"So, why were you peeking at them while they were bathing?"
"I don't know, I just woke up..."
"Zhou Qing of Little Spirit Peak, this is the Precepts Hall. I hope you can confess honestly."
"I really don't know. I drank too much last night and fell asleep on that rock. When I opened my eyes, I saw them undressing."
"Are you saying that all eighteen girls didn't see you?"
"It seems so."
"In such a small hot spring, you're lying by the pool, and all eighteen pairs of eyes ignored you?"
"That's right. I think they didn't even consider me as a person, to be exact, as a man."
"Haha, do you think we believe that?"
"Let's not talk about whether you believe it or not. If you were peeking, would you be so bold to lie by the pool?"
"Well, that doesn't make much sense. Maybe you were bold and wanted a good view?"
"You are underestimating me. Zhou Qing of Little Spirit Peak is a core disciple. You shouldn't doubt my vision. Moreover, I was the one who shouted first. Why was I the one captured?"
"Why did you only shout when they were undressed to that extent?"
"I told you, I was sleeping."
......
Outside the Precepts Hall, dozens of female disciples were sobbing uncontrollably. Some disciples in black robes were comforting them and asking questions.
"That hot spring is rarely visited. Why did you suddenly decide to go there together?"
"Not one of you noticed being followed?"
"Who was the first to notice?"
......
Shoo!
The air was sliced as a stout man with a round face and small eyes appeared.
The man scanned the girls impatiently and snorted coldly.
"With your looks, my junior brother wouldn't bother peeking at you!"
He didn't pay any more attention to the terrified girls and stormed into the Precepts Hall.
Soon, he emerged proudly with Zhou Qing, his nose bleeding and dark circles under his eyes.
Zhou Qing sighed as he saw him.
"Third senior brother, was it worth getting beaten up? I was almost able to prove my innocence, but you had to shout, 'Which bastard caught him?', making the hall masters angry." Zhou Qing said.
Yan Xiaohu felt embarrassed. He touched his nose lightly, instantly grimacing from the pain.
His small eyes quickly swelled shut.
Yan Xiaohu said, "I forgot in my rush."
Among Taiqing Sect's Thirteen Peaks, disciples are divided into four tiers: outer, inner, true inheritor, and core.
Only core disciples are apprenticed directly to the peak masters. If they commit wrongdoings, they are judged by the three master halls of Precepts Hall.
"So, did you really not peek at them bathing?" Yan Xiaohu scanned the surroundings. The girls had vanished.
Zhou Qing said, "I really did not. If I had peeked, I would have called you. Besides, we were drinking there last night. You dug that hot spring out bare-handed when you were drunk, remember?"
Yan Xiaohu looked at the dirt under his nails.
"No wonder my fingers hurt so much at noon. Now that you mention it, I have a vague memory. But I remember you leaving. Why were you still sleeping there?"
Yan Xiaohu asked puzzledly.
Zhou Qing said angrily, "My poor tolerance for alcohol is no secret to you. You left me drunk and staggered away, or this wouldn't have happened."
Yan Xiaohu felt awkward and quickly apologized.
Zhou Qing feigned anger but was thrilled internally. A panel visible only to him appeared before his eyes.
[Name: Zhou Qing]
[Age: Nineteen]
[Cultivation: Qi Condensation Seventh Layer]
[Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Profound Qi Skills]
[Talent Skill: Lowering Presence]
[Level: LV1 (36/100)]
[Skill Fragment: 1/3 (Unobtainable)]
Looking at the new skill fragment, Zhou Qing felt exhilarated.
Lowering Presence, how exciting!
Imagine, staying in a crowd and everyone unconsciously ignoring you, turning you into an invisible observer. You could hear and see things you could never imagine.
Just like this time, with so many female disciples, none of them glanced at him. It's even better than an invisibility talisman.
No, the invisibility talisman doesn't compare to Lowering Presence.
"Currently, the talent skill [Lowering Presence] is only LV1, affecting Qi Condensation disciples. The chance of being ignored is only 30%, meaning there's a 70% chance of being noticed. It was luck that they all overlooked me."
Zhou Qing muttered to himself, then looked back at the panel.
Just 64 Ignore Points left to reach LV2. By then, there would be a certain probability of being ignored by those at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
The way to get Ignore Points is simple: the more dangerous and crowded the setting, the longer you remain unnoticed, the more points you get.
This is the best way to become unnoticed, a method Zhou Qing has tested many times.
Take last night, for example. The moon was bright and the stars were fading, such a thrilling scene.
