Bai Zihan stayed in his room and didn’t cultivate that day, which was unusual as he would normally spend all his time cultivating.
He looked at Mystic Moon Peak, serene and beautiful, as peaceful as ever.
But the peace didn’t last long.
Before Bai Zihan could even enjoy a cup of tea in his courtyard, the sound of footsteps—organized and heavy—echoed from the entrance.
A group of disciples in black-and-silver robes arrived, led by a stern-faced elder whose beard looked like it had been chiseled from disappointment itself.
Behind him, two outer court guards and four inner disciples flanked him like they were ready to drag Bai Zihan off to a public execution.
“Bai Zihan!” the elder called out in a loud, commanding tone. “Come out!”
Bai Zihan raised a brow and casually stepped out from under the shade of his house.
“Who?”
He asked, without even a flicker of fear in his eyes, despite being surrounded by people who clearly weren’t there for anything good.
“What’s this about? If you’re here for tea, I’ve only got the expensive stuff. Don’t think you can appreciate that, though.”
Elder Shan didn’t laugh. Of course he didn’t. The man looked like he’d forgotten how smiles worked fifty years ago.
But this was the first time a disciple hadn’t taken him seriously—and even seemed to be mocking him.
“Bai Zihan, do you know your crime?”
Elder Shan asked with a deep frown.
“My crime?”
Bai Zihan repeated, face painted with confusion.
“Whatever do you mean? I don’t think I did anything.”
Of course, there was no way Elder Shan believed him. Or rather, no way he intended to let him off with just words.
“You know what you did! Feigning ignorance won’t help you!”
Elder Shan declared.
“The charge is clear.”
Elder Shan snapped, his voice ringing through the courtyard like a judge’s gavel.
“Multiple witnesses claim you were seen wandering around the women’s bathing grounds—and one inner disciple testified that she personally saw you steal her undergarments!”
The courtyard fell silent.
Bai Zihan blinked.
Then squinted.
“…What?”
A long pause.
“Are you serious right now?”
Elder Shan’s face darkened.
“Do not test my patience.”
“Oh, I’m not testing anything,” Bai Zihan said, raising both hands.
“I’m just trying to figure out what kind of brain damage one needs to accuse me of stealing panties.”
He turned his head, looking around at the guards and disciples like he was searching for that brain damaged person among them.
“Even if I did, shouldn’t that be the girl’s privilege? And would I really need to sneak around for girls with my status? Aren’t you being a bit too stupid?”
“Bai Zihan!” Elder Shan barked. “Enough! You will admit your guilt and submit yourself to the Punishment Hall!”
“Oh, so it’s ’guilty until proven burned at the stake’. Got it!”
Bai Zihan muttered, shaking his head.
He turned back to Elder Shan, eyes sharp now.
“Listen, old man. I don’t know what sad little gremlin whispered that nonsense into your ear, but I haven’t even left my courtyard in two days. Ask the birds.”
“Still refusing to admit it?”
Elder Shan’s tone dropped several degrees.
“Even now?”
“There’s nothing to admit, old man.”
Bai Zihan said coldly.
“Unless you want me to confess to a crime I didn’t commit just to make your job easier. Not happening!”
Elder Shan frowned as he was getting angrier. Bai Zihan even refused to address him as an elder and was clearly not taking this seriously.
“Then you will come to the Punishment Hall. Your crime and punishment will be decided there.”
With a flick of his sleeve, the guards moved in.
Bai Zihan didn’t resist. Didn’t fight.
He simply adjusted his collar, made sure his hair looked decent, and stepped forward.
“I hope you can prove your accusation. Otherwise, don’t say I’m being petty if I take revenge.”
And with that, he walked calmly between the guards, like he was on his way to attend a boring meeting—except this one was about him supposedly being a pervert.
As they escorted him out, word spread fast.
Suspiciously fast.
Almost like someone had prepared the gossip in advance.
By the time Bai Zihan reached the central path leading to the Punishment Hall, a crowd had already gathered—dozens of disciples, outer and inner, whispering among themselves with barely concealed excitement.
“Is that him? The pervert who was seen in the female bathing grounds—and even stole underwear.”
“Yeah, that’s Bai Zihan!”
“Disgusting… and he’s the younger brother of Bai Xueqing.”
“I thought those rumors were false. Turns out he’s an even bigger creep than they said.”
“Our sect should expel people like him.”
…
The disciples all looked at him with disgust.
It was strange—too strange—how quickly the news had spread when he himself had only learned about it minutes ago.
Bai Zihan didn’t need to think twice about who was behind this.
Shen Liang!
And wouldn’t you know it—there he was.
At the front steps of the Punishment Hall, standing in full view like a noble young master who just happened to be passing by.
Smug. Composed!
Face filled with the perfect amount of outrage, as if he too was shocked by such depravity.
(Nice acting!)
Bai Zihan’s lips curled ever so slightly.
Just a smirk. Faint and fleeting.
But it said everything.
“Oh? So this is the game we’re playing now.”
Shen Liang’s eye twitched—just for a second.
He must have noticed the look. The total lack of panic.
The glimmer of amusement in Bai Zihan’s eyes—as if he was being played right in Bai Zihan’s hand.
But he shook off the doubt, thinking Bai Zihan was just bluffing.
The moment the heavy doors of the Punishment Hall opened, the atmosphere shifted.
The elders sat on high. Disciples of the Hall filled the benches. Curious eyes stared down, eager to watch the “pervert” be humiliated.
And overseeing it all was Elder Shen—Shen Liang’s uncle.
This should have been the kind of pressure to make any disciple tremble, even if they were innocent.
But Bai Zihan?
He walked in like a prince stepping onto his throne.
Posture relaxed. Chin slightly raised.
Eyes sweeping over the hall like he was there to judge them instead of him.