The sudden appearance of a global live broadcast, forcefully installed as an undeletable app on all electronic devices, not only caused panic among the celebrities dragged into the scenario but also had a considerable impact on the real world.
However, most people adapted quickly.
Upon realizing that this live broadcast posed no immediate danger to them and that they could not only watch thrilling, novel content but also have the power to vote on others’ fates, the world went wild.
Countless real-time comments flooded the live stream:
[Is this scenario real? Will they really die?]
[The Guide is so handsome! Is he a celebrity in their world too?]
[I used to envy celebrities, but now I’m so glad I’m not one of them.]
[My mind is blown. Is this high-dimensional technology? It’s a real eye-opener.]
[What does it mean that my attention level is 11 on the bottom right of the app’s homepage?]
[The homepage’s popularity ranking is updating. It’s time to see which celebrities actually have genuine fans! Let’s see how those hype-dependent, fake-popularity stars manage now.]
[Fight! Fight! Fight! A real survival reality show, real ghosts, real death—so damn exciting, haha! I love it!]
[Help, why are these terrifying things happening? When will all this end?]
[Will our world become a playground for ghosts?]
[Please, everyone, vote for Lian Qinglin! He’s only nineteen! I’m crying so hard right now.]
[So, will people really die? Are these celebrities we know going to die in front of our eyes?]
[I love horror movies, and this is a real-life one. It’s amazing!]
[We only get one vote a day. I’ll have to visit several live streams to find a lucky winner.]
…
The celebrities inside the scenario were unaware of what was happening outside.
The Guide, Xu Shu, naturally took the lead of the group. He walked to a spot near the cliff where a stone stele stood, about half the height of a person. On the stele, the words “Guanping Village Bridge” were inscribed. Below the name, a smaller line of text marked the bridge’s construction date.
After years of exposure to wind and rain, the dark red paint on the engraving had completely peeled off, leaving only a few scattered red spots, like dried blood.
Xu Shu touched the stele and turned to the group, saying, “This is our only clue. We should cross this bridge to enter the village.”
Though this was supposed to be a horror-themed show, aside from the eerie system voice they’d heard upon entering, nothing else had appeared to scare them. As they began to understand the rules, the celebrities gradually grew bolder.
Zhang Xiao, a burly celebrity known for his strength on reality shows, always took the role of protector. Fans loved watching him take the lead to defend the weak, and he quickly stepped forward, saying, “What are we waiting for? Let’s head into the village and finish the task as soon as possible so we can get out of here!”
Lian Qinglin, the youngest in the group, was the quickest to accept this fresh and exciting challenge and was even a bit thrilled. “Let’s go, let’s go! Sneak into the village and keep quiet—no shooting allowed!”
The Guanping Village Bridge, spanning the bottomless gorge between two mountains, seemed to be just over a hundred meters long. It was only wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other, looking both dilapidated and crude.
Mist from the gorge below floated up, creating a thin veil over the bridge. Standing at the bridgehead, they could vaguely make out the winding mountain road on the other side.
Encouraging one another, the group readied themselves and set off.
Li Zhi withdrew her gaze from scouting the area and noticed Chi Yi, dressed in an evening gown, struggling with her long skirt. She approached her and kindly offered, “Let me help you tear off the hem of your skirt.”
Chi Yi, clearly inconvenienced by her attire, saw her approach and her expression shifted. She grabbed her skirt and, tottering on her high heels, darted away faster than a rabbit, hiding behind the muscular Zhang Xiao in a flash.
Li Zhi: “?”
It was only then that she noticed that, aside from Xu Shu, the rest of the group was looking at her with wary eyes.
What’s going on? Did she somehow get isolated in the game?
Li Zhi sensed that something was off.
Sure enough, after a brief silence and exchange of glances, Zhang Xiao stepped forward as the spokesperson. “The Guide mentioned that only celebrities would enter the scenario. We all know each other, but I’ve asked around, and none of us know you!”
Li Zhi: “…?”
So, you’re the one leading the charge to ostracize me, huh?
Zhang Xiao, full of confidence as if he’d uncovered a key clue, declared, “In a mystery escape show I did before, there were NPC ghosts who mixed in with the players. If I’m not mistaken, you must be one of those ghosts, right?”
