Chapter 48: Deadly Game

Li Chenqiu pressed both hands against the door without turning his head and said, “Push it open. This place feels eerie—better to finish quickly and get out.”

At Li Chenqiu’s urging, the other seven stepped forward, placing their hands on the grand palace doors.

“Start pushing!”

With the combined effort of all eight, the immovable door finally began to shake. Dust and cobwebs fell in clumps onto their heads.

Clang!

The heavy door creaked open just a crack, releasing a sharp, rotten wood stench that surged into their nostrils.

“Ugh…”

“What’s that smell… ugh…”

Those standing at the doorway collapsed to their knees, clutching their noses and gagging.

“You’ll get used to it,” Li Chenqiu said, patting one man on the shoulder as he squeezed through the gap sideways. The others, enduring the stench, followed suit.

Inside, darkness prevailed, save for moonlight filtering through the windows. The oppressive atmosphere forced them to huddle close, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

Once the last person entered, the door slammed shut with a thunderous boom, echoing through the hall.

“Ghosts!!”

A resurrected soul near the door was so frightened he collapsed to the floor, clutching a companion’s pant leg, eyes wide with terror toward the door.

“Pull yourself together! The underworld’s watching—get up now!”

“Okay…” he whimpered, slowly pushing himself up, trembling against the wall.

Li Chenqiu withdrew his gaze and stepped forward. The moment his foot touched the floor, a rushing wind-like whooshing filled the hall.

Then, flickering candlelight spread inward along the walls beside the door, until the entire room was brightly illuminated, revealing every shadowed corner.

The hall was small, just over two hundred square meters, with nothing remarkable in sight—empty and bare.

The sole peculiarity was a nine-square grid drawn in red chalk on the floor’s center.

“Welcome to the Palace of Doubt. I am its master. I assume you’ve all come for the Key of Doubt!” a hoarse voice echoed from all directions.

Silence fell. After a few seconds, Li Chenqiu asked in a deep voice, “Where are you?”

“That’s not important. What matters is the Key of Doubt. You’re all here for it, yes?”

Li Chenqiu nodded without argument. “Yes. Where is the Key of Doubt?”

“I’ll invite you eight to play a game. The side that wins will receive the key.”

As the voice fell, crimson numbers appeared above each of the eight heads. Li Chenqiu looked upward to see the number “1” floating above him.

Turning around, he noticed everyone bore a number—his was the smallest, “1,” and the largest was “8.”

“Huh, there’s a number 6 above my head. What does this mean?”

“No idea. Mine’s 7,” another answered.

Their questions were soon answered.

“From now on, your number above your head will be your name for convenience,” the palace master said with satisfaction.

Seeing no objection, he continued, “Now I’ll divide you into two teams. How? Simple—those showing palms are one side, backs of hands the other. Anyone caught colluding or signaling will be killed instantly.”

A cold wind swept through the hall, chilling them to the bone.

Li Chenqiu turned and shouted to the others, “Don’t waste time. Hurry up.”

The eight formed a circle and simultaneously extended their hands.

Three palms and five backs—unluckily, Li Chenqiu showed palm, so his teammates were the underworld’s number 3 and the New World’s number 6.

“This…” number 6 stared at the uneven teams in disbelief. “This isn’t balanced!”

“Hmph,” the palace master chuckled. “I never said the teams had to be equal. Now that teams are set, let me explain the game. See the nine-square grid on the floor?”

They all nodded.

“Heh heh, the game is Tic-Tac-Toe—one of the simplest games imaginable.”

“Tic-Tac-Toe?” Li Chenqiu raised an eyebrow, surprised.

The game involved two players marking circles and crosses on a grid, each trying to create a line horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Whoever succeeded first would win.

Li Chenqiu often played this as a child with Qi Mingyue, but the game often ended in stalemate because of its simplicity.

“That’s right, Tic-Tac-Toe. Each person gets one move per turn. Circles and crosses—whoever forms a line first wins. Losers…” The palace master paused. “Die here.”

At that, number 6, who had been steady on the New World team, widened his eyes in disbelief and shouted, “Die here?!!”

“Don’t think I can’t do it?” the master sneered.

Number 6 stepped back nervously, hesitated, then yelled, “I… I’m not playing anymore! I don’t want the key—I want to leave!”

He turned and ran toward the door, but before taking many steps, a gleam flashed beneath his feet.

A sickening sound.

Blood splattered as one foot was flung high, and number 6 fell hard to the ground.

“Ah! My foot! My foot!”

“Wang Huan!”

“Are you alright?”

The New World contingent’s faces fell as they helped number 6 up.

“Don’t worry. Until the game’s done, I won’t let him die. Play calmly—don’t make me kill anyone else,” the palace master said casually, as if murder were no more than a mundane task.

Before the New World team could respond, the underworld’s number 3 shouted hoarsely, “How’s this fair? Five of them, three of us. We’re doomed!”

Li Chenqiu frowned deeply. Number 3 was right: with only one move each, they had no chance. But if the outcome was predetermined, why hadn’t the game ended already?

“Don’t worry. One move per person is all. Whether you get to place your mark depends on your ability,” the master said.

Li Chenqiu raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“To place a mark, you must stand in the grid. Each square holds a trial. Complete the trial, then you may place your mark,” the master explained slowly.

“If no one forms a line in the end, how will you decide the winner?” number 2 asked seriously.

“The side occupying more squares wins. If it’s a tie… hmm… I know! Then I’ll just kill everyone. Fun, isn’t it?” the master said eagerly.

At this, a faint murderous gleam flickered in Li Chenqiu’s deep eyes.