Chapter 18: No Way, Did It Spread This Fast?

Yan Xiao grinned and walked over, snatched an apple from the table, bit off half, then tossed an orange onto Zhou Qing’s bed.

Zhou Qing’s face instantly turned sour—he had grievances he couldn’t voice.

Should he tell his Master that Second Uncle had impersonated Third Brother’s voice in the middle of the night to lure him to Yuqing Peak?

Who would believe him?

Fine, even if we assume his Master and others believed him, there still needs to be a reason.

Why did he target you and no one else?

And during someone else’s bath, no less.

Even flies don’t buzz at eggs without cracks!

What’s your relationship with him?

What’s his motive for doing this?

Is Second Uncle still at Taiqingmen?

Could he also be the one who stole the Flame Spirit Blood Pool?

This supreme spirit stone is really not easy to obtain!

“Third Brother, thank you so much!” Zhou Qing didn’t want to explain further—he sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Not for any other reason—because this twitching-and-bubbling technique was taught to him by Third Brother.

It was meant as a precaution, but only used on people he knew well; if used before strangers, they’d only take advantage of the situation.

Yan Xiao chewed his apple while waving his hand: “Pfft, no need for formalities between brothers. Since Master passed it to me, I’ve never used it—never thought you’d use it first.”

Zhou Qing: “...”

【Heart Insight Points +7】

Watching Yan Xiao’s note above his head change from 【Unlucky Little Brother】 to 【Little Brother with Lust and Boldness】, Zhou Qing didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

You’ve now replaced Li Daoxuan as the person with the longest golden term.

Creak—

The door opened, and Mo Xingjian walked in with a dark face.

Zhou Qing hurried off the bed and immediately apologized: “Master, I’m wrong!”

“It’s my fault!” Mo Xingjian sat down, furious, looking as if he couldn’t bear his student’s failure.

Yan Xiao quickly shoved the apple core into his mouth and rushed over to massage Mo Xingjian’s shoulders and back.

“Master, don’t be angry—anger harms your health. It’s all my fault!” Yan Xiao pleaded ingratiatingly.

Mo Xingjian looked at Yan Xiao’s smug face, and his anger flared even higher.

“Of course it’s your fault—now Old Four has developed a habit of peeping, and isn’t that your doing?”

Yan Xiao opened his mouth, glanced at Zhou Qing, and didn’t know how to refute it.

Old Four, old Four—one time might be understandable, but twice is far too deliberate.

“Why not find Old Four a Dao partner to ease his urgent need?” Yan Xiao couldn’t help suggesting.

Hearing this, Mo Xingjian turned to look at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing felt like crying: “No no no! I swear, this is the last time!”

Mo Xingjian sighed, then said to Yan Xiao: “You must never use that technique again—if people find out both of my core disciples on Xiao Ling Peak suffer from sleepwalking, I won’t be able to explain it.”

Yan Xiao acknowledged.

Then Mo Xingjian stood up and told Zhou Qing: “Don’t leave the premises for the next few days—stay home and ‘recover’.”

“Bow your Master farewell!”

After Mo Xingjian left, the two finally exhaled deeply.

Yan Xiao grinned: “What do you want to eat? I’ll bring it back for you.”

Zhou Qing had no appetite—he only hoped this wouldn’t become common knowledge.

【Heart Insight Points +9】

【Heart Insight Points +9】

But in the next instant, two more voices rang out—just as loud.

Zhou Qing froze—he instantly understood what had happened.

No way, did it spread this fast?

He looked at his panel.

【Talent Skill: Heart Insight Vision—LV2 (2/200)】

【Bound Persons: 5】

His Heart Insight Vision hadn’t just upgraded to LV2—it had doubled its index too.

Three people were already bound, meaning only two new slots had been added.

“Third Brother, I’ve calculated it—two people will come to see me soon,” Zhou Qing said seriously.

Yan Xiao blinked: “I don’t believe you.”

