After Chi Yi asked, his two teammates also looked over. It was clear that the three of them hadn’t reached a consensus in their discussion. Han Wenlin glanced at him and asked, “You voted for the Black and White Impermanence, right?”
Wei Xiao nodded. “Yes, I voted for the Black and White Impermanence.”
Han Wenlin, whose every thought was written plainly on his face, smiled contentedly. “I voted for the Black and White Impermanence too. I still trust our clues.”
He glanced at Li Zhi, and unlike Wei Xiao, he wasn’t as polite. He carried a bit of recklessness that suggested he hadn’t yet been hardened by the harshness of the world. “But thanks for telling us about the Mourning Ghost. I’ll vote for that in the next round.”
The girl beside them, Cheng Jiayue, had a guilty look flash in her eyes. After some hesitation, she quietly said, “Sorry, I voted for the Mourning Ghost…”
Han Wenlin immediately turned to her, clearly displeased. “Didn’t we agree that we’d each stick to our own answers?”
Cheng Jiayue glanced at Li Zhi, then mustered up the courage to say, “I trust the expert’s judgment more. Anyway, it’s still not too late to vote for Black and White Impermanence after the next round once the expert confirms it.”
Han Wenlin sneered. “So what you’re saying is, you’re not planning to think for yourself and will just rely on the expert’s information from now on, huh?”
Cheng Jiayue’s face instantly became awkward. “That’s not what I meant…”
“Wenlin, voting is a personal choice,” Wei Xiao pulled him back. “You don’t have the right to interfere with others.”
Han Wenlin grumbled angrily, “I’m only thinking about her popularity! We fought hard to complete two rounds and got two clues, only for her to vote for something else. What will the audience think?”
Seeing Cheng Jiayue’s face turn paler, he waved his hand dismissively and walked away. “Fine, do whatever you want.”
At that moment, Du Jia and Chen Tianran finished voting and came out of the verification room. They glanced over but didn’t walk toward them.
Wei Xiao politely said, “We’ll head over first then. See you next round.”
Li Zhi smiled and nodded. “See you next round.”
Wei Xiao and Han Wenlin left, and after hesitating for a moment, Cheng Jiayue gave Li Zhi a shy smile before catching up with them.
The “Perfect Couple” team had completed the Ferris wheel challenge in the previous round, so they already knew the death conditions of the Ferris wheel. Owen Dong wanted to follow them to ask about it, but seeing that Li Zhi and the others weren’t planning to approach, he stood there, feeling frustrated as he watched them leave.
Chi Yi patted his shoulder jokingly. “Why are you staring longingly at them? Want to tag along?”
Owen Dong shook his head repeatedly. “No, I was just…”
Li Zhi interrupted him. “Let’s go try the carousel first.”
Of course, players could share clues and death conditions with each other. In fact, they could even choose not to participate in any challenges and just wait for the expert to share everything each round. Alternatively, everyone could cooperate: three groups of players could each tackle a different amusement ride, and then exchange information to clear the level.
But this was a show about competing for popularity.
The more amusement rides a player challenges, and the more ghosts they catch using their own clues, the higher their popularity would be. Just like Pei Hongyu, who clearly wasn’t going to collaborate with anyone—he intended to complete all the challenges by himself.
Li Zhi’s team could definitely ask the “Perfect Couple” team about the death conditions and clues for the Ferris wheel. Their personalities were well-established in front of the audience, and they would surely share the correct answer.
But that would inevitably affect Li Zhi and Chi Yi’s popularity.
The higher your popularity, the higher your ranking, and the more the audience expects from you. Your performance has to be even more outstanding, or else the backlash from the audience would be severe.
Unless teammates like Wei Xiao offered clues voluntarily, Li Zhi wouldn’t go out of her way to ask.
Moreover, she was very interested in what the system mentioned: that a hidden clue would be revealed after completing all nine amusement rides. Knowing [Ghost], it wouldn’t give such a reminder for no reason.
This hidden clue was undoubtedly important, and she really wanted to get it. Pei Hongyu certainly wanted it too. To get it, she would have to experience all nine amusement rides.
Otherwise, if the MVP for clearing the level went to Pei Hongyu, she couldn’t imagine how much Chi Yi would lose her temper.
To prevent Chi Yi from losing her temper, Li Zhi had to challenge all nine rides, find the hidden clue, and secure the MVP.
Once all the players finished voting for the ghost, the lights at the verification area went out, and the entire park returned to its vibrant, colorful state. The previously disappeared dolls and the NPCs dressed as ghosts reappeared around them.
Li Zhi’s group of five headed toward the carousel when the faint sound of bells rang from the dimly lit road ahead. An old voice echoed through the thick, drifting mist: “The path for the yin, let the yang make way.”
Ding-a-ling…
Ding-a-ling…
At the end of the road, a Daoist priest dressed in yellow robes appeared. In his left hand, he held a white flag, and in his right, a bronze bell that he shook as he walked. Behind him followed seven “corpses,” each wearing a white robe and a conical straw hat.
“It’s a corpse herder!”
Everyone quickly moved to the side, making way for the corpse herder.
The corpse herder led the way, and the “corpses” behind him raised their arms, each grasping the shoulder of the one in front. Though they weren’t hopping like the zombies seen in movies, their steps had a similar bouncing rhythm. Legend has it that real-life corpse herders would pass a bamboo pole through the sleeves of the corpses, which is why the raised arms and hopping motion appeared.
