Chapter 1: I Really Didn

“So why did you sneak in to watch them bathe?”

“I don’t know! I just woke up…”

“Zhou Qing of Xiao Ling Peak, this is the Discipline Hall. I hope you will give a truthful account.”

“I really didn’t know! After drinking too much last night, I fell asleep on that rock, and when I opened my eyes, I saw them taking off their clothes.”

“You mean all eighteen girls completely failed to notice you?”

“Probably.”

“It’s such a tiny hot spring, you were lying right by the edge, and all eighteen pairs of eyes just ignored you?”

“That’s exactly it—I think they simply didn’t see me as a person at all, let alone a man.”

“Heh, do you think we believe that?”

“Let’s not argue about whether we believe you. If you were the one sneaking a peek, would you dare lie flat on the edge and stare openly?”

“That does sound unlikely. Maybe you’re just bold? Wanted a better view?”

“You’re underestimating me. I’m Zhou Qing, a core disciple of Xiao Ling Peak—my eyesight isn’t something to doubt. Besides, I was the one who shouted first, so why did you drag me in?”

“Then why wait until they were nearly naked before you shouted?”

“I already said—I was asleep.”

…………

Outside the Discipline Hall, over a dozen women were weeping uncontrollably, while several black-robed Discipline Hall members comforted them and questioned them.

“That hot spring is rarely visited. Why did you suddenly decide to go there together?”

“Didn’t any of you notice someone following you?”

“Who spotted him first?”

…………

Shhh!

A slash of blade-energy cut through the air, then coalesced into the form of a round-faced, small-eyed man with a sturdy build.

The man looked frantic. After landing, he swiftly scanned the women, then let out a cold snort.

“You girls? You think I’d send my little brother to sneak a peek at you?”

Without another word, he ignored the frozen female disciples and stormed into the Discipline Hall.

Not long after, he emerged with dark circles under his eyes and blood trickling from his nose, grinning triumphantly as he led Zhou Qing out.

Zhou Qing looked at his appearance and sighed.

"Third Senior Brother, how unfair is this beating? I was almost clearing my name, and you had to shout out who grabbed me—how could the Hall Masters not get angry?" Zhou Qing said.

Yan Xiaohu winced, rubbing his nose and grimacing in pain.

His already tiny eyes had swollen shut to mere slits.

Yan Xiaohu said, “I just panicked and forgot.”

Taiqingmen has thirteen peaks; disciples are divided into four tiers: outer, inner, true transmission, and core.

Only core disciples are directly enrolled under their peak’s master, and if they commit offenses, they are judged jointly by the three Hall Masters of the Discipline Hall.

“So, you really didn’t watch them bathe?” Yan Xiaohu squinted through his swollen eyes, glancing around—the women from earlier had vanished.

Zhou Qing said, “I didn’t. If I’d sneaked a peek, I’d have called you. Besides, didn’t we drink together last night? You dug out that hot spring with your bare hands after getting drunk—don’t you remember?”

Yan Xiaohu stared blankly at the dirt under his fingernails.

“I wondered why my fingers hurt so much when I woke up at noon. Now that you mention it, I kinda remember… but didn’t you leave? How did you end up sleeping there?”

Yan Xiaohu asked, puzzled.

Zhou Qing snapped, “You know how weak my alcohol tolerance is! You got me drunk, then just walked off—otherwise none of this would’ve happened.”

Yan Xiaohu immediately looked embarrassed and hurried to apologize.

Zhou Qing feigned anger, but his spirit stirred—and a panel only he could see appeared.

【Name: Zhou Qing】

【Age: Nineteen】

【Cultivation Base: Qi Condensation Seventh Layer】

【Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Mystical Qi Scripture】

【Talent Skill: Reduce Presence】

【Level: LV1 (36/100)】

【Skill Fragment: 1/3 (Unobtainable)】

Seeing the new skill fragment, Zhou Qing felt a surge of excitement.

Reduce Presence—this was thrilling.

Imagine being among a crowd, and everyone unconsciously overlooks you—you’re like a ghost, invisible, yet able to overhear or witness things you’d never dream of.

Like this time: so many female disciples, yet not one glanced his way. Better than an invisibility talisman.

No—even invisibility talismans couldn’t match having no presence.

“Right now, the 【Reduce Presence】 talent is only LV1, effective only against Qi Condensation disciples. The chance of being ignored is just 30%. There’s still a 70% chance of being noticed. This time, I got lucky—they all overlooked me together.”

Zhou Qing muttered to himself, then looked back at the panel.

He needed 64 more ignore points to reach LV2—then he’d have a chance of being ignored by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

To gain ignore points, the method was simple: stay longer in increasingly dangerous, tense, crowded environments without being noticed.

