Chapter 51: The Special Department
The forum post was buzzing with activity—shippers gushing over their favorite CP, discussions about the unusual NPC Li Jianxi, and fans raving about Li Zhi. The lively replies kept the thread pinned to the top of the homepage all day.
After watching the fan-made video compiling Li Jianxi’s appearances across thirty-seven different instances, Li Zhi herself fell into deep thought.
So, the blurry figure she saw before clearing the instance really was Li Jianxi. The shippers certainly had an eye for detail—his cameo appearances across different instances were undeniably strange.
Could it be true, as the original poster claimed, that he was looking for her?
Logically, NPCs in the instances shouldn’t retain memories. They were just data fabricated by the system, possibly reused across different scenarios but reset before each deployment. When Li Jianxi appeared in Qingyu Town, he acted as if he didn’t know her, which was why Li Zhi had questioned him upon clearing the instance.
But now, it seemed he did remember.
He really had been searching for her.
From the very first moment she saw him, Li Zhi had sensed that this NPC was different. She replayed the compilation video, observing Li Jianxi’s detached expression in every instance—as if he existed outside that world entirely.
Other NPCs, whether villainous like Uncle Jiu or the Jin family’s butler, or kind-hearted like Tao Yu or Zhenzhen, all seemed like real, flesh-and-blood people embodying their roles.
But Li Jianxi was different. It was as if he was merely playing a role while remaining himself.
So… who was he, really?
Lying on her pillow, Li Zhi absently twirled the sunflower jade pendant he had given her before suddenly chuckling softly.
As more and more players entered the instances, entertainment news had all but vanished from social media. Whether on Weibo or Instagram, the only trending topic was The Horror Variety Show. Scandals like celebrity affairs no longer held anyone’s interest.
But not everyone could adapt to the instances. Many players struggled to distinguish between the two worlds after returning, with some descending into madness or emotional breakdowns. These days, Li Zhi frequently came across forum posts about players who had taken their own lives after clearing an instance.
As Xu Shu once said, emotional stability was the rarest and most crucial ability in the instances.
Players like Li Zhi, who remained virtually unaffected, were few and far between.
After resting at home for a few days, she received a call from Chi Yi inviting her to go shopping.
Li Zhi had just finished sparring with Li Shuang, her hands still wrapped in protective tape. “Shopping? For what?”
Chi Yi’s voice brimmed with determination: “Everything I couldn’t afford before—I’m buying it all now! And whatever you want, it’s on me!”
Li Zhi understood. Chi Yi was afraid she might not make it out of her next solo instance, so she wanted to splurge while she still could. But Li Zhi also knew Chi Yi would eventually have to face this alone. Given the current trend, she couldn’t always carry her—Chi Yi needed to stand on her own.
She didn’t refuse. “Alright, then come pick me up in your red sports car.”
Chi Yi gasped. “How did you know I have a red sports car?”
Li Zhi smirked. “I used to browse the internet too.”
Back in the day, photos of Chi Yi driving her red sports car frequently trended online. The combination of the “Nation’s Sweetheart” and a flashy car created a striking, sweet-yet-cool aesthetic that went viral multiple times. At the mention of the past, Chi Yi sighed heavily over the phone.
That normal life was gone forever.
The only upside was the lack of traffic. Chi Yi arrived in record time, the roar of her sports car echoing from blocks away.
Once Li Zhi settled into the passenger seat, Chi Yi waved her hand grandly. “Today, we’re emptying the mall!”
Li Zhi deadpanned, “My place is too small. No room.”
Chi Yi: “Then I’ll buy you a house first?”
Li Zhi: “…”
The streets were even emptier than before, though some stores stubbornly remained open. The government was doing its best to maintain order and public services, but many industries had collapsed since the [Ghost] system invaded Earth.
After checking international news through a VPN, Li Zhi noted that while the domestic situation was under control, other countries—due to differing political systems—had descended into chaos. Looting, arson, and violence were rampant, painting a picture of outright dystopia.
Chi Yi’s sports car sped through the city streets, barely encountering any vehicles even in what used to be the busiest districts.
Fortunately, her favorite mall was still open, though it was eerily quiet. The usually cheerful sales staff looked listless, perking up only when they recognized Chi Yi and Li Zhi—though their questions were all about the instances.
The two browsed several stores, with Chi Yi tossing items into her cart without hesitation, as if determined to spend every last penny before her potential demise.
Li Zhi picked out a few things herself. While Chi Yi swiped her card, Li Zhi noticed two suspicious figures lurking around a corner, reflected in the store’s polished walls.
