Chapter 248
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“Ma Tongtong! Ma Tongtong!” Yang Chen called out Ma Tongtong’s name and stretched out his hands, gripping Ma Tongtong’s arm and shaking it. He tried to wake her up by calling her name.
But Ma Tongtong did not react at all.
Then Yang Chen said worriedly, “Doctor Ning, save her, quick. She is about to die!”
Ning Tao took out a porcelain vial and two merit of good intention prescription pacts. He also had a neutral pen with him as he approached Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen. He grabbed hold of Ma Tongtong’s wrist and injected a whiff of special spiritual power into her body.
“Oh…” Ma Tongtong woke up again. But she seemed very weak.
Yang Chen looked at Ning Tao with astonished eyes. He thought that saving Ma Tongtong would be a complicated and dangerous process. He had not expected such ease— it was so easy that he could not believe his eyes.
Ning Tao said, “Both of your lives are in danger. I can save you two, but I have my rules. You have to sign on my pact. Read the contents on the pact and sign it if you agree.”
“You need to sign this?” Yang Chen took the merit of good intention prescription pact from Ning Tao’s hands and was flabbergasted by it. He thought it would be an agreement clause like when you underwent surgeries in hospitals. But this pact required merits of good intention to heal them. Even more bizarrely, this prescription pact had listed all the meritorious deeds he had done in his life. It had even recorded the date and time of his birth. It was so mysterious. He could not guess how Ning Tao would know all these details.
Ma Tongtong also looked at the prescription pact given her by Ning Tao. She too stared blankly, only recovering after a long time. “Doctor Ning, this is…”
Ning Tao said gently, “I know the two of you are very curious. But this is my condition for treating patients. No matter how you see me, no matter whether you can understand me, you have to sign on this prescription pact. Only then can I treat you.”
“I’ll sign now,” Yang Chen said. He took the pen and signed his name on his merit of good intention prescription pact. He was curious, but the most important thing now was to save his life.
Ma Tongtong hesitated for a moment before signing her name on her merit of good intention prescription pact.
Ning Tao took back the two prescription pacts and uncorked the vial. He poured out two Fine Primary Elixirs and gave one to Yang Chen and one to Ma Tongtong. “These are medicine pills. Take them.”
Yang Chen held up the Fine Primary Elixir and examined it from the left and the right. To be honest, he did not really believe such a pill could treat his injuries. But he would not ask since he was afraid of offending Ning Tao. Would Ning Tao still treat him if he had offended him?
“Doctor Ning…” Ma Tongtong stared at Ning Tao, her eyes full of a faint sorrow. “Tell me, what will happen… after treatment?”
A woman’s thoughts were usually more delicate than a man’s. Her sixth sense would be more acute too. She seemed to have detected something.
After receiving treatment, she would no longer remember Ning Tao. Nor would she remember this clinic. But it was obviously not the right time to tell her this. From that tinge of sorrow in her eyes, Ning Tao was worried that she would reject the pill. He hesitated for a moment before saying with a smile, “After treatment, your bodies will rapidly recover. The merits of good intention in your bodies will disappear, but you will be more healthy physically than before. It won’t be hard for you two to live to 100 years.”
“Is that all?” Ma Tongtong asked again.
Of course this was not all. But Ning Tao merely nodded. He was feeling somewhat sorrowful inside too. He thought of Ma Tongtong as a soulmate, but after treatment, Ma Tongtong would forget everything about him.
“I’ll take it.” Yang Chen no longer looked at the crystalline Fine Elixir in his hand. He put it in his mouth directly.
Ning Tao said gently, “Professor Ma, you take it too.”
Ma Tongtong also put the Fine Primary Elixir in her mouth.
Green smoke suddenly gushed out from the good-evil tripod, engulfing Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen…
After a few minutes, Ning Tao carried Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen out of Sky Clinic. He placed them on the terrace and injected a special spiritual power into their bodies. Before they could open their eyes, he went back into Sky Clinic, shutting the door.
Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen opened their eyes. The night sky was clear as though thoroughly rinsed and the stars were sparkling. The two of them clambered up from the terrace and stared at their surroundings. They looked at each other. There was the same astonishment and bewilderment on both their faces.
“Why… why are we here? Where is this place?” Yang Chen finally broke the silence between them.
Ma Tongtong’s expression was confused. “Weren’t we… weren’t we at Shennongjia searching for the Feminine-moon people’s ruins? What happened?”
“What happened?” Yang Chen shook his head vigorously but could recall nothing. All his memories involving Ning Tao were gone. He not only could not remember the events at the deep chasm, he could not even remember the brick he had discovered.
Ma Tongtong suddenly gave a shocked gasp. “You are drenched in blood! You’re injured!”
Yang Chen had a great fright and hastily examined his body. But other than blood, there was no wound on his body.
Ma Tongtong found the same thing about herself. At the moment when she detected blood all over Yang Chen’s body, she found similar bloodstains on herself. She even lifted up the hem of her clothes to see her abdomen. But her abdomen was smooth and without the least bit of injury. She tried frantically to recollect the events, but she could remember nothing. All her memories involving Ning Tao were gone from her brain.
This was a “sequela” of Sky Clinic. It would eradicate every memory Ning Tao was involved in. No one knew how the Sky Clinic did this. And no one knew when all its mysteries would be unraveled.
“Let’s leave this place. But first, let’s see where we are,” Yang Chen said.
Ma Tongtong nodded. She crawled up and followed Yang Chen. While going down the steps, she gazed back at Sky Clinic. Yet this glance did not cause her to recollect any memory from this ancient house with a tightly shut door.
Behind the door, Ning Tao had tidied everything. He gently opened the door of Sky Clinic a little and watched Yang Chen and Ma Tongtong walking shoulder to shoulder out to the lane. He felt a little sorrow in his heart. “Forget me. Don’t go exploring the Feminine-moon people’s ruins in the future. Start a new life. Goodbye forever, my friends.”
Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen emerged from the exit of the Hakka Alley and disappeared into the dusky night.
A dozen seconds later, Ning Tao returned to the inner cave inside the large cave. With a flashlight lighting his way, he advanced to where Tang Zixian and Tu Wenjin were hiding.
“Who’s that?” From the darkness came Tu Wenjin’s tense voice.
Ning Tao replied in a deep voice, “It’s me.”
Tu Wenjin heaved a long sigh of relief. “You’re finally back.”
Ning Tao walked quickly over, shining his flashlight at this dark corner.
Tang Zixian stood up. “Where are the two archaeologists from the team?”
Ning Tao replied, “They’re dead. I couldn’t bring away their bodies.”
Tang Zixian said, “I told you that you can’t save them. Why waste so much time?”
Ning Tao said quietly, “Whether I can save them is different from whether I would. I am a doctor. I won’t leave people in the lurch.” He paused and then continued. “Since they’re dead, let’s not talk about them. Follow me. I will take you out.”
Under the flashlight, Tu Wenjin was glancing at Tang Zixian. He wanted to leave with Ning Tao, but the final decision was not his.
Tang Zixian was quiet and did not express her intention. No one could guess what she was thinking.
At this moment, two gunshots rang out from the cave entrance. The angry growl of an armed man resounded. “Come out now! You motherfu*kers, you can’t run. I swear I will kill you all!”
The armed men at the cave entrance must have lost their patience. Yet they could not defy their commanding officer’s order and leave. This was the only way they could release their pent-up fury.
“Lead the way.” Tang Zixian finally made up her mind.
“Follow me.” Ning Tao shone the way with his flashlight, following the spoor of the Shennongjia primitives to another inner cave.
There were only two armed men at the cave entrance. To kill them and get out of the cave would be easy, but he did not want to do this. He had another plan in mind.
Entering the inner cave, the odor of the Shennongjia primitives was even stronger. There were even drops of blood on the ground in this inner cave, extending into the deep darkness.
Ning Tao simply retracted his sense of smell and followed the blood trails instead.
This inner cave was tall and spacious. It reminded one of a subway tunnel. Only such a tunnel could accommodate the Shennongjia primitives who were mostly around four meters in height.
