"Don't scare me, Granny. I'm naturally timid, you know? I once had nightmares for four or five days after watching someone kill a chicken." The bitterness on my face wasn't entirely feigned—after all, the room where someone had died three months ago was directly across from mine.
"The less you meddle, the safer you'll be. It should… be fine…" The short, plump old woman turned and left, leaving me alone in the corridor. A cold wind blew through, sending a chill down my spine from head to toe.
Under the flickering lights, I glanced at room 206 across the way. The peeling wooden door was rough to the touch, indistinguishable from the other doors except for the room number.
"I've come this far—what's there to be afraid of?" I took out the cigarette the taxi uncle had given me, lit it, and pushed open the door to room 203.
The room was more spacious than I'd imagined: a private bathroom, a double bed, and an old - fashioned wardrobe against the wall.
The furnishings were simple but complete. All things considered, 35 yuan a night was a steal.
Checking my phone, I realized it was already 11 p.m. I stubbed out my cigarette, set up the camera on the windowsill, and muttered, "Never thought my live - streaming debut would be in a 35 - yuan - a - night inn."
The equipment was working fine. I plugged in the mobile encoder and clicked on the Underworld Show icon on the large - screen phone.
"Image acquisition in progress…"
"Comment connection in progress…"
"Data stable. Start live stream?"
Having steeled myself, I didn't hesitate. I tapped "Yes," and the phone screen went black for a moment. When it lit up again, it had switched to the live - streaming feed.
A勻稱 young man around 1.8 meters tall was holding a phone by the bed.
"So this is what it feels like to see myself on screen." I sighed, though the live - streaming room was still empty.
"Different trades have different expertise. I'm good at solving homicides or tracking extramarital affairs, but live streaming is new to me." How could I attract more viewers? I thought of popular female streamers and glanced down at my collar: "Too bad I don't have the assets to flaunt."
"Tianxian Baobao Si Yu Mousha entered the live stream."
"Someone's here! Welcome to the Super Scary Live Stream, Baobao! Here, you'll find the most real challenges and the scariest stories!" I trailed off, suddenly realizing I had no idea what to do next. Was I just supposed to sit here and wait for a ghost to knock at midnight?
"Wait, I clicked on 'Beauty Extreme Temptation,' but why did I end up here with a fool?" Tianxian Baobao Si Yu Mousha was just as confused: "What are you even streaming? No announcement, nothing?"
"I guess you could call this a paranormal exploration stream, but that's not the point. The real reason I'm here is to find an answer."
"What answer?"
"Whether ghosts exist."
Tieling Biao Ye: "Heh, I love how you're talking nonsense with a straight face."
Xuejie Aishang Wo: "I've been looking too… for the oily Corpse Sister."
In just a few minutes, the live stream's popularity had risen to eleven. The Underworld Show's promotion channels must be effective.
No surprise, though—all my viewers had been tricked in. Some had been watching adult content, pants down, when an ad popped up, and now they were here with toilet paper in hand, dropped into the Super Scary Live Stream. Poor guys, I hoped this wouldn't leave them with psychological scars.
The others had stumbled in by accident, but they all shared one thing: they were watching alone.
"Streamer, this room looks familiar. Did I see it in the news?" A viewer with the ID San Nian Er Ban Huang Jingguan sent a colorful comment: "I'm from Jiangcheng. Is that Anxin Inn?"
"Finally, a sane person." I took out the newspaper I'd prepared: "That's right, this is Anxin Inn."
"Many of you might not know about this place, so look at the newspaper in my hand. Three months ago, a mysterious death occurred in this building. The police haven't found the cause, ruling it an accidental sudden death."
"But there's a photo of the deceased circulating online. His pupils were dilated, his jaw agape at a 90 - degree angle. Anybody with common sense knows he saw something terrifying before he died!"
"What did he see? Don't you want to know?"
The live stream fell silent, as if everyone was judging the truth of my words.
"My room is 203. The homicide room from three months ago is right across the hall." Ash fell, the cigarette had burned out without my notice. I lit another, staring at my reflection on the screen.
"Tonight, I'll take you all to uncover the truth. Yes, witnessing horror with my life—this is the meaning of the Super Scary Live Stream."
I thought it was a great speech, but the viewers weren't impressed.
Tieling Biao Ye: "Get lost, loser. If the police can't solve it, who do you think you are?"
Bie Pen Wo, Wo Hen Cuiruo: "Screenshot saved. Waiting to see the streamer pee his pants."
Ping An Business Manager: "Streamer, you need insurance. Our company's new family plan—one policy covers everyone…"
San Nian Er Ban Huang Jingguan: "Anxin Inn is definitely cursed. Be careful, streamer!"
The comments were all over the place, but they eased the fear in my heart. According to the Underworld Show's task, I didn't need to interact, just survive the night. But there were hidden experts among viewers—if I was in danger, they might be my only hope.
"Alright, everyone calm down. Let's start by checking the environment. I don't know feng shui, but after two years at the police academy, I know a thing or two about crime scene investigations."
Room 203 wasn't the death room from three months ago, but the Underworld Show specified it for the stream, so it must hold secrets.
"Doors and windows are intact, floors are clean. The furniture is outdated but spotless." I knelt with a cigarette in my mouth: "No blood or suspicious items under the bed. The wardrobe is damp. The TV opposite the bed is just for show. Wait—"
I moved the old box - style TV forward and found a mirror pasted on the wall behind it, just covered by the 30 - inch screen.
"Streamer, a mirror facing the bed is a huge taboo. This room might not be meant for the living." The comment from Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian reignited the chat.
Tieling Biao Ye: "Stop talking nonsense. I have a wall of mirrors in my bedroom and I'm fine."
Tianxian Baobao Si Yu Mousha: "Aren't there White Snake spirits at Qingcheng Mountain? Liu Banxian, Fahai is calling you home for dinner."
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian: "Believe it or not, in feng shui, mirrors ward off evil—they should face the direction of danger. Facing a person? That's a mirror curse, like a bloody maw sucking your vitality. At best, it makes you restless; at worst, it ruins your life."
Ren Shuai Huo Hao Meizhi Ai: "Probably a scammer. Since when do real Taoists type this fast?"
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian: "I've practiced two - finger typing since childhood. Fight me if you dare!"
I rubbed my temple, overwhelmed by the comments. If I hadn't experienced Wudeng Road, I'd be a hardcore atheist. But that terrifying interview had shattered everything I believed.
"Do monsters and spirits really exist?" I held up the camera: "Liu Banxian, calm down. This place is definitely unlucky. Can you tell me if staying here tonight is dangerous?"
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian: "You know it's a haunted house and still want to stay? Take my advice—pack up and leave, or your luck will suffer."
Tieling Biao Ye tipped the Super Scary Live Stream 99 ghost money.
Tieling Biao Ye: "Ignore that Taoist fraud, streamer. If you stay the night, I'll tip you 99 every hour."
"Tips already?" The Underworld Show's low - tier gifts were ghost money, ingots, and gold bricks, described in the contract I'd skimmed over.