Chapter 32: Street Murder

The real world wasn’t as straightforward as the instances. Those who’d thrown children into the Baby Tower seemed to face no retribution.

Li Zhi never sought news of her birth parents. From the moment she crawled out of the Baby Tower, that origin was severed. She’d died in the Baby Tower, and in it, she was reborn.

It wasn’t until she was six that she met her true family. From the day she entered the Li household, they never treated her as an adopted daughter. Her brother always shielded her, her younger sister always clung to her, and her parents gave her everything parents could offer—except the blood flowing in their veins.

Young Li Zhi might have cared once, burrowing under her covers at night, saddened by the thought, Why wasn’t I born to Mom and Dad? But over time, those insecurities were filled with love. Eventually, she stopped dreaming of being thrown back into the Baby Tower.

Whether the [Ghost] system placed her in this Baby Tower-themed instance deliberately or not, it was sorely mistaken if it thought this could reawaken her fears or shake her calm resolve.

The three studying Li Zhi’s expression sighed in relief, seeing she was truly unaffected.

Shang Jinru ruffled her daughter’s hair, returning the gifted pillow to the bedroom before emerging reinvigorated. "Zhizhi, what do you want to eat? Mom will make a feast to celebrate your victory!"

Li Shuang shouted, "I want sweet and sour braised fish! Garlic crystal shrimp!"

Shang Jinru glared. "Get in line! Let your sister choose first!"

Li Shuang pouted, clinging to Li Zhi’s arm. "Sis~~~"

Li Zhi said, "I want sweet and sour braised fish and garlic crystal shrimp."

Shang Jinru pointed exasperatedly at her younger daughter. "You’re just spoiled rotten by your sister!"

Li Shuang stuck out her tongue. "Nyah nyah—"

Shang Jinru tied her apron, her voice booming from the kitchen. "Zhizhi, do you want spicy crab? The neighborhood group chat says the crabs at the community center are huge today. If you want some, send your brother to buy them."

Li Zhi replied, "Sure. I’ll go with him."

Back in her room, changing clothes, the thorny rose pricked her again.

Li Zhi: "…"

Utterly ridiculous.

Li Shuang peeked through the door. "Sis, who gave you roses?"

"The system."

Li Shuang: "…?" Her imagination ran wild. "Sis! Is the system… crushing on you? Did it invade our world to pick a bride? Will you become the [Ghost] Bride and rule humanity with it?!"

Li Zhi finished changing and patted her sister’s head affectionately. "Vivid imagination. Good for you. Since you can’t find an internship, maybe try writing novels?"

Li Shuang pouted. "It’s the apocalypse! Why work? Half my classmates are streaming or debuting as idols now. They say it’s better to risk the instances than slave away for pennies in the real world. Someone online said a streamer won thirty million after clearing one!" She grew excited. "Sis, next time, ask for money! With your performance, the reward should start at three hundred million! We’d be rich! What did you get this time?"

Li Zhi pointed to the nightstand. "Roses."

Li Shuang gaped. "Huh? What’s the use? What did you ask for? Why roses?!"

Li Feng, overhearing, approached. Seeing her elder brother’s stern face, Li Zhi sighed. "I wished for a way to make the [Ghost] system leave our world. It said I broke the rules and tossed me roses instead."

Li Shuang fumed. "It’s cheating!"

Li Zhi nodded. Exactly. Roses? Fine. But thorny ones? Stabbing her every time!

Li Feng said gravely, "Choose survival items next time. Staying alive is paramount."

Li Shuang nodded vigorously. "Right, right! I was joking about the money. Your safety comes first." She hugged Li Zhi tightly. "We can’t lose you."

Li Zhi smiled at her brother. "I know."

"Shuangshuang, stay with Mom. Don’t open the door for anyone until we’re back." Li Feng instructed. "The world’s chaotic now. Never go anywhere alone."

Their home was relatively safe thanks to the Mystic Tortoise Shell item Li Zhi had retrieved. But people couldn’t stay locked inside forever—they had to minimize outings, just as the official advisories urged.

