Another strict rule, the fifth one states:
[Except for the ground and walls, all immovable items are exhibits of the duke.]
At first glance, this rule seems to restrict people's movements, allowing only the ground and walls to be touched. However, if we look at it from another angle, this rule actually contains a metaphor - a way to turn people into exhibits in the duke's museum!
According to these rules, Chen Mu deduced a way out of the task: when faced with the eerie security guards, there was no need to run or hide. He just had to stand still and become the duke's exhibit. The eerie guards could not touch exhibits, so they could not touch him either, let alone grab him. By standing still for two hours, he could remain undefeated in this game of hide-and-seek and survive until the end of the task.
However, Chen Mu also sensed something unusual about the rules of this task. For the first time in the task rules, there appeared an inducement rule!
Inducement rules are designed to lead players to make mistakes and disrupt their search for the correct path. For example, Rule 4 states:
[If you are unfortunate enough to be discovered by the security guards, please do your best to evade them, but during the evasion process, please do not touch the museum's exhibits.]
This is a typical inducement rule. It suggests that players should try to avoid the security guards as much as possible when encountered. Of course, running and moving are necessary when avoiding security guards, which makes it impossible to stay still and become an exhibit. If players blindly follow this rule, they may miss their chance at survival!
"As the time of the eerie apocalypse progresses, the difficulty of the eerie tasks begins to increase," Chen Mu thought to himself.
He was not surprised by this development. After all, he had experienced the trials of the eerie apocalypse before. Five years is a long time! In such a prolonged period, the tasks in the eerie apocalypse have become quite difficult and perverse. Inducement rules? That's nothing compared to what he has faced before.
There will be contradictory rules, even incorrect ones. Chen Mu encountered the most challenging task once, where there were twenty-three rules in total! What's more, all twenty-three rules were incorrect! Believing any one of them would mean certain death. To find a way out, Chen Mu had to rely on his experience, inferring the correct path based on the wrong rules. By combining several incorrect pieces of information, finding contradictions within them, and speculating further, he could deduce the hidden path to survival.
That was a test of both physical strength and mental agility, and he managed to pull through. So, in the face of this hide-and-seek game, Chen Mu was confident that he had found the right path.
When the eerie guard approached him, Chen Mu's face remained calm. As expected, the guard stopped when it was one meter away from him and did not dare to approach. Chen Mu stood in front of it, and the guard did not dare to touch him. This was the thrill of discovering the way out.
Once he mastered the secret of the way out, navigating through eerie tasks became like fish in water for Chen Mu. The guard looked at him for a while, seeming apprehensive. It did not dare to harm Chen Mu because, according to the rules, Chen Mu had become the duke's exhibit.
After a moment of hesitation, the guard turned and prepared to leave. Chen Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that he had guessed correctly reinforced his confidence.
However, before he could relax, he suddenly felt a hand tap him on the back. More shockingly, the hand was pale and cold, clearly not human. The anomaly was touching him!
How was this possible?
Chen Mu's expression changed dramatically. According to the rules, he was now an exhibit, and the anomalies could not touch the exhibits. Could it be that his deduction was wrong, and he had found the wrong way out?
The idea flashed through his mind, and his heart sank. How could his deduction be wrong? Based on his experience, the probability of making a mistake was extremely low. Chen Mu was very confident in himself. To survive in the eerie apocalypse, confidence was an essential quality.
While Chen Mu was puzzled, a strange voice spoke behind him:
"Sir, your tea?"
Tea? What tea?
Chen Mu was confused. The anomalous creature behind him, dressed as a butler, came forward holding a tray with a steaming cup of tea on it.
"The butler is worried you might be thirsty and sent me to bring you a cup of hot tea. It's chilly and damp inside the Misty Museum. Please, Mr. Chen, take care to keep warm."
After delivering the speech, the butler placed the hot tea next to Chen Mu.
Looking at the situation, Chen Mu realized what was happening. This anomalous creature was not a guard but the duke's butler, coming to serve him tea.
Wait a minute, what was going on here?
Other participants in the eerie task were in grave danger, yet Chen Mu was receiving special treatment, being served hot tea. Moreover, he could leave at any time if he wanted.
This treatment was bizarre!
Frankly speaking, Chen Mu had never received such special treatment before.
During the eerie apocalypse, he had been poor too, struggling to survive just like everyone else. How could he have enjoyed such hospitality?
Hmm, it's nice to have some ghost currency in the eerie apocalypse.
Chen Mu couldn't help but comment mentally.
At this moment, near Chen Mu, Wang Dafu's mistress was stumbling towards him. She had gotten separated from Wang Dafu and had been hiding in the Misty Museum, filled with fear and anxiety. Her arm was scraped and bruised from colliding with the floor, leaving her appearance disheveled.
She had hoped to find Chen Mu and ask for help. But before she could approach him, she saw the eerie guard stopping in front of Chen Mu. The guard did not dare to get close and eventually walked away. As for the butler, it was even more absurd; he brought Chen Mu a cup of hot tea!
It seemed like the butler was serving Chen Mu!
Originally expecting Chen Mu to die, she was shocked by the sudden turn of events. The butler did not harm Chen Mu, and instead, it offered him tea!
Looking at her own pathetic state compared to Chen Mu's calm demeanor, the woman felt the disparity in the world of the eerie apocalypse. The gap between people could be so vast!
In her eyes, Chen Mu transformed from an ordinary young man into a mysterious and powerful figure. Compared to him, Wang Dafu paled in comparison.
Since Wang Dafu was unreliable, she decided to find a new protector. Thinking about it, she looked down at her body. She straightened her hair and pulled her shirt down as much as possible to appear more alluring. She wanted to use her feminine charm. If Chen Mu took a liking to her... by sticking close to Chen Mu, she could live a comfortable life in the eerie apocalypse!
What she didn't know was that in Chen Mu's eyes, her actions were just petty tricks.