This was the best way to level up “no presence”—a method Zhou Qing had tested repeatedly.

Last night, under the bright moon and clear stars—what a thrilling scene.

Hearing the ignore points tick +1, +1—he couldn’t bear to interrupt.

Just as the last two garments were about to come off, he couldn’t hold back—he tried to slip away quietly—but his foot slipped, and he fell.

Instantly, dozens of eyes turned toward him.

In that moment, he wished he could crawl into a crack in the earth.

With no choice, he turned passive into active and shouted “Assault!”

But he hadn’t expected to gain a new skill fragment during that tense moment.

One 【Reduce Presence】 was already this powerful. Zhou Qing couldn’t wait—what kind of talent would emerge if he collected all three fragments?

…………

When Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu returned to Xiao Ling Peak, arm in arm and laughing, they saw a middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back, face dark with anger.

Both instantly paled and rushed forward, kneeling.

“Master, we’re sorry!”

Mo Xingjian, master of Xiao Ling Peak, merely snorted.

“How impressive! A core disciple sneaking off to spy on a group of girls bathing—were their white bodies that pleasing to look at?” Mo Xingjian sneered.

Before Zhou Qing could speak, Yan Xiaohu hurried to explain: “Master, you’ve misunderstood little brother! The Discipline Hall has already investigated—it was those girls who didn’t notice little brother sleeping by the pool. I think they deliberately lured him into this!”

“Why?”

“It’s obvious! They’re all outer disciples—trying to climb up by this scandal!” Yan Xiaohu slapped his thigh.

Mo Xingjian rolled his eyes and snapped, “Shut up! If little brother did this, it’s your fault.”

Yan Xiaohu bristled and stood up to defend himself: “Master, what’s this got to do with me? Oh, you mean that incident? I admit I dragged little brother there for a bet—I never expected those old women would suddenly start bathing…”

Zhou Qing tugged Yan Xiaohu’s sleeve and quickly spoke: “Master, I truly know my mistake—but I didn’t sneak a peek on purpose…”

Before Zhou Qing finished, Mo Xingjian waved his hand: “Enough. Drop the subject. If we keep talking, I’m afraid old three will hit me.”

Mo Xingjian glanced at Yan Xiaohu’s clenched fists, murmuring.

Yan Xiaohu was indignant—ever since that accidental incident, his master kept mocking him.

Those old women… no, they were Supreme Elders—they must’ve planned it.

How long has it been? He still sometimes dreamed of their wrinkled, loose skin—it had become a psychological scar.

“I dare not!” Yan Xiaohu knelt again, gritting his teeth.

Mo Xingjian looked at Yan Xiaohu’s miserable expression, as if recalling something, and his lips twitched upward—then he quickly resumed a stern face and looked at Zhou Qing with solemn gravity.

“Regardless, if you truly saw something you shouldn’t have, you must take responsibility. Women value their reputation deeply. Don’t let gossip spread that our Xiao Ling Peak disciples abuse their core status and act without restraint. Understood?”

Zhou Qing nodded: “Master’s teaching is correct. I understand.”

Then Mo Xingjian studied Zhou Qing more closely, his tone softening considerably: “Were you hurt?”

Zhou Qing shook his head. He knew he’d passed this test—his master was always harsh on the outside, soft within.

Mo Xingjian looked surprised: “None of those girls scratched you? I heard several among them were Qi Condensation Ninth Layer.”

Zhou Qing: “…”

Wait—why does it seem like the master is disappointed?

Isn’t it better that I came back whole?

Did you used to sneak peeks too, and get your face scratched?

Are you jealous?

Meeting Zhou Qing’s suspicious gaze, Mo Xingjian cleared his throat and said, “Alright, get up. Since you’re back, come with me to your Sect Master’s uncle.”

As he spoke, Mo Xingjian waved his hand—two jade boxes, carved from purple crystal jade, appeared, tied with golden silk ribbons and knotted in auspicious knots.

The two rose, puzzled, and took the boxes.

The carefree Yan Xiaohu quickly forgot the earlier incident and squinted curiously: “Master, are we delivering gifts to Uncle Sect Master?”

Zhou Qing, meanwhile, shook the box curiously—it clinked, but he couldn’t tell what was inside.

Mo Xingjian gently stroked his beard and said, “Your sect master uncle took on a new disciple recently; today marks his official debut. Your elder brother and second sister are both occupied—one in seclusion, the other away—so I’m bringing you to meet him, to avoid any future mishaps.”

Upon hearing this, the two finally understood.

“Is he a boy or a girl?”

“Seems to be a little girl.”

“So we’ve got a little junior sister! Then why is our master waiting? Let’s go now!”

Zhou Qing also felt a surge of excitement—this was the perfect opportunity to gain neglect points.

…………

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(End of chapter)