“True. Bet you twenty lower-grade spirit stones.”

"Fine, twenty lower-grade spirit stones."

Half an hour later, Lu Yaoyao and Li Daoxuan arrived precisely at the courtyard gate.

Hearing the knock, Yan Xiao stared in disbelief.

“Zhou Brother, I heard you fell ill—are you feeling better now?” Lu Yaoyao asked warmly upon entering.

Seeing the note above her head—【Very Bold】—Zhou Qing’s face twitched, and he could only nod.

“Old problem—rest a few days and it’ll pass!” Zhou Qing feigned a violent cough, speaking weakly.

From Lu Yaoyao alone, it was clear no one believed he truly suffered from sleepwalking; because of his two prior incidents, everyone preferred to believe he was driven by lust, sneaking to Yuqing Peak at night to spy on core disciples bathing.

From Lu Yaoyao’s reaction, it was clear no one believed he truly suffered from sleepwalking; given his two prior offenses, everyone preferred to think he’d been overcome by lust and sneaked to Yuqing Peak in the dead of night to spy on the core disciples bathing.

Then he saw Li Daoxuan enter, face twisted in disgust—clearly he didn’t want to associate with a peeper like him, but came only because of Lu Yaoyao.

And his note above his head had changed from 【Extremely Unlucky Pervert】 to 【A Pervert Who Can’t Change His Ways】.

Fine, I take back my earlier thought—you still hold the longest term note.

After a brief exchange, Zhou Qing claimed he wasn’t feeling well and asked them to leave.

After all, Li Daoxuan’s gaze now held nothing but revulsion.

“As for the Yang Fire Talisman, we’ve repaid our debt. Little Sister, avoid associating with people like him in the future,” Li Daoxuan advised kindly as they stepped outside.

To his surprise, Lu Yaoyao stopped, deep in thought, then asked seriously: “Big Brother, do I sleepwalk?”

Li Daoxuan replied immediately: “Never seen you do it.”

Lu Yaoyao sighed in relief, then beamed with joy.

Watching the woman walk ahead with her hands behind her back, Li Daoxuan smiled and hurried to catch up…

Soon, news spread that Zhou Qing of Xiao Ling Peak had sneaked onto Yuqing Peak at night to spy on core disciple Shi Zhen bathing.

“How soon? He’s struck again!”

“Exactly—first the Senior Elders, then eighteen female outer disciples, now he’s targeting core disciples.”

“Why doesn’t he peek on Xiao Ling Peak? Why go all the way to Yuqing Peak?”

“Maybe he’s bored of the same scenery and wants something new.”

“Pfft, a peeper—now I wonder how many girls have already suffered unknowingly.”

“Hmph, even so, as men, we doubt Zhou Qing, understand Zhou Qing, envy Zhou Qing, and aspire to be Zhou Qing!”

"Pah, a peeping tom—when you think about it, who knows how many girls have already fallen victim without realizing it."

Over the next two days, Zhou Qing had to feign illness, wandering listlessly around Xiao Ling Peak.

On the surface, nothing changed—but Zhou Qing sensed subtle differences.

Some female disciples turned away the moment they spotted him from afar; some true disciples looked at him with outright contempt.

Of course, many others now thought they’d figured out this core disciple’s fetish and began subtly flirting and teasing him.

“This has truly become a black mark!” Zhou Qing groaned from his hiding spot.

But soon, the buzz around the 【Five Sects Exchange Fair】 drowned out the peeper scandal entirely.

Everyone was frantically preparing—even some had already descended the mountain to secure booth spots.

Zhou Qing checked his current savings: over three hundred low-grade spirit stones and one supreme water-attribute spirit stone.

“I wonder what decent items I can even buy with this little,” Zhou Qing muttered to himself.

Zhou Qing checked his current savings: over three hundred lower-grade spirit stones and one supreme-grade water attribute spirit stone.

"I really don't know what good stuff this little money can buy," Zhou Qing muttered to himself.

(End of Chapter)