Chapter 250: One Plays the Good Cop, the Other Plays the Bad Cop!
There was no conversation along the way; that was just how Zhang Yangqing and the one-eyed youth operated.
Both were intently observing their surroundings. In a place like this, having a grotesque insect suddenly appear was to be expected.
Besides guarding against aberrant insects, they also had to avoid attacks from other people. With food being scarce, ambushing someone to ensure one’s own survival wasn’t exactly unheard of.
The one-eyed youth constantly worried that the crows might inadvertently reveal their position.
But he was overthinking it. The crows were in their element here; their pitch-black forms vanished completely into the jungle’s darkness.
If not for his sensory link, the one-eyed youth would have thought the crows had flown away.
The sun had fully set. The sky was dotted with stars, and the moonlight was pleasant, almost as if illuminating a path forward just for the two of them.
Unless it became truly dark, Zhang Yangqing saw no need to use a flashlight. In a place like this, using one would only serve to attract unwanted attention.
The night breeze rustled the grass and leaves, accompanied by the occasional distant calls of birds, beasts, and insects, all of which amplified the eerie, secluded atmosphere of the night.
While Zhang Yangqing was searching for the temple, some less experienced Chosen Ones in the first wave had already veered off course.
Some stumbled upon a small, abandoned village nearby. Although the houses were dilapidated, quite a few people seemed to be gathered there—all individuals who had been turned away from the city gates.
Other Chosen Ones discovered a mining site. Before even getting close, they were met with an unbearable stench, a clear sign that the place had suffered an attack. Whatever might be inside didn’t seem worth exploring.
After all, who in their right mind would build a temple inside a mine?
None of these were the locations mentioned in the rules, so they continued to probe other paths.
Some Chosen Ones spent over an hour searching, only finding the correct route after spotting signs like ‘Scenic Area Markers’.
By that point, Zhang Yangqing and the one-eyed youth had already passed through a wooden mountain gate and set foot on a path of blue flagstones.
There was a faint glow ahead—likely from a campfire—illuminating the immediate area.
It was clear the temple had been abandoned for a very long time. The walls were mottled, the intricately carved wooden doors hung ajar, sections were blackened by smoke and fire, and signs of decay were everywhere, silently attesting to the ravages of time.
Yet, even in its ruined state, one could still sense the grandeur and scale it must have once possessed.
Zhang Yangqing and the one-eyed youth were spotted almost the moment they arrived.
Several figures approached, their demeanor confrontational.
“Are you… human?”
The man in the lead stared at the two strangers with obvious wariness.
He, too, wore a crow mask. In the flickering firelight of the night, the mask’s shifting shadows made him look quite intimidating.
But the Chosen Ones had no reason to be afraid. After all, they too were illuminated by the same firelight and likely looked just as menacing!
“That’s right. We couldn’t get into the city, so we had to find a place to rest. That’s how we ended up here,” Zhang Yangqing answered personally, since the one-eyed youth wasn’t much of a talker.
By saying this, he clearly conveyed that their situation was similar to that of the people here.
Hearing this, the group opposite seemed to collectively breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, anyone who ended up here was essentially someone who, for various reasons, had been barred from entering the city.
If they could get in, who would willingly suffer in such a godforsaken place?
The lead man was about to let them in when a voice from behind cut him off.
“We’re full here. Go find somewhere else.”
The voice belonged to a woman with a slightly sharp, acerbic tone.
She clearly didn’t want outsiders entering the temple.
This was understandable. In such remote, deep mountains and forests, letting unknown individuals sleep nearby was genuinely unsettling.
One less stranger meant one more layer of safety.
The lead man fell silent. He seemed reluctant to voice his agreement, but he didn’t want them there either.
Since someone else had spoken up, he decided to hold his tongue for the moment and see how the newcomers would react.
It was apparent this man possessed a certain degree of cunning.
Or perhaps this was a rehearsed act, a performance put on for the benefit of outsiders.
This presented a minor challenge: how would the Chosen Ones handle this sudden situation?
At this stage, Greco and most other Chosen Ones opted to explain that they meant no harm.
They resorted to complaining about their hardships and playing the victim to lower the group’s guard and integrate themselves.