The “subway tunnel” meandered into the depths of the earth. It seemed endless. No one knew to where it was leading.
There was no fear in Ning Tao’s heart. If the situation became dangerous, he could always open the convenient door and escape.
Following the meanderings of the “subway tunnel”, Tang Zixian’s brows began to furrow. The expression in her eyes became more and more solemn. She was obviously not able to take things as calmly as Ning Tao.
“Doctor Ning, you’re sure this leads to the exit? We have been underground for a long time. What if we lose our way?” Tu Wenjin asked nervously. He could not hide the apprehension in his heart.
Ning Tao said quietly, “What are you two worried about? This path extends downwards. It might lead to the bottom of the chasm. Then we will reach the ruins of the Feminine-moon people. By the way, the two of you were searching for their ruins, right? If this tunnel can lead us to their ruins, won’t it be a good thing?”
Tu Wenjin shut his mouth. He instinctively glanced at Tang Zixian beside him. But the flashlight in Ning Tao’s hand was only shining the way ahead. He could not see the expression on Tang Zixian’s face.
Ning Tao asked again, “Miss Tang, from where did you learn about the ruins of the Feminine-moon people?”
Tang Zixian answered, “What cannot be achieved with money in this world? Of course I spent money to buy the information.”
Ning Tao no longer asked. He could not hear a single word of truth from her mouth. There would be no point probing further. Doing that would be a waste of time.
They walked for a full half hour. Suddenly, in front of them came a glimmer of light.
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“Ma Tongtong! Ma Tongtong!” Yang Chen called out Ma Tongtong’s name and stretched out his hands, gripping Ma Tongtong’s arm and shaking it. He tried to wake her up by calling her name.
But Ma Tongtong did not react at all.
Then Yang Chen said worriedly, “Doctor Ning, save her, quick. She is about to die!”
Ning Tao took out a porcelain vial and two merit of good intention prescription pacts. He also had a neutral pen with him as he approached Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen. He grabbed hold of Ma Tongtong’s wrist and injected a whiff of special spiritual power into her body.
“Oh…” Ma Tongtong woke up again. But she seemed very weak.
Yang Chen looked at Ning Tao with astonished eyes. He thought that saving Ma Tongtong would be a complicated and dangerous process. He had not expected such ease— it was so easy that he could not believe his eyes.
Ning Tao said, “Both of your lives are in danger. I can save you two, but I have my rules. You have to sign on my pact. Read the contents on the pact and sign it if you agree.”
“You need to sign this?” Yang Chen took the merit of good intention prescription pact from Ning Tao’s hands and was flabbergasted by it. He thought it would be an agreement clause like when you underwent surgeries in hospitals. But this pact required merits of good intention to heal them. Even more bizarrely, this prescription pact had listed all the meritorious deeds he had done in his life. It had even recorded the date and time of his birth. It was so mysterious. He could not guess how Ning Tao would know all these details.
Ma Tongtong also looked at the prescription pact given her by Ning Tao. She too stared blankly, only recovering after a long time. “Doctor Ning, this is…”
Ning Tao said gently, “I know the two of you are very curious. But this is my condition for treating patients. No matter how you see me, no matter whether you can understand me, you have to sign on this prescription pact. Only then can I treat you.”
“I’ll sign now,” Yang Chen said. He took the pen and signed his name on his merit of good intention prescription pact. He was curious, but the most important thing now was to save his life.
Ma Tongtong hesitated for a moment before signing her name on her merit of good intention prescription pact.
Ning Tao took back the two prescription pacts and uncorked the vial. He poured out two Fine Primary Elixirs and gave one to Yang Chen and one to Ma Tongtong. “These are medicine pills. Take them.”
Yang Chen held up the Fine Primary Elixir and examined it from the left and the right. To be honest, he did not really believe such a pill could treat his injuries. But he would not ask since he was afraid of offending Ning Tao. Would Ning Tao still treat him if he had offended him?
“Doctor Ning…” Ma Tongtong stared at Ning Tao, her eyes full of a faint sorrow. “Tell me, what will happen… after treatment?”
