahaha…” Tang Zixian started to laugh. Her face was ugly and so was her voice.

“When you have laughed enough, tell me what you have found out,” Ning Tao said.

Tang Zixian eyed Ning Tao. “You know what, you sound exactly like my dad.”

“Who is your dad?” Ning Tao tried to probe.

Tang Zixian did not answer him but changed the topic instead. “Let's be serious. Concerning that friend of yours, Yin Molan, he is now confined in the underground laboratory of Genesis Tower. I can't get in, so I can't be sure. But this intelligence is 80% or 90% likely to be true. I'm sure you can guess, that place isn't a real laboratory but an alchemy chamber. They may also have a formation to guard it.”

A cold gleam flashed across Ning Tao's eyes. If her intelligence was true, he must break into Genesis Tower, treacherous den or not!

Tang Zixian said, “I can see from your eyes what you are thinking. You aren't thinking of breaking in, are you?”

Ning Tao said, “No matter what sacrifices I have to make, I will do my best to save my friend.”

Tang Zixian said, “There's nothing admirable about you, except the fact that you are a loyal and pa.s.sionate friend.”

Ning Tao wanted to laugh but could not. “How did you get this intelligence?”

Tang Zixian said, “You don't need to know. You won't even let me go into your clinic. Why don't we do a trade? You take me into your clinic for a visit, and I tell you how I managed to get this information.”

Ning Tao kept silent.

Tang Zixian shrugged. “I wasn't wrong. You really are a difficult man to get along with.”

Ning Tao said, “Tell me what you were doing in the Feminine-moon people's ruins. Don't tell me you couldn't break the formation. You tried to kill me twice there, the last time using that formation. Since you talk about a trade, then tell me that. If you do, I will take you into my clinic.”

“Deal.” Tang Zixian's reply was very forthright.

Ning Tao immediately started. He had not expected Tang Zixian to agree so directly.

Tang Zixian went on. “But because of how you are, I need a witness as our intermediary.”

Ning Tao slightly furrowed his brows. “What intermediary?”

A mysterious smile hovered on Tang Zixian's lips. “Of course, someone worthy and deserving of respect. Someone both you and I can trust.”

Ning Tao suddenly recalled an annoying person.

The upshot was that at the moment he remembered, an old monk walked in from the entrance. His voice reached them before himself. “Amitabha, Patron Ning, how have you been?”

Ning Tao sighed inwardly. Why wouldn't this monk leave him alone?

A waitress went up to him. “Old… sir, what would you like to have?”

Master Fakong put his palms together. “Amitabha. Please let me have a cup of soy milk.”

“I'm sorry, we don't serve soy milk here.”

“Then… let me have a gla.s.s of water,” Master Fakong said.

“Sure. Please take a seat and wait a while, old sir.” The waitress was doing her best to suppress her laughter.

Master Fakong walked to them and chanted Buddha's name again. “Amitabha. Patron Ning, I miss you after our last meeting at the flea market. Your forehead is gleaming with a greenish light now. You may find me bothersome, but I still have to advise you. You must really break with those two snake demons. Oh, no… is there another female demon with you?”

Ning Tao was at a loss for words. “Reverend, let's talk about myself some other time. Since you have colluded with Miss Tang, I shall be direct. You can be our intermediary and I trust you. I can also take the two of you into my clinic. But I must first know the matter Miss Tang and I had been discussing first.”

Tang Zixian shook her head.

But Master Fakong sat down beside Ning Tao, drawing near. He was not respectful at all.

The waitress brought him a gla.s.s of water with some ice and placed it before Master Fakong. “Please enjoy, old sir.”

“Amitabha.” Master Fakong chanted Buddha's name again.

Ning Tao pretended Master Fakong to have not existed. He looked at Tang Zixian. “Do you agree? If not, this deal will fall through.”

Tang Zixian smiled. “Don't pretend to have lost when you pick up a bargain. You just need to take us into your clinic for a visit. But I have to tell you the secret you wish to know. I've already shown my sincerity. You only have this one chance. You decide whether you will take it or not.”

Ning Tao s.h.i.+fted his eyes to Master Fakong. “Reverend, can I trust her?”

Master Fakong replied, “Amitabha. I will be her guarantor. Patron Ning, you can rest a.s.sured.”

Ning Tao said, “Very well then, follow me.”