Zhang Yangqing’s approach was much simpler. He acted as if he hadn’t heard a word and strode in confidently with his companion.
Seeing such assertiveness, the others didn’t quite dare to stop him.
After all, everyone here just wanted to survive and was infected with a virus. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have already entered the city?
Unless they were absolutely certain they could kill the newcomers without risk, picking a fight with strangers at this juncture and making enemies was clearly unwise.
Besides, the people here didn’t seem unified; everyone likely had their own hidden agendas.
If that was the case, then who was really afraid of whom?
Other Chosen Ones had their own concerns. Outnumbered and uncertain if they could win a fight against the established group, they hesitated.
According to the rules, they needed these people’s help.
Without them, they wouldn’t find a way into the city, let alone locate the Brood Nest.
They needed to find a way to build good relations and avoid conflict.
With everyone’s true strength being an unknown variable, no one dared to speak too harshly.
Offering some of their food supplies voluntarily could indeed curry favor.
It could even be said that the more determined a Chosen One was to complete the hidden quest, the more humble they were forced to be at this stage.
But Zhang Yangqing didn’t need to play that game. He was a team unto himself, possessing arguably the strongest combat power in this entire area.
Let’s not forget, those two aberrant crows were circling nearby. If Zhang Yangqing wished it, no one here would leave alive.
Your lives are in my hands, and you want to negotiate terms with me? You should be grateful I’m even letting you speak to me alive.
That was why Zhang Yangqing’s attitude was so brazen and overbearing.
The lead man, seeing Zhang Yangqing’s arrogance, quickly changed his tune to avoid escalating the conflict. “Now, now, let’s not say that. There’s plenty of room here. Besides, an extra person means extra strength! Anyone who comes here is family.”
With that, he began enthusiastically ushering Zhang Yangqing and his companion into the temple.
His words were clearly an afterthought, but there was a method to them.
Realizing Zhang Yangqing wouldn’t be easily driven away, he swiftly moved to bring Zhang Yangqing into his own circle.
After all, he hadn’t been the one to offend Zhang Yangqing. Someone else had played the ‘bad cop’, allowing him to step in and play the ‘good cop’.
This allowed him to project an image of goodwill, at least on the surface.
Moreover, people with a bit of a temper often possessed some real skill. Those without any ability would have backed down in such a situation.
This newcomer’s refusal to be reasonable suggested he had confidence in his own capabilities.
And since both newcomers were male, if utilized properly, they could add to the group’s fighting strength.
Zhang Yangqing merely nodded and made some noncommittal remarks. He didn’t thank the man for accepting them.
After all, this was an abandoned temple, not the man’s private residence.
Why should he act like a guest in someone’s home?
Zhang Yangqing simply recognized that these people might still be useful and couldn’t be bothered to sour relations completely.
Once they were closer to the firelight, Zhang Yangqing noticed that many people were wearing crow masks, presumably to prevent infection from other virus strains.
As long as one wore a crow mask, close-range communication with other patients was possible.
The woman who had spoken earlier was dressed in nurse’s attire, but her face was hidden behind a mask, making it impossible to discern her features.
In the dim firelight of the night, there was no way to observe what kind of viral marks anyone had on their neck.
Back at the rehabilitation center, the Chosen Ones had learned some specific diagnostic methods.
The center had housed three types of patients, each carrying a different virus, identifiable by the color of their marks: purple, red, and green.
The Chosen Ones themselves bore purple marks, meaning they could safely interact with other purple-marked patients without risking cross-infection.
Here, Hilde, the superhuman from Hans, had a cunning idea.
He reasoned that since only humans could contract the plague viruses, anyone without a mark on their neck must be an insect-human! Wasn’t that what the rules implied?
But experienced Chosen Ones knew he was overthinking it.
None of the people present were doctors. Who could reliably tell a real viral mark from a fake one?
Insect-humans, being immune to the disease, would almost certainly paint fake marks on their necks to blend in with the patients. Their purpose for doing so was still unknown.
A person without any sign of illness would stand out conspicuously here, wouldn’t they?
Therefore, the true method of identification was exactly as the rules stated: find a way to covertly infect a suspect with all three viruses.