Even though they all knew the corpse herder and the corpses were just NPCs, and that even if one of the real ghosts was mixed in with them, there would only be one at most, the eerie scene still sent a shiver down their spines.
The five of them stood by the roadside, with the more timid ones hiding behind Li Zhi. As the corpse-herding team passed by, they heard Li Zhi suddenly mutter, “Huh?”
Chi Yi, thinking she had discovered a clue, immediately peeked out from behind Li Zhi’s shoulder. “What? What did you find?”
Li Zhi let out a quick laugh, one filled with a barely perceptible trace of amusement. She told her teammates, “Wait here for me for a moment.”
With that, she walked toward the corpse-herding team.
The corpse herder moved slowly, and the NPCs playing the corpses behind him hopped even more slowly. They all wore straw hats, heads lowered, clad entirely in white, with black cloth shoes on their feet. In the crimson-lit, mist-covered road, they looked especially eerie and unsettling.
Li Zhi walked up to the first “corpse” in the line, bent down slightly, and with a smirk, tilted her head to peer up at the person.
Under the shadow of the straw hat, a handsome face, bathed in the flickering red light, revealed a hint of discomfort.
Li Zhi couldn’t help but burst out laughing and greeted him, “Playing a ghost?”
Li Jianxi responded, “…Yeah.”
Li Zhi walked alongside him for a few steps, teasing, “Is it fun?”
Li Jianxi’s tone sounded a bit resigned. “This was the only option…”
He had rushed over from another instance at her call, but all the NPC roles were already filled, so this was the only part left for him. He had even insisted on adding himself as an extra “corpse”—originally, they only needed six for the team.
Li Zhi, smiling brightly, reached up to touch the edge of his straw hat. “Good luck, you’re definitely the most handsome ghost in the whole park.”
While others wore straw hats to look like corpses, on him, the hat added an air of heroic elegance, as if he was a wandering swordsman. That face of his was simply unmatched.
Viewers watching the screen were losing their minds over his good looks:
【What kind of ghost? More like my dead-handsome husband!】
【Little Li, you’re even willing to play a corpse to chase after your wife, huh?】
【I’m dying from laughing! These two are both hilarious and adorable. Who else understands this sweet torture?】
【Li Jianxi: Got praised for being handsome by my wife today! So happy!】
【Damn it! Li Jianxi is once again meddling with my butterfly! I refuse to accept this marriage! Chi Yi, rise up and take action!】
【Chi Yi: Too scared, don’t call me out】
【Waited so long, finally Little Li shows up! I can enjoy the sweet moments again this episode!】
…
Due to the interaction between Li Zhi and Li Jianxi, the corpse-herding team had to come to a stop. The corpse herder at the front sped up the ringing of his bell, urging them on with an air of impatience.
Li Zhi stepped aside and waved her hand. “Alright, go on with your ghostly stroll.”
Li Jianxi turned his head to look at her, the straw hat casting light and shadow across his sharply defined nose, making his usually gentle handsomeness seem slightly more intense. “Okay.”
The corpse-herding team resumed their slow march forward. Li Zhi returned to her teammates, only to be met with a slightly resentful look from Chi Yi, who sighed wistfully, “We met him first…”
Li Zhi playfully placed her palm on Chi Yi’s head and gave it a spin. “Settle down. Let’s move on.”
All local players were familiar with the forums, and they naturally knew about the wildly popular yet unconventional ship between Li Zhi and Li Jianxi. Players paired with an NPC? These days, audiences really had no boundaries. Some players had indeed encountered Li Jianxi in other instances, trying to win his favor to gain special items—yet they had all failed.
This NPC named Li Jianxi seemed to only drop items for Li Zhi.
Owen Dong, full of curiosity, couldn’t help but gossip, “Li Zhi, are you and that NPC… Li Jianxi, really together?”
Before Li Zhi could respond, Chi Yi, clearly not amused, rolled her eyes at him. “Why are you such a gossip?”
Owen Dong grinned. “I’m just asking on behalf of the audience. Everyone’s really curious!”
He sure knew how to find a reason.
Li Zhi gave him a knowing look and asked, “Want to know?”
Owen Dong nodded eagerly.
Li Zhi smiled and replied casually, “If you want to know, you can ask Li Jianxi yourself.”
Owen Dong’s face froze. He gave an awkward laugh, “Nah, I’m good. I’m not that brave.”
In his mind, he thought, Do you really think just anyone can get close to an NPC like you do? Li Jianxi isn’t all that friendly to others!
Even now, with him playing a corpse in the amusement park, who else but Li Zhi would dare walk up and casually chat with him?
Li Zhi has no idea how many rules she’s breaking with her behavior!
Owen Dong dropped his gossiping thoughts as the group quickened their pace and soon arrived at the carousel.
The brightly colored carousel spun cheerfully in the night, the entire circular structure exquisitely decorated. The canopy was adorned with various intricate, dreamy patterns, and even the music was filled with a lighthearted, innocent joy.
But remembering what Wei Xiao had said earlier, and hearing the cheerful nursery rhyme playing in the background, the carousel now seemed to radiate only a sense of innocent evil.
—It would start to rock more and more violently, until it threw its riders off the horses, trampling them into pulp.
What kind of carousel tramples its visitors into pulp?!
At the entrance stood a staff member in blue clothing. Seeing the players approach, she smiled and said, “Welcome to the carousel. This ride requires a minimum of three participants. Please show your tickets and queue up to enter.”