Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 368 Tonight, Before the Beast Tide

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of cultivators were waiting for their leaders.

Most of them were chatting and catching up with old friends that they had not seen for many years.

There were also enemies throwing insults at each other but no violence. They were strictly told to restrain themselves by their Sect or Clan Leaders.

And the rest were just looking around with nothing to do. ”Ziyanʼer, you came?”

Bai Xueqing was surprised because Chu Ziyan had been injured in her fight against Lu Xiangyuan, so she assumed Chu Ziyan would still be recuperating.

She didnʼt know Chu Ziyan would join, so she didnʼt go to see her either. ”How are your injuries? You should still be resting!”

Bai Xueqing said. ”I have already recovered. Xueqingʼer, you donʼt need to worry too much!” Chu Ziyan replied.

Bai Xueqingʼs brows drew together, the worry on her face lingering despite Chu Ziyanʼs confidence. ”You... you always say that,” Bai Xueqing muttered. ”Last time you said you were ʼfine, you injuries relapsed.”

Chu Ziyan only smiled. ”I really am fine this time.””

Bai Xueqing sighed in defeat. (This girl... once she decides something, she never listens. So stubborn!)

If Bai Zihan could hear her thoughts, he would have vomited blood listening to his sister call someone else stubborn when she was the most stubborn of all.

Helpless, Bai Xueqing turned toward the one person who might be able to sway Chu Ziyan. ”Bai Zihan,” she said. ”Can you talk to Ziyanʼer? She shouldnʼt go to the front this time.”

Bai Zihan lifted his eyes and looked at Chu Ziyan.

Their gazes met for a brief second-and Chu Ziyan immediately lowered hers, fingers brushing the hem of her sleeve.

After a moment, she peeked back up.

Bai Zihan was still watching her, calm and serious.

He was checking whether she had really recovered.

Her qi flow was steady, her breathing smooth.

And externally, she looked completely normal.

Compared to the last time he saw her, it seemed she truly had recovered from her injuries.

Bai Xueqing expected Bai Zihan to support her and tell Chu Ziyan to stay behind. Chu Ziyan wouldnʼt ignore his words like she did with hers.

Instead- ”She looks fine.”

Bai Zihan said simply.

Bai Xueqing froze. She glared at Bai Zihan, who had already averted his gaze toward the other cultivators.

He understood what she wanted from him, but since Chu Ziyan was truly fine, he didnʼt think it was necessary to interfere in her decision.

Chu Ziyanʼs lips curved into a triumphant smile. ”See? Even Bai Zihan agrees.” ”Hmph! What would he know?”

Bai Xueqing scoffed almost angrily.

Though honestly, even her angry scoff made her look pretty.

Most of the male cultivators staring at her right now would have agreed.

It wasnʼt just Bai Xueqing-Bai Zihan and Chu Ziyan also had many eyes on them.

They were famous, almost like celebrities among cultivators.

With hundreds of thousands gathered, countless people who have never seen them were curious to see what they looked like.

And of course, not all those gazes were friendly.

Many held grudges.

Bai Zihan especially seemed to have accumulated a rather large number of enemies.

There was animosity from the Zhao and Li Clans, the Azure Sun Holy Sect glared like he had killed their ancestors, and Lu Xiangyuan from the Heaven Sword Sect openly stared at him with hatred.

Bai Zihan didnʼt care and looked around.

While it may seem like he was doing nothing, that wasnʼt truly the case. (Huh. No Heaven Chosen One?)

With such a large gathering, Bai Zihan expected at least one or two Heaven Chosen Ones to appear. But so far, none. (Did the Desolate Heaven Empire run out of Heaven Chosen Ones?)

Perhaps so.

He has met Five Heaven Chosen One which can be said a lot for a single

Empire.

He was also trying to see whether Nie Fengzhuo, Bai Xueqingʼs ex-fiancé, would show up.

Normally someone like him should appear in such a grand event. But Bai Zihan hadnʼt spotted him yet. ”Young Master Bai!”

Lin Xuan stepped out from the Heaven Sword Sect group and greeted Bai

Zihan.

Lin Xuan was still at the Nascent Soul Realm, but it looked like it was only a matter of time before he advanced to the Soul Formation Realm.

It seemed the Sect Leader had decided this Beast Tide was a good opportunity for Lin Xuan to gain experience.

