Chapter 148: The Purple-Haired Blade, Killing Without a Trace

“Senior, you truly are a man of profound righteousness. Compared with you, I seem rather petty-minded.”

Seeing the opportunity, Yu Shang picked up the remark and offered the old dean a generous compliment. Whatever his reason for intervening, he had at least helped them, and they ought to show him some courtesy. To continue behaving rudely would only make them appear narrow-minded and disrespectful. Besides, Yu Shang suddenly felt that the old fellow was not quite as irritating as he had first thought. He was merely doing everything in his power to protect Yanlan Academy, which had been built through years of his blood and sweat. They, too, were only moving forward because they had a mission to fulfill. In truth, were they not all much the same?

“You needn’t try to sweet-talk this old man any longer, brat. But you said just now that your hair changed from black to purple. What exactly happened? Hurry up and tell me.”

For some reason, the old dean seemed deeply interested in Yu Shang’s purple hair and urged him to explain its origin. Yet Yu Shang detected a strange glimmer in his expression. Could this old fellow know why he had become like this? Was that why he was so eager to learn the details, so that he could confirm his own suspicions? If so, then this journey had truly not been in vain.

“That time, I was careless and fell into someone else’s trap. I drank wine mixed with Illusion God Powder without the slightest precaution. Soon afterward, my head grew heavy, and I lost consciousness. The man then drove the Soul-Stripping Light into my body. Perhaps that was what provoked the mystic gateways within me. Enraged by that overbearing light, they all opened unexpectedly, releasing every bit of the power hidden inside them. After that, the power completely transformed me.”

Yu Shang described that painful, unforgettable past in a remarkably calm voice. To the others, it might have seemed that he no longer cared much about what had happened. But who could see the pain surging through his heart? Who could know where the woman he still could not let go of was now?

“Since then, whenever that power bursts forth, have you felt any subtle changes? Do you feel that something about you has become different?”

The old dean asked softly, without the slightest trace of emotion. Yet the calmer he appeared, the more certain Yu Shang became of his own suspicions. It seemed that this old fellow truly knew something about the secrets of the mystic gateways within his body. His family had always treated that knowledge as the highest secret and would never reveal it. How, then, had the old dean learned its mysteries? It was truly baffling.

“I have indeed felt something of the sort. Each time that power surges out, it seems to stir the vital energy within my body, purifying it and making it purer while greatly increasing its strength. However, whenever the power returns to the mystic gateways, I become extraordinarily weak. Sometimes it is not apparent from the outside, but I feel utterly exhausted, as though I have no strength left to spare. That is the drawback of opening the mystic gateways within me.”

Yu Shang answered the old dean honestly. His instincts told him that perhaps this old fellow really could resolve the questions troubling him.

“Now that you mention it, I remember a peculiar phenomenon. Every time the mystic gateways within that brat open, his purple hair becomes more vivid. Its color grows deeper and richer—from the pale purple it had at first to the dark purple it is now. I did not pay much attention to it before, but in light of this, perhaps it is some kind of omen.”

Xiao Yin rarely wore such a serious expression. He had observed the matter with extraordinary care; even Yu Shang himself had failed to notice it. Yet Xiao Yin described every detail as though he were the one involved.

“By that reckoning, Yu Shang, your purple hair truly serves as a mark. Whenever your cultivation reaches a certain level and the mystic gateways within you open, its color grows deeper, and it becomes increasingly resilient. It symbolizes your advancement, much as a cultivator’s realm reflects his progress.”

The old dean gazed at Yu Shang’s purple hair and nodded repeatedly. Ever since Meng Youyuan’s previous life had revealed that secret to him, the old dean had been forced to reconsider his opinion of Yu Shang. He had never expected that, after looking more deeply, Yu Shang would truly possess the bearing of a natural king. Every part of him radiated an extraordinary presence.

“This purple hair is indeed remarkably tough. I can even turn it into blades and use it to catch an enemy off guard, leaving him unable to resist. Still, revealing my cultivation realm to everyone is not exactly ideal. Most people would never realize what it means, but I fear that someone else may understand the secrets of the mystic gateways within me. If they use its weakness to lure me into a trap, that could cause trouble.”

There was a hidden meaning in Yu Shang’s words, and the others were left confused. The old dean, however, merely smiled faintly. He understood exactly what Yu Shang was implying.

“Rest assured. I do not know who else might see through the secrets of the mystic gateways within you, but I can at least promise that this secret will not leave my lips. I have never liked using another person’s weakness as leverage. I believe in fair and honorable dealings conducted in the open. I have no interest in scheming against people from the shadows. If I ever intend to bring you down, I will do so openly and honestly.”

With that, the old dean threw back his head and laughed heartily. He did not seem offended by the hidden warning in Yu Shang’s words. Instead, he had laid the matter bare and put everyone at ease.

“I never imagined that this beautiful, alluring purple hair could also become a weapon capable of killing. Brother Yu, I have to say, you are a treasure from head to toe. I am truly envious!”

With that, Lan Wu mischievously reached out and stroked Yu Shang’s purple hair, only to snatch her hand back at once as though she had been pricked. When everyone looked again, the tips of her originally fair, jade-like fingers had turned bright red, swollen as if they had been pierced by needles. Combined with the pitiful, guilty look in her eyes, the sight made everyone feel sorry for her while also finding her mischief amusing.