As for how to do that, the Chosen Ones had only just arrived and hadn’t yet had a chance to gather useful intel.
Any intelligent Chosen One would spend this initial period in constant observation.
Viewers could likely sense a shift in the Chosen Ones’ usual demeanor.
Most were trying hard to adapt to the established rhythm and dynamics of this place.
But one Chosen One was beginning to operate according to his own rhythm.
Anyone familiar with Zhang Yangqing knew that once he grasped the rules for clearing a scenario, the Strange Tale World’s restrictions on him diminished significantly.
The time was around nine-thirty in the evening. It wasn’t yet time for everyone to turn in, and there was still some activity within the temple grounds.
Zhang Yangqing began by surveying the surrounding structures.
There were two main halls, each housing a deity statue. Both looked dilapidated and hadn’t been cleaned in ages.
Aside from these, there were five smaller rooms. Two had already collapsed, leaving only three habitable ones.
As latecomers, the Chosen Ones naturally didn’t have a room to claim.
And given the current uncertainty, even if a room had space, no one in their right mind would invite potential trouble inside.
The middle-aged man who had acted as the peacemaker beside Zhang Yangqing had a son with him.
They occupied Room Number 1 among the three intact rooms.
The masked nurse and her friend stayed in Room Number 2. Some careful probing could reveal that there were actually three nurses in total.
Room Number 3 was occupied by a family of four—a couple and their two children.
Additionally, there were five other individuals sleeping in the two deity halls: a mix of men and women, all seemingly traveling alone, their identities unknown.
With everyone wearing masks, it was impossible to know what anyone truly looked like.
Presumably, they only removed their masks during meals.
No one wanted to risk contracting another strain of the virus.
Another point worth noting was that Chosen Ones carrying more conspicuous food supplies seemed to attract unwanted attention.
Someone like Zhang Yangqing, who simply stashed his rations in his pockets, was far less likely to be noticed.
Even if others suspected they had food, they’d assume it wasn’t much.
“You two can find a spot to make do for the night in one of these two temple halls,” the middle-aged man said.
He had likely arrived earlier than most, or perhaps he simply had a good rapport with the others.
His words carried a certain weight and authority.
He seemed to be acting as an unofficial organizer or assigner.
Other Chosen Ones, aware of their status as newcomers, knew better than to cause friction. They offered a word of thanks and agreed.
Zhang Yangqing simply nodded, saying nothing further.
Based on initial observations that evening, besides the Chosen Ones themselves, there were fourteen other people present.
Some appeared to be already resting in the rooms, or perhaps were unwilling to come out for other reasons, leaving only about seven or eight individuals visible around the campfire.
These people were either roasting something over the flames, leaning against pillars, or lingering near the Chosen Ones.
Without exception, the seven or eight people outside regarded the Chosen Ones with guarded expressions, clearly scrutinizing them just as much.
After extracting some basic information, the middle-aged man didn’t press the conversation further, seemingly waiting for the next phase.
That ‘next phase’ depended on the unspoken approval of the others who were still observing.
If they signaled their acceptance, or at least didn’t object, then the middle-aged man might divulge more information.
This period was essentially free observation time for the Chosen Ones.
Apart from staying away from the three private rooms, they seemed free to explore the rest of the temple grounds.
The first order of business for any Chosen One was, of course, choosing a spot to sleep for the night.
There were two temple halls. The deity statue in one hall had its eyes wide open. The deity statue in the other hall had its eyes tightly shut.
Here, Hilde, the superhuman from Hans, recalled a specific rule.
Rule 3: If unable to enter the city, one may seek out an abandoned temple outside the city walls. There, one will not be attacked by insects.
“Insects won’t attack this place… Is it because of a special rule tied to this location, or is there something peculiar about these deity statues?” Hilde mused internally.
The fact that he considered this showed he was becoming adept at gathering and analyzing intelligence within the context of the scenario.
At least in this Strange Tale World, certain things possessed inherent counter-relationships.
Perhaps the material of the statues, or some other element within the temple, repelled the aberrant insects.
If he could identify that element, it would be a massive boon for clearing the instance.
