Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 356 Unbound by Sect Politics

Elder Wu Heng was enraged, and it was understandable as their hard work was almost undone.

Lu Xiangyuan took the blame but there was someone apart from him who was taking the blame.

Elder Lu Teng, Lu Xiangyuanʼs father, was seated along with others from the faction, his head down.

They were trying not to be too vocal about their complaints regarding his son because Elder Lu Teng held a fairly high position, but he could feel the eldersʼ gazes occasionally drifting toward him, all blaming him.

His position has increased due to his son and with Lu Xiangyuan set to become an elder soon, their family position in the sect was also going to be risen to the next level.

But who could have thought it would all come crashing down because of a single person.

Elder Lu Teng could only grit his teeth and endure, looking at his pathetic son- whom he vowed to teach a good lesson once this was over.

Unbeknownst to Lu Xiangyuan, he looked somewhat relieved and had calmed down a little after getting away from the Devil.

Bai Zihan looked at Lu Xiangyuan and then at the Anti-Sect Leader Faction and smirked.

He was well aware of what they were trying to achieve by having their talented disciple go after influential geniuses.

But with this, Bai Zihan knew their plan was foiled.

And the only way they could ever undo or salvage their ruined plan was if they could defeat him.

But since Lu Xiangyuan lost, who is already their strongest disciple, there was no way that they could do that.

So, in that sense, their plan was completely destroyed, with no way to recover at all.

Bai Zihan then began walking toward Lu Xiangyuan-deliberately slow.

A thin, icy killing intent seeped out of him.

It wasnʼt his true killing intent, it was just to scare Lu Xiangyuan.

However, he didnʼt know that it was quite powerful despite him controlling it. The nearby disciples flinched, shoulders tightening under the suffocating pressure.

To them, it truly felt like Bai Zihan was going to kill Lu Xiangyuan.

Lu Xiangyuan felt it the worst.

His shattered mind couldnʼt even process it-his body reacted first.

He froze, then convulsed violently, trembling like a child left in a blizzard. ”You... y-you canʼt kill me...!” he stammered, voice cracking. ”This is Heaven Sword Sect-! You canʼt kill menhere!”

It was true as their sect rule dictates.

But it was also pointless for Lu Xiangyuan to say that.

Because Bai Zihan wasnʼt trying to kill him in the first place-only scare him, and it worked frighteningly well.

Moreover, Lu Xiangyuan-utterly broken-forgot the simplest rule he couldʼve used to leave the place.

The match would have ended the moment he surrendered.

He didnʼt need to crawl. He didnʼt need to run away pathetically. He didnʼt need to humiliate himself further.

He just needed to admit defeat and it would have been over.

But fear had turned his brain into mush, and that single lifeline never crossed his mind.

He forgot that his father and the rest of the faction were watching, and that his life was never in actual danger.

Lu Xiangyuan continued backing away on instinct alone, legs shaking uncontrollably.

Bai Zihanʼs steps did not quicken as he slowly took his time.

Lu Xiangyuanʼs teeth chattered as he stumbled back.

Bai Zihan stopped a few steps away, his shadow falling over the trembling Lu Xiangyuan.

His expression remained calm... but his eyes sharpened. ”Do you know,” Bai Zihan said quietly, ”what wrong you committed?”

Lu Xiangyuan opened his mouth-but only a strangled sound came out. ”I... I... I— I donʼt know...!”

He stammered, voice shaking, throat tight with panic.

Bai Zihanʼs killing intent spiked-cold, sudden, suffocating. ”I-I was wrong!!”

He squealed immediately. ”I was wrong for-for-!!”

His mind scrambled desperately, searching for anything that would stop the pressure crushing his chest.

Then it hit him-the reason Bai Zihan even bothered with him in the first place.

He blurted it out like a confession before execution: ”I was wrong for going against your fiancée! I was wrong! I wonʼt- I wonʼt ever offend her again!”

Bai Zihanʼs killing intent eased... slightly.

A faint smirk curved his lips. ”What else?”

Bai Zihan asked.

Lu Xiangyuan froze. His lips trembled.

His mind already shattered-spun desperately, trying to guess what Bai Zihan wanted to hear. ”What... else...?”

He gulped, panic clawing at his throat as he scrambled to think of anything- anything he had done that might anger Bai Zihan. ”I-I was wrong for... f-for... targeting your fiancée... and... and...”

He squeezed his eyes shut and blurted out the next thing that came to mind. ”...and for challenging your sister!”

