"You'd help us decipher the Ghost Mark Yin Gua? Kid, you're not up to something, are you?" Di Que leaned in, staring intently into my eyes as if trying to detect any hidden motives.
I offered him a smile and an innocent look. "How could I have any ulterior motives? Everyone here is your subordinate. Even if I wanted to plot something, I'd have to consider my own life. You elders have lived longer and experienced more than I have eaten rice; how could I possibly have any schemes?"
Di Que fell silent and turned to Old Ghost and Old Blind, suggesting, "Why not let this kid give it a try?"
Old Ghost pondered for a moment and said gravely, "Trying isn't impossible, but I fear this kid might secretly cause trouble and ruin our grand plan. This kid is more cunning than a monkey!"
Old Blind chimed in, "Old Ghost is right. Letting him try is an option, but we need to find a way to make him obedient. Otherwise, we'd rather he didn't try at all."
The Ghost Gu expert, clad in a black robe, who had been silent since our arrival, suddenly spoke, "How about this? I'll place a gu on him. Even if he runs away, we can still retrieve him. We can decide if he lives or dies; his life and death will be entirely in our control."
Upon hearing this, I couldn't wait for them to finish their discussion. If a gu were planted on me, I would truly become their plaything, subject to their every whim.
"I disagree, I absolutely refuse to have a gu planted on me. If you force a gu on me, I won't help you break the Ghost Mark Yin Gua. Then, let's see how you open the palace gate."
"Oh ho, I didn't expect you to be so tough! Dwarf, just plant the gu on him. It's even better if he dies. I specialize in dealing with ghosts; even in death, he won't find peace."
"That's all I needed to hear." The Dwarf chuckled in agreement. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a plump, greenish, grub-like creature, about the thickness of a thumb, covered in bumps.
"Kid, let me give you a taste of the Qing Si Gu..."
Before I could object, my mouth was forced open, and something was shoved inside, sliding down my esophagus into my stomach.
"Pah... Ugh..." I tried desperately to spit out the Qing Si Gu.
"Kid, don't bother. If you could spit out the gu, it wouldn't be a gu anymore. Let's see what real heartache feels like." As the Dwarf finished speaking, he produced a whistle woven from green grass and brought it to his lips, blowing a faint sound, similar to a mosquito's buzz.
Instantly, I felt a sharp pain in my heart, as if an invisible hand were tightening its grip. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead as the agony intensified. I peered inward, examining my heart.
I discovered that the Qing Si Gu I had swallowed had already formed a web around my heart, tightly encasing it. When the Dwarf blew the whistle, the green gu tugged at the silk threads, causing me unbearable pain.
"Kid, how is it? Do my methods impress you?" The Dwarf let out a sinister chuckle.
The others joined in with laughter. Old Ghost even praised the Dwarf, calling his method excellent.
Old Blind pouted, "If you had this trick, why didn't you use it sooner? I had to cast so many divinations to capture you. You truly deserve a beating."
The Dwarf chuckled at Old Blind's complaint, offering no explanation.
"Kid, obediently decipher the Ghost Mark Yin Gua, and I guarantee you'll leave here alive. Otherwise, I'll show you what it means to be unable to live and unable to die. Don't believe me? Try me," Old Ghost said, untying my ropes while threatening me.
I really wanted to spit a mouthful of mouthwash in his face. Try me, you old fool! After experiencing that heart-wrenching sensation once, no one would want to go through it again. Besides, if I didn't kill all you old geezers here, how could I avenge my father?
Upon learning that they were the ones who had caused my father to fall into a coma for ten years, robbed me of my childhood, and forced me to learn Yin Gua at a young age, the suffering I endured was indescribable. It was a history filled with nothing but hardship and tears. If I didn't bury them all here alive, it would be a betrayal of all the suffering I had endured.
"Forget trying. But I'll make myself clear: I've never deciphered a Ghost Mark before, and I have no confidence in whether I can succeed. Don't place too much hope in me."
"How will you know if you don't try? Hurry up and break it, or you'll regret it." The Dwarf said, giving me a kick.
I glared fiercely at him, vowing inwardly, "Damn Dwarf, when I get my hands on you, I'll turn you into a green toad!"
As the few old men watched me walk towards the palace gate, they gathered around the campfire, discussing something. Tian Can handed me a flashlight so I could study the Ghost Mark.
The palace gate was enormous, much taller than the fake palace gate we had encountered earlier. Its material was also different from the fake one. The fake palace gate was made of bronze, but this one's material was indistinguishable. It looked like black stone, yet it felt cold to the touch and possessed a distinct metallic texture.
After examining it closely, I couldn't find the Ghost Mark Yin Gua they spoke of. Instead, the gate was covered in numerous raised black dots, arranged in a specific pattern. These dots were imperceptible unless one reached out to touch them.
I felt every spot within my reach, mentally counting them. There were exactly 108 dots. This made me wonder, could this be the Ghost Mark Yin Gua? It seemed too coincidental. How could the number be so similar to the number of Heavenly Gang Seals?
Having studied Yin Gua for ten years under my master, I had never heard him mention the Ghost Mark Yin Gua. I trusted that my master had taught me everything he knew and had no hidden knowledge. Therefore, opening the palace gate should be related to the Heavenly Gang Seals.
However, there were 108 Heavenly Gang Seals, and I only knew three of them. I hadn't studied the remaining 105 seals, not because I didn't want to, but because my Xuan Yang True Qi was too weak, making any study futile.
Normally, one should practice other seals upon reaching the "Peering" realm. But due to various reasons, they had all been put aside. Taking advantage of this opportunity to study them wouldn't be too late, even if it felt like a last-minute cramming session.
Just as I was about to practice the other Heavenly Gang Seals, a discordant voice suddenly sounded in my ear.
"Kid, what are you standing there gawking at? Are you plotting something?" The voice was abrupt. I saw the Dwarf's short figure appear beside me.
He was already clad in a black robe, and engrossed in my thoughts about the Heavenly Gang Seals, I hadn't noticed when he had approached me.
"Don't people know that scaring others can kill them? You just scared away the idea I had just conceived. You're ruining my great plan, you know?" My outburst attracted everyone's attention, and the Dwarf's face turned extremely dark. He couldn't and wouldn't take this blame.
"Don't listen to this kid's nonsense. I've been watching him stand here spacing out for several minutes," the Dwarf quickly explained.
"Yes! We noticed too. This kid is full of tricks. You keep a close eye on him," Old Ghost said, glancing at me, and then to the Dwarf, "You just watch him. Don't disturb his thoughts. The rest of us will take a break."
"Understood... I'll complete the mission..."