Chapter 76

Audience in the streamer chat: ???

They had all assumed Shi Jian would be doomed when facing Wang Shufen. Unexpectedly, not only was Shi Jian not doomed, but Wang Shufen actually wanted her to teach her makeup?

What the heck is this!

Shi Jian: This is the importance of mastering a skill.

Previously, Shi Jian had mocked Wang Shufen in the bathroom, saying she looked like she’d crawled out of a pit—why else was her face so dirty? That moment had already made Wang Shufen a little self-conscious, though she had buried it deep inside.

Now, after seeing Shi Jian manage to do her makeup with her bare hands while fleeing for her life—

Wang Shufen couldn’t hold it in and voiced her desire to learn.

Taking over a body didn’t have to be Shi Jian’s after all, and it could always be done later... but if she didn’t seize this chance to learn makeup now, it would be truly gone forever.

So Wang Shufen decided: Shi Jian cannot die. At least, not right now.

Shi Jian reacted quickly. She could already hear the approaching footsteps of the chainsaw killer, so she immediately nodded. “How do we hide?”

...

Wang Shufen led Shi Jian smoothly into a small lounge.

This lounge was very well hidden, cleverly camouflaged by the layout—it looked from the outside like just a protruding part of the train’s interior, with no sign of a hidden space inside.

Wang Shufen proudly told Shi Jian, “Unless you’re a ghost as familiar with trains as I am, no one would ever know this place existed.”

Shi Jian had sat in this carriage for a long time before and had never noticed the lounge—indeed, it was hidden well enough.

The chainsaw killer, now right outside the door, stood there clueless. Even though Shi Jian and Wang Shufen were just a door away, he couldn’t sense them.

He looked puzzled. After pacing back and forth a few times and finding nothing, he eventually continued chasing forward into the next carriage.

Shi Jian’s crisis was temporarily resolved, giving her a chance to talk to Wang Shufen. Shi Jian turned to her with exaggerated praise, “Wow, you’re amazing!”

Wang Shufen floated with pride at the compliment—until Shi Jian followed up with, “So do you know when that killer will disappear? And what dangers are coming next?”

Shi Jian: Come on! Quick-fire Q&A time!

Wang Shufen stopped floating: “...” Of course the praise had strings attached.

Memories she didn’t want to recall came flooding back—last time, Shi Jian had tricked her into speaking thoughtlessly and ended up suffering backlash from her own powers.

“Quick, teach me makeup now,” Wang Shufen said.

Wang Shufen had learned her lesson—she was now a clever ghost and absolutely wouldn’t fall for Shi Jian’s tricks again!

In her eyes, Shi Jian was just a tool to help her become beautiful.

Shi Jian didn’t manage to get any useful information out of her, but she didn’t get upset. Since she’d promised to teach her, she’d follow through.

Shi Jian turned to her eager apprentice. “Tell me what kind of look you want to learn—like, for what kind of occasion?”

Wang Shufen once again felt the weight of Shi Jian’s professionalism. So there were different looks for different occasions? She voiced her request.

“I want makeup for meeting my boyfriend. A date look!”

Shi Jian hadn’t expected Wang Shufen to actually have a boyfriend. “Xu Xian?”Wang Shufen was once again attacked by unpleasant memories. That Xu Xian talk had all been Shi Jian's teasing—her boyfriend wasn’t some Xu Xian, it was a train attendant on this train.

Shi Jian was a little intrigued. She showed interest, and Wang Shufen, of course, didn’t hold back from sharing her love story. She launched into it enthusiastically.

Before becoming what she was now, Wang Shufen’s boyfriend had been an attendant on Train 4444, and she had just recently graduated and become a corporate drone.

Her boyfriend worked very hard. During their passionate relationship, Wang Shufen had desperately wanted to be with him all the time but didn’t want to interfere with his job. So during holidays, she would board Train 4444.

She just wanted to catch a few more glimpses of him. The only time they could sit down and chat was during his lunch break in the dining car.

