Chapter 25
Unlike Treasure Adventure, Fantasy Cruise is a legitimate variety show.
Although it's currently recording the first season, the producer has previously created a phenomenon-level challenge show. Fantasy Cruise can be considered a spiritual successor, with the core production team remaining unchanged.
Wen Xingze received this offer for several reasons. Firstly, his recent popularity has soared, and Jiang Ye’s resources are excellent. But the main reason? Luck. The originally intended guest had a last-minute scheduling conflict, leaving this golden opportunity unclaimed.
…Even though it’s a golden opportunity, Fantasy Cruise isn’t having the best season. Despite having top-notch concept teams and lineups, it’s unfortunate that it’s up against four popular reality show sequels and a third season of a talent show. Early discussions about Fantasy Cruise were lackluster, with only the fans of the announced guests showing anticipation.
New works always struggle against established sequels, especially when those sequels already have a dedicated fan base. The viewership ratings probably won’t be too optimistic.
Initially, Jiang Ye advised Wen Xingze to switch to another variety show. If Fantasy Cruise fails to make a comeback after its premiere, it would be a waste of time for an artist who’s on the rise.
However, Wen Xingze genuinely likes the content of Fantasy Cruise, so he accepted the offer.
The announcement of the final regular guest, Wen Xingze, also caught the attention of many new fans and casual viewers.
[Treasure variety show and treasure idol! I’m so excited for ‘Fantasy Cruise,’ but unfortunately, it clashes with the talent show I’m involved in.]
[As a career fan, I’m crying. After countless low-tier challenge shows, our little one finally got a legitimate variety show offer…]
[As a suona fan, I’m checking in! I want to hear ‘Bluebird’ again — sincerely!]
[Fire acrobatics fan here! Checking in to see ‘Fire-Spitting Beauty’ again — it’s truly amazing!]
[Staying loyal as a visual fan. Wen Xingze looks stunning wherever he stands! Can’t wait to see what role he’ll play.]
________________________
Fantasy Cruise is clearly transitioning from a regular variety show to a live-streamed one. The first two episodes were reportedly edited, but the uncut versions will be released online — a bold move that no reality show has dared before.
Releasing all the raw footage demonstrates their willingness to show every mishap to the audience, and they promise no scripted moments. Otherwise, they’d be exposed instantly.
If all goes well, the next two episodes will adopt a semi-live, semi-recorded format.
The producer’s audacity and ambition are evident.
Of course, the artists accepting this offer are also quite daring.
Filming began as the guests departed from the hotel. At this point, they hadn’t met each other yet, and each guest had a personal photographer following them. Wen Xingze was the only one already in the Canary Islands, likely to be the first to board the cruise ship.
Yesterday, Wen Xingze had already met with the director and producer. The director praised him (and his face) greatly and expressed high expectations.
“Feeling nervous?” the accompanying cameraman greeted him. “I’m nervous too. The director told me that when filming you, not a single second should be wasted — you’re a precious asset.”
That was the truth. Considering the current lukewarm reception of “Fantasy Cruise,” Wen Xingze’s visuals would indeed be crucial once the show aired.
Wen Xingze: “…Don’t say that.”
The hotel was right by the sea. Yesterday, the Blood Clan parents had already packed Wen Xingze’s luggage, ready to go. At the harbor, the program staff eagerly awaited their arrival.
Inside the cruise ship, the decor resembled a hotel, quite luxurious. However, after spending the past seven days on a private island and in Atlantis, Wen Xingze wasn’t particularly impressed.
The first floor served as a grand banquet hall, while the second and third floors housed cabins. The second floor had standard cabins, and the third floor featured luxurious ones with deck viewing areas.
“Our recording will last five days, which will later be edited into three episodes, constituting a full season,” the program staff explained to Wen Xingze, adding a mysterious twist. “However, not every guest will participate for the full five days.”
Fantasy Cruise truly lives up to its claim of being unscripted—at least Wen Xingze hasn’t received any scripts. He casually remarked:
“Is it like ‘Werewolf’ where everyone is ordinary during the day but assumes different roles at night? And not the traditional ‘Werewolf’ — maybe fitting the cruise theme with sailors, pirates, and sea creatures. Each night, people get eliminated, hahaha.”
The accompanying photographer: “…”
Program staff: “…”
An eerie silence settled over the room.
After a full two minutes, the staff awkwardly burst into laughter. “Hahaha.”
Wen Xingze apologized, “I didn’t mean to.”
The program intentionally hadn’t disclosed specific rules, likely saving surprises for when all the guests were present. Wen Xingze hadn’t expected to hit the nail on the head with his casual remark.
