Qi Yongyi took the initiative and said, “You all go ahead first. I’ll sit this round out as a substitute.”
The first round was the easiest, and with Li Zhi around, there shouldn’t be any problems. He planned to step in only if the difficulty increased in the second round and his teammates couldn’t handle it. This way, everyone would have a chance to participate.
Owen Dong had been thinking the same, so he quickly agreed, “Yes, yes, that’s perfect!”
Brother Qi really knew how to play the game!
Li Zhi scanned the misty, bluish waters surrounding them. The pirate ship they were on was docked at the water’s edge, and the river crossing the staff had mentioned likely referred to this body of water.
Welcome aboard the Pirate Ship for a river-crossing experience.
The entire wooden structure of the ship looked old and rustic, truly like a ferry.
The pirate ship ride would rock violently back and forth like a swing, simulating the turbulent waves of the sea. With the key phrases “river crossing” and “ferry,” it was highly probable that they would have to cross these treacherous waters on the ship.
Before boarding, Li Zhi said to the others, “Look around for some weapons.”
Owen Dong was surprised, “What for?”
Li Zhi explained, “There might be a part where we have to fight ghosts, so it’s safer to carry a weapon.”
Owen Dong was stunned, “We haven’t even entered, and you’ve already figured out the challenge for this round?”
Is this what it means to be a pro??? They were all on the same starting line, yet how had the pro evolved so quickly?
You Jingmeng immediately pulled out the leg of a chair that Li Zhi had given her during the roller coaster challenge, shaking it out from her sleeve. “I’ve been carrying it with me the whole time!”
Chi Yi, following her example, retrieved another chair leg from inside her coat. “I’ve got one too.”
Owen Dong looked pitifully at Li Zhi. “Boss, I don’t have anything.”
Li Zhi replied, “Neither do I.” She had tossed hers a while ago. That was a miscalculation.
She glanced around but was disappointed to find that the area was completely clean. The things within her sight were all fixed installations that couldn’t be moved. She couldn’t exactly carry a trash can onto the ship, could she? In the end, her gaze fell on Owen Dong’s high-top outdoor military boots.
The black military boots had a strong grip, sturdy ankle support, and looked like they would hurt if used to hit someone.
Owen Dong: “…?”
Li Zhi said, “If worse comes to worst, take off your shoes and throw them.”
Owen Dong instantly felt that what she said made sense. Why couldn’t shoes be weapons? The laces even had some flexibility! He immediately started taking off his boots and enthusiastically asked Li Zhi, “Boss, do you want one? I’ll share!”
Li Zhi: “…Thanks, but no thanks.”
After removing his shoes, Owen Dong grabbed the laces, feeling like he was holding two sections of nunchucks. He instantly felt more confident.
The four of them swiped their tickets and boarded the ship. Li Zhi’s ticket had a small pirate ship icon on the back.
They had now completed six attractions. Just three more, and they would have experienced all the rides and received the hidden clue the system had mentioned.
The nine attractions had already provided enough clues to identify nine ghosts, so what could this extra hidden clue point to?
Li Zhi had a vague suspicion in her mind.
The four of them passed through the entrance and started boarding the ship. As they walked up the wooden steps, they noticed that the interior of the pirate ship wasn’t as big as they had imagined. The cabin only had two rows of seats, and there were two oars placed on either side near the ship’s edge.
Li Zhi and Chi Yi sat in the first row, while You Jingmeng and Owen Dong took the second. They looked around but found no seat belts.
You Jingmeng nervously asked, “Why aren’t there any safety measures? If this thing starts shaking, won’t we just be thrown out?”
“If this is a ferry,” Li Zhi explained, “there wouldn’t be any seat belts.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the ship suddenly started to move. Before boarding, they had seen it parked on the ground by the lakeshore, but now, it began to slowly glide toward the water.
“It’s heading for the water!” Owen Dong yelled, “Why is there no warning this time?”
With a loud splash, the bow of the ship plunged into the water, and thick white fog enveloped them. The surrounding scenery vanished the moment the entire ship entered the water.
The air reeked of brine, and as they looked around, they saw nothing but an endless expanse of white mist floating over blood-red waters. It felt like they were a tiny leaf on a raging river, swept downstream by the swift current.
At the once-empty bow of the ship, a ferryman appeared.
He was dressed in a straw raincoat and wore a bamboo hat, holding a pair of oars. His back was turned to them, and in a raspy, eerie voice, he said, “Cross the river, but not with wandering ghosts. Don’t let them take your place.”
After delivering his cryptic warning, he began rowing, and the ship, which had been swept downstream, steadied for a moment before starting to cross the river.
The current grew rougher, and the wooden boat was tossed about, forcing the four to grab onto the sides to keep steady. Just as Owen Dong grasped the railing, he felt a pair of wet, cold hands cover his.
A chilling cold shot through his bones. Terrified, Owen Dong turned and saw a head emerging from the water. Its black hair draped down like seaweed, covering its face. It grabbed Owen Dong’s hand and began to climb onto the boat.
Owen Dong let out a scream that could have woken the dead. As he screamed, he grabbed his high-top military boot and smashed it down on the creature’s head.
Through the thick fog, countless wandering ghosts emerged from the water, surrounding the only ferry crossing the river. They clawed at the passengers, trying to drag them off the boat and take their places.