Wang Shufen said, “That day, we’d agreed to meet in the dining car. But when I got to these two carriages, the train suddenly exploded. After that, I could never leave these two carriages again.”

Wang Shufen had died in the hard-seat carriage in the explosion. Her range of activity was now limited to this area.

Although Shi Jian didn’t get any direct intel from Wang Shufen’s mouth, she’d basically pieced it together.

Wang Shufen had died in an explosion—so would Train 4444 explode again later in the storyline?

Shi Jian thought it was very likely.

Even if she herself hadn’t been used as a tool, Wang Shufen had definitely become an unwitting quest ghost again, and she was even getting really into telling the story.

...

After understanding her apprentice's needs thoroughly, Shi Jian taught Wang Shufen a fresh and natural "fruit juice" makeup look. She taught carefully, but Wang Shufen still said:

“My brain got it, my eyes got it, but my hands didn’t get it.”

The livestream viewers called it incredibly relatable.

Wang Shufen started to feel like she just couldn’t figure it out, and eventually lost patience.

“I think maybe your makeup products are just too good—is this a product issue...?”

Unable to learn, Wang Shufen blamed the tools.

【Streamer looks speechless: should I just go die instead.】

But Shi Jian didn’t get angry. She thought for a moment and said, “Why don’t I just do your makeup for you…”

She felt like teaching it again wouldn’t help much anyway.

Before Wang Shufen could get excited, Shi Jian started calculating, “But I’ll have to charge you. You hid me, and I taught you—that cancels out. The makeup application itself is extra. And since you’ll be using my products, I’ll have to open new ones. That all costs money.”

Wang Shufen quickly cut in, “I don’t mind using your stuff.” Trying to be frugal.

Shi Jian shot her a deadpan look that said I mind.

Wang Shufen: “…”

Still, she really wanted that fruit juice look. In the end, she reluctantly agreed.

At one point, Wang Shufen even twisted her head off and asked, “Would this make it easier for you to apply?”

Shi Jian’s eye twitched. “Put it back. Or I’m charging ten times more.”

Wang Shufen immediately reattached her head without another word.

【This scene feels familiar... Like a flashback to that Cinderella moment!】【Shi Jian: "My Days as a Beauty Guru in a Horror Game Instance" / "My Days Getting Rich in a Horror Game Instance"】

【Scheming Merchant Shi Jian!】

【I used to hear people say they wanted to send their heads to beauty vloggers for makeup—did this just actually happen? (dog head emoji)】

【I want a celebrity to do my makeup too! I’ll pay! I’ll pay ten times as much! Wuwuwu!】

【Move aside, ghost girl, let me take your place!】

While other streamers were being terrorized by ghosts or chased by murderers, Shi Jian was acting as a beauty blogger, giving a ghost a makeover.

And she even charged for it.

The contrast was too absurd—but that’s exactly what made it so addictive to watch. The viewers couldn’t get enough.

Even those who didn’t bet were throwing yachts (expensive gifts) in her stream. For a while, the gift stream in Shi Jian’s live room was blowing up.

The vibe between Shi Jian and Wang Shufen was pretty good—mainly because Shi Jian was making money.

Shi Jian didn’t think of herself as a scheming merchant either. She’d spent her hard-earned points to buy that makeup, and the products she opened for Wang Shufen would stay with her afterward.

While digging around for makeup, Shi Jian accidentally pulled out the spirit pet orb. Although she quickly stuffed it back once she realized, Wang Shufen still caught a glimpse.

Wang Shufen asked curiously, “What’s that?”

Shi Jian answered casually, “Not important.”

Then Shi Jian wasn’t sure if she was imagining it—but it felt like the ghost bride inside the orb started thrashing around particularly intensely.

Wang Shufen, once her makeup was removed, actually had pretty decent features. After Shi Jian’s makeover, her entire appearance transformed. When Shi Jian noticed she might be suffering from thinning hair, she even lent her a clip-in extension gifted by Xiaohua.

