Chapter Ninety: Turning the Spear Around, Pointing It Straight at Featherfall

The old dean, who had been standing in the corner all this time, saw the group of young people speaking in veiled hints and half-finished meanings. If anyone else heard them, who knew what they might think? In his view, these children were deliberately trying to ruin that image of his: kindly and approachable, yet still dignified and commanding. Asking him for help was no problem, but he wanted to see how they would manage that stubborn boy with the sharp tongue.

So he smiled at them with a mischievous look and said, “You needn’t beat about the bush with me. I said I would keep you safe here, and I meant it. But I think the one you ought to settle first is that boy, not waste your breath trying to persuade me.”

With that, the old dean cast a sidelong glance at Yu Shang, whose expression was unusually grave.

Then he looked back at the others as though settling in to watch a show, wanting to see how they would deal with what came next. In his eyes, Yu Shang was no easy opponent. Especially when cornered, he would fight back with everything he had until the other side no longer posed a threat. Such explosive force and counterattack were not something just anyone could withstand; one careless step, and a person could plunge into an abyss from which there would be no return.

Yet this time, part of his resistance was also for the sake of the others. The old dean thought he would not treat them the way he treated everyone else, but neither would he yield easily. After all, that stubborn nature of his was not something that could be changed so readily. Still, the old dean found himself looking forward to the spectacle. He wanted to see what choice the boy would make when forced to choose between his principles and his friend.

“I’ve said it many times already: there’s no need for you to keep wasting your time trying to talk me around. No matter what you say, I will not change my mind,” Yu Shang said, his voice as steady as a mountain, unmoved even by thunder from the heavens. It was clear he had made up his mind; no matter what tricks they tried, nothing would shift his resolve.

“Who said I was going to waste more breath on useless talk? This master has no patience left for you. Since neither sweet words nor harsh ones work, I no longer need to be polite. I’ll just use force,” Xiao Yin said, taking up a fighting stance. He, too, seemed determined not to stop until he reached his goal.

“What, are you planning to force me to agree by brute strength? Don’t forget that when the two of us sparred before, we were evenly matched. And now, in this treasure vault, all our true energy has been suppressed, so none of us can draw out our full power. Unless we fight purely by techniques, victory will come down to skill alone. And on that score, you’re no match for me,” Yu Shang said with a faint, easy smile as he looked at Xiao Yin.

Though his tone carried a trace of disdain, inwardly he was also deeply moved. When Yu Shang first learned of Xiao Yin’s existence, he had not thought much of the little serpent. He had always felt that, though Xiao Yin seemed foolish on the surface, inside he was a cunning and dangerous fellow. If it came down to wit and calculation, Yu Shang knew he could never outmatch him.

But after spending more time with him, he gradually came to understand him. Xiao Yin might have plenty of sly ideas and might not be a good person, but at the very least he had always been good to him. Through many hardships, he had stayed by his side. At first, Yu Shang had thought it was only because of the bond of their pact that the little serpent had no choice but to remain with him and never leave.

Yet in every matter, Xiao Yin put him first. He would rather be injured himself than allow anyone else to harm Yu Shang. That rare sincerity truly moved him. Little by little, the two of them went from strangers to brothers who knew and protected one another, until now they had become the other half of the same soul, inseparable. If one day Xiao Yin were to suddenly leave him, Yu Shang was certain he would feel unbearably empty.

Now this little serpent was once again exhausting himself for his sake, willing even to cast aside his own life. Yu Shang truly did not know how he could ever repay such genuine devotion. So he would do everything in his power to defeat Xiao Yin and not allow him to take such risks on his behalf. Even if he himself were to fall into utter ruin and never rise again, he would not use Xiao Yin’s safety as a shield to escape this calamity.

“Hmph. Who said I was going to fight you one on one? Do I look that stupid? Of course the rest of us will deal with you together. And even if we can’t use true energy, so what? We still have our swords. Such treasures won’t be restrained by this vault. I refuse to believe that all these people together still can’t beat one brat like you,” Xiao Yin said, looking at Yu Shang with open contempt.

This brat was far too dismissive of him. True, he was somewhat arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid. How could he do anything without confidence? No matter what happened today, he would plant the spirit essence into the boy’s body. He would not allow this fool to rush headlong into a contest with someone who possessed the secret arts of his clan without any safeguard at all.

Still, this brat was foolish in his own way. Rather than use such a good method, he insisted on taking a dangerous path himself. If he allowed the spirit essence to enter his body, his cultivation would surely surge, bringing him one step closer to the day the sealed passage was opened. If anyone else had heard the proposal, they would have accepted it without hesitation. Only this boy, because of Xiao Yin’s safety, would refuse a temptation so irresistible.

“You’d better not forget that the master sword among these ten swords is already in my hands. The moment I reveal it, the other swords will only have to obey. And as I see it, the rest of you don’t seem eager to help you anyway,” Yu Shang said, producing the master sword and deliberately moving it back and forth before the others.

It was as though he were warning them not to make easy targets of him, or the consequences would be ugly indeed. In truth, he was not trying to act superior. He was only forced to put on such a nauseating front for Xiao Yin’s sake and for the sake of the others. He knew they were stepping forward for him, but he still hoped they would abandon the idea.

