Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 235: The Price of a Head

(Impossible!)

Xie Wanshou’s heart pounded in her chest.

She stood frozen, her thoughts scattered. Every breath she took felt heavy under the lingering pressure Bai Zihan had just released.

Her gaze flicked toward the two crumpled bodies embedded in the far wall—two Spirit Severing cultivators crushed as easily as dry leaves.

(He... he defeated both of them...)

Cold sweat ran down her back.

Her instincts screamed at her—run. Now!

She began to step back, subtly channeling Qi to her legs, ready to vanish in a blink.

But then—

Bai Zihan turned his gaze on her.

His eyes were calm.

Like someone who had already calculated every possible outcome—and dismissed all but one.

”I wouldn’t try that if I were you.”

A clear warning.

Xie Wanshou’s entire body went rigid.

A ripple of killing intent brushed past her skin like a blade, invisible and cold.

She knew.

With Bai Zihan’s speed—his strength—she wouldn’t make it past the door. No, she wouldn’t make it halfway through the room.

The moment she moved—

She’d be down.

Or dead.

Trying to run away was tantamount to inviting more trouble to herself.

Her fingers, already halfway through a hand seal, twitched—then stopped.

She clenched her jaw, her eyes burning with frustration—but she didn’t move again.

A slow smirk tugged at the corner of Bai Zihan’s lips.

”Wise choice!”

He stepped forward, his shoe crunching lightly on the cracked floor, and looked around the room—what was left of it.

Splintered beams. Collapsed pillars. Shattered lanterns.

His gaze finally returned to her.

”Now then, I would like to ask you the same thing, and this time, I hope there won’t be any lies!”

There was a glint of killing intent, suggesting death the moment she tried to make an excuse or lie.

Xie Wanshou flipped and nodded vigorously.

***

The luxurious elegance of Xie Wanshou’s personal office now felt more like a prison than a place of power.

At her own desk, Bai Zihan sat with one leg crossed casually over the other, a porcelain teacup untouched in his hand.

He didn’t speak.

He didn’t need to.

His gaze alone demanded answers.

Xie Wanshou stood before him, not even daring to lift her eyes fully.

Behind her, in the far corner, the two Spirit Severing Realm cultivators remained unconscious—bodies slumped awkwardly against the wall like discarded puppets.

Kong Zhanghong stood a short distance away, half in awe, half in reverence. His eyes hadn’t left Bai Zihan since the moment he beat down the Spirit Severing Realm.

To him, it was as if a deity had descended and chosen to wear the skin of a mortal.

He felt stupid for ever doubting Bai Zihan.

”Earlier, what I said is true. We, the Black Lantern Society, weren’t the ones who sent the assassination, and as you can see, we don’t have the power to do so either.”

Xie Wanshou began, first trying to diffuse the situation to portray that she wasn’t his enemy.

”And if you ask me whether I know who sent the assassins to kill you, then I must also disappoint you as well. I don’t know very well!”

Xie Wanshou declared.

Bai Zihan saw no lies in her words, but that of course wasn’t enough to convince him.

He already saw signs of Xie Wanshou knowing something regarding the ones who sent the assassins.

But still, he didn’t say anything and waited for Xie Wanshou to speak.

And if the answer doesn’t satisfy him, then he can only apologize for what is about to happen next.

Xie Wanshou’s lips trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the unbearable weight of the silence pressing down on her.

She knew that this answer didn’t satisfy Bai Zihan at all.

Bai Zihan’s gaze was calm, but within that calm lay the same kind of stillness that preceded a thunderstorm.

She swallowed.

”However, there... is something that I do know.”

She continued, slower now, measuring every word.

”A year ago, I was invited to the headquarters of a certain organization. Not part of the Black Lantern Society, but one... far more dangerous. They might not even be based in the Desolate Heaven Empire.”

She took a breath.

”I don’t know what they truly call themselves. But while I was there, I saw something.”

Xie Wanshou didn’t look at him, as if speaking the memory aloud was already difficult enough.

”There was a wall. Covered in bounty scrolls and mission edicts. Names of cultivators, sect leaders, rogue geniuses... all with prices on their heads. And one of the targets was... yours.”

A long pause.

”You were listed as an S-Class Target. With a bounty offering Heaven-Grade artifacts... and hundreds of thousands of gold pieces.”

