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Chapter 2: The Underworld Showcase

Only when the vehicles thin out in the deep of night can the expansive road reveal its own truths—those scars hidden beneath the myriad of conflicts during the day. Though I am but a third-rate detective, I approach each case with utmost dedication out of respect for my profession. The simplest way to discern whether a girl is lying is to personally venture to the unlit road at the appropriate time, in search of the underworld showcase advertised.

Upon opening my computer to conduct a search, I confirmed the existence of the Unlit Road in Jiangcheng. Locals refer to this road by another, rather peculiar name: Spiral Knot Top. The term actually signifies a place of stacked corpses; during the Anti-Japanese War, it was the largest slaughterhouse in Jiangcheng, where bodies were piled layer upon layer until they reached the rooftop. Residents nearby claim that streetlights cannot be installed here; if they are, they mysteriously extinguish by the following day, whether snuffed out by someone or extinguished inexplicably. The bulbs may be intact, yet the tungsten filaments have long since snapped, and no one dares to replace them. Even flashlights inexplicably fail to function in the alley. Any electrical device proves futile at night; motorcycles and electric scooters must be pushed along.

Typically, nearby residents do not venture out at night. Thus, encountering anyone on Spiral Knot Top after dark may not necessarily mean encountering a fellow human. The company's location truly lives up to its name of the underworld showcase. To be frank, I am a staunch atheist, grounded in logic. After an afternoon of research, I became increasingly convinced that this was merely an elaborate prank. The truth, whether real or illusionary, would reveal itself tonight.

Dressing in casual attire, I tucked the advertisement and a stun gun into my pockets and rode my bicycle towards the destination. By the time I arrived at the Unlit Road in the old town, darkness had fallen, accompanied by a light drizzle. What misfortune! On a rainy day, a stun gun can easily backfire, and encountering a wrongdoer would be most awkward.

Wandering through the labyrinthine alleys, flanked by antiquated buildings, I found the locals to be rather unfriendly towards me, an outsider. Any mention of the Unlit Road prompted them to wave their hands dismissively and hastily retreat. Without any guidance, like a headless fly, I meandered until after ten o'clock, still failing to locate the fabled Unlit Road. The rain intensified, shrouding the surroundings in a misty haze. I sought refuge from the downpour, yet the alleys offered no semblance of a proper shop. The few storefronts I encountered displayed paper houses, spirit horses, wreaths, and burial garments, clearly catering to the deceased.

As the rain fell heavier, I had no choice but to forcefully seek shelter in a funeral attire shop. To my astonishment, once the clock struck eleven, the proprietor extinguished all the lights, lit two white candles, and handed me a black umbrella typically used for grave visits, urging me to leave. These people were exceedingly strange.

Standing under the black umbrella in the rain, I gazed down the alley, which was entirely devoid of light. The Unlit Road? A shiver ran down my spine inexplicably as I wandered alone for over twenty minutes, lost in a maze of shadows. Just as I was about to retrieve my phone to call for help, I noticed an elderly woman across the street waving at me. In the dark and torrential rain, what was she doing out here alone? Where were her family?