The City That Never Sleeps reveled in song and dance, yet it had no shortage of places that harbored filth and corruption.
Above all, the true filth and secrets were often buried in the most inconspicuous corners.
Rouge scented the Rouge Workshop, its fragrance drifting through the alley.
As soon as Lai Laoliu led Su Jiu and the others into that mysterious alley, Su Jiu caught a rouge fragrance different from the one that wafted out of the Spring Willow Pavilion.
If the fragrance from the Spring Willow Pavilion was cloyingly sweet, then the scent in this alley was fresh and delicate.
Only a handful of shops in the alley had candles lit.
Compared with the bustle and splendor of the main street, however, this alley was exceedingly quiet.
After entering the alley, Lai Laoliu unconsciously became much less talkative.
A little while later, just as they were about to reach the end of the alley, Lai Laoliu suddenly issued Su Jiu and the others a solemn warning.
"Stay close to me for this next stretch. Unless I give you a signal, do not speak."
At first, the three of them did not understand his intentions, but Su Jiu soon realized what he meant.
Lai Laoliu led them another few steps forward, and the fragrance in the air abruptly changed.
To Su Jiu, the fragrance was still fresh and delicate, but another scent had mingled with it.
Almost by reflex, Su Jiu immediately held her breath.
Yet it was already too late. Everything around her went dark, and apart from Lai Laoliu, Chu Luohen, and Qi Song, everything in their surroundings vanished in an instant.
Su Jiu glanced at Lai Laoliu and pondered briefly, but ultimately said nothing.
As though he had noticed nothing, Lai Laoliu continued forward one measured