Listening to the Ignore Points +1, +1, how could he bear to interrupt?
As the last two pieces of clothing were about to come off, he had no choice but to sneak away quietly, but unexpectedly, he slipped and fell.
Immediately, all eyes turned to him.
At that moment, he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
Helpless, he had to turn passive into active and shouted, "Molesting!"
Unexpectedly, in that tense moment, he even acquired a new Skill Fragment.
Just one [Lowering Presence] skill is already so heaven-defying; Zhou Qing eagerly wondered what kind of Talent Skill he could get by gathering three.
...
When Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu returned to Little Spirit Peak, arm in arm, laughing and chatting, they saw from a distance a middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back and an angry expression on his face.
The two of them immediately changed their expressions, hurried up and knelt down.
"Master, we were wrong!"
The Peak Master of Little Spirit Peak, Mo Xingjian, snorted coldly.
"How impressive, core disciples, sneaking a peek at a group of girls bathing. Was it pleasing to the eyes?" Mo Xingjian said sarcastically.
Before Zhou Qing could speak, Yan Xiaohu hastily explained, "Master, this time you really misunderstood little junior brother. The Precepts Hall has already investigated and found that it was purely those girls who were blind and didn't notice little junior brother sleeping by the pool. I think those girls did it on purpose to entrap the fourth junior brother."
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? They are all outer sect disciples, wanting to use this to gain a higher position!" Yan Xiaohu slapped his thigh and said.
Mo Xingjian rolled his eyes and said angrily, "Shut up. The fourth junior brother doing this can't be unrelated to you."
Yan Xiaohu, hearing this, stood up indignantly to defend himself: "Master, what does this have to do with me? Oh, you mean that time? I admit I had a bet going and dragged the fourth junior brother along. I didn't expect those old women to suddenly start bathing..."
Zhou Qing quickly pulled at Yan Xiaohu and hurriedly said, "Master, I truly realize my mistake, but I really didn't mean to peek at them..."
Before Zhou Qing could finish, Mo Xingjian waved his hand, "Enough, enough. Let's drop this topic. If we keep discussing, Yan might want to hit me."
Mo Xingjian observed Yan Xiaohu's tightly clenched fists and said faintly.
Yan Xiaohu, disgruntled, felt that ever since that misunderstanding, the master always teased him about it.
Those old women...no, Supreme Elders, absolutely did it on purpose.
Even now, he occasionally dreams of their wrinkled, slack skin, almost giving him a psychological shadow.
"Disciple dares not!" Yan Xiaohu knelt again, gritting his teeth.
Seeing Yan Xiaohu's aggrieved expression, Mo Xingjian seemed to recall something, a slight smile playing on his lips before adopting a stern look, addressing Zhou Qing earnestly.
"No matter what, if you did see something you shouldn't have, take responsibility. Women care a lot about their reputation. Don't let people badmouth our Little Spirit Peak disciples abusing their core status, understand?"
Hearing his master, Zhou Qing nodded, "Master's teachings are right, disciple understands."
Then, Mo Xingjian looked Zhou Qing up and down, his tone much gentler, "Are you hurt?"
Zhou Qing shook his head, knowing this ordeal was over. After all, the master was strict in words but soft-hearted.
Mo Xingjian seemed a bit surprised, "Out of so many girls, none scratched you? I heard some were at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation."
Zhou Qing: "..."
Wait, why does master seem a bit disappointed?
Isn't it good that I returned unscathed?
Did he perhaps peek at someone bathing before and got his face scratched?
So now he's feeling unbalanced?
Meeting Zhou Qing's suspicious look, Mo Xingjian quickly cleared his throat and said, "Alright, alright, get up. Since you're back, go with me to your Master Uncle's place."
After speaking, Mo Xingjian with a wave of his hand produced two jade boxes crafted from Purple Crystal Jade, adorned with golden ribbons and tied with Ruyi Knots.
The two stood up in confusion and took the boxes.
Yan Xiaohu, with a big heart, soon forgot the previous incident and curiously asked, "Master, are these gifts for our Master Uncle?"
Zhou Qing, on the other hand, shook the box, hearing a clanging sound, and wondered what could be inside.
Mo Xingjian gently stroked his beard and said, "Your Master Uncle recently took in a disciple, and today she's making her formal appearance. Since the eldest and second senior are either in seclusion or out, only you two can come along to avoid future conflicts."
The two finally understood.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Seems to be a little girl."
"Looks like we have a little junior sister now. Master, let's go quickly!"
Zhou Qing also felt excited; such occasions were perfect for gaining Ignore Points.
......