Chapter 300: As Long as You Don’t Take Responsibility, That’s Fine—What I Fear Is You Do Take Responsibility!
The moment the royal carriage pulled up to the station, it was as if an immense aura radiated outward, causing everyone nearby to instinctively step back—especially the loli girl and the noblewoman, who were natives of this land. As subjects of the kingdom, they couldn’t defy the majesty of royalty. As for the demons, they were simply pushed back by the sheer overwhelming power.
Two S-rank demons stood protectively in front of the loli girl—that was their duty.
Zhang Yangqing, however, didn’t feel much of anything. He just stood on the platform, not putting on any unnecessary theatrics. It’s just boarding a carriage—why all the fuss?
Calling it a carriage, Zhang Yangqing felt it was more like a luxury train car, with plenty of seats—enough to hold nearly twenty people. The coachman, too, was impeccably dressed. Spotting someone at the station, he began checking tickets.
It was only then that the noblewoman in Zhang Yangqing’s group snapped out of it and stepped forward to hand the ticket to the coachman.
Along the way, Zhang Yangqing had already learned that the noblewoman’s destination was the royal palace. She had been invited to attend a banquet hosted by the king. So Zhang Yangqing could infer that this road led to the palace.
What kind of terrifying beings might be riding in this carriage?
The moment the door opened, a chilling aura seeped out, as if every passenger inside was a mutated, fearsome specter. They all wore masks, from beneath which came all sorts of strange sounds—like crawling insects or festering skin.
In these dark conditions, if the rules hadn’t explicitly stated that the black carriage was safe, no Chosen One would have dared to board.
And it wasn’t just Zhang Yangqing’s carriage—the others were the same. When their carriage doors opened, foul odors wafted out, like rotting flesh.
The coachman of this carriage seemed to be a neutral-type hidden anomaly; his aura was even more inscrutable. This made the Chosen Ones wary of attacking him.
Hidden anomalies are immortal and indestructible—a special type within the bizarre world. Whenever you encounter one, you know they operate by their own rules. Break those rules, and they will act. This hidden anomaly’s rule most likely had to do with the ticket. Without a ticket, boarding was absolutely impossible. As long as you had one, he didn’t care how many people got on.
Zhang Yangqing’s group had tickets, so of course they could board.
But as he stepped up, Zhang Yangqing asked the coachman on a whim: “Can you guarantee the passengers’ safety?”
The coachman’s voice was deep and low as he replied: “Passengers are responsible for their own safety. I am only responsible for driving the carriage.”
Hearing that, other Chosen Ones would have panicked—which was exactly why some chose to hang on the outside. They couldn’t beat the mutated specters inside, so they avoided them as much as possible.
The lucky ones got a carriage with fewer passengers and some floor space to sit on. The unlucky ones found the carriage packed and had to cling to the outside.
But hearing this, Zhang Yangqing smiled.
Good, good, good. You said it yourself.
As long as you don’t take responsibility, that’s fine—what I fear is you do take responsibility.
Other extraordinary beings had arrived with no strength left to fight; they were nearly spent after the long journey. Zhang Yangqing had also expended a great deal of energy, but he still had plenty in reserve.
There were many people inside the carriage—seventeen out of twenty seats were taken. Some seats even had “pets” on them, leaving only one spot available.
The loli girl assumed Zhang Yangqing would take the seat for himself while everyone else stood or hung on. That had been her plan all along—after all, they couldn’t win against these guys anyway.
But Zhang Yangqing had a different idea. As soon as he boarded, he made a single hand seal.
Instantly, all the eerie movements inside the carriage ceased. Every passenger froze in place, as if petrified.
After doing that, Zhang Yangqing said to the relatively smarter S-rank demon, “These passengers have reached their stop. They might have trouble moving their legs, so it’s not convenient for them to get off. Help them down.”
The loli girl: “…”
The noblewoman: “…”
This move left everyone present utterly dumbfounded.
So this is how you play it, huh?
They haven’t even reached their stop, and you’re forcing them off?
Zhang Yangqing sat down casually, looking completely unbothered. “I’ve always played this way. If it weren’t for fear of dirtying the carriage, I’d have made them explode the moment I got on. I’m letting them live—what more do they want?”
The audience wasn’t particularly surprised. In their eyes, Celestial Master Zhang could, to some extent, set his own rules. Riding in such a cramped carriage simply didn’t befit his status. Besides, the coachman didn’t care, and Zhang hadn’t killed anyone—it was an unspoken understanding.
The S-rank demon, being clever, immediately acted on Zhang Yangqing’s orders. They boarded, and under the pretense of escorting passengers off, they carried all seventeen travelers out and dumped them in the station.
Those passengers had a thousand curses in their hearts but couldn’t utter a single word.
As the doors closed, the eight-horse royal carriage rolled out of the station.
It was a long while before the passengers could move again. Unusually, they didn’t curse loudly—instead, they felt a sense of relief at having survived. They knew that if the first person who boarded had decided to attack, not a single one of them would have lived. In this dog-eat-dog world, the weak had no right to reason.
