The Mighty Mage-Chapter 537: Hairstyles

Gu Jin was impressed. She nodded. "You’re more prepared than I thought."

Once the cave was secure, Gu Jin sat down by the fire and motioned for the others to sit too.

Then she spoke again, calm and clear.

"This is the plan: I’ll go out first. I’ll observe how these women tell who belongs here and who doesn’t. There must be signs—appearance, aura, something they use to identify outsiders."

She looked at each of them.

"Once I know the signs, I’ll help all of us change our appearance and mask our energy. We’ll disguise ourselves and blend in with the crowd."

Ming Rou bit her lip. "That sounds dangerous. You’ll be all alone."

Even Jiang Wei frowned. "You could get caught."

Gu Jin gave a small smile and shook her head. "I’ve already prepared for that."

She looked into the fire for a second, her voice soft but firm.

"I have a retreat."

Everyone blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Qin Ye asked.

Gu Jin looked at Qin Ye with a calm but firm face. "Don’t ask too many questions," she said. "Just know that I have something I can rely on."

Her voice was quiet, but full of confidence.

Inside, Gu Jin was thinking about her space—her special dimension that no one else knew about. Just a few moments ago, she had called out to it in her mind.

And this time... it had answered.

The connection wasn’t broken. That meant she could enter her space anytime she wanted. It was her greatest secret, her last resort. No one else could know about it.

What a joke, she thought. Why would I tell anyone about my space? It’s my trump card.

Seeing that Gu Jin didn’t want to explain more, the others didn’t press her. Instead, they nodded and got ready to sleep.

One by one, Jiang Wei, Ming Rou, and Qin Ye took out their sleeping pouches from their storage rings. They laid them out on the smooth cave floor and slipped inside.

Soon, the soft sound of breathing filled the cave.

But Gu Jin didn’t sleep.

She sat by the fire, staring into the soft orange flames, her eyes distant.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of Long Yifan.

Where are you? Are you safe? Are you hiding... or running... or hurt?

She bit her lip and hugged her knees to her chest.

Meanwhile, somewhere far above...

In the thick trees high above the colorful world, a figure was hidden among the leaves.

It was Long Yifan.

His body was crouched on a strong branch, completely hidden by thick green leaves. His face was pale, his clothes torn, and his eyes filled with frustration.

He muttered under his breath, "I really must be cursed."

He looked down at his hand—and his heart sank.

A long wound ran across his palm, fresh blood leaking from it slowly. He quickly wrapped it in a piece of cloth, but he knew it wouldn’t help for long.

If they smell this blood... I’m dead.

He cursed again, low and bitter.

His biggest problem wasn’t the blood—it was his cultivation.

For some unknown reason, his powers didn’t work properly in this world. It felt like some kind of curse had wrapped around him.

He could only store a tiny bit of mana at a time, and it took a lot of effort.

For two whole months, he had been gathering mana slowly, trying to build enough to create a teleportation array.

But at this rate... it might take years.

"I can’t survive here that long," he whispered.

He rested his head against the tree trunk and sighed.

Then, without thinking, a name came into his heart.

Gu Jin...

His eyes softened.

If she were here... maybe I’d be okay. She always had good ideas. She helped me think clearly. With her around... things were easier.

But she wasn’t here.

And he was alone.

Just then, voices echoed nearby.

Long Yifan froze and leaned forward slightly, parting the leaves to look down.

Two tall women were walking below. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

He didn’t recognize them—but their voices made his skin crawl.

"If we catch that man," one said, laughing, "I’ll make him serve me until he can’t leave the bed for a month."

The other one giggled. "You’re too soft. I’m going to break him in the first night."

Long Yifan’s heart stopped.

His face turned pale. A chill ran down his spine.

He stayed as still as a stone.

But suddenly... one of the women looked up.

Her eyes scanned the treetops.

Long Yifan quickly ducked and pressed his back to the trunk.

The other woman asked, "What’s wrong?"

"I felt like someone was watching us," the first one said, her voice suspicious.

"You’re just imagining things," her friend replied with a shrug. "Let’s keep looking."

They walked away, still talking, still hunting.

Once their footsteps faded, Long Yifan let out a shaky breath. He could barely hold his fear in.

I can’t live like this anymore... he thought. I’d rather die than be made into some vessel. Or worse...

The very idea of giving his body to those women disgusted him.

His hands trembled.

He closed his eyes and whispered, "Maybe I should just end it."

But then... something happened.

A strange warmth bloomed in his chest.

His eyes flew open.

He knew that feeling.

That was his soul link—one he had secretly placed in Gu Jin’s body long ago, so that if she was ever in danger, he could protect her from afar.

But now... he was sensing it.

She’s here...

Long Yifan’s heart pounded. Why can I feel the link now? Is the portal open? Or...

Is Gu Jin... actually in this world?

His chest tightened with panic.

If she were here, then she was in danger too.

"No," he whispered. "She can’t be here. She has to leave. It’s not safe for her."

Even though a part of him wanted to find her right away... he couldn’t. If he went to her, he might bring danger to her, too.

Gu Jin, please... if you’re here... leave quickly. Don’t get caught. Don’t...

He held his breath, looking at the stars through the green sky above.

The next morning, soft light filtered through the cave walls. Gu Jin slowly wriggled out of her sleeping pouch. She glanced around—the three others were still fast asleep. Their breathing was slow and steady, and none of them stirred.

She quietly stood up and walked over to the edge of the cave. Before leaving, she grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a quick note.

"Don’t worry. I’ve gone out to observe. Will return soon. — Gu Jin"

She placed the note near their bags so they would see it the moment they woke up.

Then, with silent footsteps, she stepped outside.

The early air was crisp and still. The sky was green and glowing like before, and not a single soul seemed to be around.

Gu Jin looked carefully in every direction. No one was watching. No footsteps. No whispers. Nothing.

Satisfied, she darted back into the cave.

Inside, she opened her bag and began her disguise. She used a special mask to make herself look completely different. Her skin became dull and rough, her eyes changed shape, and her face turned plain and ugly. Nothing about her would stand out.

She even wore baggy, faded clothes that made her look tired and weak.

After double-checking her disguise in a small mirror, she nodded to herself.

"Perfect," she whispered.

Then she walked out again and began to climb the mountain path slowly, blending into the shadows.

For the first two hours, Gu Jin didn’t talk to anyone. She stayed far away and watched quietly.

From a hidden spot near a large boulder, she observed the strange women in this world.

And soon, she noticed something.

Almost all the women had similar hairstyles. Some tied their hair into high buns. Some had low braids. A few had their hair let loose, waving in the breeze.

But it wasn’t just the hair.

The clothes had patterns and colors too.

Gu Jin’s sharp eyes noticed that most women with red-colored clothes had their hair loose. They walked with confidence, and everyone gave way when they passed. It was clear—they were powerful.

Others wore blue clothes and had their hair tied up in buns. These women seemed more polite and respectful. Whenever they crossed paths with red-clothed women, they bowed or stepped aside.

So... there’s a rank system here, Gu Jin thought. Hair and clothes show your level.

There were a few others with different colors—green, purple, even gray—and each had a different style.

She guessed there were four or five ranks. It wasn’t obvious to a stranger, but Gu Jin was used to watching people. She could tell.

If I want to enter this society, she thought, I’ll need an identity. I can’t just walk in randomly.

Her eyes sharpened. She was just about to look for someone to knock out and take their clothes when she heard something.

Shouts.

Running.

She quickly turned.

Just down the slope, two tall women in gray police-like uniforms were chasing another woman.

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