I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: You Think You Can Run Now That You’re on My Turf?

Many viewers in Dragon Country thought Zhang Yangqing was being unusually restrained this time, assuming the dungeon must be extremely difficult.

“Even the Celestial Master Zhang wouldn’t act as recklessly as last time, right?”

But they were wrong. Dead wrong.

In the previous dungeon, Zhang Yangqing had been bold from the start because he knew the wax museum’s horrors couldn’t escape—they were all trapped inside. Even if the creatures noticed something unusual about him, they were nothing more than playthings in his hands. Where could they possibly run?

This time was different. The passengers hadn’t boarded yet, so Zhang Yangqing kept a low profile.

But now that they were all on the bus, the doors were sealed shut.

You think you can run now that you’re on my turf?

A sharp slap echoed through the bus, drawing the attention of many passengers. Even the two sisters—who held hands but refused to look at each other—glanced over curiously.

Yet, after a brief look, the passengers returned to their own business, utterly indifferent. Even if someone died, they’d probably just watch coldly.

The driver showed no interest in the commotion, not even bothering to look, his focus entirely on the road.

The hooded passenger was panting heavily, teetering on the edge of rage.

His outfit screamed “spoiled rebellious kid.”

His gritted teeth seemed to say, My parents have never even hit me in my life!

But after a glance at the driver—whether out of fear or because of some unspoken rule—the hooded passenger swallowed his anger and silently returned to his seat.

He yanked his hood lower, hiding his murderous glare.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on Zhang Yangqing. If he got the chance, he’d make sure to deal with this guy himself.

Drops of crimson liquid seeped from beneath his graffiti-covered mask. That slap had clearly hurt him.

But it also had an effect—the entire bus grew quieter.

Compared to the oppressive, eerie atmosphere when they first boarded, it now felt more like a normal tour group.

Viewers in Dragon Country let out a collective sigh of relief.

The man they knew was back.

Comments:

• There it is! The Celestial Master’s legendary slap—always the bane of the supernatural!

• If one slap doesn’t solve the problem, just add a few more!

• I told you he was just acting earlier! He didn’t want to scare them off before they boarded. Now? No more pretending!

• Honestly, Rule 14 saved that hooded guy. If the rules didn’t require keeping passengers alive, that wouldn’t have been just a slap.

• For other players, the rules protect them. For the Celestial Master, the rules protect the monsters.

• *You can tell Zhang Yangqing put some real frustration into that slap. Getting dragged into back-to-back dungeons? That guy picked the worst time to mess with him.*

• What was he thinking, attacking the Celestial Master? Talk about a dead end.

With that one slap, the anxiety among Dragon Country’s viewers vanished.

They’d been worried Zhang Yangqing wasn’t at his best this time. Now, it was clear they’d overthought it.

Meanwhile, other surviving players began observing the bus and its passengers.

There were plenty of oddities.

First, the driver and the bus itself.

Thick fog blanketed the windows, making it impossible to see outside. Yet the driver acted as if nothing was wrong, steering steadily.

Zhang Yangqing drew two conclusions:

1. The driver could see through the fog.

2. He knew this route like the back of his hand.

In other words, reaching each stop depended entirely on him.

Two key rules applied to the driver:

• Rule 10: If the driver deviates from the route, remind him immediately. Your life depends on it.

• Rule 13: The driver is prone to drowsiness. Wake him politely to avoid startling him.

For players like Mitarai Saburou, the rules meant: Keep an eye on the driver’s condition. If he falls asleep, we’re all dead. Stay on his good side—he’s our lifeline.

But for Zhang Yangqing? The interpretation was different: I can’t kill him yet. Who’s gonna drive if he’s dead?

His reasoning was simple:

The rules only said to preserve the passengers’ lives. They never said anything about not touching the driver.

Since the driver looked exhausted, Zhang Yangqing ordered his chatty assistant to keep watch. At the first sign of drowsiness, the assistant was to gently remind him.

That’s what assistants are for, right?

Beyond the driver, the passengers had their own quirks:

• The hooded guy, still grinding his teeth, clearly hadn’t learned his lesson.

• The well-groomed, hairy passenger in a tank top was now flipping through a cookbook of all things.

• The old lady kept muttering to herself, as if someone invisible sat beside her.

• The two sisters at the back were the weirdest. Water pooled around their seats, dripping onto the floor. How were they this soaked in just humid weather?

The other four passengers seemed relatively normal—either gazing out the fogged-up windows or resting with their eyes closed.

Just as the players were processing all this, their phones buzzed with a new message:

[Attention: Gas station ahead in 3 km. Prepare cash and remind the driver to stop if refueling is needed.]

Players without money panicked.

The rules stated: Whether the tank is full or not, refuel completely.

Most didn’t understand why, but they knew better than to ignore the rules.

Those without cash took deep breaths and approached passengers, hoping to earn tips by offering help.

Mitarai Saburou, however, remained calm. He already had tips.

*”The bus is moving at 60 km/h… about 17 meters per second. At 3,000 meters, we’ll reach the station in roughly three minutes. I’ll remind the driver soon,”* he muttered.

Sakura Country viewers praised his quick calculations:

• *Saburou-san is amazing! While others are guessing, he’s already planned every second. A true detective!*

• Watching the others scramble is hilarious. This is what happens when you don’t think ahead.

• You can see the confidence of a true expert in his calm demeanor.

• He represents our mighty Sakura Country perfectly—unlike that last disgrace.

Meanwhile, viewers in Dragon Country erupted in excitement.

On their screen, Zhang Yangqing stood up after reading the message, his gaze sweeping over the passengers like a god surveying mortals.