Chapter 5: Overdoing the Show-off
Seeing the usually haughty school beauty apologizing, Chu Hao couldn’t be more excited. With the tone of an elder lecturing a younger one, he said, "It’s fine, just be more careful in the future and don’t act so neurotic."
Mu Yuxun couldn’t swallow her pride. By the sound of it, he was lecturing her, but with her father present, she dared not act too recklessly.
Seeing Mu Yuxun feeling aggrieved, Chu Hao felt extrely pleased. So what if she’s the school beauty? So what if she’s popular? In the end, she still succumbed to the charm—ahem—the renown of this Taoist Master.
"Thank you, Master Chu Tian."
Mu Yufei also expressed her gratitude again. This cool and rational beauty had just been holding his hand not too long ago.
Mu Chenglong laughed and said, "Master Chu Tian, to possess such skills at such a young age is truly comndable. You must visit our ho when you have the ti."
"Oh, right! This card is for you, Master Chu Tian. It contains fifty thousand yuan, and the password is the last six digits. Thank you for the great kindness you have shown the Mu Family." Mu Chenglong took out a card and handed it over, a wide smile on his face.
Chu Hao was instantly stunned. Fifty thousand yuan! That... That would be enough for him to indulge in the school cafeteria—eat one bowl, pour out another—without having to set up a street stall and be chased by city managent any longer.
Chu Hao felt the temptation and subconsciously reached for the card.
Suddenly, upon catching the gazes of the Mu sisters, he didn’t know what got into him, but he actually pushed the card back, saying, "Money is rely an earthly possession. Miss Mu is my classmate. For people of our profession, exorcising evil and vanquishing demons is our duty; we cannot possibly accept paynt."
Mu Chenglong was taken aback and hurriedly took back the card, respectfully saying, "I was rash. Master Chu Tian is an esteed hermit; his help cannot be asured in money."
Chu Hao’s mouth twitched. His heart was in tatters; he wanted to cry. Why refuse it? Why the need to show off? That was fifty thousand yuan! How many fortunes would he have to read to earn that much? He felt like slapping himself.
"DING... The Host has forcefully shown off, gaining 1 Pretentiousness Point."
Damn it. Just 1 Pretentiousness Point for fifty thousand yuan? This is such a rip-off! If only I had known, I would have taken it, face be damned.
But after his refusal, the way Mu Yuxun and Mu Yufei looked at him had changed.
The Mu Family was extrely grateful to Chu Hao.
The sickly-looking young man, upon learning about everything, worshiped Chu Hao to no end.
The young man boasted, "When Master Chu Tian is in Anli City, if you need anything, just find . I do have so say in the city."
Chu Hao glanced at him. A typical rich second-generation brat.
Unexpectedly, his father slapped him on the back of the head, scolding, "Stupid boy, what are you saying? Master Chu Tian is a revered sage, not soone to be compared with your worthless friends."
The young man felt wronged and didn’t dare to speak again.
Chu Hao waved his hand and said, "It’s nothing. It’s normal for kids to misspeak. Just be careful in the future."
Everyone was speechless.
The sickly young man was going crazy. This guy is so much younger than , and yet he’s speaking to in such a tone!
SMACK!
The young man was slapped on the back of his head again by his father, who glared at him and said, "Look! How old is Master Chu Tian? Such magnanimity! Not like you, brat! Hurry up and thank Master Chu Tian!"
"Thank you, Master Chu Tian. You are absolutely right, Master. I accept your admonishnt," the young man quickly nodded and bowed, though he was actually breaking down inside.
Chu Hao was inwardly ecstatic. So what if he’s a rich second-generation kid? Under the might of this Taoist Master, he still has to obediently admit his mistakes.
Suddenly, Chu Hao said seriously, "Everyone, I have sothing to say regarding the cause of Li iqing’s death. I already know a thing or two."
Mu Chenglong anxiously said, "Master Chu Tian, how did my mother die?"
Chu Hao said, "Li iqing told that she was possessed by a ghost, and it was that ghost that killed her."
The sickly young man was horrified and said, "But my grandma is already dead, how could you know that?"
As a result, he was once again smacked on the head by his father, leaving him dazed.
The young man’s father angrily said, "Show so respect! Why are you using ’you’? Address him as ’Sir’! Master Chu Tian, my child is ignorant, please forgive him."
