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The elder Inner Court disciple named Hou Ziping appeared to be around forty years old, with a pointed chin and monkey-like cheeks, a slender frame, and a green robe that would have looked elegant and free-spirited on someone else, but on him, it seemed slightly misfitting—as if a monkey had donned human clothes, which looked rather comical.
Hou Ziping seemed like an honest person and apparently was not faring well in the Inner Court. Some of the other Inner Court disciples looked at him with disdain, as if they held him in contempt.
Even some of the newer Inner Court disciples who had joined after him showed no respect at all, not even bothering to call him 'Senior Brother.'
A few Inner Court disciples who were more senior than Hou Ziping laughed and called him "monkey" with obvious insult in their tone.
However, Hou Ziping seemed to have become accustomed to this and was not angry; instead, he greeted everyone with a smile and was exceedingly polite.