Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 442 An Assassin Beneath the Dragon Throne

Bai Tianheng had already moved.

He strode toward the assassin embedded in the shattered stone pillar, his expression dark.

A few Bai Clan elders followed closely, sealing the surrounding space to prevent any unexpected movement.

The assassin lay slumped against the cracked stone, blood pooling beneath her.

Her chest still rose-barely.

Bai Tianheng reached out, fingers moving to restrain her meridians.

His expression changed.

Too late!

The assassinʼs lips twitched.

A faint, almost mocking smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Then-

Crack!

A subtle sound, like something shattering within her teeth.

Her eyes lost focus instantly.

Her breathing almost instantly stopped.

Dead!

Bai Tianhengʼs face darkened completely. ”Damn it!”

The curse rang loudly through the hall.

As expected of a professional.

Poison concealed within her teeth-she never intended to escape from here.

Several elders clenched their fists in frustration.

Still, Bai Tianheng did not stop there.

Although dead, they could still investigate the identity of the assassin, which might help determine who was behind the assassination.

Anyway, with the cultivation she had shown, it was certain she wasnʼt as young as her face appeared.

Even though cultivators aged very slowly, with her realm she should have looked to be in her thirties or forties-

Not someone who appeared barely in her twenties.

Bai Tianheng reached up and tore away the assassinʼs face veil, which was there as expected.

Gasps erupted around the hall.

Then- ”Itʼs her...” ”That face-!” ”Abyssal Sparrow.”

Whispers exploded.

One of the elders sucked in a sharp breath. ”Sheʼs one of the most wanted assassins in the Desolate Heaven Empire. She killed the head of the Fan Clan ten years ago.” ”And escaped an Immortal Realm pursuit.”

That alone was enough to prove her strength.

She wasnʼt some no-name but extremely infamous criminal in the Empire.

She has been active for more than 30 years with many feats including killing the head of Fan Clan who was in Great Ascension Realm at his own home.

For such a figure to be sent to kill Bai Zihan meant the one who commissioned her had to be powerful.

After all, she had come here expecting to die.

Whoever employed her could not be an ordinary person.

Bai Tianhengʼs eyes narrowed.

There were only a few forces capable of employing someone like this on a suicide mission-the Imperial Family, the Heaven Sword Sect-

Though his greatest suspicions lay with the Li and Zhao Clans.

Among everyone present, they had the strongest motive.

Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian didnʼt show much change in their expression.

They pretended as if they had no idea who sent the assassin. But they also didnʼt pretend to care for Bai Zihan.

Bai Tianheng wanted to question them the most about this assassination.

Of course, without proof, he could do nothing.

He straightened, his gaze sweeping across the hall, heavy with pressure.

Far away, Bai Zihan watched quietly.

From the moment the assassin revealed-

He already knew the answer.

The Imperial Family!

Or at the very least-

They were also accomplices.

It was reasonable to suspect the Li or Zhao Clans.

And that could very well be true.

However, one also had to consider the location of the assassination.

This was the Imperial Palace.

An event attended by the Emperor.

Every servant.

Every dancer.

Every musician-

Had been screened layer by layer.

For a Great Ascension Realm assassin-one of the most infamous criminals alive -to infiltrate this deeply?

Impossible!

Unless someone at the very top had opened the door.

After all, if it were truly that easy to infiltrate the Imperial Palace, such incidents would have happened countless times before.

Yet until now-

Not a single assassin had ever succeeded in infiltrating the Imperial Palace.

So why now?

Well, obviously it should be because they allowed it.

Bai Zihanʼs gaze drifted toward the now-empty dragon throne.

His expression remained calm.

But his eyes were cold. (So thatʼs how it is...)

From this alone, it was enough to guess the Imperial Familyʼs intention.

Across the hall, imperial ministers were pale, loudly swearing loyalty and condemning the act, promising a full investigation.

Bai Zihan listened.

And believed none of it.

They were likely accomplices of the Emperor-though perhaps not all of them.

Anyways, they would rather erase any evidence that points towards themselves than catching the one behind this assassination.

The atmosphere in the hall had yet to recover when hurried footsteps echoed from the side entrance.