Otherwise, considering how he was being nurtured as the next Sect Leader of the Heaven Sword Sect, they wouldnʼt have brought him.

Seeing Lin Xuan respectfully call Bai Zihan ”Young Master” only made the Anti-Sect Leader Faction even more certain that Bai Zihan was supporting the Sect Leaderʼs side.

Not that the Sect Leaderʼs faction liked it much either.

They understood why Lin Xuan respected Bai Zihan, but they wanted him to maintain the dignity of a future Sect Leader.

But to Lin Xuan... nothing mattered more than his loyalty to Bai Zihan.

Lin Xuan bowed deeply. ”Senior Sister!”

His tone warmed as he turned. ”Mistress Ziyan.”

Chu Ziyan blinked, a little startled-as she always was whenever Lin Xuan addressed her like that-but she didnʼt correct him this time.

Not like he was wrong.

Lin Xuan finally faced Bai Zihan again. ”Young Master Bai... it has been too long. I came to greet you.”

He bowed even deeper. ”And... I must apologize. I have neglected my duties.”

Bai Zihan gave him a flat look. ”What duties?”

Lin Xuan straightened with an earnest, almost embarrassed expression. ”Cultivation and training have occupied most of my time lately. The Sect Leader has been pushing me very hard to break through... and I understand why. Still

He scratched the back of his head, almost sheepish. ”I havenʼt been able to clean your courtyard personally these past months.” Bai Xueqing blinked. Chu Ziyan hid a small laugh behind her sleeve. Lin Xuan was after all treated as quite a high status since there was a high chance he would become the next Sect Leader of heaven Sword Sect.

But before Bai Zihan, he was always acting like a Servant.

Lin Xuan continued seriously, as if discussing a matter of life and death. ”When I truly couldnʼt go myself, I made sure to assign trustworthy juniors to take care of it. But still...”

Bai Zihan pinched the bridge of his nose. (...Heʼs still doing that?)

Lin Xuan had been cultivating harder than ever these past months. Everyone in the Heaven Sword Sect believed it was simply because the Sect

Leader was pushing him to break through sooner-after all, he was being molded into the next Sect Leader.

But that wasnʼt the full truth.

The real reason ran deeper.

Lin Xuan wanted to be useful to Bai Zihan. To repay him for believing in him and helping him when he was at his lowest.

No matter how busy he was, no matter how strenuous the training became, that thought stayed at the center of his heart.

It was why, even while being thoroughly trained, he still made time to clean Bai

Zihanʼs courtyard.

And on the days he couldnʼt go himself, he carefully arranged for fellow disciples to do it, personally ensuring none of them slacked.

Yet despite all his efforts, a quiet frustration had grown within him.

He cultivated endlessly, pushing his limits again and again-only to realize that

Bai Zihan had already climbed to an even greater height each time.

The gap only widened. It felt impossible to catch up.

Even so, Lin Xuan never resented it. If anything, it only strengthened his resolve to continue.

Bai Zihan sighed and shook his head lightly. ”Donʼt worry about that,” he said, his tone firm enough that even Lin Xuan wouldnʼt mistake it for indifference. ”Your cultivation comes first.”

Lin Xuan straightened instinctively, as if receiving an order.

Bai Zihan continued, his voice lowering just a little-as if speaking only to Lin

Xuan, though everyone around could hear. ”And stay alert during this Beast Tide. One mistake might cost you your life!” (Although I shouldnʼt need to worry too much about him.)

With him being Three Star Fated Heaven Chosen One, his life shouldnʼt be in danger.

But he still said those words, not to appeal to Lin Xuan but because he really cared about him.

Lin Xuan was delighted to hear those words.

Lin Xuan bowed, eyes bright with determination. ”I will keep those words in my heart for sure, Young Master Bai!”

He said solemnly.

Bai Zihan was satisfied with his response. He looked around where the atmosphere was mostly festive but-

Tomorrow, everything will change.

Tonight was probably the last time theycould talk like this so casually, with laughter, mild bickering, and old habits resurfacing. Starting dawn, the atmosphere would shift.

No matter how mighty their clans or sects were, no matter how powerful they themselves had grown... the Beast Tide did not care. Those Demonic Beast would kill and destroy until nothing is left!