“That is what you get for being so naughty. Now you have learned your lesson. Still, this purple hair is truly strange. A light touch is enough to cause injury. I cannot imagine what it would be like if it attacked someone of its own accord. That person would surely die horribly. So remember, you may make an enemy of anyone you like, but do not provoke Brother Yu. The consequences are not something you could endure!”

Yan Xuexu looked at Lan Wu with the indulgence one might show a younger sister. She drew the girl’s hand to her lips and blew gently on her fingers to ease the pain. For all Lan Wu’s fiery and sturdy appearance, she was in fact extremely afraid of pain. Even the slightest injury could make her cry out for ages.

Who those final words were meant for was impossible to say. Perhaps Yan Xuexu had deliberately spoken them for someone present; perhaps they had simply slipped out. In any case, her thoughts were not easy to read. At times, even Yu Xiaoran, the man she loved, could not fathom her intentions. One thing, however, was certain: her heart was on everyone’s side. Yu Shang was both sure of that and deeply relieved.

From the very first time he had met her, he had sensed that Yan Xuexu was no ordinary woman. She could see through the fears in people’s hearts and use those fears to bring them down. If Yu Shang had not understood her so well, and if his own will had not been strong enough, he would have been utterly defeated by her long ago, with no hope of ever recovering.

“I was only curious and could not help touching it. Who would have thought it would hurt like being pricked by a needle? It looks so soft and smooth, yet it is completely different beneath the surface. I was deceived by its appearance and suffered for it!”

Lan Wu pouted unhappily, though she knew that she had brought the trouble upon herself and could blame no one else. She could only sulk in silence. Her eyes remained fixed on Yu Shang’s purple hair, but this time there was unmistakably a trace of resentment in them.

“Do you think being pricked a few times is all there is to fear? Yu Shang’s cultivation is not yet strong enough to open all the mystic gateways within him and advance to the next realm. Once he reaches that level, this purple hair will no longer be merely a collection of blades. Each strand will become a purple needle capable of confusing the mind. He will be able to drive those strands into another person’s body, seize control of him, and even temporarily strip away his consciousness, turning him into a living corpse.

“You were fortunate today, girl. His purple hair has not yet fully evolved. Once it becomes sufficiently powerful, you will be placing your life in danger merely by touching it.”

The old dean spoke lightly, but there was a hint of anticipation in his voice. He seemed eager to witness the day Yu Shang became a true powerhouse, perhaps even willing to sacrifice something of his own to help him accomplish that great undertaking.

“That sounds truly unbelievable. I cannot imagine that purple hair could possess such wondrous abilities. How could it possibly be so powerful? To insert the strands into another person’s body and control his mind—that is simply too strange, too bizarre to seem real.”

Meng Youyuan stared at Yu Shang’s purple hair in bewilderment and shook her head. From her tone, she clearly did not believe the old dean. Yet he had no reason to invent such a lie to deceive them. Even so, no matter how she reasoned, she still could not accept what she had just heard.

“Have we not experienced enough extraordinary events from beginning to end? It may sound impossible, but when all the signs are considered, this may well be the truth. Do not forget—he is Yu Shang. Nothing incomprehensible that happens to him should surprise us. Besides, after hearing what Master said, I find myself looking forward to it. Brother Yu truly possesses an unfathomable treasure house. The deeper you explore, the more surprises it gives you. His potential seems inexhaustible, and it is still growing.”

Lan Bingxian smiled as he spoke. In truth, he did not think such a thing was impossible. If it happened to someone else, it might seem false. But if it happened to Yu Shang, it was perfectly ordinary. He had grown accustomed to the incredible things Yu Shang brought before them. If Yu Shang ever became ordinary, that would be what seemed strange.

“Then are the strands of this brat’s purple hair not rather similar to the Cold Orchid Needles of your Yanlan Academy?”

As he spoke, Xiao Yin playfully toyed with Yu Shang’s purple hair. To everyone’s surprise, however, it seemed completely harmless to him. His hand showed no change, and he did not appear to feel any pain. It was as though the little snake were stroking soft gauze rather than hair that could become a deadly weapon at any moment.

“You could put it that way. However, once our Cold Orchid Needles enter the body, they melt into the bloodstream and disappear without a trace. Yu Shang’s purple hair, on the other hand, can remain there permanently, growing in number while becoming increasingly powerful.

“But the purple hair has its own drawbacks. It causes Yu Shang inexplicable headaches, and if his cultivation is not strong enough, it may even endanger his life. The headaches can be temporarily eased, so they need not occur constantly. The danger of losing control and destroying himself, however, can only be suppressed through his own cultivation. Therefore, you must never relax for even an instant. Even if you do not seek fame throughout the world, you must at least consider your own safety.”

The old dean walked over to Yu Shang and patted him on the shoulder, speaking with deep earnestness.

“Then what can be done to relieve the brat’s pain? Is there any way to eradicate this weakness at its root, so that it can no longer harm him?”

Xiao Yin hurriedly asked the question, as though he himself were suffering from a grave illness. They truly were brothers who seemed to share one soul. Their bond was something ordinary people could never hope to match.