Chapter 57: Massive Social Death Scene (Requesting Follow Reads)

Seeing the relentless knocking, Zhou Qing, disheveled and filthy, hadn’t even wiped the crust from his eyes, and stepped out wearing only loose shorts, scratching his buttocks.

“Third Brother, my rooster hasn’t even crowed yet—what are you doing here so early?”

Zhou Qing had just spoken these words when he froze.

Before him, Yan Xiao Hu, nearly punching him in the nose, beamed with excitement, his small eyes gleaming—not only that, but he wore a brand-new outfit he normally wouldn’t dare don.

His round face was slick with oil, emitting a faint fragrance.

Of course, that wasn’t the point.

The point was, outside the courtyard, nearly all core disciples had gathered, along with several peak masters, including his master Mo Xingjian and Sect Master Cao Zhengyang.

For a moment, both sides stared at each other in silence.

The next instant, several senior sisters burst into muffled laughter.

Zhou Qing’s face flushed crimson; his right hand stiffly pulled out from behind his buttocks—right then, he wished he could vanish into a crack in the earth.

A massive social death scene.

“I sent you so many messages and you didn’t reply, so we had no choice but to come here,” Yan Xiao Hu whispered.

Heh—

You’re dressed all fancy, and you dragged me out here to humiliate me, right?

Or is it to make you look better by contrast?

Third Brother, our brotherhood ends here.

【Heart Mirror Points +5】

Among the crowd, Lu Yaoyao beamed, her top label instantly shifting from 【Good Responsibility】 to 【Good Natural】.

【Heart Mirror Points +6】

Li Daoxuan scowled, utterly speechless; his annotation changed from 【Somehow Unlikable Lothario】 to 【Embarrassing Lothario】.

【Heart Mirror Points +7】

Shi Zhen smiled warmly, her expression tender; her annotation shifted from 【Never Abandoning Zhou Brother】 to 【Down-to-Earth Zhou Brother】.

Zhou Qing’s face twitched slightly as his toes curled involuntarily.

His master Mo Xingjian lowered his head, scanning the ground as if searching for something.

Sensing the awkwardness, Sect Master Cao Zhengyang cleared his throat and stepped forward to explain: “Zhou Qing, here’s the thing—we originally planned a proper commendation ceremony to encourage others to learn from you.”

“But after deliberation, we decided it’s unwise to make a spectacle. After all, we suffered heavy losses this time; we should remember this lesson, not forget it and celebrate instead.”

“Moreover, the enemy’s identity remains unclear. You disrupted their long-planned scheme—if we publicly reward you, they might retaliate and deliver a warning. Of course, humiliation is minor, but your safety is paramount. Do you understand?”

Cao Zhengyang explained patiently.

Zhou Qing understood perfectly—he grasped the sect’s well-intentioned concern.

But—but—

Right now, I’m just deeply humiliated! Couldn’t you at least give me a heads-up?

Cao Zhengyang continued: “But rewarding you is necessary—otherwise, we’d crush your morale. Especially you, Zhou Qing—you deserve top credit. So we decided to keep it simple internally. Since we couldn’t reach you, we came here.”

Zhou Qing forced a smile: “Then let me go change clothes.”

“No need for formality—we’re family. After the commendation, we old folks have urgent matters to attend to.”

With that, Cao Zhengyang stepped forward and stood to Zhou Qing’s left.

Beside him, Yan Xiao Hu immediately straightened his clothes, stood tall and proud on the right, beaming with excitement.

Trapped between them, Zhou Qing—disheveled, crust in his eyes, bare-chested, clad only in shorts—stared at the assembled uncles, seniors, and sisters, wanting to weep.

Did I really earn top credit?

Why does it feel like I’m being publicly executed?

And I’m not happy at all.

A dream?

Yes—I must be dreaming. An unimaginable nightmare!

Zhou Qing kept muttering to himself, recalling the system’s alert, and quickly opened his personal panel.

【Talent Skill: Heart Mirror Vision—LV3 (3/300)】

【Bound Individuals: 8】

Seeing Heart Mirror Vision upgraded to Level 3 and bound individuals increased by three, Zhou Qing realized—this wasn’t a dream.

At that moment, Cao Zhengyang gazed at the crowd and began: “Alright, let me say two things. Regarding our recent search mission, let’s reflect: Did we grow in our cultivation? What new hopes do we have for the future? Right…?”

Zhou Qing felt his ears ringing, his mind blank—especially as several senior sisters kept staring at his shorts, whispering among themselves, giggling, and playfully nudging each other.

Zhou Qing could feel it—he was about to be utterly disgraced.

He then turned to Gao Xuan, peak master of Golden Sun Peak, and immediately bound him.

Instantly, Gao Xuan’s head transformed before his eyes into two golden characters—【DEAD MAN】.

Zhou Qing’s face turned deathly pale.

Especially as Gao Xuan smiled warmly at him, Zhou Qing felt a chill crawl up his spine.

“Dead man? He sees me as a dead man? Why does he have this impression of me?”

Generally, we barely interacted—even if you’re an impostor, we have no conflict of interest…

Wait—

Suddenly, Zhou Qing realized something.

Why was he being commended now? Precisely because he accidentally shattered the plot of Cangyan Dao Palace and another unknown faction.

If there was any conflict of interest, it could only be this.

Could it be that this impostor Gao Xuan was from Cangyan Dao Palace—or the other faction?

Yes—it must be. That’s why he hates me.

Behind that smiling face, he wants to crush me with a single finger.

Terrifying—when did these two sects begin their plot?

And have other uncles been quietly eliminated?

After all, I merely accidentally scanned that bloodstained stone and discovered the real Gao Xuan had perished.

If I were this impostor, I’d have had countless opportunities to lure other peak masters on a mission, ambush them, kill them, and replace them.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing’s mouth went dry, and goosebumps rose on his skin.

It turned out that Taiqingmen, seemingly peaceful and safe, had long been riddled with peril.

Especially now—Gao Xuan wanted him dead. That was his greatest immediate threat.

His urgent priority: find a way to save himself.

“Come on, what are you thinking about?”

At that moment, Yan Xiao Hu elbowed Zhou Qing urgently, whispering.

Zhou Qing snapped back to reality—he noticed Sect Master Cao Zhengyang standing before them, handing each of them a delicate box.

Yan Xiao Hu had already happily accepted his; Zhou Qing was still dazed.

“Th-thank you, Master!” Zhou Qing hastily took his.

Cao Zhengyang then offered further encouragement to the crowd, and the event ended. They’d intended for Mo Xingjian to speak, but Old Mo just laughed and waved it off.

He simply told Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu to keep working hard.

The crowd gradually dispersed, each returning to their own homes.

“Third Brother Zhou, you were so glorious today!” Lu Yaoyao ran up, sincerely praising him, her eyes full of admiration.

Zhou Qing: Heh.

“Work on your muscles—you’re as skinny as a skeleton,” Li Daoxuan couldn’t help remarking.

“When you have time, let me treat you two heroes to dinner,” Shi Zhen smiled.

Yan Xiao Hu immediately licked his lips: “How about today? I’m in a good mood.”

“I’m not hungry,” Zhou Qing walked straight inside.

Forget the humiliation—his peak master has already sentenced him to death. How could he eat?

(End of Chapter)