​​Chapter 112: "Ghost Amusement Park"​

Qi Yongyi volunteered, “You guys go first. I’ll be the backup for this round.”

The first round was the easiest, and with Li Zhi around, there usually wouldn’t be any issues. By the time the difficulty ramped up in the second round, if their teammates couldn’t handle it, he could step in. This way, everyone would get a chance to participate.

Ou Wendong was all for it, nodding eagerly. “Good, good, good!”

This Qi guy really knew how to play the game!

Li Zhi surveyed the mist-shrouded, dark blue waters around them. The pirate ship was docked at the shore, and the “Ferry River” mentioned by the staff was likely the name of this body of water.

Welcome to the Ferry River Pirate Ship experience.

The old-fashioned wooden ship before them did indeed resemble a ferry.

The pirate ship’s mechanism involved swinging back and forth like a pendulum, mimicking rough waves at sea. Combined with the keywords “Ferry River” and “ferry boat,” the gameplay for this round was probably about riding the ship across turbulent waters.

Before boarding, Li Zhi told her teammates, “Find something to use as a weapon.”

Ou Wendong was startled. “Huh? Why?”

Li Zhi said, “This round might involve fighting ghosts. Better to be prepared.”

Ou Wendong was floored. “You’ve already figured out the gameplay before even going in?”

Is this what it means to be a pro?! They were all starting from the same point, so how was she evolving so much faster?!

You Jingmeng immediately shook out the chair leg Li Zhi had given her during the roller coaster round from her sleeve. “I’ve been carrying it this whole time!”

Chi Yi followed suit, pulling another chair leg from her jacket. “Me too.”

Ou Wendong looked at Li Zhi pitifully. “Boss… I don’t have one.”

Li Zhi: “Neither do I.” She’d tossed hers earlier—ah, a miscalculation.

She scanned the area, but disappointingly, everything in sight was fixed and immovable. She couldn’t very well lug a trash can onto the ship. Finally, her gaze landed on Ou Wendong’s high-top military boots.

The black boots had sturdy grips, thick soles, and looked like they’d hurt if used to hit something.

Ou Wendong: “…?”

Li Zhi said, “If it comes down to it, just take your shoes off and throw them.”

Ou Wendong suddenly found this idea brilliant. Why couldn’t shoes be weapons? Shoelaces even had flexibility! He immediately started unlacing his boots, enthusiastically offering, “Boss, want one? I can give you a shoe!”

Li Zhi: “…No thanks.”

Once shoeless, Ou Wendong swung his boots by their laces like nunchucks, feeling much more confident.

The four of them scanned their tickets and boarded. A small pirate ship icon appeared on the back of Li Zhi’s ticket.

Six attractions collected. Three more to go, and they’d have experienced all the rides, unlocking the hidden clue the system had mentioned.

The clues from the nine main attractions were enough to identify the nine ghosts. So what was the extra hidden clue pointing to?

Li Zhi had a vague guess.

They walked through the passage and boarded the ship. Climbing the wooden steps, they realized the pirate ship’s interior wasn’t as spacious as they’d imagined. The cabin only had two rows of seats, with two oars placed near the sides.

Li Zhi and Chi Yi took the front row, while You Jingmeng and Ou Wendong sat behind them. They looked around but found no seatbelts.

You Jingmeng grew nervous. “Why aren’t there any safety features? If this thing starts swinging, won’t we just get flung out?”

“If this is a ferry,” Li Zhi said, “then ferries don’t have seatbelts.”

As soon as she spoke, the ship beneath them began to move. Before boarding, they’d seen it docked on dry land, but now it was slowly sailing toward the water.

“It’s going into the river!” Ou Wendong yelped. “Why is there never any warning?!”

With a splash, the bow entered the water. Thick white mist enveloped them, and the surrounding scenery vanished the moment the ship fully submerged.

A fishy wind blew into their faces. Looking around, they saw nothing but endless mist over blood-yellow waters. They were like a tiny leaf adrift on a vast, rushing river, carried downstream by the current.

A ferryman appeared at the bow.

Clad in a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, he gripped the oars, his back to them as his aged voice drifted over:

“The Ferry River carries no wandering souls. Don’t let them steal your spot.”

With that, he began rowing. The ship, which had been rushing downstream, shuddered and started crossing the river.

The waters grew turbulent, tossing the wooden vessel violently. All four of them clung to the sides to steady themselves. The moment Ou Wendong grabbed the railing, a pair of wet hands clamped over his.

A bone-chilling cold seeped into his skin. Terrified, he turned to see a head emerging from the water—stringy black hair plastered over its face like seaweed. It gripped his hand and started climbing aboard.

Ou Wendong let out a bloodcurdling scream, snatched up his discarded boot, and smashed it down on the ghost’s head.

Through the mist, countless wandering souls surfaced from the depths. They surrounded the lone ferry, trying to drag its passengers overboard to steal their spots.