Since room assignments hadn’t been made yet, Wen Xingze sat on the plush sofa, waiting for the other guests. About half an hour later, all ten guests finally arrived — five regulars and five flying guests. (Note: guests that are only there are for a few episodes)
To Wen Xingze’s surprise, Zhu Bo was one of the flying guests!
Since their phones had been confiscated the previous night, the guests didn’t know who else was participating. Both Wen Xingze and Zhu Bo were pleasantly surprised.
“Now that everyone’s here, I’m sure you’re all eager to learn the specific game rules,” the director announced through a megaphone. “The answer is simple: it’s a battle royale! During the day, all guests have ordinary roles as crew members or passengers. But at night, their true identities will surface…”
“There are two factions: the Sailor faction and the Sea Creature faction. Please take a look at the identity cards the staff is distributing, and be discreet — don’t let your neighbors see.”
The Sailors represent the positive faction, similar to villagers in traditional “Werewolf.” The Sea Creatures, on the other hand, can eliminate others at night, similar to the werewolves in the game.
Other guests: “Wow!!!”
Wen Xingze: “Wow…”
The staff handed him a black magnetic card with silver lettering:
[Mermaid]
Faction: Sea Creature faction (can be persuaded by Sailors)
Ability: Mermaid’s Song — once per night, randomly disrupts other guests’ nighttime abilities, with additional random effects
Victory conditions: Faction victory (standard victory, still requires accepting half the penalty), eliminate all guests individually (optimal victory)
Failure penalty: Maid outfit dance
As soon as they received this information, all the male guests collectively gasped.
“I have to wear a nurse uniform.” Zhu Bo whispered to Wen Xingze, “What about you?”
Wen Xingze replied, “Maid.”
Both of them sat on the sofa, their expressions grave and speechless.
Moments later…
“A'Ze, we’ve been friends for so long. I won’t hide it anymore — I’m in the Sailor faction,” Zhu Bo whispered even more softly.
Wen Xingze smiled, “What a coincidence, I am too.”
Zhu Bo suggested, “Let’s count to three and swap cards?”
Wen Xingze agreed, “Sure.”
Zhu Bo counted, “One, two, three…”
Neither of them extended their hands.
Both clutched their cards tightly behind their backs.
As they locked eyes, Wen Xingze and Zhu Bo saw the burning desire for victory in each other’s gaze.
“Beep—”
The long sound of the ship’s horn signaled the official departure of the Fantasy Cruise ship.
Yet, less than three minutes into the journey, faced with the threat of maid outfits and nurse uniforms, Wen Xingze and Zhu Bo’s flimsy friendship boat cracked apart.
________________________
While the staff distributed identity cards, the Cub Raising Program also issued the latest mainline task:
[Mainline Task]
Task Description: Accumulate popularity in the reality show. The simplest way, of course, is to achieve victory! Help the Little One avoid the maid outfit and assist them in achieving individual victory on the Fantasy Cruise!
Task Preparation: Individual victory (0/1)
Task Reward: Skill point *1, lottery ticket *1
________________________
Lancer Star, Atlantis.
Though unbelievable, the Merfolk were indeed the wealthiest in the universe. They weren’t naturally brilliant like the elves, savvy traders like the beast men, or dwarves with technology centuries ahead of their time.
In the Muse Empire, everyone was incredibly wealthy, and approximately forty percent of the vast fortune coveted by the Universal Alliance came from the Merfolk.
From breaking free from slavery to becoming the wealthiest beings in the universe, the Merfolk achieved this feat in a mere fifteen years. Partly due to their previous status as ocean overlords, they had accumulated substantial wealth. However, their unparalleled sense of vigilance also played a significant role.
The Merfolk were among the earliest citizens of the Muse Empire.
Back then, conditions were far from ideal. During a particular winter, the Merfolk noticed that His Majesty had been surviving on nutrient supplements for quite some time. This was partly due to his laziness and also to save money for the reconstruction of Atlantis.
From that winter onward, the Merfolk went on a money-making spree. By the second winter, they had purchased over a hundred small asteroids — rich with abundant sources of food.
They no longer wanted to see His Majesty drinking cheap nutrient fluids. That was their initial motivation for earning money.
Today marked exactly seven days since His Majesty’s last visit to Atlantica.
During the days without the Emperor’s presence, the merfolk’s emotions remained persistently low.
________________________
The deep sea.
Priest Wu Zhu, carrying a lantern, aimlessly roamed the vast and desolate underwater city. The downside of being a public servant was evident here. Although being the first to see His Majesty was indeed an honor, Priest Wu Zhu would have preferred staying home, spending money, and raising the Cub. Yet, he found himself on a business trip to Atlantica.
Soon, at the highest point of the underwater city, Wu Zhu spotted a familiar figure.
