The afternoon when the [Ghost] system invaded human society arrived without any warning.
Li Zhi was on set filming a Republic of China drama, playing the role of the Ninth Concubine, the second male lead’s wife—a peripheral character with barely any screen time.
In these times, for a little-known, unpopular actor like her, simply landing a role was already considered lucky.
Li Zhi was easily content, which was why she had managed to keep going from set to set for so many years, staying positive even though she hadn’t become famous despite her chameleon-like face. She still maintained her love for acting.
The director, determined to faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the Republic of China, had rented an old courtyard house, over a hundred years old, to serve as the backdrop. In this scene, the second male lead was taking another concubine, and Li Zhi, as the Ninth Concubine, was sitting by the courtyard well, weeping alone.
Everything was ready. As soon as the director called action, Li Zhi instantly got into character.
She sat at an angle, holding a handkerchief, her head lowered as she wiped away her tears. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a pair of embroidered shoes standing next to her skirt.
They were a woman’s feet, pale blue with fine, delicate veins running across them. The red embroidered shoes were small and intricate, leaving faint water stains on the ground.
A chill crept up her spine. Li Zhi whipped her head around, but nothing was there, as if the scene she had just witnessed had been a figment of her imagination.
Only the director’s angry voice broke the silence, “Everything was going fine! What are you doing?”
Li Zhi froze for a moment, then turned and smiled apologetically. “Sorry, director, I couldn’t find the right angle.”
The director’s face darkened. “Let’s do it again. Ready.”
Li Zhi repositioned herself, offering her profile to the camera. Just as she was about to summon her tears again, the embroidered shoes reappeared.
This time, they were even closer. The tiny, narrow toes pressed against her heels, as if the person was practically glued to her.
Li Zhi’s instincts flared. As soon as she felt a pair of wet hands crawling up her shoulder, she shot out her hand to grab the wrist, but her hand closed on thin air. The next thing she knew, the invisible hands shoved her straight into the well.
The set erupted into chaos, but fortunately, Li Zhi could swim. She immediately grabbed onto the rope dangling in the well and was frantically pulled up by the crew.
Filming had to be paused. The crew was visibly shaken. “Did you not have breakfast? Low blood sugar? You were sitting perfectly fine, and then you suddenly fell in?”
It was the dead of winter, and the bitter cold had left Li Zhi’s face pale and blue. “I saw a pair of embroidered shoes. Someone pushed me.”
The set fell silent.
The crew member stammered, “There was no one next to you. No one pushed you.”
Dozens of people had been watching, and the camera footage confirmed it—she had been sitting there, then suddenly fell in on her own.
Li Zhi was sure she hadn’t seen wrong, and she was equally sure that the force pushing her into the well wasn’t something she’d imagined.
The materialism she had believed in for over twenty years began to waver in that moment.
Because of this incident, the mood on set became tense. The production took a half-day break, and within a few hours, news arrived that someone from the neighboring crew had fallen to their death while suspended on wires.
A fellow extra came back, pale with terror after hearing the news. “Li Zhi! I just heard them say that the courtyard we’re filming in is haunted! Back in the Republic of China, a few concubines hanged themselves here, and others drowned in the well—the same well you were filming at today!”
If Li Zhi had heard such things before, she would have brushed them off as gossip.
But when she thought of the embroidered shoes she had seen that day, and the old-fashioned skirt with red floral embroidery, she knew it wasn’t her imagination.
Li Zhi felt she might need to visit a temple to pray and possibly reconsider her beliefs.
It was from that afternoon that the world began to change subtly.
The first sign was when numerous people started posting online about seeing their deceased relatives. Then, incidents of sudden deaths skyrocketed—jumping off buildings, drowning, car accidents, suicides—within a short period, a shadow of death loomed over the entire globe.
More and more people claimed to have seen ghosts, though most remained skeptical.
Until the government issued an official announcement:
—— Attention to all humans worldwide: Human society has been invaded by a civilization technologically superior to Earth. This invasion manifests in the form of paranormal entities and ghosts. The government has urgently established a special department to deal with this, but so far, no method has been found to repel this advanced technology. Please stay home as much as possible and avoid dangerous objects. If necessary, seek assistance from local Daoist or Buddhist associations.
