Chapter 100: "Ghost Amusement Park"
After Chi Yi asked her question, the two teammates standing next to her also turned to look, clearly having some disagreement among themselves. Han Wenlin glanced at Wei Xiao. “You voted for the Black and White Impermanence, didn’t you?”
Wei Xiao nodded. “Yeah, I voted for Black and White Impermanence.”
Han Wenlin, the type who wore his thoughts on his sleeve, immediately smiled in satisfaction. “Me too. I still trust our clues.” Unlike the more courteous Wei Xiao, Han Wenlin had an air of youthful arrogance, the kind that hadn’t yet been tempered by life’s hard lessons. He added bluntly, “Still, thanks for telling us the answer to the Misfortune Ghost. I’ll vote for that one next round.”
Next to them, a girl named Cheng Jiayue hesitated, guilt flickering across her face. After a brief internal struggle, she finally admitted softly, “I’m sorry... I voted for the Misfortune Ghost.”
Han Wenlin turned to her immediately, clearly annoyed. “Didn’t we all agree to vote for our own answer?”
Cheng Jiayue glanced at Li Zhi, then gathered her courage. “I trust her judgment more. Anyway, if it turns out to be Black and White Impermanence next round, I can still vote for it then.”
Han Wenlin sneered. “So what, you’re planning to stop thinking for yourself now? Just gonna rely on someone else’s answers from now on?”
Cheng Jiayue’s expression grew awkward. “That’s not what I meant…”
“Wenlin, voting is personal,” Wei Xiao said, tugging his sleeve. “You don’t get to interfere.”
Han Wenlin huffed. “I’m just thinking about her popularity! We fought through two rounds to get two clues, and now she votes for someone else’s answer? What’s the audience going to think?” Seeing Cheng Jiayue’s pale face, he waved her off irritably. “Forget it. Do whatever you want.”
At that moment, Du Jia and Chen Tianran finished voting and walked out of the certification booth. They glanced over but didn’t approach. Wei Xiao politely said to Li Zhi, “We’ll be going now. See you next round.”
Li Zhi smiled and nodded. “See you next round.”
Wei Xiao and Han Wenlin walked off, Cheng Jiayue lingering for a moment before giving Li Zhi a shy smile and finally catching up to them.
The team from “A Perfect Match” had just completed the Ferris wheel challenge, meaning they already knew the death conditions for that attraction. Owen Dong clearly wanted to go over and ask, but seeing that Li Zhi and her group had no intention of approaching them, he stayed where he was, frustrated as he watched them leave.
Chi Yi nudged him playfully. “Why’re you staring like that? Want to go follow them?”
Owen Dong shook his head quickly. “No, I just…”
Li Zhi interrupted. “Come on. Let’s go try the carousel first.”
Players could share clues and death conditions with each other, of course. Technically, you didn’t even need to play; you could just hang around and wait for stronger players to share their information. Or, ideally, everyone could collaborate—three teams tackling three attractions and sharing intel to beat the game together.
But this wasn’t that kind of show. It was a competition for popularity.
The more attractions a player challenged, and the more clues they uncovered on their own, the higher their popularity ranking. Just like Pei Hongyu—he made it clear he wouldn’t cooperate with anyone. He wanted to conquer every attraction by himself.
Of course, Li Zhi’s team could have approached “A Perfect Match” to ask about the Ferris wheel’s death condition. Given their team persona, they definitely wouldn’t lie about it in front of the audience.
But doing that would hurt Li Zhi’s and Chi Yi’s popularity.
The higher your popularity, the higher your rank, and with that came heightened expectations from viewers. And if you didn’t live up to that hype, the backlash could be severe.
Unless a teammate offered clues proactively, like Wei Xiao did, Li Zhi wasn’t going to ask.
Besides, she was also interested in what the system mentioned: that completing all nine attractions would grant a hidden clue. And with this show’s usual shady tendencies, it definitely wouldn’t mention that for no reason.
That hidden clue must be important—and she wanted it. Pei Hongyu definitely wanted it too. Which meant she had to experience all nine attractions.
If the MVP for clearing the dungeon went to Pei Hongyu, she didn’t even want to think about how Chi Yi might throw a fit.
To prevent that scenario, she would challenge all nine attractions, get that hidden clue, and take the MVP title for herself.
Once all players finished voting, the lights at the certification booth flickered off, and the entire amusement park returned to its colorful, carnival-like state. The vanished dolls and NPC actors dressed as ghosts reappeared, scattered across the area.
Li Zhi’s group headed toward the carousel. The path ahead glimmered faintly, and from the mist at the far end came the jingling of bells. An old, raspy voice drifted through the fog:
“Spirits passing through, the living must give way.”
Jingle—jingle—
Out of the mist emerged a Daoist priest dressed in yellow, holding a white flag in his left hand and a bronze bell in his right, shaking it rhythmically as he walked. Behind him trailed seven “corpses,” each wearing white robes and straw hats.
“A corpse herder!” someone whispered urgently.