Great guess. Let’s not do that again, shall we?
“Mr. Zhang, two years ago, I worked with you on Harmony and Prosperity. I played your great-aunt.”
“Ms. Chi, in your first costume drama, I was the personal maid to your character’s sister.”
“Mr. Zhu, when you guest-starred in our show last year, I even asked you for an autograph. My sister is a fan of yours.”
Everyone: “…”
Li Zhi maintained a brave smile, “My name is Li Zhi, ‘Li’ as in dawn, ‘Zhi’ as in knowledge. I’m a small-time actress. Please take care of me, teachers.”
Xu Shu, who had been leading the group, suddenly burst into inappropriate laughter. The tense atmosphere was shattered by the awkwardness, and someone finally blurted out, “Let’s keep moving!”
The tense and thrilling mood of the live chat also lightened up with this dramatic twist:
[If this weren’t a horror live stream, I’d think this was all scripted.]
[I know her! She played Yu Xiao in Walking to the Mountains! She was so cool, but unfortunately, she died after only two episodes.]
[I was too busy watching the goddesses and didn’t even notice her.]
[Being a little-known actress in this scenario really puts her at a disadvantage. I actually quite like her—she seems reliable.]
[I’ve been wanting to say this since the beginning! Li Zhi is calm and composed, and she’s brought up so many important points. Hasn’t anyone voted for her? High-IQ people are fascinating to watch!]
[Help! I feel the same way! Someone, save her! She only has a little over five hundred votes, while the top three already have tens of thousands!]
[Goddess with a subtle beauty forever! How did I never notice such an elegant actress in the entertainment industry before?]
[With such a low vote count, even if she makes it to the end, she’ll probably end up as ghost food.]
[I don’t think so. This is a global live stream. Fanbases are a tiny portion of the global audience. Haven’t you noticed Lian Qinglin’s vote growth has started to slow down?]
[Even so, it’s still going to be tough for Li Zhi to catch up in votes.]
[Am I the only one who thinks Li Zhi is faking it? It’s normal to be scared in your first scenario, but she’s acting all calm. Yuck~]
[Li Zhi better survive till the end, only to be eaten by ghosts!]
…
Zhang Xiao’s face was filled with embarrassment, but inside, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Previously, he had been worried that he wouldn’t be able to compete with the other celebrities in terms of popularity. But now, with Li Zhi at the bottom, he felt much more at ease.
As long as both he and Li Zhi survived till the end, he’d be safe.
The group continued to move forward, with Xu Shu discreetly observing Li Zhi.
It wasn’t surprising that she was good-looking—after all, one had to be to become a celebrity. But compared to the other strikingly beautiful female stars in the group, her features were more like a black-and-white ink painting in the rain: subtle, lacking the bold, memorable strokes that left a lasting impression.
However, her eyes were particularly captivating, exuding a deep, soulful quality when she looked at someone.
But in the entertainment industry, a subtle beauty like hers was at a disadvantage. Not to mention her calm and soothing demeanor, which only made her more likely to be overshadowed by the radiant, attention-grabbing stars around her.
Xu Shu shook his head regretfully.
Li Zhi suddenly turned to him. “It looks like you have something to say to me?”
Xu Shu didn’t expect her to be so perceptive. He paused briefly and then hid his surprise. “No, I just didn’t expect that you’re not famous in your world. After all, you are quite beautiful.”
Li Zhi shrugged. “Not many people compliment me on my looks.”
Xu Shu was intrigued. “Then what do they usually compliment you on?”
She thought for a moment. “They usually say I have good ‘presence.'”
After she finished, she smiled first.
Xu Shu followed with a chuckle.
The bridge, though just over a hundred meters long, seemed endless. Several minutes had passed since they’d stepped onto it, yet they hadn’t reached the other side.
The group, which had been relaxed at first, gradually became anxious. Someone exclaimed in panic, “Why can’t we get across?! Are we trapped in some kind of ghost loop?”
Li Zhi spoke up. “It’s more like a ‘ghost bridge loop.’” She rubbed her fingertips together, feeling the thick moisture in the air. “The fog is getting denser.”