There really are ghosts!!!
As the global announcement was made, panic spread rapidly. Li Zhi, who was home without any filming work, heard screams coming from all directions outside her bedroom window.
Mrs. Shang Jinru burst in holding a spatula, screaming as well, “Zhi Zhi! The ghost that pushed you into the well that day was real! The government just confirmed it! Quick, quick, quick! We need to act fast. You head to the Daoist temple, and I’ll go to the Buddhist temple! We need to buy anything that can ward off evil spirits!”
Having lived through panic-buying episodes in the past, Mrs. Shang was experienced in these matters.
Li Zhi quickly got up and put on her coat. “Shuang Shuang is still at school, I’ll go pick her up.”
Shang Jinru grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door. “Your brother is already on his way to pick her up. Once he gets her, they’ll head to the supermarket to stock up on supplies. Don’t worry, I’ve got everything planned out!”
Just as she tugged her daughter along, her hand suddenly grasped empty air.
Li Zhi vanished right behind her, disappearing into thin air.
Before Mrs. Shang could scream, all the electronic devices in the house—TV, phone, and computer—suddenly switched on by themselves. After a burst of static, the screens displayed a dim image.
A mechanical voice echoed in everyone’s ears:
“Welcome to the celebrity survival show Horror Variety. Please use your precious vote wisely—it is crucial to the players. You can click on the homepage to select the live broadcast room that interests you, familiarize yourself with the game rules, and check out the popularity rankings. Now, sit back and enjoy the show. We hope you have a terrifyingly good viewing experience.”
Mrs. Shang stiffly approached the TV and saw a group of bewildered men and women on the screen. Among them was her daughter.
…
Li Zhi felt as if she had been sucked into a pitch-black tunnel where she couldn’t see her own hand in front of her. By the time she saw light again, she was already standing at the entrance of a bridge.
It was an old stone bridge, a typical suspended arch structure, stretching between two mountains.
The gorge beneath the bridge was so deep she couldn’t see the bottom. Thick fog rolled upward from below, while the sky above pressed down ominously, making it feel as though the only thing left between heaven and earth was this bridge.
The surface of the bridge was blanketed in fog, obscuring what lay beyond.
In the desolate wilderness, there wasn’t a soul in sight. On the roadside, tall, thin, withered trees stretched their gnarled branches upward, resembling ghostly figures twisted in the mist.
Other than a paranormal event, Li Zhi couldn’t think of any other explanation for her sudden teleportation.
The one consolation was that she wasn’t alone.
When she finally got a good look at the people around her, Li Zhi was a bit stunned.
Li Zhi had spent six or seven years working in the entertainment industry. She had appeared in close to a hundred TV shows, if not more, but this was the first time she found herself in the same place with so many A-list stars.
Who are all these people?
There was Lian Qinglin, a top idol from a popular boy band; Chi Yi, who was known as the nation’s first love; and the movie emperor Zhu Zhibo. The other three weren’t exactly top stars, but they were well-known: a notoriously sharp-tongued host, a variety show regular, and a stand-up comedian—each one far more famous than Li Zhi.
There were eight people in total, and out of all of them, only one man stood out to Li Zhi as unfamiliar. The rest were regulars on trending variety shows, but now, their once glamorous faces were replaced with fear and unease. They had all been pulled in just as they were reading the government’s terrifying announcement. Gone were their dazzling public personas, leaving only anxiety and dread.
No one spoke at first. Li Zhi scanned the group and finally rested her gaze on the only man she didn’t recognize.
He seemed calm and composed, and the way he looked at them held a trace of amusement, as though he found their reactions entertaining. Li Zhi had a gut feeling that this man was different, so she took the initiative to greet him: “Hello, do you know what’s happening?”
Her voice shattered the eerie silence, and the others glanced at her before turning their attention to the man she addressed.
Sure enough, the man smiled slightly and replied, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
He said “soon,” and soon it was.