Inside the spacious carriage, Zhang Yangqing leaned back in a comfortable spot and prepared to rest. He had been walking all night, and the fatigue from the bizarre world was heavy. He wasn’t alone—other Chosen Ones inside their carriages felt the same way.
They all knew that as long as they had boarded the right carriage, this stage was essentially cleared. As for those on the roof or hanging outside, they’d have to hold on a little longer—either until someone got off, or until the road ended.
As for those who had chosen the wrong option at the wishing well, or those who couldn’t make it out in time, there was still a lifeline left by the rules: Rule 10.
[Rule 10: Excessive hunger will render you immobile. Please find fresh animals as soon as possible; only their meat can relieve your hunger.]
The Chosen Ones who had said “I hope a black carriage comes” at the wishing well were guaranteed not to get one. Their only option was to set traps, overturn carriages of other colors, obtain fresh meat, and endure the daylight until nightfall so they could continue their journey.
Quite a few Chosen Ones were still stranded on the road. Only 71 had managed to board a carriage. These were either the lucky ones or those with enough experience and good judgment. Any major mistake, and you simply couldn’t catch the carriage on time.
Zhang Yangqing yawned. He was about to rest, but before that, he needed to give some instructions. Other Chosen Ones only had two or three people to manage, so things were easy. But he had a large group; he couldn’t afford chaos.
He instructed the two S-rank demons to take shifts, ensuring someone stayed on watch in the carriage at all times. If anyone wanted to board or get off, they were to notify him. With eight demons on board, shift rotations weren’t an issue.
But this instruction had a hidden nuance.
It made sense for him to be notified if someone wanted to board—he was the one in charge here. But getting off? That puzzled the loli girl. What does he mean by “notify me if someone gets off”? Is there anyone else on the carriage?
What she didn’t know was that Zhang Yangqing was specifically guarding against the noblewoman slipping away. In his view, this woman definitely carried clues and information, so he couldn’t let her escape. If she got off while he wasn’t paying attention, he’d have brought her all this way for nothing. Zhang Yangqing never made a losing deal.
Following his orders, the two S-rank demons immediately took action.
This was the second time the loli girl felt confused. Aren’t these demons supposed to be my servants? Why are they following his orders?
If the S-rank demons knew what she was thinking, they’d have replied: Master, don’t you listen to him too? So it’s only natural we listen to him. Besides, this keeps you from making enemies. If you’re really not happy, go fight him. If you win, we’ll definitely listen to you!
Realizing this, the loli girl felt like she’d been played—as if she’d sacrificed a lot of her lifespan just to get this guy a bunch of underlings.
And honestly, that was exactly Zhang Yangqing’s intention. Why else would he have brought her along?
The carriages moved steadily forward, and many Chosen Ones had already drifted off to sleep.
The night’s journey had been exhausting. They’d had to maintain intense focus the entire time, judging which paths were safe, climbing uphill, and trekking through rain. They were hungry, sure—but they couldn’t exactly kill the horses pulling the black carriage. They’d have to wait until they reached the palace.
About three hours later, the carriages hit a bumpy stretch, jolting the sleeping Chosen Ones awake. They’d only rested for three hours, and their heads were still spinning.
But it didn’t seem like it was time to keep sleeping. The more resourceful ones began getting up to check their surroundings.
During those three hours, quite a few passengers had gotten off, so the Chosen Ones hanging outside had also managed about two hours of rest.
Everyone groggily came to their senses and felt a wave of heat rush toward them. Those with demons sent them to scout.
Through their demons’ descriptions, they learned that they had long since passed the road and entered a completely new area—the scenery had changed drastically.
Through the windows, their demons could see black volcanoes in the distance. Rumbling sounds echoed continuously, like thunder rolling deep within the earth. Then, a plume of thick smoke burst from the earth’s core, shooting straight into the sky. It was a volcanic crater, now glowing red.
The heat radiated outward, seemingly dyeing the sky a dark crimson. Erupting magma snaked down the mountainside like fiery pythons, as if the entire world was being boiled in scorching flames. The so-called “rivers” around them were actually rivers of red lava.
From their demons, the Chosen Ones learned that both the passengers and the coachman were used to this scene—as if it happened every day. In this world, what they were seeing was considered normal.
But then again, remembering that this was the bizarre world, it made perfect sense.
The rules for clearing this stage hadn’t appeared yet, and they’d soon face unknown dangers. Many Chosen Ones were tense.
At that moment, the passengers inside the carriages began waking up and chattering among themselves, as if casually introducing the area ahead. The Chosen Ones pricked up their ears and listened closely.
Even Zhang Yangqing did the same. He didn’t have other passengers around, but he had two natives with him—and they knew whatever the other passengers knew. Besides, one of them was a noblewoman heading to the palace.
Ahead lay a massive castle perched on a high slope. Three sides were cliffs, and beneath those cliffs churned a turbulent sea. Militarily, this was a natural fortress—easy to defend, requiring only one side to be guarded. The sea below was rough and wild, as if countless deep-sea monsters lurked within. Falling in meant certain death.
