It must have been Ji Bingbing who answered the phone, Chu Hao thought. I was drunk at the time.
"I didn’t do anything."
Old Mo said, "There’s a business opportunity. It’s for a funeral crying service, a hundred bucks a day."
Chu Hao hesitated. With his current skills, crying at funerals for a mere hundred dollars would be both exhausting and painful and would leave his throat hoarse. He could make a thousand dollars a day just by fortune-telling on the bridge.
However, Old Mo had always been good to him and helped him when he was lost.
It could be said that it was Old Mo who had assisted him in embarking on this path. When Chu Hao had nearly nothing to eat, Old Mo introduced him to work.
A person should not forget their roots, Chu Hao thought.
Chu Hao said, "Okay, I’ll go."
On the other end, Old Mo laughed and said, "I’ll send you the address. Oh, and this client is quite wealthy. If you cry well, you might even earn some extra income."
Funeral crying was something Chu Hao was still capable of. He could cry his heart out.
Soon after, an address was sent to him.
Looking at the address, Chu Hao noted it was a high-end residential area. Such an area in Anli City would be difficult to buy for less than several million, he mused.
He took a cab and headed to the residential community.
After getting out of the cab, Chu Hao saw a villa-like complex, his eyes gleaming. I’ll buy one for myself when I make some money, he thought, fantasizing about owning such a place.
Chu Hao had no home, so he always fantasized about having a house of his own.
After speaking with the community security guard, who then let him in, Chu Hao found the villa Old Mo had mentioned. There were quite a few people there, likely the family.
System notification: "An Evil Ghost Level presence detected. Please prepare yourself, Host, to find the reason and truth. Experience Points will be doubled."
Chu Hao was startled. There’s actually an Evil Ghost here? he thought. He quickly asked, "Is Evil Ghost Level more formidable than the One-armed Ghost?"
System: "The One-armed Ghost is just Xiao Gui. An Evil Ghost’s strength is three times stronger than Xiao Gui."
Chu Hao was alarmed and immediately became vigilant. I can easily kill a Xiao Gui, but an Evil Ghost is a different story, he thought.
"Who are you looking for?" a man in a black suit asked Chu Hao upon seeing him.
Chu Hao replied, "I was referred by Old Mo."
The man in the black suit said, "Come with me."
Entering the luxurious villa, Chu Hao was immediately captivated by the swimming pool and manicured green lawn. This is truly the life of the wealthy, he thought.
However, Chu Hao noticed that the villa emitted a chill.
Suddenly, he felt someone watching him. Looking up, he saw a woman in a floral dress standing outside the window, staring straight at him.
Chu Hao blinked, and the woman vanished.
Is this the Evil Ghost? Daring to appear in broad daylight, Chu Hao thought, feeling a bit scared.
But then he remembered he had the System. What’s there to be afraid of?
Besides, I have Sadako with me, and she’s an Evil Ghost too. There’s no need to worry, he reassured himself.
System notification: "Three Evil Ghosts detected. Please prepare yourself, Host."
Dammit! Chu Hao thought. Could this be a mistake? Three of them!
Before Chu Hao could enter, a voice rang out, "Chu Hao! What are you doing here?"
Chu Hao turned to look, his face souring.
Wu Qingqing, he thought. My former girlfriend, who left me for someone who drove a car at twenty-five because she thought I didn’t have much money. I hadn’t expected to encounter her here.
Wu Qingqing was a girl who matured early. At seventeen, she looked like she was twenty, with a nice figure. Many guys in class had pursued her.
They hadn’t been broken up for long. Chu Hao was still somewhat naive about relationships, while Wu Qingqing was different—almost like a veteran. Who knows where she learned it from, he wondered.
Chu Hao said, "I’m here on business."
Of course, I know what Chu Hao does for a living, Wu Qingqing thought. His "business" is performing mourning rituals, chanting scriptures for the dead—all sorts of scammy tricks.
Disgust flashed in Wu Qingqing’s eyes as she said, "Just go away."
Chu Hao disliked her attitude. Does Wu Qingqing really think I’m still hung up on her? Does she have any idea what she really is? he thought. He said, "Why should I leave?"
Wu Qingqing loathed Chu Hao. My boyfriend’s family is holding a funeral today, and he’s already in a bad mood. If he sees Chu Hao performing the mourning rites, he’ll probably fly into a rage, she thought.
Wu Qingqing took out a red bill from her wallet and said, "You get paid a hundred for your mourning services. Here’s a hundred, now scram."
Chu Hao’s expression darkened as he replied, "I’m not here to mourn for anyone."
Wu Qingqing frowned and coldly said, "I don’t care what you’re here for. Look! Here’s two hundred."
What the fuck, is this woman out of her mind? Chu Hao thought. After latching onto someone wealthy, does she really think she’s someone important?
Narrowing his eyes, Chu Hao said, "Wu Qingqing, are you out of your mind?"
Wu Qingqing was taken aback and angrily said, "Chu Hao, one should be aware of their own worth. Two hundred is quite a lot; it’s enough for you to eat for several days. What more do you want?"
Just as Chu Hao was about to say something, a cry of surprise rang out, "Taoist Master! You really are a Taoist Master! How come you’re here?"
A man appeared. Chu Hao took a glance. Isn’t that one of the guys from Ma Wen’s group yesterday? he thought.
Wang Yu was very excited. The events of yesterday still troubled him, but compared to his lingering fear, the memory of Chu Hao terrifying the ghosts was far more astounding.
Chu Hao replied indifferently, "Is this your house?"
Wang Yu hurriedly said with all due respect, "It’s not. This is my uncle’s place. Please, Taoist Master, come inside."
Wu Qingqing was somewhat confused. How does Wang Yu know Chu Hao? she wondered.
Wang Yu, from the Wang Family Group, is even wealthier than my boyfriend. I’ve long wanted to curry favor with him, but he’s never spared me a glance, Wu Qingqing thought.
Chu Hao’s gaze shifted to the villa as he said coldly, "Since I’m here, you must know there’s something unclean here."
Wang Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and his voice trembled as he said, "No... can it be?"
"What, you don’t believe it?" Chu Hao waited for his response.
"Believe, of course I believe."
Chu Hao spoke calmly, "However, I don’t feel like going in now. This woman, she makes me sick."
Wu Qingqing angrily said, "Chu Hao, what do you mean by that?"
Chu Hao turned to leave, adding, "Oh, right! That unclean thing will probably become violent tonight."
Wang Yu was stunned. He slapped her—SMACK! Wu Qingqing covered her cheek, her face filled with disbelief.
"You damn bitch! Do you really think you’re something special? How dare you offend the Taoist Master? Taoist Master, don’t go!! You must help my family!" Wang Yu begged, shivering as he chased after him.
Wu Qingqing’s complexion changed. Wang Yu hit me all because of Chu Hao. Why is this happening? she thought, not understanding.
Wang Yu caught up, scared out of his wits. If what Chu Hao said is true, this place is indeed dangerous, he thought. I could leave right now, but my father is still inside.
"Taoist Master, please don’t go. I beg you, you must help my family," Wang Yu pleaded, his legs gone weak with fear.
Chu Hao turned his head and said, "This Taoist Master charges for his services."
Wang Yu quickly said, "No matter how much it costs, you must help my family, Taoist Master."
"All right, let’s go."
Getting some extra cash is good, Chu Hao thought, quite pleased. After all, I can’t let that woman Wu Qingqing spoil my mood, right?