Chu Hao nodded. "Master, rest assured, this is a secret between you and me. I won’t speak of it."
Zhong Minyue blushed. What does ’a secret between you and me’ even mean? It’s so ambiguous!
Just as Zhong Minyue was about to return to her room, she suddenly turned around. "Young Benefactor Chu, I heard from Master Meng that you’re going to investigate supernatural events?"
"Yes," Chu Hao replied, puzzled.
Zhong Minyue said, "Well, I also know a thing or two about Taoist rituals. If there’s any way I can be of help, just let me know."
He was also aware of Zhong Minyue’s abilities. If it weren’t for the trickery of the Yin-Yang Child Demon, she could have absolutely exterminated the adversary by herself. Unfortunately, there were too many ghosts, and she wasn’t as fierce as Chu Hao.
"Okay, since Master wishes to help, I’ll reward you for your assistance when the time comes," Chu Hao offered.
Zhong Minyue shook her head. "There’s no need for a reward. You’ve already done us a great kindness by taking us, my disciple and me, in."
Hehe... Am I like, stumbling upon free labor by the roadside?
「The next day, Zi Gui came to pick up Chu Hao and Yu Sicheng.」
After a two-hour drive, they arrived at the North District of Anli City. The North District was even more prosperous, supposedly a gathering place for the wealthy. They stopped in front of a villa.
Soon, a woman who looked like a nanny opened the door and welcomed them in.
Chu Hao laughed. "Quite a few bodyguards around."
Zi Gui was surprised. Indeed, there were bodyguards nearby, very well-hidden. He was amazed that Chu Hao could detect them.
As they entered the villa, they saw a woman behaving erratically. She looked about sixty years old, was dressed decently, but was drooling, her gaze maniacal as she charged toward Chu Hao and the others. She opened her mouth to bite Zi Gui.
Chu Hao, quick as a flash, kicked out, sending the woman flying. Zi Gui’s face paled.
"Eldest Aunt!" the nanny exclaimed. A host of people rushed out of the villa, surrounding Chu Hao and his companions, glaring at them fiercely.
To their surprise, the Eldest Aunt got back up as if Chu Hao’s kick had had no effect on her and lunged to bite the nanny’s neck. Yu Sicheng reacted quickly; a Talisman Paper rapidly appeared in his hand as he commanded, "Divine brush sweeps, holy spirits guard, grant us peace, subdue the malevolent! I invoke the command of the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord, swift as the established law!"
A Talisman stuck to the Eldest Aunt’s forehead, and she immediately froze, her body stiff.
The others were dumbfounded. What had happened to the Eldest Aunt? Why was she motionless like a zombie after a Talisman was applied? The bodyguards were in an uproar.
At that moment, a gray-haired elder stepped forward and waved his hand. "All of you, stand down." The bodyguards then backed off.
Zi Gui, finally snapping out of his shock, rushed to introduce them. "Cao Gong, this is Master Chu Hao, and this is Master Yu Sicheng."
Cao Gong, definitely over sixty, looked at his eldest wife and sighed. "Gentlemen, please come inside."
Soon, they were all seated inside the house. A glamorous woman, around twenty-six or twenty-seven, entered. She had a perfect oval face, snow-white skin, and an impressively endowed chest, emphasized by a low neckline that captivated the gaze. Her smile was charming, like a seductive vixen, enough to make one’s heart flutter.
Chu Hao was impressed. This woman is truly beautiful, second only to Luo Yan and Yi Qinglian.
Zi Gui introduced her, "This is Cao Gong’s Fourth Aunt."
Chu Hao was astounded. That old man has four wives?
"Hello," she greeted them.
Fourth Aunt is indeed a nation-toppling beauty. Looking at old Cao Gong’s frailty, I wonder if he can still plow the field. What a pity for such fertile land, Chu Hao mused.
As for Yu Sicheng, his expression was as indifferent as ever. Nobody could fathom his thoughts, making him seem quite inscrutable. In fact, Chu Hao knew that Yu Sicheng was just reserved, not one to show his feelings.
