I Became the Most Popular Character by Acting as a Villain in the Manga

Chapter 23

The boat rushed down the high slope.

The boat plunged down very quickly. Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng, dangling from vines on both sides, were flung about by the wind like two kites half-dragging because a child hadn't fully launched them.

Ling Feng's hair on his forehead was lifted by the wind, revealing his forehead and deep-set brows and eyes. His face was expressionless, appearing somewhat cold.

Zhou Chenhao, on the other hand, was in stark contrast to Ling Feng, grinning widely with his big white teeth, having a blast. An unknowing person might have thought this was an additional feature of the Raging River Rapids, given how much fun he was having.

Xiao 6 laughed so hard in Bai Xuechao's mind that he was almost convulsing: “Hahahahaha, they look so funny!”

Bai Xuechao kept an eye on the boat's height and, by the way, caught the Wusha hat that almost blew away in the wind. Without the hat's restraint, his snow-white hair fluttered in the wind, like a handful of scattered snow.

The wind made him squint his red eyes, as vivid as plum blossoms. When they were about eight meters from the sea surface, he reminded Xia Xiaoxi next to him: “Lift.”

“Alright!” Xia Xiaoxi responded instantly, and at the same time, the vines swung the people hanging on both sides high up, preventing them from falling into the sea first and being dragged along.

But being swung up didn't seem much better.

Ling Feng still had a cold expression, his hair messy in the wind, obscuring half his face.

Zhou Chenhao's wet hair also flew wildly in the wind, emitting an involuntary, completely simian cry: “Waoooh ho ho oh ho——”

The boat finally plunged into the sea. High splashes rose on both sides of the boat, pouring down like a torrential rain, drenching everyone head to toe.

Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng were swung down horizontally by the vines like two fish blasted out of the water. Bai Xuechao controlled the seawater to catch them, preventing both of them from diving headfirst into the sea.

Unlike Ling Feng, who was smoothly supported by a water column and placed into the sea, Zhou Chenhao's special ability, which nullified special abilities upon skin contact, was a bit more troublesome.

When the water column surged up, it followed a tricky angle, pressing against Zhou Chenhao's butt through his clothes, without touching his skin. However, when the water inevitably penetrated the fabric and touched his skin, Bai Xuechao made it appear as if the water column was repeatedly nullified, dispersed, and then reformed, constantly pushing Zhou Chenhao's butt.

Thus, a scene unfolded—

Zhou Chenhao was pushed up by the water column under his butt. The water column was nullified, dispersed, and fell back into the sea. Zhou Chenhao dropped a bit, and the water column then pushed his butt again… This cycle repeated until Zhou Chenhao dropped from a height of over a meter into the sea, completely unharmed.

Bai Xuechao: ‘Because I'm “Level 4” right now.’

Zhou Chenhao, who had essentially fallen on his butt several times: O_O

Xia Xiaoxi raised a hand to Bai Xuechao: “Yay! Great teamwork!”

As long as he was safe, who cared how he got down.

Bai Xuechao smiled faintly and raised his hand to tap her palm.

Bai Xuechao: ‘Playing with the male lead is fun.’ (not really)

Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng climbed onto the bow of the boat and rode back with it.

Bai Xuechao put his Wusha hat back on, used his special ability to shake off the water from everyone and the boat, then looked up at the sky above the marine area. There, the hot air balloon with "奠" written on it lit up again, moving slowly.

“The hot air balloon lit up again,” he said.

The protagonist group all looked over.

“It really did,” Zhou Chenhao said, wringing water from the hem of his Qing dynasty official uniform, “How does this hot air balloon keep turning on and off?”

Xia Xiaoxi said, “Earlier, when we came out of the Magic Horror House, I was the first one out, and I also watched it light up.”

“Every time we finish a ride, we see it light up,” Bai Xuechao mused for a moment, then guessed, “It should be that whenever a tourist successfully completes a ride, the hot air balloon lights up for a while. It keeps moving within the park's range, not flying away. Is it possible that it indicates the location of a special ability user in this park?”

“It's possible,” Ling Feng thought for a moment, looking at the hot air balloon still glowing in the distance, “Don't you think it stayed lit a bit longer this time?”

Zhou Chenhao made a fist with his right hand and tapped it into the palm of his left hand with a "snap."

He widened his dark brown eyes, as if he had discovered something, and said, “Yes! Before, it felt like it went out after we said only a few words. This time, it's still lit.”

Xia Xiaoxi also nodded: “From when I watched it light up to when it extinguished at the Magic Horror House, it was probably less than a minute.”

“If the hot air balloon lights up when tourists finish a ride, then the duration it stays lit might be related to the number of people who completed the ride,” Bai Xuechao's voice was clear and cool, “Last time, only 6 of us completed the ride. This time, even without counting the rescued people, there were 42.”

As they spoke, the boat had already returned to the starting point.

There was a small standee at the exit that read, "Congratulations, you have earned 15 minutes of lights-out time."

The Raging River Rapids' lights-out time was actually shorter than that of the Magic Horror House. However, upon closer thought, the Raging River Rapids was indeed less dangerous than the Horror House. Even if the safety harness ultimately sprang open, as long as one had enough strength to hold onto it, the probability of successfully completing the Raging River Rapids was still quite high.