Even Kong Zhanghong gasped.

One could say that for someone like Bai Zihan, the price was too high.

But of course, that is if one is just considering his current strength.

Otherwise, looking at his background and potential, then it was very well a good price for Bai Zihan’s head.

But one might even need to consider just who would be able to give away even a Heaven-Grade Artifact for the head of a junior?

It definitely wasn’t someone from the Desolate Heaven Empire, as even the Li-Zhao Clan wouldn’t be able to casually take out a Heaven-Grade Artifact just to kill a junior.

Perhaps if the target was Bai Tianheng—but definitely not Bai Zihan.

They still don’t think that he was at that level of threat.

Bai Zihan remained still.

(Heaven-Grade Artifact for my head?)

Who would be willing to pay this much? And who can pay this much?

(Demonic Sect?)

They would have done it themselves instead of hiring assassins.

(Then who?)

Currently, he can’t say for sure who would have offered such a generous reward for his head.

But he didn’t need to.

He can always go and ask the one who took the commission who their commissioners were—just like now.

Xie Wanshou forced herself to continue.

”Apart from that, I truly don’t know anything.”

Xie Wanshou emphasized.

Bai Zihan finally spoke.

”And yet you still say you don’t know who they are?”

Xie Wanshou shook her head quickly.

”That’s the truth. They’re... extremely secretive. I only know what I’ve seen. I only know that they are very powerful and even have Void Refinement Realm cultivators working for them.”

She exhaled, voice strained.

”After hearing about the recent assassins sent for you... I connected the dots. It might be them. But I can’t say for certain. It could also be another organization capitalizing on the bounty.”

Silence returned, cold and oppressive.

Bai Zihan sat back slightly in the chair. He tilted the porcelain cup once, watching the tea ripple, then finally set it down.

Indeed, even if there was a bounty for him, it wasn’t certain that it would be them who sent the assassins.

There are many assassin organizations who would more than welcome such a bounty with hefty rewards.

”Do you know where that organization is located?”

Xie Wanshou shook her head.

”I was taken away with all senses blocked until I reached their organization. That is also done for others who want to go to their organization as well. It seems only their members know the exact location.”

It would be easy if she knew the location, but it looks like this mysterious organization is really good at hiding.

Bai Zihan’s voice was calm, but beneath it was the subtle bite of interrogation.

”Then let me ask you this...”

He leaned forward, his gaze locking with hers.

”Is that the same organization that’s been helping the Black Lantern Society from the shadows? Like when a mid-tier clan that was about to declare war on you was suddenly... wiped out?”

Xie Wanshou’s eyes flickered.

There was no point denying it.

”Yes,” she admitted. ”It was them!”

Her voice was bitter, quiet.

”The two Spirit Severing Realm cultivators you saw earlier... they weren’t part of the Black Lantern Society either. They were sent by that organization. Either to protect me... or to watch me.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, low and mocking—at herself or the situation, even she wasn’t sure.

Bai Zihan frowned.

”That doesn’t make sense. Why would such a powerful force bother helping a minor organization like yours? Especially when you claim there’s no affiliation between you.”

Xie Wanshou’s lips pressed into a thin line. She hesitated—just a breath—before answering.

”...Because the young master of that organization has taken a fancy to me.”

Her expression was complicated—half disdain, half exhaustion.

”I don’t know exactly who he is. Only that he’s the son of someone important. Maybe even one of their high elders. He’s young... arrogant... dangerous. And unfortunately, infatuated.”

She looked away, voice colder now.

”Ever since that first meeting, he’s sent help whenever I was in danger. Eliminated threats. Cleared obstacles. But never asked for anything directly in return. Not yet.”

Her jaw tightened.

”I never agreed to anything. I never made any deal. But it’s clear he expects something eventually.”

Bai Zihan didn’t respond immediately. He studied her—the curl of disdain at her mouth, the tension in her shoulders. She clearly didn’t welcome the attention.

But that didn’t matter to him.

He wasn’t here to sympathize.

What did matter was that the organization behind his assassination is interested in the woman before him—and that information, he might be able to make full use of.

Bai Zihan sat back slowly.

”Interesting!”

His tone was neutral, but the air around him had grown sharper—colder.

”Looks like you have your use after all!”