Yet just as Yu Shang was putting on that smug expression and brandishing the master sword, a streak of white light suddenly shot out from the corner. In an instant, it enveloped the sword, and then, with a speed like lightning, carried it back into the corner.

When Yu Shang and the others followed the white light with their eyes, they finally understood that the one behind this sudden turn of events was none other than the old dean.

At that moment, the old dean was looking at the master sword in his hand with a wicked smile. No one knew what fresh mischief he was plotting. Seeing this, Yu Shang frowned in displeasure and asked, “Dean, what are you doing? Don’t you know that taking someone else’s belongings without permission, and claiming them as your own, is very disrespectful and terribly rude?”

That old fellow must have deliberately wanted to see him lose, which was why he had seized control of the master sword when Yu Shang was off guard, leaving him with no ability to govern the other swords. Otherwise, why would he not help earlier or later, but choose this exact moment, when the others had all taken the same side against him, to suddenly interfere?

Yu Shang could not understand what on earth that old fellow was thinking. Why did he enjoy seeing him in trouble so much? Had he perhaps wronged him in some former life, and was now doomed in this one to repay that debt while being tormented and threatened all the while, unable even to resist, forced to let himself be butchered at will?

What puzzled Yu Shang even more was this: in the treasure vault, were they not unable to use their true energy? Why, then, could this old fellow summon it at any time? Could it be that he possessed some method of suppressing the vault’s mysterious power? Or was his cultivation truly so profound that even the power left behind by an ancient deity could not restrain him?

Still, Yu Shang was more inclined to believe the former. He simply refused to believe that this old fellow was that formidable. Otherwise, why would he still need to pressure and tempt them into serving the Azure Orchid Academy? If he truly had such ability, he would not need so many outsiders at all.

“The old man simply promised to ensure their safety. Besides, a contest like this is the only fair one! And I am rather curious to see how your wicked little self intends to defeat so many people. You should know my disciples are by no means inferior to you,” the old dean said from the side with gleeful laughter, entirely ignoring Yu Shang’s murderous glare.

The old fellow still had the nerve to call this fair. What on earth did he take fairness to mean? Did he really believe that the few of them, swords in hand, attacking one unarmed man, could be called fair? This was plainly designed to make him fall to their hands, so Xiao Yin could plant the spirit essence into his body. Even if he wanted Yu Shang to win, he needn’t do it this way!

“I am truly impressed by your old gentleman’s way of thinking. I fear I shall never in my life come close to even half of your wisdom,” Yu Shang said through clenched teeth, his words venomous with rage. He wanted nothing more than to rush up and teach that old fellow a lesson. But here, the old dean could freely use his true energy while Yu Shang himself was suppressed and unable to do the same. If he went up rashly, he would only be trampled. Otherwise, he would have fought him to the end and given that old snake a proper beating for all his rotten schemes.

“Since Master has spoken, how could I stand by and watch? Brother Yu, this is not because I want to oppose you, but because your master’s orders are hard to disobey,” Yin Boxuan said brightly to the fierce-looking Yu Shang. Yet even without the old man’s words, he would probably have rushed forward eagerly to fight Yu Shang. After all, he strongly agreed with Xiao Yin’s reasoning. Besides, if it were only Yu Shang alone, he would not have taken him seriously.

“I am one of the owners of these ten swords. It would make no sense for everyone else to fight so hard while I stood by and watched. So, Brother Yu, I’m sorry, but I will be joining them,” Meng Youyuan said quietly with her head lowered. If she had to draw a sword against Yu Shang, she truly could not bring herself to do it. But this matter was too important, and she could no longer afford so many scruples.

“Even Youyuan has joined in. As her man, I certainly can’t stand on the sidelines,” Lan Bingxian said softly as he walked to Yu Shang’s side. “Even if I truly don’t want to make trouble with you, Brother Yu, this time I have no choice but to follow along.”

“To be honest, I have always agreed with Xiao Yin’s plan this time. From my point of view, it does not carry much danger. On the contrary, if you go up onto that contest stage, the danger you will face will be far greater than what Xiao Yin faces now. So I have no reason not to stand on the same side as them. I only hope this matter will not affect our friendship,” Leng Huaiyi said with a smile from the side.

“Perhaps you think my view of this matter is biased, but whether in public or in private, I have no reason to refuse. Brother Yu, I’m sorry. I cannot stand by and watch the chance to avenge a blade-wound enemy slip away, nor can I watch my friend be hurt by his enemy,” said Yan Xuesu, sounding somewhat guilty. Yet Yu Shang did not look down on her at all; on the contrary, he admired her frankness. She said exactly what she meant, without lying to save face.

“You probably don’t even need me to say what I’m thinking, do you? And this time, it isn’t only for Yan’er’s revenge or your life, but also to repay you for defeating me that day in Hidden Nether City!” Yu Xiaoran laughed heartily with a wicked grin. But Yu Shang understood that the final line was nothing more than a joke. All those old matters between them had long since been scattered by the wind, swept away by the bond they shared.