This carriage’s destination was that very palace. If you listened carefully, you could hear the sounds of other carriages around—all guests invited to this gathering.
The moment the Chosen Ones’ carriage entered the palace grounds, their radios crackled with static.
At that point, they had to force themselves awake—this was the sign that new rules were about to appear. If they failed to analyze the rules correctly, they could die right at this final destination. Having come so far, nobody wanted to crash at the last moment.
Even if they had to pinch their palms or bite their lips, they forced themselves to snap out of it.
After the static faded, a set of rules only the Chosen Ones could hear emerged:
Royal Palace Survival Guide.
[Rule 1: Fighting is prohibited inside the palace. If discovered, you will be executed on the spot.]
[Rule 2: The king has a peculiar hobby—he likes to disguise himself and mingle with the crowd. If you can identify him, he will reward you. But whatever you do, do not anger him.]
[Rule 3: Magicians are not to be trusted, but you must never believe the words of a skeleton knight.]
[Rule 4: The lord’s status is second only to the king. When the lord appears, do not show excessive respect toward him.]
[Rule 5: Do not provoke the nobles—they have bad tempers. If you have anything valuable, seek out a merchant.]
[Rule 6: Please do not look into mirrors casually inside the palace, or danger will follow.]
[Rule 7: No matter what sounds you hear in the palace, do not be alarmed—that is normal.]
[Rule 8: The people here love to be praised, but be very careful not to say the wrong thing.]
[Rule 9: Do not enter rooms with open doors without permission, unless you have the king’s consent.]
[Rule 10: Not everyone likes the king—and you are no exception.]
[Rule 11: If you run into trouble, seek out a guard wearing a red cape—he will try his best to help you.]
[Rule 12: The food and water here are safe to eat, provided they have not been poisoned.]
[Rule 13: Obtain a royal coin personally granted by the king to clear the stage.]
The rules repeated over and over. The moment the Chosen Ones entered the castle, they felt an unusual agitation, which to some extent interfered with their judgment.
When the carriages stopped, the Chosen Ones stepped out. Unlike the cold dampness of other places, this castle was extremely humid.
Following the principle that all guests are welcome, maids received each Chosen One. They were still in the “transitional phase” of the story, with no time to analyze the rules as they followed the maids to their temporary quarters.
If the bizarre world didn’t let them rest soon and immediately threw them into a new horrifying plot, many might be too exhausted and mentally scattered to survive.
Of course, they could choose to decline rest, like some guests did—but nobody would make that choice.
This was the palace, after all, and the guest rooms were quite spacious. Along the way, the Chosen Ones frantically tried to gather information. But they got very little—the maids only explained that the king’s temperament changed often, and they didn’t know his preferences. In fact, they’d never even seen his true face, because every time he appeared, he looked different.
So the entire journey yielded practically no useful intel.
Once they reached their rooms, the Chosen Ones all asked the maids for food—if they didn’t eat soon, they’d starve.
Ramirez, the Chosen One from Argentina, had just leaned against his bed when a wave of drowsiness hit him. The palace treatment really was something else—that soft, comfortable bed made him want to sleep for a whole day and night.
A few minutes later, three meals were delivered to his door. He wolfed them down, locked the door, and passed out.
He could still listen to the rules later; if he didn’t get enough sleep now, he’d be in trouble when the main plot kicked in.
His loyal guide dog slept by the door, and his demon rested on the sofa.
Ramirez wasn’t alone—many Chosen Ones, after eating, collapsed onto the floor and fell asleep instantly. Some dozed off mid-bite, chicken legs still dangling from their mouths, food still in their hands. Others were still chewing, hadn’t even swallowed, and were already snoring with their heads down.
Last night had been too exhausting, leaving both their minds and bodies utterly drained.
Luckily, the maids had closed the doors when they left—otherwise, the Chosen Ones might have encountered unexpected dangers at this stage.
Zhang Yangqing, for his part, ordered twelve servings of food—after all, there were many of them. The ticket was like an invitation, and each invitation only entitled them to one room, so over a dozen people were packed into a single space.
Fortunately, the palace rooms were large. Not just ten—thirty or forty people would have fit just fine.
There was only one bed and two sofas, though. Zhang Yangqing unceremoniously claimed the big bed for himself; the others could sort themselves out.
After instructing the demons to assign their own guard shifts, Zhang Yangqing began to rest.
At this stage, he did have enough energy to analyze the rules. But doing so would make his mind too alert—and considering the progress of other Chosen Ones, he decided to just rest normally.
Again, that noblewoman absolutely could not leave—she was a key person for the S-rank demons to watch. Though Zhang Yangqing hadn’t explicitly said so, the two S-rank demons could guess.
But she didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving anyway, and she leaned back on the sofa to rest. She, too, had barely slept all night.
Six hours passed quickly. At 3 PM, a horn blast that shook the heavens jolted every Chosen One awake.