A young man in imperial robes strode forward, his expression solemn.

The First Prince, Yu Zidi.

He stopped a few steps away from Bai Zihan and clasped his hands deeply, bowing with genuine gravity. ”Young Master Bai,” he said, his voice steady but heavy, ”this matter occurred within the Imperial Palace. Regardless of the cause, the Imperial Family bears responsibility. I offer my sincere apologies on behalf of my father and the court.”

His posture was respectful.

His words were flawless.

But Bai Zihan felt nothing.

This was all for show-an assertion of authority for himself.

A reminder that in the Emperorʼs absence, the one representing him was the

First Prince.

He should also want to portray himself as a responsible person before so many powerhouses.

Bai Zihan looked at him calmly. ”I understand,” Bai Zihan said.

The First Prince visibly relaxed- Only for Bai Zihan to continue. ”Please relay a message to His Majesty.” The prince straightened slightly, listening intently. ”This is what you decided. Thank you for the gift!”

Previously, Bai Zihan had known the Emperor was weighing whether to ally with the Bai Clan-

Or to join others in containing the Bai Clan.

In the end, it seemed the latter had been chosen.

The First Princeʼs pupils shrank almost imperceptibly.

Before the First Prince could gather his thoughts or offer another word, Bai

Zihan had already turned away.

The matter was settled-in his eyes, at least.

Xi Yu stood a short distance away, calm and composed amid the lingering chaos, hands folded loosely before her.

Unlike everyone else in the hall, she showed no trace of tension-no unease, no urgency to explain herself.

Bai Zihan looked at her for a moment.

Then he spoke. ”You wanted to talk with me, didnʼt you?”

His voice was calm, almost casual-but there was no mistaking the certainty behind it. Although she didnʼt seem to be after his life, there should be a reason as to why such a powerful person approached him.

Xi Yu met his gaze.

She nodded once. ”Yes!”

Bai Zihan gave a small, knowing smile. ”Then you can come along with me. We will talk at the Bai Clan Estate!”

He turned slightly, gesturing ahead of him.

He swept his gaze across the hall-over the ministers, the elders, the sect representatives, and the countless eyes filled with unease. ”I enjoyed the banquet,” Bai Zihan said evenly. ”But it seems the time has come.”

He smiled faintly. ”Iʼll take my leave.”

No one spoke.

No one objected.

Who would?

An assassination attempt had just occurred in the middle of the Imperial banquet.

A Great Ascension Realm assassin had nearly succeeded.

If Bai Zihan chose to remain-

That would be reckless.

After all, it had already been proven that the Imperial defenses were not trustworthy.

After saying those words, Bai Zihan didnʼt wait and directly left under the gaze of everyone.

Before leaving, he glanced at Li and Zhao Clan who seemed to have separated from all the chaos.

They didnʼt seem to care much about the assassination or at least pretending not to. (Well, I will know soon!)

The Bai Clan elders and grand elders followed suit, their auras restrained but sharp, forming a subtle protective formation around Bai Zihan.

Chu Ziyan stayed close at his side, eyes vigilant as she scanned their surroundings.

Following the Bai Clanʼs departure, the banquet hall fell into an uneasy silence.

For a brief moment, no one moved.

Then- ”Ahem! Ah... now that I think about it, there is an urgent matter within my sect that requires my immediate attention. This one will have to take his leave as well.” ”Indeed! My disciple is currently undergoing a breakthrough. If something goes wrong, it would be disastrous. I must return immediately.”

One excuse after another surfaced.

The hall, once filled with polite laughter and thinly veiled rivalry, now echoed with hurried farewells and insincere bows.

None of them were fools.

An assassination attempt inside the Imperial Palace-successful or not-meant one thing:

The waters of the Desolate Heaven Empire had become violently turbulent.

Moreover, who knows whether there are more assassins hiding and targeting them.

They donʼt have to risk their lives.

And with the Bai Clan gone, most had no reason to stay. Most of the clan only wanted to form a relationship with the Bai Clan.

And with all the Bai Clanʼs allies leaving with the Bai Clan, they donʼt want to be seen as being one the other side.

After all, with the Bai Clan gone, only Li-Zhao and the Imperial Family and their ally was left behind.