Chapter 49: The True Rule

“Let’s begin. Those in the larger group go first. Do you need to discuss anything?”

The five heard this and remained silent. You looked at me, I looked at you—each face marked with the same two words: bewilderment.

“...Who wants to go first?” Number Two broke the silence first, his gaze sliding past Numbers Four and Eight beside him to the two standing behind, Numbers Five and Seven.

“Why look at us? You three from the New World should go first, right?” Number Five stepped back nervously.

“Exactly! Brother Liu Qiang, say something for us!” Number Seven looked to Li Chenqiu with pleading eyes.

Li Chenqiu glanced at him coldly before turning and seating himself beneath a wall-mounted sconce.

“Brother...” Number Seven’s eyes widened.

The palace owner, displeased, spoke up. “Number Seven, you go first. I despise traitors like you.”

Number Seven pressed his lips tight, forced himself forward to the center square of the nine-grid: “I choose this one.”

The moment he spoke, his eyes glazed over, his expression vacant. He stood like a zombie, staring ahead as if enduring some unseen ordeal.

An eerie silence fell over the room.

At that moment, Number Three, who was on Li Chenqiu’s team, helped Number Six to his side and sat down nearby.

“Brother Liu, what do we do now?” Number Three asked anxiously.

“Just take a spot connected to theirs, what else?” Li Chenqiu said calmly, pointing at Number Six, who was limping. “You go next. If the opponent hasn’t taken center, you take center. If they have, just pick any spot.”

“Me?” Number Six pointed to himself in surprise, hesitant, “My foot is like this...”

“It won’t affect you. It’s not like you’re going to fight or kill anyone. Didn’t you see Number Seven? He didn’t even move—probably just a simple brain teaser…”

Bang!

Before Li Chenqiu could finish, Number Seven suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood mist, disappearing without a trace.

“Unfortunately, Number Seven failed the test. It’s your turn now,” the palace owner’s deep voice echoed.

Number Three poked Li Chenqiu and stammered, “But... Brother Liu... didn’t you say it was a brain teaser?”

“I was guessing,” Li Chenqiu dismissed casually, then rose and stood before Number Six. “Go ahead. Good luck.”

Number Six curled up in a corner. “Can I... wait a moment?”

Li Chenqiu said nothing, lifted Number Six with one hand despite his struggles and laments, and threw him into the center spot. “We’ll take this one too.”

After Li Chenqiu’s words, Number Six stopped struggling and, like Number Seven before him, lapsed into a dumbfounded state.

Li Chenqiu had barely taken a few steps when a loud bang sounded behind him.

Number Six—dead!

“Ah?” Li Chenqiu stared in shock at the utterly obliterated Number Six, eyes wide with horror.

A joke? He turned his back for a moment and someone was already gone? Was this some kind of game?

Not only Li Chenqiu was stunned; everyone else was as well.

What was going on? Two people dead before even claiming a single spot?

“Truly regrettable. Next,” the palace owner’s voice rang out again.

Over at Number Two’s side, dark clouds seemed to hover above the four, each face pale and drained of color.

Number Five from the Underworld was about to speak when all three others turned their gaze toward him simultaneously.

“Well, I’ll go,” Number Five said with a resigned smile. He knew he had no choice.

Number Five stepped into the nine-grid, selecting the top-left square instead of the center, which offered more options.

Soon, Number Five fell into the same dazed state as the previous two, with Li Chenqiu standing silently beside him.

Minutes of quiet passed before a buzzing sound arose, and Number Five’s eyes cleared, shining with delight. “I made it. I made it!”

“Really?” Number Four asked in disbelief.

“Of course!” Number Two grinned, ecstatic for Number Five.

Glug-glug~

A rumbling noise came from Number Five’s stomach, and a series of symbols appeared before his eyes.

【○ Or ×】

Number Five looked at Li Chenqiu standing nearby. “Brother Liu, we chose the cross.”

“Then we’ll take the circle,” Li Chenqiu nodded.

Number Five tapped the “×,” and beneath his feet, a large cross appeared on the stone tile.

Seeing this, a faint smile played at Li Chenqiu’s lips, a flicker of understanding in his eyes—though no one else noticed.

Under Li Chenqiu’s urging, Number Three reluctantly stepped onto the nine-grid, selecting the top-right corner.

A minute later, Number Three exploded with a bang.

Li Chenqiu’s expression darkened as he folded his arms and stepped aside.

Only Numbers One, Two, Four, and Eight remained unoccupied on the board; Li Chenqiu was alone on his side.

“We’re stable. We still have three chances. As long as we claim one more spot on the grid, we win!” Number Two clenched his fist, turning to the weakest, Number Eight. “Go. I believe in you.”

“Come on!” Number Four grabbed Number Eight’s arm and shook it vigorously.

“Uh... okay, I’ll try my best.”

In the watchful eyes of all, Number Eight was forced onto the grid, choosing the first square in the second row from the left.

After three minutes, he followed Number Six’s footsteps, vanishing without a trace.

All eyes turned to Li Chenqiu.

Seeing him stand motionless, Number Two snapped, “What are you waiting for? Go!”

Li Chenqiu remained still and instead asked the palace owner, “May I let them go first?”

“Are you out of your mind? Number Eight is on our side. It’s your turn now.”

“If you don’t want to be blown to bits, now would be a good time to end it yourself.”

The others stared at Li Chenqiu as if he were a fool.

He ignored them, quietly awaiting the palace owner’s response.

“If you want to avoid the game, I will kill you,” the palace owner said coldly.

“Since stepping into this palace, I’ve been wondering why it’s called the Palace of Doubt. Now I understand,” Li Chenqiu paused, then continued, “It’s meant to keep me questioning everything.”

“Number One, what nonsense are you speaking? Hurry up and make your move. Are you trying to avoid the game?” the palace owner’s voice was tinged with anger.

“Watchdogs, which eye did you see me trying to avoid the game? I’m just following the rules!” Li Chenqiu turned to face Number Two and his group.

At this moment, he finally grasped the true rules of the game.