Nearly a month had passed since The Horror Show went global. After the initial panic, society seemed to normalize. Streets were less crowded, but not deserted. Most shops remained open—life had to go on. For those without loved ones trapped in the show, it felt no different from watching any other reality program.

Passing the convenience store downstairs, the permed owner, Aunt Liu, rushed out. "Zhizhi! My whole family voted for you!"

Li Zhi smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Liu." She used to shop here often, even helping Aunt Liu’s daughter get a celebrity autograph once.

Aunt Liu stared at her like a rare specimen, then sighed mournfully. "Who knows how the world came to this? My daughter says so many have died already. Zhizhi, you must stay alive."

Li Zhi nodded solemnly. "I will, Aunt Liu."

Glancing around, Aunt Liu lowered her voice. "Some say voting for that show is evil. That it’s helping murderers, damning us! They refuse to vote, boycotting it. The old man upstairs smashed all his electronics!" She patted her chest. "But don’t worry, I’ll get everyone I know to vote for you. My daughter says you’re amazing in there!"

Li Zhi smiled warmly. "Aunt Liu, you stay safe too. Keep something for self-defense in the shop. This society—" Her words were cut off by a sudden scream across the street, followed by shouts: "Murder! Help!"

Li Feng reacted fastest, sprinting toward the chaos. Li Zhi shielded the startled Aunt Liu, spotting a young man across the street wearing a strange headband, wielding two kitchen knives. He slashed wildly, laughing maniacally like a demon. Two victims already lay bleeding on the ground. Pedestrians fled in panic as Li Feng crossed the road.

Li Zhi pushed Aunt Liu gently. "Get inside! Lock the door!" Then she ran after Li Feng.

Aunt Liu, pale and trembling, locked herself in the store and dialed the police.

Li Feng closed in, dodged a slash, kicked the knife from the man’s hand, and pinned him face-down with a practiced hold—his military training evident. Li Zhi kicked the knives away and checked the victims. Both were dead.

The assailant struggled beneath Li Feng, shrieking: "I’m famous! I made it! I can enter the instance now! Hahaha! Did you see that, livestream? I did it! I killed them! You all saw, right?!"

Li Zhi noticed the headband was a phone holder. The screen displayed a livestream titled "Wang Xiang’s Street Murder Live." Viewership: 100,000. Seeing Li Zhi on camera, the chat exploded:

[Holy shit! It’s Li Zhi! I saw Li Zhi! Screenshot!]
[Li Zhi, call the cops! This streamer’s gone mad for fame!!!]
[Is the host subdued? But his stream’s so hot now… Will he really enter an instance?]
[If he clears it, prison won’t matter. He’ll get an escape item.]
[The world’s broken!!!]
[This guy’s no different from that streaker last week. Just chasing clout to enter the game.]
[Street murder today… What’ll they do next for views? Chilling.]
[Every latent sociopath must be thrilled.]
[…]

Li Zhi scanned the chat, then ended the stream.

Social order was crumbling, just as she’d feared. [Ghost] amplified humanity’s darkest impulses. This was only the beginning. The world would fall, piece by piece. Humanity’s domain was becoming "Ghost’s" playground.

Police and ambulances arrived swiftly. After thanking Li Feng and Li Zhi, they hauled the killer away. He showed no fear, cackling wildly even in the police car. The video would spread virally. More views meant higher fame, guaranteeing his entry into the game—a new life as a player. Arrogant. Excited. Expectant.

Li Zhi pulled tissues from her pocket, wiping blood from Li Feng’s hands. "Bro, are you hurt?"

Li Feng shook his head. "His blood."

Li Zhi took his wrist. "Then let’s buy the crabs. Mom’s waiting."

She led him forward. Li Feng’s stern brow furrowed. After a long silence, he said abruptly, "Zhizhi, take me into an instance."

Li Zhi stopped walking. She turned, her gaze icy calm. "No. I refuse."