I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Even Through the Screen, You Can See Hell Beckoning!

The little boy seemed tired and eventually vanished from Area D.

John sighed, but after careful consideration, he realized it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

This might have been an “Avoidance Task.”

In the supernatural world, strange beings sometimes make requests—like asking for food when they’re hungry. If you comply, they won’t attack you.

But if you refuse? They might just decide you are the meal, manipulating the rules to justify devouring you.

In other words, they might not help you, but at least they won’t harm you—because they’ve already gotten what they wanted.

This was a theory many had deduced after observing countless supernatural trials.

There was also another possibility: a hidden quest. The entity might leave temporarily, only to reappear later and help you survive a deadly situation.

But John figured the odds of that were slim. The boy couldn’t even leave the exhibition room, and the next phase of the trial likely wouldn’t take place here. Still, it wasn’t impossible.

At least John had the boy’s help in Area D—others weren’t so lucky.

Some chosen ones were practically exhausted from playing with the kid. Whether it was the boy’s boundless energy or his unnatural nature, weaker chosen ones were pushed to their limits.

A few couldn’t even meet the boy’s demands before collapsing, prompting him to stomp off with a “Hmph!”

Afterward, they still had to reassemble wax figures in Area D—with little to show for it.

As time passed, five more screens turned black.

Those who had played “hide-and-seek” with the boy seemed to have met gruesome fates.

Now, including Zhang Yangqing, all remaining chosen ones began searching the exhibition room for clues.

They had a basic understanding of the four areas—A, B, C, and D.

Areas A, C, and D were filled with wax figures and nothing else. There was no way a map of the wax museum could be hidden there.

So, their focus quickly shifted to Area B.

This was the “premium” wax figure section, with each piece encased in glass display cabinets on wooden bases.

The only possible hiding spot for the map? Under those cabinets.

As for Rule 7—“Repair incomplete wax figures for rewards”—everyone set that aside for now.

That was just a bonus task, not a requirement for clearing the trial. To escape, they needed that map.

The exhibition room was too eerie, and no one wanted to stay longer than necessary.

Using their earlier experience with moving wax figures, the chosen ones began carefully relocating the cabinets.

But there were dozens of them, each heavy as hell. One slip, and the glass would shatter—along with the wax figure inside.

John, thanks to the boy’s help earlier, still had some stamina left.

Others weren’t so lucky. After playing with the kid, they could only move two cabinets at a time before needing a break—just to conserve energy for potential dangers.

Most resorted to shuffling the cabinets inch by inch.

Time dragged on, and the flashlight beams began to dim.

This phase was taking way too long.

Viewers’ hearts were in their throats.

And then—just when things couldn’t get worse—a new sound echoed through the exhibition room.

“Click… click… click…”

A sound everyone recognized: high heels.

The steps grew closer, stopping right behind the chosen ones.

A woman’s voice, dripping with false sweetness, giggled:

“I’m so hungry… I’d love some fresh meat.”

At that moment, most chosen ones felt their backs drenched in cold sweat.

Beads of perspiration rolled down their foreheads.

If they hadn’t already wet themselves earlier, they certainly did now.

Even viewers at home recoiled from their screens.

Because everyone knew: in supernatural trials, this was the worst kind of encounter.

The chosen one from Sakura Country had made the mistake of looking at her twice—now, not even his bones remained.

The woman in high heels repeated her demand, her tone growing impatient:

“Meat. Now.”

The chosen ones panicked.

Where the hell were they supposed to find meat? Maybe the museum’s restaurant had some—but without the map, that area was inaccessible.

As hesitation set in, the woman’s mood soured.

Her teeth gnashed audibly as she closed in.

John, from the reflection in a glass cabinet, caught a glimpse of her:

• Long golden hair
• Elegant red gown
• Wide black sunhat
• And the muscular physique of a bodybuilder

A surreal blend of high-society grace and raw, terrifying strength.

This wasn’t just any supernatural entity—her skin had an unnatural texture, something no human could hope to fight.

If she decided to attack, survival odds were slim to none.

Just as despair set in—

A small hand tugged at the woman’s dress.

“Mommy, this big brother played with me earlier.”

The woman paused, then led the boy away without another word.

The chosen ones collectively exhaled.

So playing with the kid did pay off.

Meanwhile, viewers lost their minds.

Because there was one exception:

Zhang Yangqing—the only one who hadn’t humored the boy.

Now, all eyes turned to Dragon Country’s screen.

The muscular woman loomed before Zhang Yangqing.

(Why before him and not behind? Because the moment he heard her, he turned to face her head-on.)

When she demanded meat, Zhang Yangqing did what he did best:

He refused. Flat out. No negotiation.

And by making eye contact, he’d already triggered her kill condition.

But fate wasn’t done with him.

The little boy reappeared, tugging at his mother’s dress.

“Mommy, this man was mean to me!”

The woman’s expression darkened.

Veins bulged along her arms and forehead as she entered berserk mode.

Viewers shivered through their screens, feeling as if hell itself was reaching out.

• “We’re done for! Why did you have to show off?! Now we’re all screwed!”
• “I told you to just play along with the kid! Now his mom’s here, and you’re dead!”
• “Sure, you’re strong—but this is the supernatural world! There’s always something stronger!”
• “Stupid Dragon Country chosen one. Even basic logic escapes you. Your nation’s doomed.”
• “Anyone in Dragon Country? Record the moment their country falls! I’ve never seen a large-scale supernatural invasion before!”

Even Dragon Country’s own viewers were furious.

Watching other chosen ones breeze through this “freebie” section, only for Zhang Yangqing to throw it all away—it was infuriating.

As the woman lunged, her speed defied physics.

Her high heels sank into the floor with each step, leaving behind crater-like dents.

Just as Dragon Country’s viewers braced for the screen to go black—

It didn’t.

Instead, the camera shook violently.

When they dared to look again, their jaws dropped.

Two impossible things happened today:

1. Someone actually fought back against a supernatural entity.
2. And now—someone was toying with one like it was nothing.

Inside the exhibition room, the woman’s blindingly fast attacks seemed slow-motion to Zhang Yangqing.

He dodged effortlessly, even yawning mid-evasion.

It was like watching an adult humor a toddler’s punches.

Not just underestimating her—barely acknowledging her existence.

But then, expert analyst Hu Liuqi from Dragon Country’s research team slammed his desk.

“Look closer! He’s not just dodging—he’s using her to smash all the cabinets in Area B!”

The team froze.

They hadn’t noticed:

Every time Zhang Yangqing moved, the woman’s strikes shattered another glass cabinet.

Rule 7 forbade security guards from damaging wax figures—but said nothing about supernatural entities doing it.

Moving those heavy cabinets manually would’ve taken forever.

This? Efficiency at its finest.

And the only chosen one capable of pulling it off?

Zhang Yangqing.

As the last cabinet exploded into shards, Zhang Yangqing smirked.

The woman hesitated, sensing something deeply wrong.

“Done hitting? My turn.”