Zhou Chenhao said, “Should we continue chasing the hot air balloon?”

He thought for a moment and then added, “If we encounter any attractions along the way that are in the same situation as this one, we'll go through them.”

He meant that these tourists were going back and forth in line to buy time. If they encountered ghosts about to attack such tourists, they would go on an attraction once to make the ghosts leave.

Everyone else agreed.

However, before they could set off, they heard the sounds of gongs and drums coming from the marine area ahead. Gongs and drums clashed, firecrackers exploded, and the sound of suona, extremely piercing in the quiet night, resounded through the sky, as if celebrating something extremely festive.

A group of red-clad ghosts emerged from the marine area of the park, their faces bearing eerie smiles, shouting as they walked, “Ghost King's Wedding! Ghost King's Wedding!”

As they walked, they happily scattered ghost money. A gust of wind made the ghost money flutter all over the sky, and combined with the lit red lanterns, the terrifying atmosphere was fully established.

“This is the midway segment of the Halloween Month event!” A tourist nearby, who understood the situation, widened his eyes in shock, then said fearfully, “This segment starts with the Ghost King's Wedding, where they grab many girls from among the tourists to interact in the marine resort area. As for whether it's still 'interaction' now…”

Yesterday was the first day of the Halloween Month event. After this segment came out, many people on social media said it was fun, but now he only found it terrifying.

Who knew what would happen after being captured by ghosts!

Everyone else clearly thought the same way, their faces turning a shade paler from fright.

Before that tourist could continue, another group of red-clad ghosts emerged from the marine area. This time, however, they were clearly all long-haired female ghosts, with their hair coiled into buns on their heads. Their voices were high-pitched and thin, as they giggled and said, “The Ghost King is marrying off his daughter! The Ghost King is marrying off his daughter!”

A wedding and a daughter's marriage arranged on the same day—if this were truly happening, it would really make one want to complain.

But this was an event, and its purpose was to allow both male and female tourists to participate.

The trembling tourists: 'Thanks for nothing.'

Bai Xuechao looked at the female ghosts also scattering ghost money, then turned to ask the tourist who had just spoken: “These female ghosts are going to grab boys for interaction?”

“Yes,” the tourist, who had specifically dressed in a black robe with a red magua for the Halloween Month event, in a style from the last century, said while taking off his red magua. He then looked at Bai Xuechao with pity, “It is said that they prioritize grabbing tourists wearing red.”

Hearing this, the protagonist group all turned their heads to look at Bai Xuechao.

The handsome and beautiful white-haired youth wore a Wusha hat on his head and a pomegranate-red Tang-style round-collar robe, like a top scholar whose name had been announced on the imperial examination's golden榜.

Key point: pomegranate red.

“Isn't this simple? Take off your clothes!” Zhou Chenhao reacted the quickest, immediately moving to strip Bai Xuechao's clothes.

Bai Xuechao raised a hand to grab his collar, preventing Zhou Chenhao from unbuttoning it. A brilliant smile appeared on his delicate, pale face: “No need.”

That smile always felt like it carried a murderous aura, his eyes seemingly saying: 'If you try to strip me again, I'll strip your skin first.'

The last time Bai Xuechao said it was simple, Zhou Chenhao ended up being hung outside the boat by vines. Just now, Zhou Chenhao also said it was simple, and then he thought of making Bai Xuechao take off his round-collar robe.

Xiao 6: 'Is Zhou Chenhao, this naturally dark person, really not doing it on purpose?'

Hearing Bai Xuechao say "no need," Zhou Chenhao immediately let go. He blinked and said, “If you don't take it off, you'll be caught, right?”

“Then so be it,” Bai Xuechao smoothed out the wrinkles on his collar, his posture casual, his voice as clear as a spring, his tone flat, “Anyway, the hot air balloon we're chasing is in the marine area. If the ghosts take me to the marine area for interaction, we might even run into that special ability user directly.”

Zhou Chenhao clapped his hands: “That's right, good idea!”

Being taken away by the red-clad ghosts for interaction meant they wouldn't be captured by other ghosts along the way.

However, since their wristbands were currently in lights-out time, they could walk freely first.

They swaggered—especially Zhou Chenhao—onto the main road of the land park, heading towards the marine area.

Who knew that this Ghost King interaction didn't care if a tourist's wristband was in lights-out time? As long as they wore a wristband and red clothes, they would be prioritized for capture.

When several female ghosts smilingly surrounded him, Bai Xuechao slowly produced a question mark.

“The Ghost King is marrying off his daughter, time to pick a husband!”

Two female ghosts lifted the completely unresisting Bai Xuechao onto a bamboo sedan-chair-shaped seat. The seat had wheels underneath, somewhat like a wheelchair, allowing the female ghosts to easily push Bai Xuechao and run.

These two female ghosts were like those who "snatched husbands from under the imperial examination list" in ancient times, grabbing a person and running, with the protagonist group chasing behind.