Just as Li Zhi had predicted, this round required them to fight off the ghosts. Chi Yi and You Jingmeng’s chair legs came in handy once again, and Owen Dong swung his boots around like a pair of nunchucks, furiously fighting back.
The ship rocked violently, and they had to keep one hand on the railing to avoid being thrown into the river. This left them with only one free hand to fend off the ghosts trying to climb aboard. Several times, the ferry almost capsized as the ghosts clung to the sides. Li Zhi grabbed Chi Yi’s arm for support and kicked out with a sweeping motion, sending the ghosts clambering up the side back into the river.
You Jingmeng screamed, “I’m getting seasick!! I’m going to throw up!!”
A huge wave crashed against the boat, launching it into the air before it slammed back down onto the water. You Jingmeng, unable to hold back anymore, leaned over the side and vomited. Just as she did, a water ghost surfaced, only to get a face full of her vomit. Its expression became one of utter despair, as if it had lost the will to live all over again.
Instead of continuing to climb, the ghost dove back into the water, frantically washing its face and hair.
You Jingmeng: Ugh—
She noticed that after she threw up, there seemed to be fewer ghosts clinging to her side of the boat.
Meanwhile, Owen Dong was screaming, “Why are there more and more ghosts on my side?!”
You Jingmeng: “…”
No comment.
Suddenly, Chi Yi’s excited voice rang out from the front, “I see the dock! We’re almost ashore!”
Through the thick fog ahead, they could indeed make out a dock, with a long wooden pier extending from the shore. From the ferryman’s earlier words, it seemed clear that as long as they made it to the dock, they would clear the round.
But the closer they got to the dock, the fiercer the ghosts became. This was their last chance—once the ferry reached shore, they would never be able to cross the river.
Li Zhi didn’t need any weapons; she herself was the weapon. With a single kick, she could nearly crush a ghost’s skull, and the air was soon filled with the sounds of splashes as the ghosts fell into the water. Agile and precise, Li Zhi only needed to hold onto Chi Yi’s arm to keep her balance on the boat. From there, she moved effortlessly, each kick hitting its mark with deadly accuracy.
The audience watching was absolutely pumped:
[“Is this the legendary Foshan Shadowless Kick???”]
[“When Team Perfect Couple did this challenge, I didn’t expect anyone to play like Li Zhi. Does gravity even apply to her? She’s practically flying! Can someone stop her already?”]
[“I don’t think anyone would disagree if I said Li Zhi’s using some kind of cheat code, right?”]
[“Her core strength is insane! She’s controlling her body entirely through her core. No wonder she looks like she’s about to take off!”]
[“I bet Li Zhi’s waist feels really nice to touch, sobs—will I ever get the chance to touch it in my lifetime?”]
[“She can snap necks with her hands, strangle ghosts with her legs, and crush skulls with her feet. Is Li Zhi a walking ghost-slaying machine?”]
[“The contrast with Team Perfect Couple is too obvious. Li Zhi didn’t even use a single prop!”]
[“We’re not just mentally strong! Our physical power is top-tier too! If you love Li Zhi, cast your vote for her~”]
[“Li Zhi deserves it! She’s the coolest! Everyone, get your votes in!]
[“There you go again, I’ve seen you in the comments a bunch of times. Are you sure you’re not one of Li Zhi’s paid shills?”]
As the boat neared the wooden pier, the ferocity of the wandering spirits finally began to fade. Some still hovered around the boat, unwilling to give up, but when they met Li Zhi’s gaze, they reluctantly sank back into the river.
Once the entire boat entered the dock, the ghosts completely vanished, as if they had never existed. With a final bump and a slight wobble, the boat came to a complete stop.
The ferryman who had been manning the oars had disappeared, and the fog rolled away as if it had never been there. In the blink of an eye, everything looked just as it had before they boarded.
The inside of the boat was now perfectly clean, and even the water that had splashed into the cabin was gone, making it seem like everything they had just experienced was nothing but an illusion.
You Jingmeng was still seasick, unable to stand as she leaned over the boat railing, dry heaving. Weakly, she said, “I can’t do it… Let Xiao Qi go for the next round. Ugh—”
Owen Dong: “…………”
Sigh, it looked like he’d have to continue for the next round.
Chi Yi and Li Zhi helped You Jingmeng off the boat and down the wooden steps. A staff member standing on the platform below smiled and said, “Congratulations on completing the first round of the Pirate Ship challenge. Here is your reward.”
Li Zhi accepted the clue box, and the group made their way to the railing at the entrance, where Qi Yongyi saw You Jingmeng being supported and approached, concerned. “Is Xiao Meng hurt?”
You Jingmeng waved her hand, “Just seasick. You go.”
Qi Yongyi nodded, swiped his ticket, and entered the challenge.
After he passed by, Li Zhi opened the clue box for this round.
The first clue was, once again, just a picture—a strange image of the sky from an odd angle.
Chi Yi tilted her head, staring at it for a long time. “This angle… it looks like it’s from someone lying on the ground looking up at the sky. What does that mean?”
The first-round clues never seemed to provide much useful information. Li Zhi put the card away and explained the rules of the pirate ship challenge to Qi Yongyi.
After listening, Qi Yongyi suddenly said, “In folklore, there’s a river between the path to the underworld and the Yellow Springs, filled with wandering spirits who can’t reincarnate. This crossing… it’s probably the River of Oblivion.”