A woman’s thoughts were usually more delicate than a man’s. Her sixth sense would be more acute too. She seemed to have detected something.
After receiving treatment, she would no longer remember Ning Tao. Nor would she remember this clinic. But it was obviously not the right time to tell her this. From that tinge of sorrow in her eyes, Ning Tao was worried that she would reject the pill. He hesitated for a moment before saying with a smile, “After treatment, your bodies will rapidly recover. The merits of good intention in your bodies will disappear, but you will be more healthy physically than before. It won’t be hard for you two to live to 100 years.”
“Is that all?” Ma Tongtong asked again.
Of course this was not all. But Ning Tao merely nodded. He was feeling somewhat sorrowful inside too. He thought of Ma Tongtong as a soulmate, but after treatment, Ma Tongtong would forget everything about him.
“I’ll take it.” Yang Chen no longer looked at the crystalline Fine Elixir in his hand. He put it in his mouth directly.
Ning Tao said gently, “Professor Ma, you take it too.”
Ma Tongtong also put the Fine Primary Elixir in her mouth.
Green smoke suddenly gushed out from the good-evil tripod, engulfing Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen…
After a few minutes, Ning Tao carried Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen out of Sky Clinic. He placed them on the terrace and injected a special spiritual power into their bodies. Before they could open their eyes, he went back into Sky Clinic, shutting the door.
Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen opened their eyes. The night sky was clear as though thoroughly rinsed and the stars were sparkling. The two of them clambered up from the terrace and stared at their surroundings. They looked at each other. There was the same astonishment and bewilderment on both their faces.
“Why… why are we here? Where is this place?” Yang Chen finally broke the silence between them.
Ma Tongtong’s expression was confused. “Weren’t we… weren’t we at Shennongjia searching for the Feminine-moon people’s ruins? What happened?”
“What happened?” Yang Chen shook his head vigorously but could recall nothing. All his memories involving Ning Tao were gone. He not only could not remember the events at the deep chasm, he could not even remember the brick he had discovered.
Ma Tongtong suddenly gave a shocked gasp. “You are drenched in blood! You’re injured!”
Yang Chen had a great fright and hastily examined his body. But other than blood, there was no wound on his body.
Ma Tongtong found the same thing about herself. At the moment when she detected blood all over Yang Chen’s body, she found similar bloodstains on herself. She even lifted up the hem of her clothes to see her abdomen. But her abdomen was smooth and without the least bit of injury. She tried frantically to recollect the events, but she could remember nothing. All her memories involving Ning Tao were gone from her brain.
This was a “sequela” of Sky Clinic. It would eradicate every memory Ning Tao was involved in. No one knew how the Sky Clinic did this. And no one knew when all its mysteries would be unraveled.
“Let’s leave this place. But first, let’s see where we are,” Yang Chen said.
Ma Tongtong nodded. She crawled up and followed Yang Chen. While going down the steps, she gazed back at Sky Clinic. Yet this glance did not cause her to recollect any memory from this ancient house with a tightly shut door.
Behind the door, Ning Tao had tidied everything. He gently opened the door of Sky Clinic a little and watched Yang Chen and Ma Tongtong walking shoulder to shoulder out to the lane. He felt a little sorrow in his heart. “Forget me. Don’t go exploring the Feminine-moon people’s ruins in the future. Start a new life. Goodbye forever, my friends.”
Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen emerged from the exit of the Hakka Alley and disappeared into the dusky night.
A dozen seconds later, Ning Tao returned to the inner cave inside the large cave. With a flashlight lighting his way, he advanced to where Tang Zixian and Tu Wenjin were hiding.
“Who’s that?” From the darkness came Tu Wenjin’s tense voice.
Ning Tao replied in a deep voice, “It’s me.”
Tu Wenjin heaved a long sigh of relief. “You’re finally back.”
Ning Tao walked quickly over, shining his flashlight at this dark corner.
Tang Zixian stood up. “Where are the two archaeologists from the team?”
Ning Tao replied, “They’re dead. I couldn’t bring away their bodies.”
