Zhang Dehua was frustrated. It's only nine o'clock!
At that moment, Dong Qi also hastily said, "The Taoist Master is right. As long as we know where the Ghost Cave is, we can come again tomorrow. With the Taoist Master's abilities, how could a mere Ghost Cave frighten him?"
Chu Hao glanced at him, and Dong Qi broke out in a cold sweat. "Not... not frightened! When the Taoist Master makes a move, the Ghost Cave will surely be destroyed."
Lu Junhe chimed in flatteringly, "Vice-Principal, this is where you're wrong. For a high-level person like Master Chu Tian, his routine is very strict. Nine o'clock is indeed late; we'll come again another day."
Zhang Dehua fumed. This old fox Lu Junhe is using me as a stepping stone to flatter Chu Hao!
"Let's go. Let's go home."
Everyone left the Ghost Office, and Chu Hao let out a long sigh of relief. I'm still experiencing misfortune; I don't want to court death. He had learned his lesson about the capabilities of the Pretentious Dice.
At this time, the four of them prepared to go back. Outside the school gates, they tried to hail a taxi, but after waiting for half an hour, they couldn't get a single one. This was too bizarre. Everyone knew that Star Dream High School's gate opened onto a straight main road where taxis were usually plentiful.
Damn it! Is my bad luck still not over? Even taxis won't take passengers? Chu Hao thought.
Lu Junhe suggested, "How about I drive you all back?"
Just as they were about to agree, a taxi arrived. Yu Sicheng said with a smile, "Principal, looks like we don't need it after all."
The four got into the taxi. Wang Meng gave the address of Sanqing Pavilion, and they drove away. However, after just five minutes, they hit a traffic jam.
Wang Meng grumbled, "A traffic jam at this late hour?"
The driver, a middle-aged man, was also puzzled. "This road has never had a traffic jam before. Could there have been an accident up ahead?"
Chu Hao quickly said, "It's fine, Driver. Just drive slowly, as long as we reach our destination."
This is definitely misfortune at work, Chu Hao was convinced.
The traffic jam didn't last too long; they were moving again after half an hour, much to everyone's relief.
Chu Hao muttered to himself, Hopefully, nothing else happens.
Yu Sicheng heard his muttering and was taken aback, asking, "Ah-Hao, what else could happen? We're already on the highway."
The driver nodded in agreement. "It's quick on the highway."
Suddenly, there was a loud "BANG!" The left tire had a problem. Everyone exchanged looks and turned to Chu Hao.
The driver's mouth twitched. "Kid, you... what sort of jinx are you?"
Everyone was speechless.
Chu Hao was speechless too, looking to the heavens. I knew it wouldn't be this easy. Does misfortune get worse as night falls?
Everyone got out of the car, and the driver said with a forlorn face, "I can't take you back now."
Wang Meng's eyes widened. "This is a highway! Are you suggesting we walk back?"
Yu Sicheng said, "Just flag down another car."
He started waving for a car on the highway, but they couldn't get one for half an hour.
Yu Sicheng's mouth twitched. Today is truly cursed, he thought.
The driver said, "A friend of mine happens to be nearby. I'll call them to pick you up."
"That would be good."
Ten minutes later, a taxi arrived. The new driver said with a laugh, "Old Yong, you're really unlucky, blowing a tire on the highway!"
The first driver glanced at Chu Hao and muttered, "I just changed to new tires yesterday."
"Hope it doesn't blow out again," Chu Hao murmured.
They got into the other taxi. Just as they settled in, there was another loud bang—another tire had blown out.
Everyone was going crazy.
This can't be happening, right?
"DING... Host successfully acted pretentiously, earning 100 Pretentiousness Points."
Chu Hao's eyes widened. This counts as being pretentious too?
Each one of them looked at Chu Hao with a bizarre, utterly astonished expression.
The driver grimaced and said, "Kid, what's up with your mouth? I give up. I don't want the fare anymore. Just get going."
Damn it! Do you think I'm some plague god? Chu Hao fumed internally but said guiltily, "Fine, then we'll walk back."
Wang Meng said pitifully, "We're really going to walk? How long is that going to take?"
I refuse to believe this! A stubborn fire ignited within Chu Hao. "We're walking back!" he declared.
The three had no choice but to reluctantly follow Chu Hao.
That walk lasted an hour. They didn't encounter a single taxi along the way, and all four were thoroughly out of patience.
"My goodness! Ah-Hao, did you step in dog poop today or what?" Wang Meng exclaimed.
Chu Hao gave Wang Meng a glance. "How can you blame me for this?"
When they finally managed to hail a cab, it turned out to be the driver whose first tire had blown out. Seeing them, he couldn't help but look astonished.
"You... you still haven't caught a ride?"
Chu Hao flashed a sycophantic smile and pleaded, "Master, how about giving us a lift?"
Without another word, the driver stepped on the gas and sped away.
Wang Meng cursed furiously, "Damn you! I've memorized your license plate! I hope I never see you again, or I'll slash your tires!"
Finally, the four of them walked off the highway, breathing a long sigh of relief. They were almost home. Their legs were wobbly from walking, and Chu Hao, due to his back pain, found the journey particularly arduous.
At Sanqing Pavilion, Ankang Mo saw them arrive and quickly asked, "Is the issue resolved?"
Wang Meng replied with a pained expression, "Don't even mention it. Today has been nothing but misfortune. I'm so hungry! Got anything to eat?"
Ankang Mo said, "We can only order takeout now."
Just then, Wenmi arrived, carrying bags of all sizes.
An excited Wang Meng lunged for the food, exclaiming, "Sister Mi, you're truly our caring big sister! How did you know we were hungry?"
"Si Cheng just called me, and I happened to be nearby," Wenmi said, glancing coquettishly at Yu Sicheng.
Yu Sicheng, a bit embarrassed, said, "It's so late, and you still brought us food. I feel bad."
Wenmi rolled her eyes. "Why are you being so formal with me?"
Chu Hao also chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! We're all family here, no need for formalities. I'm starting to eat!"
Everyone pounced on the food, devouring it. It was already 11 o'clock; who wouldn't be hungry? They figured Zhong Minyue and Qiu Yun'er had probably already gone to bed, so they didn't call the master and disciple pair.
Watching them tear into the fish, Chu Hao couldn't help but warn, "Eat slower, don't choke."
Suddenly, Wang Meng's face changed. He clutched his neck, "Ouch! I... I've got a fish bone stuck in my throat!"
Wenmi said, unimpressed, "Can't you eat a little slower?"
Beside her, Yu Sicheng looked distressed. "I've got one stuck in my throat, too."
Dong Qi also chimed in, "I... I do too."
The three of them were in agony; no matter how much water they drank, the fish bones seemed lodged in their throats and wouldn't go down.
"DING... The Host's inconspicuous act of pretentiousness is the most lethal, gaining 300 Pretentiousness Points."
Wang Meng said with a gloomy face, "Ah-Hao, have you finished eating? Please, I'm begging you, Brother Meng is begging you, can you go back upstairs first?"
Wenmi glared at Wang Meng. "How is you choking on a fish bone Ah-Hao's fault?"
Sister Mi really knows what to say! Those bastards... How can they blame *me* when I haven't even choked on a fish bone? Chu Hao silently gave Wenmi a thumbs-up.
Then, Wenmi took a bite of fish, her face changed instantly, and she gasped, "I... I've got one stuck too!"