Just lent, though—for photo-taking purposes.

Because Wang Shufen was trapped in those two carriages and couldn’t meet her boyfriend, she made a request of Shi Jian:

“If you see my boyfriend, could you show him my photo and tell him… I miss him, I love him.”

Shi Jian didn’t charge extra for that. She even gave Wang Shufen a 1% discount.

Wang Shufen: She must’ve been touched by our love story!

Shi Jian: Couples are the easiest customers to milk. Wang Shufen’s boyfriend will probably ask for makeup too—I can charge both!

Give loyal customers a small discount—Shi Jian figured it was still profitable.

One human and one ghost both smiled in satisfaction.

...

After finishing the photo shoot for Wang Shufen, she described her boyfriend to Shi Jian. His name was Li Xu, and when asked what he looked like—

Wang Shufen: “The most handsome one!”

Considering how couples always see each other through rose-colored glasses, Shi Jian mentally added a question mark to “most handsome.” Likely going to need some mental adjustments.

And now, a new station had arrived.

Shi Jian could no longer hear the buzzing of a chainsaw outside, and the fleeing passengers also seemed to have returned to their seats.The broadcast sounded—it was from the train staff who had vanished during the previous segment.

“Passengers, please do not walk around at will. Return to your seats as soon as possible.”

Shi Jian vaguely heard some streamers discussing in the distance: “Are we safe now?”

“The killer probably got off the train.”

Shi Jian exchanged contact info with Jiang Xinyue, and Jiang Xinyue sent her a message.

“Shi Jian-jiejie, where are you?”

“I’m still at the soft sleeper area from before. We’re safe. What about you?”

“I can’t reach you or gege. Are you two okay?”

Shi Jian had run out of the soft sleeper cabin to lure the chainsaw killer away, so Jiang Xinyue didn’t know if she was still alive.

Shi Jian replied to Jiang Xinyue first: “I’m fine.”

“I’ll come find you later.”

Shi Jian didn’t know what condition Jiang Hai was in either. She hadn’t seen him at all while being chased by the chainsaw maniac.

Although things had just been intense, it now seemed temporarily calm again. Shi Jian couldn’t just stay here—she needed to tell Jiang Xinyue and the others what she’d discovered.

Wang Shufen also urged her, “Don’t stay here. The announcement said to return to your seat.”

Shi Jian tidied up her clothes, made sure there were no wrinkles, then stepped out of the lounge.

The path back to the soft sleeper passed by the seats of Jiang Hai and Du Zhifan. Shi Jian planned to check if Jiang Hai was there for Jiang Xinyue’s sake.

Neither Jiang Hai nor Du Zhifan were at their original seats.

Shi Jian’s heart sank. She wasn’t very familiar with either of them, but she still hoped they hadn’t died under the chainsaw killer’s blade.

Blood and limbs were everywhere in the train corridor. Shi Jian carefully navigated around them—Jiang Xinyue was still in the same cabin as before.

But before Shi Jian reached her, a door suddenly opened.

It was Du Zhifan. He wasn’t dead and was anxiously waving her in. “Quick, come hide in here.”

Shi Jian slipped into the cabin. She didn’t even need to ask what had happened—she already understood.

The second she ducked inside, the chainsaw killer appeared in the corridor.

He hadn’t gotten off the train at all—he had only turned off the buzzing chainsaw and temporarily hidden.

...

Viewers in Shi Jian’s personal stream were horrified:

【WTF, I thought he got off the train—why is he still here?!】

【So cunning! Completely caught us off guard...】

【Thanks to Du Zhifan for saving my wife—go send him some gifts.】

Du Zhifan stood with his back to Shi Jian, watching the door. After confirming the killer had left the area, he reassured her, “It’s safe now. He’s gone.”Shi Jian hadn’t expected the chainsaw killer segment wasn’t over yet. She thanked Du Zhifan, then asked, “Are you okay? Did you see Jiang Hai?”