Cao Shanhe’s identity had already been introduced by Zi Gui. This old man was one of the foremost figures in Anli City, a dominant presence. Cao Shanhe said, "Seeing that you two young brothers are capable, I, Cao Shanhe, won’t beat around the bush. As long as you can solve this matter, name your price, no matter how much."
Yu Sicheng was somewhat excited, but Chu Hao remained very calm. He sipped his tea and said unhurriedly, "Old Cao, let me give you a heads-up. Your Eldest Aunt’s condition... I’m afraid even the Daluo Jinxian himself wouldn’t be able to cure her."
Cao Shanhe frowned, his voice tinged with restrained anger. "Gentlemen, since my niece recommended you, it means you have real skills. If anyone else had said those words, they might have lost a finger or two by now."
This old man is pretty brazen! Threatening me after just a couple of sentences.
Does he think Brother Hao is scared of him?
Chu Hao shook his head. "It’s just the plain truth. What’s with the threats?"
Zi Gui was anxious. She knew Chu Hao’s personality, and Old Cao’s was even more eccentric. People in the underworld said that the Blood Butcher was none other than Cao Shanhe. His hands were tainted with far too much blood, and who knew, he might kill them both on a whim.
Cao Shanhe glanced at Chu Hao and sneered, "So young, yet so bold. Haven’t you heard of me?"
Here goes the old man, posturing again!
Chu Hao snorted. "Oh? And have you heard of me?"
Cao Shanhe laughed, looking at Chu Hao with great interest. This kid was the first person in many years who dared to speak to him . Once, a young and rash individual, thinking a bit of ability entitled them to challenge him, ended up chopped into human-meat dumplings and fed directly to the dogs.
If Brother Hao doesn’t show you a thing or two, you’ll really think you’re some big shot, huh?
Chu Hao stood up and walked around the room. "Looks residence of yours won’t last much longer. The air is thick with wronged spirits."
"What do you mean?" Cao Shanhe asked, startled.
Chu Hao pointed to the incense burner before the deity shrine, where the incense had extinguished halfway. "These incense sticks—they won’t light, will they?"
Chu Hao clicked his tongue. "The Grand Supreme is enraged, invoking the Nine Heart-Executions! Such immense fury, to actually demand the extermination of your nine clans."
Extermination of nine clans!!
Zi Gui gasped, Cao Shanhe’s face changed color, and the Fourth Aunt turned pale as well.
Yu Sicheng also walked over. Seeing only nine half-burnt incense sticks, he nodded. "The Nine Incense Heart-Execution; it indeed means the extermination of nine clans."
Cao Shanhe couldn’t hold back any longer. "Why would this happen?"
Chu Hao smiled, his demeanor shifting. "Easy now. Take a seat first, and let’s talk about the price."
Chu Hao’s single sentence left Cao Shanhe speechless; he realized that his own words from before had angered Chu Hao. Cao Shanhe, being a sensible man, said, "How much money will it take to solve this?"
Chu Hao looked at Cao Shanhe for a long moment, then smiled. "You big shots are always threatening to chop off fingers. Now I’m feeling a bit hesitant to work with you."
Cao Shanhe’s face darkened.
Chu Hao waved his hand. "However, this Taoist Master isn’t afraid of you. Since I can save you, I can also personally destroy you."
DING... Host has successfully postured, gaining 50 Pretentiousness Points.
Zi Gui and the Fourth Aunt were both shocked that Chu Hao dared to speak his mind. Meanwhile, the bodyguards around them had cold looks in their eyes, ready to take Chu Hao’s life at Cao Gong’s command.
The expression on Chu Hao’s face slowly grew colder. "Don’t think I’m joking."
He waved his hand, and three Ghost Servants, including Sadako, appeared. Then, using the power of the Yin Yang Ring, he granted Cao Shanhe the Yin Yang Eye.