A week ago, I was invisible.
Now?
I was infamous.
Disciples whispered my name with confusion. Sect elders muttered it with frustration. Even wild beasts seemed to recognize me and choose violence.
All thanks to:
1. The Trash System™
2. My unnatural ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time
3. And most recently — my self-invented sect of Spiritual Napping
---
This morning, a stern outer disciple arrived outside my dusty nap hall.
"Arin. The elders summoned you. You're to appear before the Disciplinary Pavilion."
"Wonderful," I said. "Shall I wear my 'Most Likely to Be Expelled' sash?"
---
The Disciplinary Pavilion – Ten Minutes Later
Three elders sat on stone chairs that looked suspiciously uncomfortable — probably to match their moods.
Elder Feng, the sword fanatic, stared at me like I'd just insulted his ancestors.
Elder Lianhua, elegant and quiet, looked like she was fighting a headache.
Elder Bao yawned. Loudly. Which I took as a sign of spiritual resonance with my nap path.
"You are Arin, yes?" Elder Feng asked.
"I am many things, but unfortunately yes, I'm him."
"You have skipped more training sessions than any disciple in the past five years."
"I prefer the term 'strategic absence.'"
"You've led disciples into a fake cultivation method called 'Spiritual Napping.'"
"They're calm, quiet, and respectful now. Honestly, I'm doing your job."
"YOU HAVE NO FOUNDATION."
"Yet I still rest harder than anyone else."
---
> [System Notification:]
Elder Feng's Anger: 92/100
Elder Lianhua's Curiosity: 43/100
**Elder Bao's Approval: 1 (he just laughed quietly)]
Title Gained: "Public Menace with Potential"
---
Then Yue Lan walked in.
Wait—Yue Lan?!
"I requested to speak on Arin's behalf," she said.
Even Jun Bai, who'd slithered in earlier to watch me burn, blinked.
"Senior Sister Yue," Elder Feng said carefully, "do you support this… lunatic?"
"No," she said. "But I've seen him survive multiple missions, influence disciples, and make even the Spirit Boar retreat. By accident."
"That's not… a good thing," Feng growled.
"But he's a catalyst," she added. "And catalysts change things."
I blinked.
Was that… support?
---
> [Yue Lan Impression: 5/10 — "Confused, entertained, possibly mildly impressed."]
[Jun Bai Rage Level: 15/10 — "He's now praying for your public failure."]
---
The elders discussed quietly for a few moments.
Then Elder Lianhua spoke:
"You are hereby given a formal sect mission — one of importance. If you fail, you'll be expelled. If you survive… we'll reevaluate."
I bowed. "Thank you, elders. I shall nap through it with honor."
"You will report to Elder Lianhua for details."
"And if I die—?"
"Then I shall record your name in the scroll of historic failures," Feng said dryly.
---
Back at my bunk, the system finally pinged.
> [System Update:]
New Quest Acquired: "Trial by Sect"
Objective: Complete a dangerous outer mission of the sect's choosing.
Reward: Real cultivation technique.
Actual real this time. Maybe. Okay, fine, probably not.
> [Also Detected: Hidden Reward Log]
Original reward rerouted to "Heaven's Laughter System."
Credits earned: 1500.
Host receives: "Damaged Scroll – Maybe Fire Technique?"
I stared at the torn scroll the system spat out.
"System," I said. "Someday, when I find your mainframe, I'm going to yeet a spirit chicken into it."
> [System Response:]
We believe in you. Failure builds character.
I sat down.
Yue Lan's words echoed in my head.
"Catalyst."
Not hero. Not genius. Just… disruption.
And for the first time, I didn't laugh.
Because deep down… I kind of liked the sound of that.