Chapter 252: Masterful Planning, Strategizing from the Tent!
The surprised gasps around him made the One-Eyed Kid pause.
He thought his partner had unleashed some terrifying ultimate move.
Following everyone’s gaze, the One-Eyed Kid saw that his partner hadn’t performed any earth-shattering skill. He’d just taken off his mask. Was that really worth such a reaction?
What was there to be so astonished about? Sure, he was a bit more handsome than average, but I’m used to it by now!
Having spent considerable time with Zhang Yangqing, the One-Eyed Kid looked down on others acting like they’d never seen a good-looking man before.
He glanced curiously at Zhang Yangqing’s expression and found him looking completely unsurprised, as if this was an everyday occurrence.
“Does this guy actually know how handsome he is?” the One-Eyed Kid murmured internally.
Logically, shouldn’t this guy act a bit modest and reserved? Now, he seemed to take it all for granted!
But after a moment, the clever One-Eyed Kid understood: Handsome people can’t possibly not know they’re handsome.
Sometimes, a bit of self-deprecation is just fishing for compliments.
Zhang Yangqing indeed knew he was good-looking, but he hadn’t anticipated the effect being this dramatic.
Just showing his face had already resolved any friction with the three nurses.
Because someone as capable as him usually doesn’t factor his appearance into his calculations.
What he didn’t realize was that the striking contrast—unveiling a face of exquisite, divine perfection from beneath that terrifying raven mask—was overwhelmingly effective against women.
Before he removed the mask, the women here had likely imagined him as ugly, arrogant, and repulsive.
They had probably imagined the worst possible face they could.
So when he removed the mask, the massive contrast was simply stunning.
Every contour of his face seemed like a meticulously carved work of art, with perfectly defined muscle lines subtly shifting beneath the skin, presenting a sense of supreme craftsmanship.
Like a stern, cold sculpture, it inspired both awe and infatuation.
It was precisely this that caused the nearby people to exclaim in surprise.
For Zhang Yangqing, this simply made things easier.
After all, they were in the same group; better relations meant smoother cooperation.
Zhang Yangqing felt the tasks mentioned in the rules were similar to those assigned by the middle-aged man.
This indicated it was best for the Chosen Ones to follow the established procedure; otherwise, things could get complicated.
This stage required gathering a significant amount of intelligence and items.
Just as Zhang Yangqing was strategizing who to recruit first, they unexpectedly turned into fangirls instantly.
This made Zhang Yangqing feel things were a bit too easy.
But if other Chosen Ones heard him say that, they’d be furious.
They’d been trying to curry favor with these people for ages, barely earning a shred of trust.
And here he was, effortlessly gaining admirers, yet acting like it was no big deal?
Many gazes fell upon Zhang Yangqing, some admiring, some envious. However, given their survival situation, the men in other groups had no reason to start trouble with Zhang Yangqing over such a trivial matter.
Within the purple-mark group, the three nurses rallied around Zhang Yangqing, wanting him to be the leader. The One-Eyed Kid and the other lone wolf remained silent but didn’t object either.
But Zhang Yangqing declined. He felt one of the three nurses should take the lead.
This sudden modesty made those nearby wonder if he’d been replaced by someone else; he seemed completely different from the arrogant man from last night.
Actually, it was easy to understand. Being leader meant carrying a walkie-talkie to maintain contact with other leaders and reporting back upon return.
Zhang Yangqing simply didn’t want to bother with these tasks, so he refused the role.
He was generally accustomed to others reporting to him.
After selecting a leader and assigning tasks, the three groups dispersed to attend to their respective duties.
Other Chosen Ones followed their groups. Their first destination was the adjacent primeval forest.
Today, they needed to find enough food to ensure the group wouldn’t go hungry.
Zhang Yangqing’s group was rather unusual; they all trailed behind him.
It felt as if he possessed an innate leadership quality that others couldn’t surpass.
This left Zhang Yangqing, who had wanted to slack off, somewhat exasperated.
Others relied on the natives; here, Zhang Yangqing was being relied upon by the natives.
In this primeval forest, some superhumans had significant advantages.
For instance, the superhuman from Football Country hailed from the Amazon rainforest and naturally knew how to find food in such an environment.
If unable to identify which strange fruits were edible, one method was to observe what the local primates ate and follow suit.
Other Chosen Ones struggled to adapt, fretting over finding food.
Zhang Yangqing, however, didn’t see what the fuss was about. Were they really treating the middle-aged man’s task as their primary objective?
Finding food was secondary. Didn’t they all have food stashed away? Were they truly afraid of starving?