As for the items mentioned in the rules, like [Red and Blue Potions], [Well], [Wugan Fruit] , the Chosen Ones weren’t foolish enough to blurt them out all at once.
Doing so would easily arouse suspicion and would be difficult to explain.
The immediate problem to solve was where to sleep.
The hall with the open-eyed deity statue was currently occupied by three ‘lone wolves’.
This hall seemed cleaner, as if someone had recently swept it, and it contained only the single central statue.
The other hall, housing two lone wolves, was noticeably dirtier and more cluttered, but it contained numerous smaller statues arranged along the sides.
When they said ‘occupied’, it really just meant people had claimed spots to lie down.
There were no mats, let alone blankets to cover oneself with.
Here, Zhang Yangqing habitually grumbled inwardly about the consistently terrible sleeping conditions in the Strange Tale World. Should’ve brought the car seats up here.
He then began analyzing the social dynamics at play.
The father-son pair, the three nurses, the family of four.
These groups essentially formed distinct factions, each possessing trustworthy allies.
If they were allied with each other, then these nine individuals effectively controlled the temple.
Most other Chosen Ones, in this situation, would likely choose the hall with only two occupants, aiming to create a delicate balance of power.
Zhang Yangqing, however, chose differently. He opted for the hall with three occupants.
Viewers watching this suddenly felt a spark of understanding. Many began analyzing why Zhang Yangqing made this specific choice.
Because if he could win over those three individuals, his group would swell to five people.
That would grant him a significant degree of influence and a voice within this small temple society.
Though there were only a dozen or so people here, the underlying politics were far from simple.
It was like a complex microcosm of society. Figuring out how to establish oneself was the immediate task for the Chosen Ones.
It wasn’t that viewers were overanalyzing Zhang Yangqing’s every move; his actions genuinely seemed to contain layers of profound strategy.
Not just ordinary viewers, but even expert panels and major superhuman factions were dissecting his choices.
If Zhang Yangqing knew they were thinking this deeply, he’d probably say: Actually, isn’t it possible I just picked this hall because it’s cleaner?
Truth be told, with Zhang Yangqing’s numbers and strength, his choice of hall hardly mattered.
Who said he could only align with those three? Or those five, for that matter?
His methods weren’t nearly so meek or constrained.
Since he already knew the general path to clearing the level, he could afford to play things a bit more openly.
Having found a relatively clean spot within the deity hall, Zhang Yangqing said to the one-eyed youth, “You get some rest first. I’ll wake you later.”
The statement was simple, but the underlying message was clear.
The temple wasn’t entirely safe. At the very least, some people weren’t pleased about their arrival. However, they were unlikely to attack the Chosen Ones outright, at least for now.
The rules stated this place was safe from insect attacks, so insects wouldn’t be the problem.
But the rules only guaranteed safety from insect attacks.
There were bound to be other, less savory locations nearby, also housing people rejected by the city.
If those groups ran out of food, they wouldn’t hesitate to raid other settlements for supplies.
From his observations, Zhang Yangqing could see signs of recent damage around the temple—damage that wasn’t from gradual decay but from relatively recent conflict.
This indicated the temple had been attacked before.
This led to two possibilities.
One: The people currently residing in the temple were strong enough to have successfully repelled attackers.
Two: The current occupants had killed the previous ones and seized the location for themselves.
Either way, Zhang Yangqing knew he couldn’t afford to be careless.
He had his own team; he had options.
Other Chosen Ones, even if they sensed danger, had no choice but to gamble with their lives here.
They needed to integrate into the middle-aged man’s faction, accept his arrangements, in exchange for a chance at survival.
The reason Zhang Yangqing told the one-eyed youth to rest early was simple: the kid had been active all day and was undoubtedly physically exhausted.
In a cooperative partnership, one couldn’t push the other party to the absolute limit.
If Zhang Yangqing were dealing with a subordinate rather than a partner, he wouldn’t be nearly so considerate.
The one-eyed youth responded with his customary monosyllabic “Mm,” and then lay down to rest in the spot Zhang Yangqing had designated.
The kid had a passive, go-with-the-flow personality, but that didn’t make him a fool.
He understood that obeying the strong was the key to survival.
That was the way of the weak.