Just as Li Zhi had predicted, this round involved combat. Chi Yi and You Jingmeng put their chair legs to good use again, while Ou Wendong’s boots became a blur of motion.

The ship rocked so violently they had to hold onto the sides to avoid falling in, leaving only one hand free to fend off the ghosts. Several times, the boat nearly capsized from the weight of the clinging spirits.

Bracing herself against Chi Yi, Li Zhi swung her legs in a sweeping kick, sending the ghosts tumbling back into the river with a series of splashes.

You Jingmeng shrieked, “I’m seasick!!! I’m gonna throw up!!!”

A massive wave lifted the ship into the air before slamming it back down. You Jingmeng couldn’t hold it in any longer—she leaned over the side and vomited.

Coincidentally, a water ghost chose that moment to surface. Before it could grab the boat, it took the full brunt of You Jingmeng’s puke right to the face. The ghost’s expression froze in utter despair.

It didn’t even try boarding. Instead, it plunged back underwater, frantically scrubbing its face.

You Jingmeng: Hurk—

She noticed that after this incident, fewer ghosts seemed to be climbing up on her side.

Beside her, Ou Wendong wailed, “Why are there more ghosts on my side?!!”

You Jingmeng: “…………”

Oops.

Up front, Chi Yi cried out excitedly, “I see the dock! We’re almost there!”

A long wooden pier emerged from the mist ahead. Judging by the ferryman’s earlier words, they just had to hold on until the ship reached shore to clear this round.

As they neared the dock, the ghosts grew even more frenzied. This was their last chance—once the ship landed, they’d never cross the river.

Li Zhi didn’t have a weapon, but she was the weapon. Every kick she landed sent ghosts flying, their skulls nearly crushed. The river echoed with splashes as they hit the water.

Light on her feet, she only needed to grip Chi Yi’s arm for balance as she darted around the deck, delivering precise kicks.

The audience was hyped:

​​[Is this the legendary Foshan Shadowless Kick???]​​

​​[When the Perfect Match team did this round, I never imagined Li Zhi’s approach. Does gravity even affect her? She’s practically flying! Someone needs to rein her in!]​​

​​[I think we can all agree Li Zhi’s cheating, right?]​​

​​[Her core strength is inhuman! She’s controlling her entire body with just her abs, which is why she looks so light and floaty.]​​

​​[Sis’s waist must feel amazing to touch, sob—will I ever get to feel it in this lifetime?]​​

​​[Hands that can snap necks, legs that strangle ghosts, feet that crush skulls—is Li Zhi some kind of mobile ghost-slaying weapon?]​​

​​[The contrast with the Perfect Match team is stark. Li Zhi didn’t even use a single prop…]​​

​​[We’re not just mentally strong! Our combat skills are top-tier too! If you like Li Zhi, please vote for her~]​​

​​[Li Zhi’s the best! Li Zhi’s the GOAT! Keep voting, friends!]​​

​​[There you are again—seen you multiple times now. Are you sure you’re not a paid shill for Li Zhi?]​​

…

As the bow approached the pier, the ghosts finally began retreating. A few stubborn ones lingered by the ship but sank back underwater under Li Zhi’s glare.

Once the entire ship entered the dock, the ghosts vanished without a trace. With a final thud, the vessel stilled.

The ferryman at the bow disappeared. The mist lifted, and in the blink of an eye, the surroundings reverted to how they’d been before boarding.

The ship’s interior was spotless—even the water that had splashed in during the crossing was gone. It was as if everything they’d experienced had been an illusion.

You Jingmeng was too seasick to stand, clutching the railing as she dry-heaved. “I can’t… Xiao Qi’s up next round, hurk—”

Ou Wendong: “…………”

Sigh. Guess he’d have to go again next time.

Chi Yi and Li Zhi helped You Jingmeng off the ship. As they descended the wooden steps, the staff member waiting below smiled.

“Congratulations on completing the first round of the Pirate Ship challenge. Here’s your reward.”

Li Zhi took the clue box, and the group walked to the railing by the passage. Seeing You Jingmeng being supported, Qi Yongyi hurried over worriedly. “Xiao Meng, are you hurt?”

You Jingmeng waved weakly. “Just seasick. You’re up next.”

Qi Yongyi nodded and headed straight in, scanning his ticket.

Once he joined them, Li Zhi opened the clue box.

The first clue was another image—a strangely angled view of the sky.

Chi Yi tilted her head, studying it. “This perspective… looks like someone lying on their back staring up. What does it mean?”

First-round clues were usually too vague to be useful. Li Zhi pocketed the card and briefed Qi Yongyi on the pirate ship’s mechanics.

After listening, Qi Yongyi suddenly said, “Folklore says there’s a River of Forgetfulness between the Road to the Underworld and the Netherworld, filled with souls unable to reincarnate. This Ferry River must be it.”