A few seconds later, they all heard a bizarre voice:
—— Ding! Congratulations on being selected to participate in Horror Variety! ~
—— Since you are beloved celebrities with enough public attention, you’ve been chosen to participate. Use your popularity points to survive in the challenge! You are the brightest stars!
—— The celebrity with the lowest popularity points after completing the challenge will be eliminated and become a meal for the spirits. Good luck!
—— Either rise to stardom, or die! Tee-hee~
The mechanical female voice was laced with malice, like an invisible hand controlling their fate, toying with them at will.
Chi Yi, the nation’s first love, was the first to break down in tears. “Is this some kind of twisted prank by a production crew? I don’t want to participate in a show like this! Is anyone there? I want out!”
She had just walked the red carpet before being pulled into this situation, still dressed in a flowing ball gown with a pair of thin black heels. Her immaculate makeup and luxurious outfit were completely out of place in the desolate wilderness.
But the only response she received was the howling wind.
As soon as she started crying, the other more timid celebrities followed suit, breaking down in tears as well.
The unfamiliar man looked a bit surprised at how calm Li Zhi remained. Intrigued, he asked, “Everyone else is crying in fear. Aren’t you scared?”
Li Zhi, dressed in nothing but her pajamas and slippers: “… I do want to cry, but I don’t look as good doing it as they do, so I’ll pass.” She then asked him, “Is this variety show being broadcast live?”
The man nodded. “Yes, everything you do inside the challenge is being livestreamed for the audience.”
The crying paused for a moment as the group suddenly recalled the earlier message: The celebrity with the lowest popularity points would be eliminated and become food for the ghosts.
Popularity!!!
This was a place where survival depended on popularity!
As entertainers, everyone there had participated in variety shows, and two of them had even gained fame through them. And what’s the most important thing in variety shows? Your public persona!
But would their earlier behavior impact their popularity?
Then again, the current trend was all about keeping it real. Even if they had been scared to tears, it was still an authentic reaction. The audience wouldn’t dislike them for that… right?
The expressions on everyone’s faces varied, and the crying gradually subsided. Li Zhi asked the man again, “What do we need to do to safely leave this place?”
The man replied, “You need to complete the tasks and clear the level to leave. But the world inside the levels is filled with ghosts and spirits, and danger lurks at every corner. A single mistake could cost you your life.” He looked over the group of celebrities with a haughty gaze. “But don’t worry, I’ll guide you through it.”
From the moment he appeared, he had been acting differently from the others. Now, his confident demeanor made him seem like a boss, and the scared celebrities instinctively moved closer to him, seeking reassurance.
Only Li Zhi stayed where she was. “Who are you? You don’t look like this is your first time entering the level.”
At that moment, Lian Qinglin, the top idol who debuted with a boy band, also spoke up, “Yeah, you’ve said a lot, but who are you?”
Before being pulled in, Lian Qinglin had been at the gym lifting weights. He was only wearing a tank top now, showing off his lean, muscular arms and chest.
Lian Qinglin was often called a walking embodiment of youthful hormones by his fans, but unfortunately, no one was in the mood to admire his physique at this moment.
The man smiled slightly. “My name is Xu Shu. I’m your newbie guide. You’re right—this isn’t my first time entering a level because, in my world, Horror Variety has been running for ten years.”
Someone gasped in terror, “What do you mean by ‘in your world’? You’re not from our world?”
Xu Shu shrugged. “Multi-dimensional worlds, parallel spaces—is that hard to understand? Your world’s technology hasn’t advanced so far that these theories are still unproven, right?”
Lian Qinglin, being young and brash, was instantly annoyed. “Explain it properly without looking down on us!”
Xu Shu glanced at him casually and continued at his own pace. “Your world is not the first to be invaded by the [Ghosts] system, and it won’t be the last. When a new world starts its livestream, the [Ghosts] system selects an experienced guide from another world to help you. Consider it a newbie bonus. Any more questions?”
Li Zhi raised her hand. “I have three.”
Xu Shu turned to her, listening as she asked, “First, how are popularity points calculated? Second, are the viewers only from our world? Can your world see our livestream too? Third, how many people can survive to clear the level?”
Her calm once again surprised Xu Shu.