Everyone quickly stepped aside to clear the path.
The corpse herder led the way, the seven “corpses” behind him raising their arms, each resting their hand on the shoulder of the one in front. They didn’t hop like the zombies in movies, but each step carried a faint bounce. According to legend, real corpse herders would pass a bamboo pole through the sleeves of the bodies, creating that hopping, arm-raised effect.
Even though they all knew these were NPCs dressed up by the park—at most, one real ghost might have slipped in among them—the sight in this eerie setting was still unsettling.
The five of them stood by the roadside, with the more timid ones hiding behind Li Zhi. As the procession passed, they heard Li Zhi softly mutter, “Hm?”
Chi Yi thought she’d spotted a clue and quickly leaned over her shoulder. “What? What is it? Did you find something?”
Li Zhi let out a quiet laugh, tinged with faint amusement. “Wait here for a second,” she said to her teammates before stepping toward the procession.
The corpse herder’s pace was slow, and the NPCs pretending to be corpses moved even slower. Heads bowed under their straw hats, dressed entirely in white, wearing black cloth shoes—it was a chilling scene in the red haze and swirling mist.
Li Zhi stopped beside the first “corpse” behind the priest, bent slightly, and with a mischievous smile, lifted her gaze.
Beneath the straw hat, faintly illuminated by the flickering red light, a handsome face appeared, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
Li Zhi couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh. “Playing ghost, huh?”
Li Jianxi: “...Yeah.”
She walked with him for a few steps. “Having fun?”
His tone was slightly helpless. “It’s all they had left...”
He’d rushed over from another instance at her call, but by the time he arrived, all the NPC roles were filled—except for this. And even this extra “corpse” role, he’d forced his way into. Normally, this procession only had six bodies.
Li Zhi reached out, lightly brushing the edge of his straw hat. “Hang in there. You’re the handsomest ghost in the whole park.”
Other people wore straw hats and looked like corpses. He wore one and looked like a wandering swordsman. That face was just unfair.
Outside the screen, the viewers were screaming in the comments:
【What ghost? That’s MY ghost, thank you.】
【Li Jianxi, really? Willing to play a corpse just to chase your wife around?】
【Why is this so funny and sweet at the same time? I’m going insane.】
【Li Jianxi: My wife called me handsome today. I’m THRIVING.】
【NO! Li Jianxi, stop stealing my butterfly! I object to this marriage! Chi Yi, fight for your man!】
【Chi Yi: Please don’t involve me. I’m scared.】
【Finally! Been waiting forever for Li Jianxi to show up. Time to enjoy this sugar rush.】
The corpse procession was forced to stop due to their little exchange. The priest at the front began shaking his bell faster, clearly impatient.
Li Zhi stepped back to the side and waved him on. “Alright, continue your tour.”
Li Jianxi tilted his head slightly, the shadows under the straw hat accentuating the sharpness of his handsome features, giving his usual gentle demeanor a sudden hint of edge. “Alright.”
As the procession continued, Li Zhi returned to her teammates, only to be greeted by Chi Yi’s resentful stare. “We met him first…”
Li Zhi ruffled her hair playfully. “Come on. Let’s go.”
No player avoided browsing the game’s forums, and naturally, everyone knew about this bizarre high-popularity couple pairing. A player and an NPC? Really? But some players had run into Li Jianxi during other dungeons and tried to butter him up for drops—none succeeded.
This particular NPC… seemed like he only gave drops to Li Zhi.
Owen Dong, curious beyond reason, couldn’t help gossiping, “Li Zhi… you and that N—that Li Jianxi, are you two really together?”
Before Li Zhi could answer, Chi Yi glared at him. “Why are you so nosy?”
“I’m asking on behalf of all the viewers! Everyone’s curious!” Owen Dong defended himself.
He was shameless, but at least he was thorough.
Li Zhi shot him a glance and smiled. “Want to know?”
Owen Dong nodded vigorously.
“Then go ask Li Jianxi yourself.”
Owen Dong: “...Forget it. I’m not that brave.”
He grumbled inwardly—Do you think everyone dares to get that close to an NPC like you do? Besides, Li Jianxi isn’t that nice to everyone! Look at him just now, standing there playing a corpse. Who else would dare walk up and chat with him like that?
Li Zhi didn’t seem the least bit aware of how “illegal” her behavior was in this game.
Pushing aside his nosiness, Owen Dong picked up the pace. Soon, the group reached the carousel.
It spun brightly under the night sky, the whole ride decorated like a fairytale—ornate carvings on the canopy, cheerful, innocent music playing softly.
But after Wei Xiao’s earlier explanation, that happy tune now sounded twisted, hiding malevolent intent.
—The carousel would start jolting violently, throwing players from their horses and trampling them into paste.
What kind of carousel grinds its riders into pulp?
At the entrance stood an attendant dressed in blue. Seeing them approach, she smiled warmly. “Welcome to the carousel. This ride requires a minimum of three participants. Please present your tickets and line up accordingly.”