She’d spotted them earlier but wasn’t sure who they were after. Now, after half an hour, it was clear—they were tailing her and Chi Yi.
Were they after her or Chi Yi?
Excusing herself to the restroom, Li Zhi left Chi Yi in the store and slipped into a nearby emergency exit. Circling back, she confirmed the two were still loitering near the massage chairs opposite the restrooms.
Assessing her surroundings, Li Zhi calculated her chances of subduing them—only for the duo to abruptly turn and stare directly at her hiding spot. After exchanging glances, they hurried away.
A thought flashed through Li Zhi’s mind: They have a 道具 (item/prop).
Likely something that warned them of her hostile intent. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have detected her so suddenly.
Who were they?
With this unexpected development, continuing their shopping spree seemed unsafe. Li Zhi returned to the store and quietly informed Chi Yi, who grew nervous. “Let’s go back. Dying in an instance is one thing, but dying in real life? That’s just tragic.”
Given the circumstances, the stalkers were probably after Li Zhi. Chi Yi dropped her off before driving home alone.
Back at her apartment, Li Zhi checked all doors and windows. While she was in the last instance, Li Feng had reinforced them with sturdier materials. Combined with the Mystic Tortoise Shell she’d acquired, her home was relatively secure—though determined intruders wielding instance items could still break in.
Next time, I’ll need an item that protects against both ghosts and humans, she mused.
For now, the Danger Alert she’d placed in the living room remained silent. Society was still under government control, and even troublemakers wouldn’t dare act too brazenly.
Soon after, Lian Qinglin arrived with Pink Hair to use the Team Card. Each card could bind up to three people, though individuals could hold multiple cards. Since White Hair and Golden Hair hadn’t acquired their own Team Cards yet, they likely wouldn’t join the next instance.
Lian Qinglin was due to enter another instance in a day or two. The more instances one experienced, the clearer the patterns became.
Li Zhi spent the next few days preparing.
Then, uninvited guests showed up at her door.
Peering through the peephole, Li Zhi saw two strangers—a man and a woman—before glancing at the silent Danger Alert on her coffee table.
She opened the inner door but kept the newly installed outer security gate locked. “Can I help you?”
The man at the front spoke first. “Hello, Comrade Li Zhi. We’re from the National Special Department. Here’s our identification. I’m Yao Mingfeng.”
The young woman beside him also presented her credentials. “I’m Tan Manyu.”
National Special Department. Li Zhi examined their IDs but didn’t immediately let them in. “Were you the ones following me at the mall the other day?”
Both looked startled. Tan Manyu quickly denied it. “No! That wasn’t us! This is our first time meeting you!”
Yao Mingfeng added, “We’ve never been assigned to surveil you, and I can assure you no official personnel have.”
Satisfied by their sincerity—and with the Danger Alert still silent—Li Zhi finally let them in. “Come in. What brings you here?”
Her straightforwardness prompted Yao Mingfeng to cut to the chase. After thanking Shang Jinru for the water, he addressed Li Zhi solemnly. “Comrade Li Zhi, we’ve been closely monitoring your performance in the instances. Your abilities and character have earned our utmost respect and trust. We’re here today to ask for your help.”
“To be frank, the government established the Special Department immediately after the [Ghost] system’s invasion to research countermeasures—even ways to expel it. But progress has been minimal. This high-dimensional system is like an immovable giant to us. So now, we’re attempting to infiltrate the instances from within to uncover potential weaknesses.”
“However, the instances are perilous. Our operatives must not only survive and maintain their popularity but also search for the system’s vulnerabilities while completing objectives. It’s… an immense challenge.”
Li Zhi nodded in understanding. “So you want me to take someone into an instance, help them clear it, and cover their secret mission?”
Tan Manyu nodded gravely. “Yes, I—”
Li Zhi cut in. “Sure. Did you bring a Team Card?”
Tan Manyu’s words died in her throat. “…You agree?”
Li Zhi nodded again. “Yeah. I’ll be entering another instance soon, so you’d better hurry.”
Yao Mingfeng and Tan Manyu were stunned. They’d prepared lengthy appeals to sway her—only for her to agree instantly!
Exchanging glances, Yao Mingfeng pressed, “Comrade Li Zhi, perhaps we weren’t clear enough. We’re not just asking you to take someone in—we need you to protect them, cover their actions, ensure their popularity doesn’t rank last, and bring them back alive.”
This was no simple request.
Merely surviving an instance was difficult enough.
They’d braced for hesitation or refusal—not immediate acceptance.
Had they miscommunicated? Yao Mingfeng reiterated their request, both watching her intently.
Li Zhi extended her hand. “So… did you bring the Team Card or not?”