Tang Zixian said, “I told you that you can’t save them. Why waste so much time?”
Ning Tao said quietly, “Whether I can save them is different from whether I would. I am a doctor. I won’t leave people in the lurch.” He paused and then continued. “Since they’re dead, let’s not talk about them. Follow me. I will take you out.”
Under the flashlight, Tu Wenjin was glancing at Tang Zixian. He wanted to leave with Ning Tao, but the final decision was not his.
Tang Zixian was quiet and did not express her intention. No one could guess what she was thinking.
At this moment, two gunshots rang out from the cave entrance. The angry growl of an armed man resounded. “Come out now! You motherfu*kers, you can’t run. I swear I will kill you all!”
The armed men at the cave entrance must have lost their patience. Yet they could not defy their commanding officer’s order and leave. This was the only way they could release their pent-up fury.
“Lead the way.” Tang Zixian finally made up her mind.
“Follow me.” Ning Tao shone the way with his flashlight, following the spoor of the Shennongjia primitives to another inner cave.
There were only two armed men at the cave entrance. To kill them and get out of the cave would be easy, but he did not want to do this. He had another plan in mind.
Entering the inner cave, the odor of the Shennongjia primitives was even stronger. There were even drops of blood on the ground in this inner cave, extending into the deep darkness.
Ning Tao simply retracted his sense of smell and followed the blood trails instead.
This inner cave was tall and spacious. It reminded one of a subway tunnel. Only such a tunnel could accommodate the Shennongjia primitives who were mostly around four meters in height.
The “subway tunnel” meandered into the depths of the earth. It seemed endless. No one knew to where it was leading.
There was no fear in Ning Tao’s heart. If the situation became dangerous, he could always open the convenient door and escape.
Following the meanderings of the “subway tunnel”, Tang Zixian’s brows began to furrow. The expression in her eyes became more and more solemn. She was obviously not able to take things as calmly as Ning Tao.
“Doctor Ning, you’re sure this leads to the exit? We have been underground for a long time. What if we lose our way?” Tu Wenjin asked nervously. He could not hide the apprehension in his heart.
Ning Tao said quietly, “What are you two worried about? This path extends downwards. It might lead to the bottom of the chasm. Then we will reach the ruins of the Feminine-moon people. By the way, the two of you were searching for their ruins, right? If this tunnel can lead us to their ruins, won’t it be a good thing?”
Tu Wenjin shut his mouth. He instinctively glanced at Tang Zixian beside him. But the flashlight in Ning Tao’s hand was only shining the way ahead. He could not see the expression on Tang Zixian’s face.
Ning Tao asked again, “Miss Tang, from where did you learn about the ruins of the Feminine-moon people?”
Tang Zixian answered, “What cannot be achieved with money in this world? Of course I spent money to buy the information.”
Ning Tao no longer asked. He could not hear a single word of truth from her mouth. There would be no point probing further. Doing that would be a waste of time.
They walked for a full half hour. Suddenly, in front of them came a glimmer of light.