Du Zhifan replied, “I’ve been hiding here the whole time, so I’m fine. I didn’t see Jiang Hai either—it was too chaotic just now…”

Since Du Zhifan hadn’t seen Jiang Hai either, Shi Jian frowned. “Let’s go find Jiang Xinyue first, then see if we can locate Jiang Hai.”

Du Zhifan turned to her and nodded. “Okay.”

He didn’t have a strong presence—many viewers in Shi Jian’s personal livestream couldn’t even remember his name. At least Jiang Hai was somewhat recognizable.

But this low-key male streamer, right after saying “okay,” also suddenly pulled out a fruit knife and stabbed it hard into Shi Jian’s chest, as if he had done it many times before.

No warning. He struck with deadly intent, aiming to kill Shi Jian on the spot.

Shi Jian had no guard up. Since entering the instance, she’d worked with quite a few streamers. Aside from a few bad apples, most cooperated well and got along.

Yet Du Zhifan—someone she was technically teamed up with—stabbed her.

Shi Jian felt a sharp pain in her chest. Never had she felt the breath of death so clearly. Her pupils widened in disbelief.

Was she… going to die?

Was it really over?

Not at the hands of some powerful ghost. Not in a blaze of glory. Just like how she slipped in a bathroom and was dragged into a horror game without consent—facing death at any moment in such a ridiculous way.

Death in this instance didn’t look anything like she imagined.

She hadn’t become a top streamer, hadn’t made it to the peak. She was still just a low-level streamer.

Shi Jian felt a rush of rage, disbelief, and above all, absurdity.

Absurd.

Du Zhifan had seen that expression many times—disbelief, shock, betrayal. Getting backstabbed by a teammate could really shake someone to their core… The difference was that Shi Jian was beautiful, and the expression on her face made the moment even more stunning.

Du Zhifan wasn’t killing in a fit of passion. Jiang Hai had once complained to his sister that Du Zhifan seemed weak but somehow had lots of great items. That wasn’t just male competitiveness—it hit close to the truth.

Du Zhifan had an item that allowed him, after killing a streamer, to randomly obtain one of their valuable belongings—it could be an item, points, or even a spirit pet if the streamer was strong enough.

So far, he hadn’t encountered any streamer with a spirit pet.

But the moment he saw Shi Jian, he knew she was a jackpot. Anyone who could look that flawless in an instance, without some rich backer streamer beside them, had to have real power.

She definitely had good stuff on her.

Du Zhifan didn’t dislike Shi Jian. But he’d grown up full of inferiority, knowing he could never reach the swan’s height. So he never even dared to dream.

But now this beautiful swan would have her wings clipped—by someone like him.

Du Zhifan wasn’t tall or strong, looked average, and hated all of it in real life. But in instances, when teamed with others, he thrived.

No one ever suspected the “honest guy.”

Shi Jian’s personal stream was filled with exclamation marks—no one could even form coherent sentences from the shock.

Du Zhifan felt a little regret that someone so beautiful had to die. To express that regret, he pushed the knife deeper into her chest.

The faster she died, the less she would suffer.But Du Zhifan realized the knife wouldn't go in—as if there was an invisible barrier between the blade and Shi Jian’s flesh.

Unwilling to accept it, Du Zhifan used all his strength and shoved the knife toward Shi Jian’s chest again.

Still couldn’t pierce it!

Instead, a blue glow flared at the wound on Shi Jian’s chest. A translucent figure gradually materialized in front of her—a humanoid upper body with countless tentacles writhing in the air.

The figure had its back to Shi Jian, tentacles waving midair, and with one swipe, Du Zhifan was thrown across the room.

He hit the floor hard, the impact making a heavy thud.

Shi Jian stared at the familiar figure floating in the air. It vanished in an instant, but she still recognized it.

“Mom…”

Her lips moved slightly, mouthing the word silently.

That phantom was clearly the monster "Mom" from the Qingshan No. 1 High School instance.