Finding the Wu Gan fruit was the essential task the Chosen Ones needed to complete in this round.
If they failed to find it now, another full cycle would pass before they could search again, wasting valuable time.
Running low on medicine pills would inevitably lead to major trouble in this stage.
So Zhang Yangqing turned to his teammates and asked, “Do any of you know what a Wu Gan fruit is?”
The One-Eyed Kid naturally had no idea; he’d never been to this place.
The three nurses exchanged glances and shook their heads.
Only the lone wolf countered, “Wu Gan fruit? That stuff isn’t easy to find.”
Zhang Yangqing nodded. If the man said that, it meant he knew something.
Zhang Yangqing had remained calm all along because the rules implied someone in the group would possess this knowledge.
Having that knowledgeable person conveniently in his group made things much simpler.
He carefully observed this male lone wolf. The man had rough skin, and his hands bore old scars and scratches, suggesting he spent much time outdoors. He also appeared slightly older.
Here, it was crucial to read the lone wolf’s expression. It held a hint of confusion and resistance—a reluctance, an aversion to trouble.
Zhang Yangqing deduced that the man wasn’t immediately volunteering information about the Wu Gan fruit because retrieving it likely involved danger, and he saw no personal need to risk it.
Therefore, Zhang Yangqing needed to find a reason compelling enough for the man to take that risk.
This was where other Chosen Ones could use their wits to extract the information.
Even if they couldn’t persuade the lone wolf to go, they could at least learn what the Wu Gan fruit looked like and where it might be found.
Then, they could attempt to find it themselves using their own abilities. That was the plan for most superhumans.
Zhang Yangqing’s method was even simpler. He casually remarked, “I once knew a doctor who said Wu Gan fruit can alleviate the symptoms of the illness.”
Although this was entirely fabricated by Zhang Yangqing, everyone present was infected with the virus.
Hearing such a claim naturally stirred their interest.
This was an open scheme—even suspecting it might be a trap, people couldn’t help but want to believe.
After all, what harm was there in trying? What if it actually worked?
With just one simple sentence, Zhang Yangqing had motivated everyone present.
This demonstrated his mastery of psychological manipulation regarding the NPCs in the Spooky Tale World.
By understanding their needs, he could entice them into helping him complete his tasks.
It was a skill many Chosen Ones failed to grasp, something even Greko, who studied Zhang Yangqing most intently, found baffling.
Inside the Spooky Tale World, the purple-mark group had reached the outskirts of the primeval forest.
The sun had just crested the horizon, rising high, its rays piercing the dense canopy and dappling the deep green below.
Centuries-old giant trees soared towards the clouds, their bark covered in moss and vines, as if whispering ancient tales.
The forest’s outer edge was manageable, but once inside, the sprawling branches and leaves of these towering trees blotted out the sun, casting the forest floor into dim, shadowy light.
Everyone in the group knew this forest harbored numerous unknown dangers.
It could be ferocious beasts, strange carnivorous plants, or even the mutated grotesque insects they’d encountered before.
It wasn’t paranoia; anyone who had survived this long had faced countless perils.
Now, the group’s capabilities would be tested.
Zhang Yangqing recognized the lone wolf’s wilderness survival skills and proactively suggested he lead the way.
With Zhang Yangqing’s proposal, the One-Eyed Kid and the three nurses naturally supported it.
Buoyed by the group’s endorsement, this lone wolf, usually a marginalized figure sleeping in the temple hall, felt a newfound sense of validation and importance. Gaining some authority made him feel a bit inflated.
Regarding Zhang Yangqing’s claim about the Wu Gan fruit alleviating the virus, the lone wolf didn’t object.
He wasn’t a doctor, after all; what did he know about such things?
But even for a slim chance, a ‘just in case,’ he figured it was worth a try.
Who knew when they’d actually get into the city? If they couldn’t, and ran out of pills, this fruit might just be a lifesaver.
According to him, Wu Gan fruit attracted certain special insects and was a favorite of many bugs. Mutated insects might now be guarding it, making it extremely difficult to obtain.
At this point, one of the nurses sighed, “If only we had some disinfectant. Too bad we’ve run out.”
Zhang Yangqing knew disinfectant was highly useful. He happened to have two bottles and pulled them out, asking, “Is this what you mean? I still have some.”
As nurses, they recognized the smell and the symbols on the bottle; they knew it was disinfectant.
This was a standard scenario for obtaining Wu Gan fruit, though Zhang Yangqing’s group experienced a minor deviation.