Ma Tongtong! Ma Tongtong! Yang Chen called out Ma Tongtong's name and stretched out his hands, gripping Ma Tongtong's arm and shaking it. He tried to wake her up by calling her name.But Ma Tongtong did not react at all.Then Yang Chen said worriedly, Doctor Ning, save her, quick. She is about to die!Ning Tao took out a porcelain vial and two merit of good intention prescription pacts. He also had a neutral pen with him as he approached Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen. He grabbed hold of Ma Tongtong's wrist and injected a whiff of special spiritual power into her body.Oh Ma Tongtong woke up again. But she seemed very weak.Yang Chen looked at Ning Tao with astonished eyes. He thought that saving Ma Tongtong would be a complicated and dangerous process. He had not expected such ease it was so easy that he could not believe his eyes.Ning Tao said, Both of your lives are in danger. I can save you two, but I have my rules. You have to sign on my pact. Read the contents on the pact and sign it if you agree.You need to sign this? Yang Chen took the merit of good intention prescription pact from Ning Tao's hands and was flabbergasted by it. He thought it would be an agreement clause like when you underwent surgeries in hospitals. But this pact required merits of good intention to heal them. Even more bizarrely, this prescription pact had listed all the meritorious deeds he had done in his life. It had even recorded the date and time of his birth. It was so mysterious. He could not guess how Ning Tao would know all these details.Ma Tongtong also looked at the prescription pact given her by Ning Tao. She too stared blankly, only recovering after a long time. Doctor Ning, this isNing Tao said gently, I know the two of you are very curious. But this is my condition for treating patients. No matter how you see me, no matter whether you can understand me, you have to sign on this prescription pact. Only then can I treat you.I'll sign now, Yang Chen said. He took the pen and signed his name on his merit of good intention prescription pact. He was curious, but the most important thing now was to save his life.Ma Tongtong hesitated for a moment before signing her name on her merit of good intention prescription pact.Ning Tao took back the two prescription pacts and uncorked the vial. He poured out two Fine Primary Elixirs and gave one to Yang Chen and one to Ma Tongtong. These are medicine pills. Take them.Yang Chen held up the Fine Primary Elixir and examined it from the left and the right. To be honest, he did not really believe such a pill could treat his injuries. But he would not ask since he was afraid of offending Ning Tao. Would Ning Tao still treat him if he had offended him?Doctor Ning Ma Tongtong stared at Ning Tao, her eyes full of a faint sorrow. Tell me, what will happen after treatment?A woman's thoughts were usually more delicate than a man's. Her sixth sense would be more acute too. She seemed to have detected something.After receiving treatment, she would no longer remember Ning Tao. Nor would she remember this clinic. But it was obviously not the right time to tell her this. From that tinge of sorrow in her eyes, Ning Tao was worried that she would reject the pill. He hesitated for a moment before saying with a smile, After treatment, your bodies will rapidly recover. The merits of good intention in your bodies will disappear, but you will be more healthy physically than before. It won't be hard for you two to live to 100 years.Is that all? Ma Tongtong asked again.Of course this was not all. But Ning Tao merely nodded. He was feeling somewhat sorrowful inside too. He thought of Ma Tongtong as a soulmate, but after treatment, Ma Tongtong would forget everything about him.I'll take it. Yang Chen no longer looked at the crystalline Fine Elixir in his hand. He put it in his mouth directly.Ning Tao said gently, Professor Ma, you take it too.Ma Tongtong also put the Fine Primary Elixir in her mouth.Green smoke suddenly gushed out from the good-evil tripod, engulfing Ma Tongtong and Yang ChenAfter a few minutes, Ning Tao carried Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen out of Sky Clinic. He placed them on the terrace and injected a special spiritual power into their bodies. Before they could open their eyes, he went back into Sky Clinic, shutting the door.Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen opened their eyes. The night sky was clear as though thoroughly rinsed and the stars were sparkling. The two of them clambered up from the terrace and stared at their surroundings. They looked at each other. There was the same astonishment and bewilderment on both their faces.Why why are we here? Where is this place? Yang Chen finally broke the silence between them.Ma Tongtong's expression was confused. Weren't we weren't we at Shennongjia searching for the Feminine-moon people's ruins? What happened?What happened? Yang Chen shook his head vigorously but could recall nothing. All his memories involving Ning Tao were gone. He not only could not remember the events at the deep chasm, he could not even remember the brick he had discovered.Ma Tongtong suddenly gave a shocked gasp. You are drenched in blood! You're injured!Yang Chen had a great fright and hastily examined