Chapter 11: Be My Personal Driver

Undoubtedly, ten thousand spirit coins were a tremendous temptation for the driver. But as Chen Mu had said, no taxi driver dared to accept ten thousand spirit coins. The driver merely gazed longingly, yet dared not move.

Chen Mu revealed a familiar smile—the kind he always wore when he saw through everything. Slowly, he said, “As far as I know, the rule of the Netherworld Taxi is simple: as long as you pay the fare, you can safely get off. Clearly, a mere few minutes’ ride does not require ten thousand spirit coins! The ten thousand spirit coins you mentioned are not the fare; you’re just using that number to intimidate customers. If a passenger has a hundred spirit coins in hand—enough to cover the fare—but is frightened by you into thinking they don’t have ten thousand and chooses to give up paying, then you can kill them, right, driver? Trying to play such a petty trick with me? You’re still inexperienced. The real fare is the number shown on the meter. So, driver, please scoot aside and reveal the meter you’re hiding.”

Hearing this, surprise flashed across the driver’s face. Its eyeless sockets scanned Chen Mu up and down. It realized that this seemingly harmless young man actually understood the strange rules of this eerie apocalypse deeply and was a formidable character. To grasp the Netherworld Taxi’s rules just one month into the bizarre end times was no ordinary insight.

Finally, the driver recognized it had met a tough opponent. It shifted aside, revealing the meter: 11.45 spirit coins! After a series of transactions—payment, collection, change—Chen Mu had finished paying the fare. By all rights, he could get out, but he remained seated in the back.

“You can go now,” the driver urged.

The ten thousand spirit coins in Chen Mu’s hand were a huge temptation. Every second Chen Mu stayed, the coins dangled before the driver’s eyes, tempting him mercilessly.

“Ten thousand spirit coins—is that a lot? Want them?” Chen Mu asked.

“Want them? Of course. But you won’t give them to me,” the driver said coldly.

Everyone knew the value of spirit coins, especially for humans; ten thousand was precious and rare, enough to survive many strange missions. There was no way this human would give them away! The driver thought Chen Mu was showing off or teasing, hence the icy tone.

“Who said I won’t give?” Chen Mu smiled. “Not only can I give you that, I can give you more—if you’re willing to pay a price.”

The driver hesitated, tempted, but reason told it this was impossible; humans weren’t that generous.

“What price?” the driver asked.

“Be my driver. I’ll pay you twenty thousand spirit coins a month! Perform well, and there’s a bonus.”

Netherworld Taxis were rare in the eerie apocalypse—at most one per city! Chen Mu currently lacked a ready driver. If he urgently needed a taxi in the city, he might wait seven days and nights without finding one.

Now, he had met one. The driver’s skills were decent, his strength at the Strange Soldier level, and riding in the car granted a temporary invincibility buff.

Hiring this car meant having a driver on call, plus a Strange Soldier-level bodyguard. For Chen Mu, this was an excellent deal!

“What did you say? Twenty thousand spirit coins a month? Plus bonuses?” The driver’s eyes widened in shock. He earned barely over three thousand spirit coins monthly driving this Netherworld Taxi, often with delayed wages. Hard work year-round barely yielded thirty thousand spirit coins annually!

Chen Mu’s offer nearly increased his salary tenfold—plus bonuses—and he wouldn’t have to work every day, just serve Chen Mu alone!

Was there such a good deal in the world?

The driver looked at Chen Mu with suspicion.

Chen Mu said no more and took fifty thousand spirit coins from his ring, adding the earlier ten thousand, totaling sixty thousand, which he handed over.

“This is your salary for three months, paid in advance.”

Only then did the driver realize Chen Mu was serious—he truly was this wealthy!

The driver took the sixty thousand spirit coins with trembling hands, hardly believing his good fortune: he had just been hired by a wealthy man as a personal driver!

“Bring out the contract; let’s both sign it,” Chen Mu said.

Snapping out of shock, the driver carefully put away the coins, then hurriedly took out his contract and signed his name.

Chen Mu signed as well. At that moment, the Netherworld Taxi became Chen Mu’s exclusive vehicle, and the driver his private chauffeur, ready at any call.

“Boss Chen, here’s my number. Call me anytime; I’ll arrive within five minutes,” the driver said, handing over a black phone with a blood-red button.

As long as Chen Mu was in the city, pressing that red button would summon his personal Netherworld Taxi within five minutes.

After pocketing the phone, Chen Mu prepared to leave.

The driver quickly got out first, went around to open Chen Mu’s door, bowing respectfully as he held the door above to prevent Chen Mu from bumping his head.

The driver knew that if other Netherworld Taxi drivers in different cities found out about his excellent job, they’d be envious to death.

Such a generous and wealthy boss deserved the best service.

Chen Mu comfortably accepted the driver’s attentions; if anyone saw a fierce ghost so attentively opening a door, they’d surely be stunned.

“Boss Chen, if you have any luggage, just give it to me—I’ll carry it down from upstairs,” the driver said, bowing to please.

“Mm,” Chen Mu nodded lightly. “Be here at ten in the morning sharp to pick me up. I have some business to attend.”

“All right, all right, Boss. Don’t worry; I’m reliable,” the driver assured.

Soon, under the driver’s earnest escort, Chen Mu returned to his familiar home.

For five years of this eerie apocalypse, Chen Mu had been hiding everywhere, afraid to return home, fearing strange encounters.

Now, as he stepped inside, the familiar atmosphere washed over him.

This long-missed sense of familiarity and warmth intoxicated him. He took a shower, then lay comfortably in his bed to rest and recharge.