I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: He Chose the Most Controversial Strategy!

Since inheriting the title of Heavenly Master, Zhang Yangqing had learned what it meant to be invincibly lonely.

With his maxed-out comprehension skills, he possessed abilities far beyond those of an ordinary Taoist priest. But in this age of advanced technology, there was simply no place to use them.

His daily routine consisted of taking photos with tourists and telling fortunes at Longhu Mountain.

Business was slow, so he barely scraped by.

But now that he’d been transported into this game… why not have some fun?

For others, this might be a life-or-death nightmare.

For Zhang Yang? Just another post-dinner entertainment.

A little spice in his otherwise dull life.

While the Dragon Nation’s audience sighed and debated, Zhang Yangqing had already begun searching for the rules.

He wasn’t new to the Rule-Based Mystery broadcasts—anyone entering this world needed to understand the rules to survive.

Soon, he found the Security Guard Handbook in the desk drawer.

The rules were clearly written:

[Rule 1: The wax museum closes at midnight. No entry or exit is permitted after that, no matter who begs from inside or outside!]

[Rule 2: You are the only person in the museum. If someone calls your name, ignore them and leave immediately!]

[Rule 3: Patrol the museum every two hours starting at midnight. When passing wax figures, NEVER look into their eyes!]

[Rule 4: Wax figures do not move. If any figure’s position doesn’t match its reference photo, return to the security room and report its number using the black wall phone.]

[Rule 5: As a security guard, protecting the museum is your duty. Intentionally damaging any wax figure results in instant failure.]

After reading the rules, Zhang Yangqing had a rough understanding of the scenario.

The first four were survival conditions—breaking them would trigger supernatural horrors.

The fifth was an absolute rule—damage a wax figure, and the game would execute you on the spot.

In other words, mistakes with Rules 1-4 might still leave room for recovery.

But break Rule 5? Game over.

Additional rules would likely reveal themselves as he progressed.

Now, Zhang Yangqing gathered his patrol gear:

• A phone

• A flashlight

• A baton

Armed with these, he checked the clock by the door—11:50 PM.

According to Rule 3, patrols started at midnight, every two hours.

The security room was just the beginning. Outside lay the main hall of the wax museum… and whatever awaited him there.

The thought alone made him anticipatory.

Meanwhile, in other nations, some Chosen Ones were still scrambling to find the rules as time ticked away.

Take Pasta Nation’s Rossi—paralyzed by fear, he barricaded the security room’s door and windows with furniture, determined to hide until the scenario ended.

“If I don’t break any wax figures, I can ignore the other rules!”

Pasta Nation’s experts watching the broadcast nearly tore their hair out.

“God, what is Rossi doing?! He’s speeding up his own death!”

“Forget it. Let’s study other nations’ strategies instead.”

“At least we’ve only lost twice. Dragon Nation’s on a nine-loss streak—they’re the desperate ones.”

“This round’s doomed. Prepare evacuation plans for whichever city the horrors hit.”

Pasta Nation had already accepted defeat.

In contrast, Eagle Nation and Bear Nation’s Chosen Ones remained calm, conserving energy in the security room until patrol time.

Back in Dragon Nation, viewers were relieved to see their Chosen One wasn’t trembling in fear.

At least he’s not a coward.

But then—

“WHAT IS HE DOING?!”

Zhang Yangqing stepped outside.

Ten minutes early.

The audience erupted.

“Is he trying to get us all killed?!”

“Dude, I get that you’re brave, but this isn’t the time to show off!”

“Maybe there’s a reason? The rules don’t say guards can’t leave early…”

“Or maybe horrors only activate at specific times, and he just triggered them!”

“Everyone else is on edge, and this guy’s treating it like a museum tour?!”

“Whatever his plan is… it’s definitely the most controversial one.”

Opinions split—some feared the worst, others clung to hope.

In the Dragon Nation’s strategy HQ, a scruffy man in a leather jacket stared intently at the screen.

This was Hu Liuqi, one of the nation’s few Rule-Based Mystery survivors.

Unlike the polished experts around him, Hu came from a family of tomb raiders—a profession requiring nerves of steel, sharp instincts, and quick decision-making.

His survival skills had earned him a spot on the expert panel.

While others panicked over Zhang Yang’s casual demeanor, Hu remained calm.

“Relax. This guy’s no amateur. He might’ve noticed something we missed.”

His words soothed the frantic analysts.

After all, if Zhang Yangqing wasn’t dead yet, his choices couldn’t be entirely wrong.

Soon, the clock struck midnight.

Across the world, Chosen Ones began their patrols—flashlights in hand, batons at the ready.

The moment they stepped out, an icy draft hit them.

Darkness swallowed everything beyond the security room’s dim light, causing momentary disorientation.

The wax museum was silent.

Every footstep echoed.

Every breath amplified.

And then… the first challenge arrived.

Rule 3: Never look into a wax figure’s eyes.

Rule 4: Report any figure that doesn’t match its photo.

The contradiction was clear—how could one verify a figure’s face without looking at its eyes?

Eagle Nation’s John, a university professor, had the answer.

He used his phone to photograph each figure’s face (flash on), then compared it to the reference photo—all while keeping his gaze lowered.

Eagle Nation’s viewers cheered.

“Our Chosen One’s a genius!”

“Why waste him on a two-star difficulty? He could handle three!”

“Another easy win for Eagle Nation!”

Other nations soon copied the strategy.

But in Dragon Nation’s broadcast…

Chaos.

Zhang Yangqing wasn’t just looking at the wax figures’ eyes—

He was shining his flashlight directly into them.

The audience lost it.

“IS HE TRYING TO DIE?!”

“DID HE FORGET THE RULES ALREADY?!”

“SOMEONE STOP HIM BEFORE HE DOOMS US ALL!”

“This guy’s not even trying to survive!”

Rage flooded the screens.

Every Dragon Nation viewer wanted to strangle him through the broadcast.

But Zhang Yang?

He just smiled.