I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 87
Chapter 87: Terror? Who’s the Real Terror Here?
Zhang Yangqing checked the time on his phone—10:12 AM.
Just as he was about to leave, a text message arrived.
The message had no sender’s name.
It contained several rules:
[Rule 9: This building has no administrator. If someone claiming to be the administrator knocks on your door, ignore them.]
[Rule 10: The tenant in Unit 8-4 is a good person. They can provide you with useful information.]
[Rule 11: Getting caught in the rain will make you physically unwell. There is a raincoat in your apartment—only this can effectively protect you from the rain. It can be used for a maximum of two hours per day.]
[Rule 12: After midnight, do not leave your apartment. The outside is unsafe. If you see anything outside your window, ignore it.]
[Rule 13: If anyone invites you to the basement, refuse. Do not go under any circumstances.]
[Rule 14: If your door is broken, you can call for a repairman. Note: Only repairmen wearing white shoes can fix your door properly.] (Click to view the repairman’s number.)
[Rule 15: The children here are extremely curious. If a child stares at you, do not make eye contact. Stop moving until someone takes the child away. Otherwise, they will follow you indefinitely.]
[Rule 16: You must stay in your apartment for at least 12 hours per day. After three days, the heavy rain will stop. Once the landlord of Unit 7-4 appears, you will have successfully cleared the challenge.]
After reading the rules, none of the chosen participants received any response, whether they replied via text or called the number.
However, seeing that the challenge lasted three days—with a requirement to stay inside for at least 12 hours each day—many of the chosen participants felt a headache coming on.
Surviving even one night here seemed uncertain, let alone three. And with strict time constraints, their opportunities to go outside were severely limited.
Zhang Yangqing memorized the rules and followed the curly-haired woman to her apartment.
Several observant participants noticed a detail that corresponded with Rule 15—a painting in the rental unit’s secondary bedroom depicting a woman leading a child away.
Was this a hint?
With too little information, it was impossible to say for now.
Most participants were focused on finding the so-called “good person” to gather more intel.
Rule 10 mentioned that the tenant in Unit 8-4 was a good person—likely their key source of information.
For most, deciphering the rules to survive was critical.
Even someone like Abe Hirohira, a top-tier Onmyōji, set aside his usual carefree attitude and began studying the rules seriously.
He knew he had no advantages here. If he didn’t take this seriously, death was certain.
But did these rules matter to Zhang Yangqing?
Not really.
He only cared about two things:
-
The rules for failing the challenge.
-
The rules for clearing it.
The rest? He’d interpret them his own way.
To him, the other rules were merely suggestions.
As long as he cleared the challenge, it didn’t matter how he did it.
While others were still puzzling over the rules, Zhang Yangqing already had a general plan.
He knew this scenario would be terrifying.
But who would be terrified? That remained to be seen.
Now, he needed to verify the meaning of the “tenant” identity. Others might not have the means to test this, but he did.
Once he confirmed the details, he could determine his role and act accordingly.
In the world of supernatural challenges, this was the best way to ensure success.
While others mustered the courage to head to Unit 8-4, Zhang Yangqing arrived at Unit 9-2.
One small but crucial detail: the black cat in his apartment refused to leave, as if it only wanted to stay indoors.
Forcing it outside might have unpredictable consequences, so most participants left the cat behind, stuffing their pockets with flour as a precaution.
By now, it was past 10 AM. The sky was dark, rain pattered outside, and the entire building seemed warped and eerie.
At this hour, few people wandered the halls. Most doors were shut.
As the chosen participants walked through the corridors, they couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched through peepholes.
In some hallways, garbage bags sat outside doors, emitting a foul stench. Dark, viscous liquid oozed out, accompanied by unsettling squelching sounds.
The atmosphere was far more oppressive than Smiling Hospital.
At least there, they had doctors and nurses to interact with—and assistants by their side.
Here, they were alone. One wrong move could mean death.
No wonder even viewers with weak nerves couldn’t bear to watch.
Despite the fear, the participants pressed on, gathering intel.
They knew that without information, tonight would be a gamble. With it, they might find a safe place to sleep.
Walking through the halls, they deliberately made noise to keep the motion-sensor lights on.
No one dared venture into unlit areas—not even the supernatural experts.
Here, everyone followed the rules.
When Zhang Yangqing reached Unit 9-2, movement came from inside.
“Honey, is that you? I’ve been waiting so long, I’m starving.”
Stepping inside, he saw a sickly-looking middle-aged woman sitting at the dining table.
Her skin was unnaturally pale—whiter than a corpse dead for a week.
She also had rabbit ears, but hers were folded down.
The moment she saw Zhang Yangqing, she shot to her feet, instantly alert.
Her movement was anything but human.
Her gaze shifted from weak to razor-sharp.
Her entire demeanor transformed in an instant.
“Who are you? Why are you in my house? Get out! You’re not welcome here!”
She snarled, baring her teeth as if to scare him off.
Zhang Yangqing ignored her, scanning the room instead.
What he—and every viewer watching his screen—noticed immediately was something off.
[Wait, something’s wrong. The curly-haired woman said this was her rental, so why are there photos of this middle-aged couple everywhere?]
[Look at the shoes by the door—there are clearly pairs for a man and a woman. Same with the umbrellas. This doesn’t add up.]
[The curly-haired woman dresses stylishly, but the apartment’s decor is outdated, like something from an older couple’s home.]
[Zhang’s been tricked. All signs point to the curly-haired woman not being the real tenant.]
[My guess? She probably broke into someone else’s place, which is why the actual tenant chased her.]
[Damn, Zhang just killed the wrong person.]
[He acted too rashly.]
If even the audience noticed, Zhang Yangqing certainly had.
The furnishings didn’t match the curly-haired woman’s story.
Yet, her expression hadn’t seemed dishonest. She’d even urged him to kill the middle-aged woman.
Zhang Yangqing asked one last time:
“Are you sure this is your apartment?”
The curly-haired woman nodded. *”Unit 9-2. This is definitely mine.”*
It sounded like a blatant lie—yet her gaze was unwavering.
Just when everyone expected Zhang Yangqing to turn on her, he instead strode toward the middle-aged woman, his aura murderous.
BOOM!
A flash of golden light erupted in the room.
Zhang Yangqing didn’t hesitate.
His Golden Light Spell condensed into a blade, slicing the woman clean in half at the waist.
Her bisected body collapsed into a pool of blood, her eyes wide with terror and confusion.
She stared ahead, as if unable to comprehend how her opponent could be this strong.
After finishing the job, Zhang Yangqing walked to the door and said to the curly-haired woman:
“Clean this up. Call me if you need anything.”
The woman thanked him profusely, her relief palpable.
Once Zhang Yangqing left, she shut the door.
But he didn’t go far—he lingered near the 8th floor, listening.
Soon, a heavy thud echoed through the building.
Muffled by the rain, but audible to him.
“Ah, I see.”
A faint smile curled on Zhang Yangqing’s lips.
Now, he understood.
Next, he headed to Unit 8-4—to see what the so-called “good person” had to say.
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