One nurse quietly warned him, “This stuff is very rare. Just us knowing about it is enough. Don’t tell anyone else, or you might attract unwanted attention.”
Zhang Yangqing feigned sudden realization, nodding gratefully. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful.”
He hadn’t expected the nurses’ favorability towards him to be this high.
Based on his experience, for an NPC in the Spooky Tale World to actively show concern for you, their affection level had to be significant.
Like in a previous tale, the snake-eyed follower’s adoration for Zhang Yangqing was off the charts, bordering on worship.
That follower always prioritized Zhang Yangqing’s well-being and interests above all else.
Zhang Yangqing now harbored a suspicion: If a Spooky Tale World featured a predominantly female human population, could I just breeze through based on my looks alone?
Unbeknownst to Zhang Yangqing, he had inadvertently cultivated a persona: a filterless, slightly careless, yet straightforward and handsome guy.
Like a naive, sheltered young master unaccustomed to the world’s harshness, who blurted out whatever he knew and showed whatever he had.
As exaggerated as it sounded, if one isolated his actions from his arrival at the temple onward, he truly came across as quite simple and genuine.
After all, that was the point from which these people had started knowing him; they were unaware of prior events.
Hence, the three nurses felt inclined to look out for him, even protect him.
If the One-Eyed Kid knew this, his jaw would drop.
This guy? Naive and innocent? Are you kidding me?!
The sheer cunning in his mind could flood that entire city next door!
But the One-Eyed Kid was a man of few words, blending into the background of the group.
You might not even notice he was there unless you looked closely.
Now, the atmosphere within the purple-mark group grew increasingly harmonious.
The lone wolf, having gained the group’s trust and reliance, began to show off his knowledge.
As they walked, he pointed out potential dangers they might encounter.
Identifying nearby predators by their paw prints.
Analyzing whether they’d entered a beast’s territory by the scent of urine.
Explaining which fruits were edible and which were poisonous.
He could name various exotic plants and flowers.
This was the expertise gained from years living in the wilderness.
Watching this, the One-Eyed Kid broke out in a cold sweat.
He realized the lone wolf had been completely played by his teammate.
Lost in Zhang Yangqing’s approving nods and the three nurses’ admiring praise.
If a Wu Gan fruit appeared ahead, guarded by swarms of dangerous, mutated insects,
this puffed-up lone wolf would undoubtedly, for the sake of face, tell everyone to stay back while he bravely retrieved it alone.
Under normal circumstances, would a lone wolf risk his life based on a vague ‘I heard it might help’?
He was being utterly manipulated.
Observing this, the One-Eyed Kid felt immense admiration for Zhang Yangqing.
Despite his outwardly frank and straightforward demeanor, internally, he was a master strategist, planning every move from afar.
The One-Eyed Kid even felt that everyone here, everything happening, was under his teammate’s complete control!
His ability to manage the situation was simply unparalleled.
“No wonder this guy has been so composed from start to finish. So that’s how it is!” the One-Eyed Kid mused inwardly.
Mere strength only inspires fear.
But when combined with overwhelming competence in other areas, it commands absolute submission.
The One-Eyed Kid even suspected he, too, was being manipulated, albeit in a subtle way he couldn’t quite pinpoint.
Just like the now-gloating lone wolf.
Yet, thinking it over, he couldn’t identify any actual manipulation. Wasn’t it just a cooperative relationship? He didn’t seem to be losing out.
If Zhang Yangqing knew his thoughts, he’d likely say: You guessed right. Aren’t you just my biggest tool throughout this journey?
I’ve had you doing all the dirty, tiring work, and yet, deep down, you’re still grateful to me.
The One-Eyed Kid’s prediction proved accurate. After a round of flattery, the lone wolf in their group boldly declared that if they encountered a Wu Gan fruit, he’d retrieve it for everyone to help with the virus, telling them to just wait for his good news.
This was essentially him boasting about his capabilities.
Whether or not the Wu Guan fruit was actually guarded by danger, he’d already made his big claim.
Zhang Yangqing, naturally, didn’t contradict him.
If you can do it, go ahead. I don’t plan on lifting a finger.
After all, using his power meant coughing up blood. Unless absolutely necessary, Zhang Yangqing preferred to avoid fighting.
While other Chosen Ones risked covering themselves in disinfectant to snatch Wu Gan fruit,
Zhang Yangqing effortlessly achieved the same goal with just a few words, having a native complete the task for him.
This left the viewers’ scalps tingling.
[Commentary: I feel like all the natives are just tools for Master Zhang.]
[Commentary: I’ve noticed that strange phenomenon too. They’re willingly used by Master Zhang to do the work, yet other Chosen Ones beg the natives, and they won’t help.]