Tied-back hair adorned with pearls, a pale green tail, and golden eyes — it was Elder Cang.
Among the three eccentric elders, Elder Cang was the most reclusive. His mount was a pure black sea serpent, and to this day, Elder Cang remained one of the most formidable combatants among the merfolk.
At this moment, Elder Cang stood atop the sea serpent, and a terminal screen unfolded before him.
Suspended high above the underwater city, his long hair gently swayed with the current, and his expression held a touch of loneliness.
Wu Zhu had once been under Elder Cang’s command. He approached and greeted him. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the bright red Sea God Bead on Elder Cang’s wrist was missing. Wu Zhu’s expression revealed a hesitant concern.
Elder Cang looked at Wu Zhu’s face and suddenly raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t thinking about that so-called Emperor.”
Wu Zhu replied, “But I haven’t asked anything.”
Elder Cang retorted, “Don’t ask.”
Wu Zhu hesitated and finally said, “Just to be cautious, I’ll remind you. I saw Elder You and Elder Li earlier, and both of their Sea God Beads were missing… Could they have both gifted them to His Majesty?”
Although the Sea God Beads was a sacred artifact of the Merfolk, if it was His Majesty, receiving it wouldn’t be a big deal.
However, the Sea God Beads had always been divided into three parts to maintain balance.
If all three strands of the Sea God Beads were in the Emperor’s possession, especially with the merfolk filter unlocked, activating the Sea God Beads might trigger some extraordinary amplification effect.
At least, nothing like this had happened before.
Elder Cang’s expression changed. “Those two traitors — did they also give theirs away?”
The word “also” carried a hint of cunning.
Wu Zhu reassured him, “No need to worry. Since the Sea God Bead is a sacred artifact of the merfolk, it resides within our souls. The Merfolk adore His Majesty, and the Sea God Beads—”
Elder Cang coldly laughed, hastily denying, “Who adores him? Me? Ridiculous.”
“…” Wu Zhu couldn’t bear to expose the elders’ fragile pride. He said, “I don’t know about Elder Xia or any other tribe members.”
Elder Cang choked abruptly.
After a long pause, he snorted and left in a huff.
Riding the sea serpent, Elder Cang ventured far away. When Wu Zhu’s figure had completely disappeared, he summoned an attendant.
In his palm appeared a semi-transparent magnetic card — a custom card from the Universal Bank exclusively for the Merfolk. It had an unlimited overdraft limit, and the balance inside exceeded what most universal residents could imagine.
He casually tossed the card to the attendant and said, “Tell the Light Tower I want to see him.”
Of course, he meant the Emperor. However, the three elders were still maintaining their disdainful personas toward His Majesty, so they only used “he” and “so-called Emperor” as substitutes.
The attendant respectfully acknowledged and inwardly groaned.
…This was the third unlimited overdraft bank card he’d received today.
Darn it, it seemed the Light Tower’s devious game planning was still the most profitable.
________________________
The Fantasy Cruise ship slowly departed from the harbor.
After explaining the rules and distributing identity cards, the first small task was room allocation.
“We have a total of six standard cabins, three luxury cabins, and one mysterious ocean-view suite,” the director announced. “Now, it’s time for talent performances. The other guests will vote, and the top performer gets the mysterious ocean-view suite, followed by the luxury cabins.”
Wen Xingze knew about this talent performance segment, but he didn’t expect it so soon.
He had no specific requirements for his room, and the standard cabins on the second floor were more convenient for nighttime tasks. Besides, he had no strong desire to show off during this segment.
Zhu Bo seemed to share the same sentiment. Both of them, the two salted fish, sat on the sidelines, occasionally applauding. (Note: 咸鱼 [xián yú] = salted fish, lazy, people who have no intention of doing anything)
Soon, the first six guests finished their performances—singing, dancing, and more. The seventh guest was a foreigner named Jean, a handsome playboy with golden hair. His actual profession seemed to be a designer.
Jean performed an pickup routine and ended up getting punched, spending the latter half of his act with a tissue stuffed up his nose…
Zhu Bo suddenly held him in high regard.
The eighth guest was a supermodel named Fang Ruxue. Compared to the playboy from earlier, she was the complete opposite — cool and aloof, exuding a strong demeanor.
Wen Xingze remembered Fang Ruxue. Although she was still relatively new in the supermodel world, she would soon shine in upcoming shows and become a global sensation. She was a dedicated and ambitious supermodel.
Seeing her appear on this reality show made Wen Xingze realize that the producers were not to be underestimated.
Zhu Bo half-heartedly whistled, and then it was Wen Xingze’s turn. By now, the supermodel and a male group member had received high votes — seven and eight, respectively.