His voice cracked pathetically. ”And- and for thinking I could beat you!”

He kept going, words spilling out like a dam bursting. ”And for... for even daring to stand against you in the first place! I-I shouldʼve known better! I shouldnʼt have said you were arrogant! I shouldnʼt have tried to provoke you! I shouldnʼt have-”

He gasped for air, chest heaving, face pale.

Lu Xiangyuanʼs desperation spiked. ”I was wrong! I didnʼt know I didnʼt realize- I wonʼt ever do anything like that again!”

He kept rambling, fear pushing out every word, hoping at least one would be the correct answer.

He wasnʼt apologizing like a genius disciple of a great sect. ”At least you know who you messed with.”

Bai Zihan looked down at him for a long moment, hands behind his back, voice smooth and unhurried. ”Since Iʼm feeling generous,” he said, ”how about you apologize sincerely... and

Iʼll forgive you.”

He didnʼt need to say it twice.

Lu Xiangyuan seized the chance like a drowning man clutching a rope.

He bowed-then dropped lower-forehead nearly hitting the tiles. ”Iʼm sorry!! I sincerely apologize! I wonʼt ever dare offend your fiancée again!

Please forgive me!”

His voice cracked halfway through, desperation leaking into every word.

He didnʼt care that thousands were watching.

He didnʼt care that elders were watching.

He didnʼt care that his father was watching. He only cared about not provoking Bai Zihan again.

And Bai Zihan watched him grovel with a calm, almost amused expression- exactly what he intended from the start.

Bai Zihan flicked his wrist lightly-an absent, dismissive gesture.

The action was simple, but to Lu Xiangyuan it felt like divine salvation.

Relief hit him so hard his legs nearly gave out.

He scrambled backward, bowing repeatedly, nodding like a man pardoned from execution.

He practically fled, stumbling away on unsteady feet, grateful beyond measure that Bai Zihan had allowed him to live another day.

Bai Zihan turned away from the fleeing Lu Xiangyuan, his expression returning to its usual composure. ”Iʼm the winner!”

He declared.

Only then did everyone truly register that the duel had already ended.

Though for most, it already ended the moment Lu Xiangyuan had broken down and begged for forgiveness, the outcome had been sealed.

He hadnʼt surrendered formally, but there was no real difference between conceding and groveling on the ground in front of oneʼs opponent.

If anything, it was more pathetic. And far more humiliating.

Claps and cheers filled the arena especially from the disciple who supports

Sect Leader Faction.

But Bai Zihan wasnʼt done.

Not even close.

His gaze slid past the trembling Lu Xiangyuan-straight to the Anti-Sect Leader

Faction.

The air tightened.

Elder Wu Heng stiffened instantly, fury and humiliation boiling under his skin.

His complexion darkened, veins bulging at his temple. It felt as though he might explode.

Elder Wu Heng glared at Bai Zihan, wanting to skin him alive.

This wasnʼt the first time that their faction suffered because of Bai Zihan. ”Bai Zihan!”

Elder Wu Heng muttered his name angrily.

Bai Zihan met his gaze and smirked-slow, sharp, deliberate.

He turned slightly, letting his voice carry across the entire arena. ”I donʼt care,” Bai Zihan said calmly, ”about your little games.”

The words struck like a slap to both the factions. Their struggle and fight was labeled as little game by Bai Zihan. ”You can fight within yourself, ” Bai Zihan continued, tone steady, almost bored. ”And I donʼt care who wins.”

The statement rippled through both factions like a cold wave.

After all, despite the two factions having existed for a long time, no one would bring that up so openly.

However, Bai Zihan casually brough the two factions who had been fighting for so long in the shadows before everyone.

Everyone was aware of it, but it wasnʼt something one should mention. Anyways, Bai Zihan meant what he said.

Bai Zihan had no interest in their politics-no loyalty to their factional struggle, no desire to meddle or support either side.

He didnʼt care that the Sect Leader was his fatherʼs friend. He didnʼt care what happened to the sect, nor who ended up on top.

He had never belonged here in the first place.

The only reason he even came to this sect was because he had been forced to.

Bai Zihanʼs gaze swept over the Anti-Sect Leader Faction, lingering on Elder Wu

Heng just long enough to let the message sink in. ”But if you dare,” he continued, voice dropping, ”mess with me... or with whatʼs mine...”

His eyes sharpened, cold and merciless. ”...then you will suffer.”

It was a warning.

A threat.

A declaration.