[Commentary: You don’t understand. This is the art of language. As an old Dragon Country saying goes, ‘The tongue is a sword; it can kill.’ Sometimes, words are far more powerful than brute force.]
[Commentary: If you watch the Spooky Tale World closely, you’ll see that combat strength is just the icing on the cake. Judgment is the core skill for clearing the stages.]
[Commentary: Exactly. Many successful clearers have no combat ability but still achieve SSSS ratings, while some superhumans with immense power can’t even pass the first stage. It’s laughable.]
These casual comments from viewers seemed to awaken many superhuman factions on the Blue Planet.
Emergency meetings were convened within these factions.
In the Pyramid Country, within the glorious golden hall of the Pharaoh’s Guardians superhuman faction,
The Pharaoh’s Heir sat high upon the throne.
He wore the Pschent, the double crown symbolizing power, crafted from pure gold and adorned with precious gems and intricate ornaments.
The crown’s shape resembled the spread wings of a falcon, representing strength and speed.
Down his cheeks hung the slender, curved figures of cobras—sacred creatures in Egyptian mythology, symbols of wisdom and power.
He wore a robe characteristic of Pyramid Country, typically made from the finest linen.
The robe was vibrantly colored, decorated with patterns representing deities of death and rebirth.
The collar was open, revealing his muscular chest and strong throat.
As the Pharaoh’s Heir, an aura of mystery enveloped him.
Additionally, he wore a large golden ring representing the sun god, signifying their eternal rule, like the sun rising each day.
His fingers bore exquisite gold rings set with gems symbolizing power and wealth, while his wrists were adorned with platinum bracelets representing purity.
The Pharaoh’s Heir usually wore sandals made of leather, decorated with gold patterns.
His gait was steady and resolute, every movement radiating unparalleled authority.
In this ancient land, his power was unquestioned.
He was, without a doubt, one of the supreme combatants of this territory.
Today, his expression was grave, shadows playing across his face, making those below tremble with fear.
Clearly, the abysmal performance of the Ritual Priest Andyeb had infuriated him.
If the Pharaoh weren’t restrained in his speech, he’d have unleashed a torrent of curses.
Chosen Ones from other countries were already pushing towards the final stage.
The Ritual Priest Andyeb, whom he had confidently dispatched, was still stuck on the first stage.
Wasn’t this making the Pyramid Country’s expert panel and its citizens a laughingstock?
That useless fool hadn’t even grasped that the rules were prompting him to get out immediately.
The Pharaoh’s Heir even wondered if Andyeb had misinterpreted the rules of this Spooky Tale as requiring him to detoxify there, survive, and investigate all the side quests.
Sometimes, a single small misjudgment could trap someone in a stage for an extended period.
The reason for the Pharaoh’s Heir’s irritability was his youth.
The Pharaoh still slumbered in his sarcophagus; he remained merely the Heir.
Right now, he desperately wanted to jump into the tale and shove Andyeb’s face against the rules, forcing him to carefully read Rules 3 and 8 of the Rehabilitation Center.
[Rule 3: Patients may not leave the rehabilitation center without a doctor’s permission.]
[Rule 8: Please always remember, there are no doctors in the rehabilitation center. If anyone claims to be a doctor within the center, do not believe anything they say.]
Rule 3 was telling you to find a way out. And here he was, waiting for a doctor to hand him a discharge slip?!
The Pharaoh’s Heir felt that, given the chance, someone should send this guy to a hospital to have his head examined.
The gap in progress among the Chosen Ones this round was starkly evident.
The Dragon Country’s Celestial Master had likely already deciphered the rules of the final stage, while their own man couldn’t even comprehend the first one.
If not for Andyeb’s considerable strength, he’d have perished long ago in the chaotic battles within the Rehabilitation Center.
The Pharaoh’s Heir didn’t doubt Andyeb’s power; it was his rigid, inflexible mind that was the problem.
It was clear he was utterly unsuited for entering the Spooky Tale World.
Meanwhile, within the golden hall, various individuals in exotic attire were deliberating.
“Sigh, why didn’t we realize sooner? The core of the Spooky Tale World is decrypting its bizarre nature through strong judgment. Combat strength is secondary. In fact, you don’t need it at all. It’s not about who’s the strongest fighter.”
“We oversimplified the Spooky Tale World. We focused only on the Dragon Country Celestial Master’s power and overlooked that understanding the rules is paramount.”
“That expert panel didn’t say a thing either! They have someone who achieved an SSSSS rating; why didn’t they share any strategies? If Andyeb doesn’t return, our losses will be severe!”