his body. But other than blood, there was no wound on his body.Ma Tongtong found the same thing about herself. At the moment when she detected blood all over Yang Chen's body, she found similar bloodstains on herself. She even lifted up the hem of her clothes to see her abdomen. But her abdomen was smooth and without the least bit of injury. She tried frantically to recollect the events, but she could remember nothing. All her memories involving Ning Tao were gone from her brain.This was a sequela of Sky Clinic. It would eradicate every memory Ning Tao was involved in. No one knew how the Sky Clinic did this. And no one knew when all its mysteries would be unraveled.Let's leave this place. But first, let's see where we are, Yang Chen said.Ma Tongtong nodded. She crawled up and followed Yang Chen. While going down the steps, she gazed back at Sky Clinic. Yet this glance did not cause her to recollect any memory from this ancient house with a tightly shut door.Behind the door, Ning Tao had tidied everything. He gently opened the door of Sky Clinic a little and watched Yang Chen and Ma Tongtong walking shoulder to shoulder out to the lane. He felt a little sorrow in his heart. Forget me. Don't go exploring the Feminine-moon people's ruins in the future. Start a new life. Goodbye forever, my friends.Ma Tongtong and Yang Chen emerged from the exit of the Hakka Alley and disappeared into the dusky night.A dozen seconds later, Ning Tao returned to the inner cave inside the large cave. With a flashlight lighting his way, he advanced to where Tang Zixian and Tu Wenjin were hiding.Who's that? From the darkness came Tu Wenjin's tense voice.Ning Tao replied in a deep voice, It's me.Tu Wenjin heaved a long sigh of relief. You're finally back.Ning Tao walked quickly over, shining his flashlight at this dark corner.Tang Zixian stood up. Where are the two archaeologists from the team?Ning Tao replied, They're dead. I couldn't bring away their bodies.Tang Zixian said, I told you that you can't save them. Why waste so much time?Ning Tao said quietly, Whether I can save them is different from whether I would. I am a doctor. I won't leave people in the lurch. He paused and then continued. Since they're dead, let's not talk about them. Follow me. I will take you out.Under the flashlight, Tu Wenjin was glancing at Tang Zixian. He wanted to leave with Ning Tao, but the final decision was not his.Tang Zixian was quiet and did not express her intention. No one could guess what she was thinking.At this moment, two gunshots rang out from the cave entrance. The angry growl of an armed man resounded. Come out now! You motherfu*kers, you can't run. I swear I will kill you all!The armed men at the cave entrance must have lost their patience. Yet they could not defy their commanding officer's order and leave. This was the only way they could release their pent-up fury.Lead the way. Tang Zixian finally made up her mind.Follow me. Ning Tao shone the way with his flashlight, following the spoor of the Shennongjia primitives to another inner cave.There were only two armed men at the cave entrance. To kill them and get out of the cave would be easy, but he did not want to do this. He had another plan in mind.Entering the inner cave, the odor of the Shennongjia primitives was even stronger. There were even drops of blood on the ground in this inner cave, extending into the deep darkness.Ning Tao simply retracted his sense of smell and followed the blood trails instead.This inner cave was tall and spacious. It reminded one of a subway tunnel. Only such a tunnel could accommodate the Shennongjia primitives who were mostly around four meters in height.The subway tunnel meandered into the depths of the earth. It seemed endless. No one knew to where it was leading.There was no fear in Ning Tao's heart. If the situation became dangerous, he could always open the convenient door and escape.Following the meanderings of the subway tunnel, Tang Zixian's brows began to furrow. The expression in her eyes became more and more solemn. She was obviously not able to take things as calmly as Ning Tao.Doctor Ning, you're sure this leads to the exit? We have been underground for a long time. What if we lose our way? Tu Wenjin asked nervously. He could not hide the apprehension in his heart.Ning Tao said quietly, What are you two worried about? This path extends downwards. It might lead to the bottom of the chasm. Then we will reach the ruins of the Feminine-moon people. By the way, the two of you were searching for their ruins, right? If this tunnel can lead us to their ruins, won't it be a good thing?Tu Wenjin shut his mouth. He instinctively glanced at Tang Zixian beside him. But the flashlight in Ning Tao's hand was only shining the way ahead. He could not see the expression on Tang Zixian's face.Ning Tao asked again, Miss Tang, from where did you learn about the ruins of the Feminine-moon people?Tang Zixian answered, What cannot be achieved with money in this world? Of course I spent money to buy the information.Ning Tao no longer asked. He could not hear a single word of truth from her mouth. There would be no point probing further. Doing that would be a waste of time.They walked for a full half hour. Suddenly, in front of them came a glimmer of light.