Zhou Chenhao widened his eyes, looking at Bai Xuechao who was smiling and waving at them over his shoulder, his tone sounding envious: “If you're chosen, you don't even have to walk yourself?!”

Ling Feng was a bit speechless: “Is that the point?”

“Ahhh, why are these female ghosts running so fast!” Xia Xiaoxi sprinted, falling behind, “I feel like I've been running all night. How many calories am I burning?!”

Ling Feng's speechlessness doubled: “Is that also the point??”

As Zhou Chenhao passed several female ghosts, he vigorously waved his hand: “Hey—— pick me! Is it because I'm not wearing red?!”

Xia Xiaoxi, on the other hand, vigorously waved at several red-clad ghosts along the way: “Hey—— isn't the Ghost King supposed to be getting married? Grab me! Is it because I'm not wearing red?!”

Ling Feng: “…”

He often felt out of place with these two teammates because he was too normal.

They were still in lights-out time, so why would they be captured!

After waving to the protagonist group, Bai Xuechao turned his head back. While the protagonist group could only chase behind him, looking at his back, he pulled out his phone and checked his messages.

During the time he hadn't checked his phone, Duan Xingzhi had already sent him several messages, reporting almost every time he completed a task.

[Stars: 3 completed.]

[2 completed. Found two copies.]

[File photo.jpg]

[Clothes changed, I'll take them.]

[Chasing Qiao Jing.]

[Qiao Jing went to the sea, I'm following.]

[Location information]

Bai Xuechao clicked on the file photo Duan Xingzhi sent him. One of the documents stated that Jiang Yunyi had allowed Qiao Zhanpeng to raise a Level 6 mutated creature, which they shared, and Qiao Zhanpeng could also control it.

Tsk tsk tsk, Level 6.

Bai Xuechao instantly remembered the reef he had seen in the deeper part of the mutated fish school, after passing through the hidden passage of the Underwater Park.

That meant there was also a Level 6 mutated creature beneath the Marine amusement park.

It seemed the manga's male lead had a battle to fight.

He sent a message to Duan Xingzhi: [I brought X8, it's in the pocket of the coat, eat it. I'm going to the sea now, you don't need to come find me, continue following Qiao Jing.]

The female ghosts pushed Bai Xuechao, and the protagonist group chased behind. They quickly arrived at the marine park area.

The marine park area had even more water-related attractions. The Underwater Park they had previously visited was an attraction added after the marine area's expansion.

In the very center of the park was a huge fountain plaza.

At this moment, a group of red-clad tourists stood in the plaza. Some, like Bai Xuechao, wore red round-collar robes. Some wore red Feiyu suits. Some wore red long robes. Some simply wore red outerwear. The female ghosts spared no one, grabbing them all. Looking out, it was practically a sea of red.

Bai Xuechao was pushed by the female ghosts into the group of red-clad tourists. The members of the protagonist group also quickly followed, entering the crowd.

Amidst the crowd, the sounds of suona, gongs, and drums resounded again.

The suona-playing ghosts led the way, their faces deathly pale, cheeks adorned with two red circles, appearing like paper figures. Eight ghosts carried a red sedan chair, approaching the red-clad tourists from behind. The ghosts following behind some played cymbals, some beat gongs. Everyone instinctively made way for them, allowing the ghosts to pass through the crowd.

The ghosts carried the sedan chair unobstructed to the fountain in front of the plaza. From the sedan chair emerged a woman in a phoenix crown and embroidered robes.

The woman lifted her head, causing everyone who saw her face to gasp in cold air. Gasps rose one after another.

Beneath the exquisite and magnificent phoenix crown was a face so decayed that her features were indistinguishable. Flesh had turned inside out, already brown and and black, extremely terrifying. It was unclear if a foul odor would be present if one got closer.

She shyly held a round fan, taking small, dainty steps into the red-clad tourists, with a slight operatic "walking a circle" flair.

As she walked, she actually began to sing: “Who~ is~ my~ groom~”

Bai Xuechao: “???”

Are they filming a Bollywood movie here? Singing halfway through a performance?

And indeed, as soon as she started singing, the park's loudspeakers actually played a rather dynamic BGM!

Ling Feng was full of question marks. He turned his head and found Xia Xiaoxi next to him nodding along to the rhythm.

Ling Feng: “?”

Is your DNA moving?

“Don't let me look around anymore~”

The woman sang as she approached a tourist, scaring that tourist into yelping and desperately trying to burrow into the crowd.

“Don't make me guess every day~” She held the round fan with a curled pinky finger, making an expression that was probably meant to be charming but was extremely terrifying due to her decayed face. As she walked and sang, she unknowingly approached Bai Xuechao.

Bai Xuechao's peripheral vision caught Zhou Chenhao moving. He turned his gaze to look—

Zhou Chenhao was dancing???

Not only did he dance, but he also sang along! Taking advantage of the fact that he was still in lights-out time, he did whatever he wanted!

After the female ghost finished singing: “Who is my groom~”

Zhou Chenhao assumed a horse stance, leaning back slightly, and magically shivered his shoulders: “I am your groom~”

Good heavens, don't engrave everything into your DNA!!