Shi Jian didn’t know why that image of the monster mom had appeared—why it showed up so briefly and then vanished—but that light had undeniably saved her.

She felt a searing pain in her chest and looked down. There was a gaping wound.

Though Du Zhifan had failed to kill her, she was still badly hurt. He, meanwhile, lay a short distance away, howling in pain—the monster mom’s blow had clearly dealt him heavy damage.

Du Zhifan was still crawling, trying to move. The fruit knife he’d used had been thrown aside during the impact.

He was almost within reach—when a pristine high heel suddenly crushed his hand.

Crack—

The sound of broken fingers rang out. Du Zhifan instantly curled into a ball.

“Ahh—hurts, hurts, hurts!”

The owner of the high heel ignored his screams and twisted down twice more, grinding the bones.

Shi Jian’s foot remained on his hand as she bent over and picked up the fruit knife he’d tried to grab. Her long black lashes lowered slightly, and she gazed down at him from above.

Terror overtook Du Zhifan. He wanted to speak, to beg for mercy.

Surely Shi Jian had never killed anyone before—she probably couldn’t bring herself to do it, right?

But he never got the chance to speak.

Shi Jian had already raised the knife—and brought it down. The blade sliced cleanly across Du Zhifan’s neck. Blood gushed like a fountain.

It was warm.

Shi Jian stared at her blood-soaked hands and the splattered skirt, and that thought crossed her mind.

Du Zhifan’s eyes widened. He gurgled unintelligibly, choking on blood, before collapsing into a pool of it.

Bzzz bzzz bzzz—

The commotion had been loud. Just as Shi Jian finished her counterattack, she heard the sound of a chainsaw revving from outside.

The chainsaw killer had heard the noise and was returning.

Shi Jian didn’t spare Du Zhifan a single glance. Still gripping the knife, she stood up and shook her head.

“The skirt… all ruined. Oh well.”The livestream viewers were dumbfounded, unable to process what Shi Jian meant for a moment.

Her skirt was stained—what was good about that?

It meant she could kill them all now. It was already dirty anyway.

Shi Jian couldn’t clearly explain what state she was in at the moment. She felt as if her body and her mind had separated, but each move she made was executed with chilling precision.

She first hid by the door, deliberately making noise—she slapped the door on the left while standing on the right.

The chainsaw killer sneered coldly from outside, and without a second thought, began sawing into the left door.

The chainsaw was powerful, but it caught briefly on the hinge as it cut.

That brief moment of delay was exactly what Shi Jian had waited for. She kicked open her own door.

The chainsaw killer was relaxed in front of her—more accurately, he arrogantly underestimated everyone on this train.

Most people panicked the moment they saw him. Slapping him like Shi Jian had done earlier was rare, and even then, to him it was no more than a cat's scratch.

Now the cat was about to scratch again?

The chainsaw killer wasn’t even tense. He didn’t bother raising his chainsaw, letting it keep cutting through the door.

This time, his arrogance cost him.

Shi Jian stabbed him hard in the chest—three times in a row—and with the final thrust, twisted the blade at his heart.

“I never messed with any of you.”

That’s what she said.

Then, while the chainsaw killer was still in shock, she snatched the chainsaw from his hands.

……

The scene was pure chaos. By the time the others, including Jiang Xinyue, rushed over after hearing the commotion, this was what they saw:

The chainsaw killer lay dead in the train corridor, utterly lifeless.

Shi Jian, who had taken him down alone, stood there in a crimson dress, holding the still-buzzing chainsaw. Her hair, originally pinned up with a pearl clip, had a few strands loose and falling across her cheeks from the earlier struggle. Specks of blood dotted her porcelain-white skin, making her appear even more striking.

Wild and beautiful—a single glance was unforgettable.

No one said a word.

Outside the train windows, the sunset was breathtaking—like a masterpiece a painter could only dream of creating after a lifetime of skill. But at this moment, it all merely served as Shi Jian’s backdrop.

That wasn’t just a red dress.

It had been dyed red with blood.