The first level in any new world was the most challenging because, for those in that world, it was an entirely unfamiliar realm.
With no frame of reference, the unknown was the most terrifying thing.
When Xu Shu first entered a level, Horror Variety had already been running for a year in his world. Despite having watched a year’s worth of livestreams and mentally preparing himself, he was still too panicked to think clearly when he was sucked into the level.
But this newcomer in front of him was able to remain logical and think calmly.
Every world agreed that in the levels, stable emotions were the most rare and important asset.
There weren’t many people like that, and those who were tended to become the top stars in their world, reaping huge rewards.
The audience loved people like this. Interacting more with her would undoubtedly earn him more popularity points in this world, and the points he could take back to his world would also be considerable.
Xu Shu finally dropped the arrogance he had displayed since his arrival and smiled kindly at Li Zhi. “Each person’s device will show an app. They can choose their favorite livestream room, and every viewer has one vote to give to their favorite celebrity. The app will only display the livestream from your current world, so only the viewers here can see you. As for survival rates…”
He glanced around at the group. “That depends on how lucky and smart you are. If you’re lucky, everyone can survive the level. The only one who will be eliminated is the celebrity with the lowest popularity points. If you’re unlucky and trigger a death condition, total wipeouts aren’t uncommon either.”
That last sentence caused several of the more timid celebrities to start crying again.
Lian Qinglin, however, seized on the important part of the conversation. He glanced around, waved toward the air, and said, “Hello, Lotus fans, are you watching? Remember to vote for me! I’ll survive till the end!”
The others froze for a moment.
After all, the one with the lowest popularity points would become food for the ghosts.
So, out of the eight of them, one person was destined to die.
In the first episode, none of their performances would stand out. According to Xu Shu, there were many simultaneous global livestreams happening, and viewers could choose which ones to watch. Right now, all they could rely on was their own fanbase.
Chi Yi, her makeup smeared from crying, still looked beautiful with her tear-streaked face—just like the nation’s first love should. “Please, my Pond fans, vote for me. I don’t want to die here.”
In an instant, the other celebrities also began pleading for votes.
Only Li Zhi remained silent, standing still and surveying the surroundings.
Xu Shu walked over to her. “Aren’t you going to ask for votes?”
Instead of answering, Li Zhi asked him, “Is there a reward for being a guide?”
Xu Shu smiled. “Of course. The popularity points I earn in your world can be taken back to mine. Plus, I’m not part of the rankings in this level.”
Li Zhi understood. “So as long as you survive until the end, you can leave, and the elimination only applies to the seven of us.”
She glanced at the famous stars around her and sighed quietly.
The situation wasn’t looking good.
Still, she raised her head and said, “Mom, Shuang Shuang, Brother, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to survive.”
Outside the level, the Li family watched everything with heavy hearts.
Shang Jinru was already crying so hard she couldn’t speak, while Li Shuang urgently declared, “I’m going to message my classmates right now and get them to vote for my sister!”
Li Feng was quietly scrolling through the livestream app that had been forcibly installed on his phone.
It looked no different from other streaming platforms, with a main lobby and various channels that could be switched between to select different perspectives.
Li Zhi’s group was not the only one pulled into a level.
The livestream room featuring Li Zhi was titled Burial in the Mountain Village.
At that moment, the real-time popularity rankings in the upper left corner showed that Lian Qinglin was in first place, with over 100,000 votes.
Li Zhi, however, was in last place, with only 130 votes.
—
Author’s Note:
Here’s a quick warning: This story does have a male lead, and he’s not just background noise—he and the female lead will have a sweet romance. I’m a writer of sweet stories, after all! If you’re not a fan of seeing a male lead in an infinite survival story, this might not be for you.
Hello, my dear readers! Long time no see!
This time, I’m trying out a new genre, writing an infinite survival story with traditional Chinese folk horror elements. However, due to my limited skills and imagination, there won’t be too many complex puzzles or brain-teasers. I’m focusing more on creating the right atmosphere.
I haven’t read a lot of infinite survival stories myself, so if there are any plot holes, I hope you’ll kindly point them out. I hope this story brings both me and you a fresh experience!
Fluff! So happy to see this translation!