“Why else? I bet the expert panel deliberately withheld information, hoping we’d lose personnel and give up.”
There was a common tendency among the higher-ups of major factions: when faced with an unsolvable problem, shift the blame.
Deflect the issue onto someone else to avoid internal conflict.
Especially now, with the Pharaoh’s Heir in a foul mood, these individuals were conveniently directing his ire towards the expert panel.
Yet everyone knew these factions simply wanted to monopolize resources; even if they acquired resources, they wouldn’t share a scrap with others.
This wasn’t unique to the Pharaoh’s Guardians; other superhuman factions acted similarly.
They scrambled to enter the tales to seize resources, eager to send their strongest members.
Believing that sufficient power could simply override the rules.
Little did they expect the Spooky Tale World to pull this kind of stunt.
All Chosen Ones were infected with the virus, their strength reduced to a fraction of its original level.
They were tormented relentlessly by the horrors within the tale.
Many factions not only failed to secure resources but also lost a key combatant inside.
Keep in mind, this round was a clash of titans. The Chosen Ones sent by many superhuman factions were generally on par with someone like Greko.
Losing someone of that caliber wasn’t a crippling blow, but it was certainly a painful cut!
“I summoned you here to discuss solutions, not to shift blame. I want a resolution.”
The Pharaoh’s Heir’s icy words silenced the bickering below, causing them to lower their heads.
His tone implied: Do you think I’m a fool? I called you here to figure out how to acquire more resources, not to find a scapegoat for this mess!
As the leader of a major faction, his primary concern was the growth and strengthening of his own power.
Doubtless, Zhang Yangqing and the Pope shared this same priority.
Other matters were secondary. If personnel were lost, resources could potentially revive them.
But increasing resource income—that was his key consideration.
He had tasted the benefits. Just half the resources from the Holy Grail obtained by the expert panel had allowed his faction to cultivate roughly twenty new superhumans.
If they secured a consistent resource channel, couldn’t they add fifty or more?
Multiple entries into the tales could potentially yield hundreds, even several hundred new superhumans.
This was precisely why many envied the rapid development of Dragon Tiger Mountain.
They were quietly amassing immense wealth, reaping enormous gains from the tales.
While those present continued to scorn Andyeb, none dared claim they could perform better if sent in themselves.
But giving up on the resources was equally unthinkable.
The meeting dragged on for a long time. Finally, a priest proposed a solution: The expert panel surely possessed methods to succeed, or at least avoid such disastrous outcomes.
Therefore, they could pursue long-term cooperation with the expert panel, cultivating specialized tale-clearers and monopolizing the Pyramid Country’s resource channels.
The Pharaoh’s Heir found this approach agreeable. Cooperation for mutual benefit seemed sound.
Elsewhere, Rahman of the expert panel received the offer of collaboration from the Pharaoh’s Guardians faction with a cold smirk.
“You really take me for a fool, don’t you? You want the resources but none of the responsibility? It’s not that easy.”
Rahman wouldn’t refuse outright. He still needed the Pharaoh’s Guardians to counter external threats.
Offending them now would be unwise.
But once the Pharaoh’s Guardians outlived their usefulness, that would be the day his own Superhuman Alliance rose to prominence!
Because secretly, he hadn’t only contacted the Pharaoh’s Guardians.
If the Pharaoh’s Guardians wanted to monopolize the spoils, would the other domestic factions stand idly by?
This issue wasn’t just causing friction among superhuman factions in Pyramid Country. Even within Dragon Country, things were far from peaceful.
Many factions, pointedly excluding Dragon Tiger Mountain, were initiating various contacts and holding small, private meetings.
However, Zhang Yangqing was currently inside the Spooky Tale World, oblivious to the changes unfolding outside.
Even if he knew, he probably wouldn’t care.
Inside the Spooky Tale World, Zhang Yangqing’s group—the purple-mark team—had been in the primeval forest for some time. While they hadn’t found the Wu Gan fruit, they had gathered quite a bounty otherwise.
Thanks to the lone wolf’s expertise, they had found ample food well before noon.
Enough to eat their fill today and have leftovers.
They were about to continue onward, hoping to find the Wu Gan fruit before midday.
But just then, the lone wolf seemed to notice something. He approached Zhang Yangqing and whispered, “Brother, I think we’re being followed.”
Zhang Yangqing paused, then replied, “Huh? You only just noticed?”
The lone wolf: “…”
Brother, saying that makes me look like a total rookie!
And I seriously suspect you’re just showing off!
