Chapter 43: If you don't want to get beaten, give it to me!

Seeing the Hooded Traveler's eyes practically spitting fire, Zhang Yangqing remained expressionless.

Other Chosen Ones might not dare, but that doesn't mean I won't.

Faced with Zhang Yangqing's demand, which felt akin to robbery, the Hooded Traveler nearly ground his teeth to dust, feeling as though he had been profoundly insulted.

How could he endure this? To endure this would be to act like a coward.

The Hooded Traveler erupted completely. He attempted to stand up and close in on Zhang Yangqing's neck, intending to launch a surprise attack.

*Thud!*

A dull, heavy impact echoed through the entire carriage.

Before the Hooded Traveler could even stand, Zhang Yangqing delivered a knee strike with even greater speed, slamming into the man's abdomen.

The intense pain, accompanied by abdominal spasms, forced a mouthful of bitter bile from his throat, leaving him with no strength to stand.

Zhang Yangqing's strike was so swift that the Hooded Traveler only perceived a momentary blur in front of his eyes.

The viewers watching the large screen didn't even see a phantom image; they only felt a momentary flicker before the Hooded Traveler was suddenly doubled over, clutching his stomach for unknown reasons.

Though he was wearing a mask, one could tell from his dilated pupils that the blow had caused pain that reached his very bones.

Pain—it was simply too much pain!

"I'll ask you one more time: are you going to cough up the money or not?"

Zhang Yangqing cared nothing for the traveler's expression of agony.

Being soft-hearted was no way to survive in the World of Weird Tales.

If he hadn't possessed the ability, he likely would have been killed by this guy's initial attack.

Since you were the one who intended to kill me first, you had better be prepared to be killed by me.

Besides, I haven't even killed you yet.

"No!"

It had to be said that the Hooded Traveler was being very stubborn this time.

He was no longer afraid; his gaze was resolute. He dared to say "no" to an unjust demand!

Seeing such courage, Zhang Yangqing nodded in respect.

Then, with a lightning-fast flurry of five consecutive slaps, he delivered five heavy backhands to the man's face.

Respect was respect, but a beating was still a beating.

"Stop! Stop hitting me! I'll give it! I'll give it, alright?!"

The Hooded Traveler hurriedly pulled 200 yuan from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Yangqing.

The speed at which he produced the money was staggering.

It was as if he felt that even a moment's delay would result in him being beaten to death.

The stubbornness and resolve in his eyes were gone, replaced entirely by fear and terror.

Initially, when he was hit once, he wasn't convinced; he felt he might still have a fighting chance. But after being slapped five times, he was broken. Forget a fighting chance—he hadn't even been given the opportunity to strike back.

The gap in strength made him realize: this was a goddamn predatory taxi!

Fine, I accept it!

Zhang Yangqing unceremoniously took the money.

That's more like it. Making up an excuse to get you all to pool your money was my way of being merciful; why be so difficult?

If you had given it to me sooner, would you have had to endure this beating?

Then, Zhang Yangqing moved toward the other seven passengers.

Without exception, he demanded money.

If you don't want to get hit, give it to me!

Zhang Yangqing didn't know how many "gas stations" there would be, but as long as he had enough money, it was fine.

Regardless of age or gender, once you stepped onto my bus, you had to follow my rules.

The Vest Traveler elegantly paid three hundred yuan; clearly, he was wealthy.

The others gave a hundred or two hundred.

In any case, they all paid without exception, having witnessed the fate of the Hooded Traveler.

When faced with a guide who strikes so ruthlessly, you shouldn't bother wondering if he will hit you.

Because if he decides to hit you, you won't be able to resist.

So, to avoid a beating, it was better to just pay.

Seeing everyone obediently handing over money, the Hooded Traveler gnashed his teeth in fury.

"Why are you giving it to him? Why don't you resist! Doesn't your direct compliance make me look like an idiot?"

Perhaps he wasn't angry about the beating, but rather because he felt he was the only one suffering the consequences of standing up.

Someone takes the lead, but if no one else helps, once that person is suppressed, the "group" will not challenge Zhang Yangqing's authority.

They knew that if they continued to challenge him, they would also be beaten, and even if they were, the others would only watch coldly.

This was the so-called "conformity effect."

There was only one situation where Zhang Yangqing might yield: if all the passengers resisted together.

According to Rule 14, Zhang Yangqing could not lose all his passengers; that was a fatal rule.

However, Zhang Yangqing had been observing them since they boarded.

He understood human nature all too well.

If these people had started chatting, introducing themselves, and getting along harmoniously upon boarding, Zhang Yangqing wouldn't have acted so extremely, because they would have formed a so-called "bond."

Once a bond is formed, they would support each other and reach a certain level of resonance.

If no one resisted, the others might not resist either.

But if even one person started it, chaos would inevitably ensue.

Yet, from the moment they boarded until now, these people had kept their distance, minding their own business, with no communication and total indifference to others. They clearly didn't know each other.

This... wasn't he just at their mercy?

To play the role of a guide well, one had to possess this level of observation.

He could distinguish which travelers could be fleeced and which could not.

In the World of Weird Tales, could a guide really follow the common sense of a normal human?

According to Zhang Yangqing's unique understanding, there were three elements to clearing a Weird Tale: having an awareness of the identity you are playing, considering what you need to do based on your own strength, and discarding the inherent thinking of a normal person.

As long as these three points were met, the logic became clear.

As a guide, he held a special resource in his hands: the travelers.

Travelers were things a guide could control. Whether you treated them as family, as cash cows, or as tools depended entirely on your interpretation.

Zhang Yangqing had realized this, which was why he acted without hesitation and with extreme ruthlessness.

The next stage requires money. I don't have money, so I'll make it! I'll squeeze the money out of the resources I control!

Those with weak strength could choose to beg or earn tips by helping.

Was my strength meant for reasoning with you? Or for begging you?

Then wouldn't my training have been in vain!

It's called a tour group; since you're on this bus, you should be prepared to be fleeced.

If I didn't have this ability, perhaps I would be the food in front of you.

If you don't treat me as a human, why should I treat you as humans?

While other Chosen Ones were still anxious about lacking money for the next gas station, Zhang Yangqing had already secured ample funds.

If Misumi Saburo's every step was a "correct choice," then Zhang Yangqing was already announcing the "correct answer."

The reason expert groups from various countries were watching Zhang Yangqing's screen was precisely to wait for the correct answer.

Then, they would relay that answer to their own Chosen Ones.

It's just that Zhang Yangqing's "correct answer" gave off a certain impression: *This is an open-book exam, and even if I let you copy, you won't be able to!*