The Upper Realm floated above clouds so thick they looked like milk spilling across the heavens.Morning light hadn't even warmed the sky when a roar shattered the peace.
Immortal cranes glided past floating pavilions.
Then a roar cracked the horizon in half.
"SHEN HAAAOOO!!!"
Disciples dropped their brushes.
Birds froze mid-air.Even the great bell on the mountain trembled.
The Judgment Courtyard overflowed with elders—beards shaking, robes flaring, expressions dark enough to summon storms.
One elder's nostrils were literally smoking.
Then came the chains.Heavy, cold, clanking like thunder on stone.
Shen Hao entered.
A calm moon in a raging sea.Even shackled—the iron ball dragging against the tiles—he looked elegant enough to make the punishment officers in awe.
Straight-backed.Head slightly lowered in respect.Eyes calm.Every movement refined, like a scholar descending a painting.
Even shackled, even dragging an iron weight behind him, he looked like moonlight on jade tiles.
Whispers rose like smoke.
"Senior Shen…""Senior Shen is too dignified…""He bows even when he's being punished…"
"How can this man commit… any crime?"
Elders slammed their desks.
"Begin!"
Voices flew across the hall—accusations, defenses—but not one elder dared speak the actual crime aloud.
Shen Hao lifted his head.
His voice was gentle.Clear as spring water.
"Respected elders… this disciple begs to know… what wrongdoing I have committed?"
An elder's beard twitched so violently it almost flew off.
One elder nearly choked on air.
Another slapped the table so hard it cracked.
"You— You— YOU ASK US?! How dare—how DARE—"
Their faces flushed red.A vein pulsed dramatically on the Grand Elder's forehead.
"You—YOU—YOU PERVERTED LITTLE—!!"
His fingers shook with rage.
"The thirteen sword spirits we entrusted to you—THEY ARE PREGNANT!"
Explain it
Gasps.Someone dropped a gourd.Someone else fainted backwards.
The elders pointed trembling fingers at him.
"They were pure!""We raised them like daughters!""And now—AND NOW—look at them! Bellies glowing! Qi shifting! Even their sheaths are embarrassed!"
Sword Spirits shivered behind a curtain, as if agreeing.
Shen Hao inhaled softly.He bowed.
"Respectable elders… this disciple has never committed such shameful disrespect.
"This disciple swears upon his Dao—I have never done such an unclean act.If my words carry even a grain of falsehood…may heaven strike me until nothing left."
Lightning answered without hesitation.
BOOM.
The roof shook.
Clouds tore apart.
Every disciple screamed at once.
"Heaven acknowledged it!""He's innocent!""Senior Shen would never lie!"
"Senior Shen is innocent!""Senior Shen really is pure as jade!"
The elders froze.
Their faces twitched.
"Punishment Hall!""Search EVERYTHING!""And if you miss even a bug—YOU will suffer instead!"
Investigators sprinted away like desperate rabbits.
They overturned caves, Abodes, servant quarters.
Even the bamboo forest wasn't safe.
Thirteen sword spirits hovered with glowing stomachs.Three jade spirits closed their eyes, blushing from shame.Two artifact spirits refused to manifest entirely.Several beast-folk girls hid behind barrels.
Everywhere the investigators walked—scandal.
Under beds: hidden fruit wine.Under pillows: questionable drawings.In one corner: a fox spirit fanning herself, muttering, "His eyes were too pretty…"
They weren't scared.Not even a little.Just too embarrassed to show their faces.
Sword spirits floated behind beams with glowing bellies,peeking out like shy maidens who had accidentally stayed the night.
Jade spirits hid behind water jars,pretending to inspect moss,their cheeks glowing like ripened pears.
but not from fear.If they came out now,the Discipline Hall disciples would see everything—
the unmistakable "something happened" airclinging to them like perfume.
And once they caught a spirit's expression…secrets would spill faster than water from a cracked jug.
Not that they minded.Not really.They just preferred to savor their memories quietly,untouched by noisy onlookers.
But there was another problem—a simple one.None of them knewhow many women he had been involved with.Not even they themselves could guesshow many of their sisters shared the same
The Discipline Hall disciples scoured every courtyard.Boots tapping fast.Voices sharp.Bamboo slips shaking with every note taken.
Yet all they found were traces—scattered silk threads,a hairpin wedged between floorboards,petals crushed in pairs on a wooden threshold.
Servant quarters were no different.One beast-folk girl covered her face with her tail,tip twitching nervously.Her friend whispered loudly,"Hurry, hide your neck mark!"The girl only groaned,"It won't fade before winter…"
Even the fox-woman,arms crossed,hips swaying,rolled her eyes with a blush that refused to leave."I told him not to bite like that…"Her tails fluffed out,betraying her.
Someone muttered that they should question witnesses.But every witness was already…well.Pregnant.Or blushing.
The elders nearly vomited blood.
All suspicious disciples were dragged into the hall.
Rain poured outside like the disciples themselves were crying.
The female elder stepped forward.Her voice was sharp enough to split mountains.
"Who defiled the sword spirits?"
Silence thick enough to choke.
Then—inevitably—every disciple turned their gaze to one person.
Ye Beixin.
He stood lazily, as though this were a morning stroll.
Tall.Broad shoulders.Black hair tied high.
with his usual polite grace.Elegant brows.Pink eyes like a gentle spring sunrise.Tall frame casting a steady shadow.Respectful to elders,warm to juniors,a calamity wrapped in courtesy.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"Mm?"
The elders screamed his name in unison.
"YE BEIXIN!!!"
He stepped forward with casual grace.
"It was I, respected elders."
The hall erupted.
"You PERVERT!""You PIG!""You STAIN on your master honor!"
The Discipline Hall disciples tried to question him.He only smiled.A calm, honest, devastating smile.
Someone dropped their ink brush.Someone else forgot what they came to ask.A senior sister stepped inside of the hall,saw him,instantly turned red and slammed the door shut.
A jade spirit shrieked from her hiding spot,"Aiya—don't let him look this way!My belly will glow bright too!"
Some disciples whispered:
"He's nineteen…""And already banned from half the sect's female peaks…""And three beast tribes…""And two spirit clans…""And one ghost palace…"
Ye Beixin merely tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.
The female elder shrieked:
"WHY?! EXPLAIN!"
His answer floated out soft, gentle—
"It was…Love at first sight."
The fox-woman laughed into her sleeve."Silly.
Thunder cracked again.
Someone threw a sandal.Another elder fainted dramatically.A disciple wept into a sleeve.
Shen Hao remained silent.Back straight.Expression respectful.Eyes calm…
And Ye Beixin—smiled politely,hands folded behind his back,as if he had absolutely no ideawhy everyone was staring at him