Unless something unexpected happened, Wen Xingze should get a standard cabin.
However, the phrase “unless something unexpected happened” made him feel like an unexpected twist was imminent. It was a common and clichéd writing technique.
As he stepped forward, several guests, including the staff, looked at him expectantly:
“Playing the suona?” “Breathing fire?” “Being cute?”
Wen Xingze replied, “…You all seem to have a deep misunderstanding of my profession!”
Of course, Wen Xingze wouldn’t perform on the suona or breathe fire. He walked toward the nearby storage cabinet, intending to find something inside — another guest had already retrieved nunchucks from there. Wen Xingze thought he’d just shake a tambourine a couple of times for his performance.
Also at that moment…
Wen Xingze suddenly remembered the mention of the Mustard Seed Space in the message from the Light Tower Logistics yesterday. They had said that the sea sent by the merfolk parents was already stored in the Mustard Seed Space.
Before his phone was confiscated last night, Wen Xingze had chatted with the Dragon Clan parents on WeChat one last time. They had also mentioned the Mustard Seed Space.
“Mustard Seed Space?” Wen Xingze couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild. “Is it like one of those magical personal spaces inside?”
Magical spaces were practically a staple in farming novels, and Wen Xingze had always wanted to try his hand at farming — growing sweet potatoes, grapes, mulberries, and the like…
However, the Dragon Clan parents hadn’t told him how to open this space. They claimed it was straightforward, something Wen Xingze could open anytime.
His memories resurfaced.
The other nine guests looked at him expectantly.
The director waved, signaling the cameraman to get a close-up shot of Wen Xingze. Regardless of what talent he was about to showcase — playing the suona or singing — it would undoubtedly become excellent material for this episode, perhaps even a hot topic.
In the close-up shot, the young man’s light amber eyes held a watery depth, and the beauty mark at the corner of his eye shimmered. His striking appearance would draw attention wherever he went.
Wen Xingze gripped the handle of the storage cabinet. The cabinet stood two meters tall, and as he absentmindedly pulled the doors apart, a rush of slightly salty, transparent seawater surged out. A small dolphin poked its head out from the cabinet, hesitating whether to emerge. It playfully raised its snout, greeting Wen Xingze.
From the outside, the cabinet revealed an endless expanse of deep sea, complete with familiar soft corals, seaweed, sperm whales, and ill-tempered lionfish darting around like flags.
The lantern fish puffed its mouth, flickering like an unstable light bulb. This was its unique way of saying hello.
All the marine creatures solemnly saluted Wen Xingze, and the little dolphin even waved its fin.
Amidst the gaze of all the guests and program staff, captured by eight synchronized cameras…
His Mustard Seed Space had arrived.
Wen Xingze: “…Wait a minute, what happened to not being able to mail living organisms?”
The guests and program crew: “…”
Clatter.
The director’s scorecard fell to the ground.
Wen Xingze immediately shut the cabinet, his mind in chaos. “This isn’t what you think! I can explain.”
However, the people around him seemed even more bewildered. The cameraman closest to him stared at Wen Xingze with a mix of confusion, helplessness, and impending breakdown. “Fine, explain.”
Wen Xingze felt like smoke was about to billow from his head. He had to think on his feet. “This is a type of performance, a ma—”
Zhu Bo, dazed: “Witchcraft?” (Note: 魔法 [Mófǎ])
Wen Xingze: “No, no, no, ma—”
The supermodel, wide-eyed: “Simulating three years of high school and five years of college entrance exams?” (Note: 模拟三年高考五年 [Mónǐ sān nián gāokǎo wǔ nián])
Wait, the word order was wrong, and what did that even have to do with anything! Wen Xingze felt equally helpless. “No, it’s, um, ma—”
A haughty voice interrupted him. “Magic act?” (Note: 魔术 [Móshù]. All the previous guesses had the same first syllable ^^)
“Yes, that’s it.”
Wen Xingze finally breathed a sigh of relief. But when he saw everyone’s increasingly horrified expressions, he had a bad feeling. Slowly turning his head, he saw that the cabinet door had somehow been opened from the inside.
Black hair, pale blue irises, and a veil covering the face.
Elder You disdainfully pushed the cabinet door open, surveying the surroundings. When his gaze met Wen Xingze’s, he wore an expression of contempt. However, his tail fin betrayed his intentions, wagging joyfully.
“Apologies, it seems I’ve arrived at an inopportune moment.”
His tone was haughty as he spoke, reaching to close the cabinet. The seawater that had spilled onto the ground flowed back inside as he shut the door.
Wen Xingze: “Haha…”
On the cruise ship, everything fell silent.
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Thanks for the hard work ~
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