The young man wanted to cry his eyes out. He felt so aggrieved; this was the Nth ti his father had smacked his head, and he felt utterly humiliated.
Moreover, his Mu Family cousins were all watching him, seemingly waiting for him to make a fool of himself.
Chu Hao said, "I asked Li iqing’s Ghost. She said she was possessed by a One-ard Ghost, who, it seems, might have followed one of you here from the city."
Everyone was shocked.
Mu Chenglong exclaid, "Could it be that soone wants to harm our Mu Family?"
Chu Hao nodded and said, "Li iqing wanted to harm you too, but she was coerced. Those were her words to before she departed."
Everyone fell silent.
Chu Hao waved his hand and said, "Don’t be scared. Tomorrow, everyone will follow to the graves to look for the One-ard Ghost."
The sickly young man was terrified and asked with a trembling voice, "Master Chu Tian, do... do we have to go too?"
Nonsense. If you don’t go, who will watch show off? Where will the Pretentiousness Points co from then!
But soone stood up; it was a plump, wealthy woman who said, "Master Chu Tian, we don’t need to go, right? Catching ghosts is your job, isn’t it?"
Many mbers of the Mu Family nodded in agreent, none wanting to go up the mountain since matters of haunting were generally unacceptable to most people.
Chu Hao sighed internally. He knew this wasn’t sothing just anyone could accept. If he had been in their shoes, without the Ghost-catching Pretentious System, he wouldn’t have wanted to go either, not even if his life depended on it.
And the people of the Mu Family, rich as they were in the city, found Li iqing’s death regrettable, but asking them to join a ghost hunt in the graveyard was out of the question. However, Chu Hao was displeased and said, "Ladies and gentlen, it seems I am under no obligation to help you, am I? This is the Mu Family’s affair. I only made the trip here because Mu Yuxun is my classmate. If your own family mbers won’t go, how can we lure out the One-ard Ghost?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Mu Yuxun’s face turned red, her big eyes sparkling, her heart racing like a startled fawn.
The wealthy woman’s smile stiffened.
Being a businesswoman and the daughter-in-law of the Mu Family, she said, "Master Chu Tian, how about this? You handle this matter for us, and you won’t miss out on the benefits."
Chu Hao’s eyes lit up at that.
Seeing this expression on Chu Hao’s face, the wealthy woman’s eyes flashed with scorn. In her view, everyone likes money, and Master Chu Tian was no exception; he too needed money to live. The adage that money makes the world go round was no lie.
The wealthy woman raised a finger, arrogantly saying, "One hundred thousand. If Master Chu Tian resolves this matter for the Mu Family, one hundred thousand will be yours."
Chu Hao’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. One hundred thousand! He hadn’t misheard; his heart was pounding. One hundred thousand could help him do so many things. How many years would he have to work at his roadside stall on the bridge to earn that much? One hundred thousand could solve his current predicant, pay his high school tuition, and let him eat and drink well for a long ti.
Seeing the expression on Chu Hao’s face, the wealthy woman’s eyes glead with even more contempt. So what if he can catch ghosts? He’s just like any other person. In today’s society, without money you’re a nobody, but with money, you’re the boss.
As soon as the wealthy woman finished speaking, a portly man stepped forward, smiling and saying, "Master Chu Tian, if one hundred thousand seems too little, we’ll offer two hundred thousand. Settle this matter smoothly, and Master Chu Tian will definitely get his portion."
Both Mu Yufei and Mu Yuxun were watching him.
All the Mu Family mbers were looking at Chu Hao.
"I refuse."
Everyone was taken aback.
Chu Hao was furious. So what if you have money? Damn it! Er... actually, having money really is amazing. But I’m no fool. If you don’t go with , how am I supposed to show off catching ghosts? How can I improve my abilities? You’re using money to insult a future Taoist Master!
"DING... The Host remains calmly pretentious and receives 2 Pretentiousness Points," the System announced.
Chu Hao chuckled internally; he had even managed to earn Pretentiousness Points this way.
Chu Hao continued, "Ladies and gentlen, do you know why the ghost targeted the Mu Family? It ca specifically for the relatives of the Mu Family. This ti I may have eradicated one ghost, but others will co for you. Any and all associated with the Mu Family cannot escape."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the Mu Family mbers turned deathly pale.
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