Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 443 Alliance in the Dark

Deep beneath layers of stone and formation arrays, a dark seclusion chamber lay sealed off from the world.

A gathering had formed.

At the head of the stone table sat Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian, their expressions composed, eyes sharp and calculating.

Several other figures occupied the remaining seats-clan heads, sect elders, and shadowed representatives who rarely showed their faces in daylight.

Then-

Bang!

The stone table cracked.

A terrifying pressure surged outward as the Shen Clan Leader slammed his palm down, his face contorted with rage. ”Failed?!”

He roared. ”Youʼre telling me the assassination failed?!” Several figures frowned but remained silent.

His gaze swept across the table like a blade. ”I warned you, Zhao Wutian!” he growled. ”For me to join your alliance, you needed to kill Bai Zihan.”

The atmosphere turned suffocating. ”Brother Shen,” Zhao Wutian said calmly, raising one hand slightly. ”Thereʼs no need to lose composure.”

Shen Haoʼs glare snapped toward him. ”Composure?” he sneered. ”My son-” ”-will have his revenge, Zhao Wutian interrupted smoothly.

His voice wasnʼt loud.

But it carried authority.

Realizing that he had overstepped, Shen Hao forced himself to calm down.

After all, the person before him was the Zhao Clan Leader, whose power far exceeded that of the Shen Clan.

Though he didnʼt need to beg for their help, in the current situation it was the Zhao Clan that needed as many allies as possible to move against the Bai Clan. ”What do you mean by that?”

Shen Hao asked, his tone controlled. ”We have all confirmed it,” Zhao Wutian continued, eyes narrowing slightly. ”Bai Zihanʼs meridians are shattered. His cultivation-gone.”

Li Jianhong nodded slowly beside him. ”He is crippled,” Li Jianhong said. ”That much is no longer in doubt.”

Zhao Wutian leaned back, fingers tapping the stone table rhythmically. ”Tell me, Brother Shen,” he said, a faint smile forming, ”wouldnʼt it be more... satisfying for Shen Liang to deal with him personally?”

Shen Tianhao paused.

Zhao Wutian continued. ”Not a swift death in the dark,” he said. ”But despair and humiliation. The slow realization that everything he once stood for is gone.”

He paused. ”To torture the genius who once took your sonʼs arm,” Zhao Wutian added softly, ”with his own hands.”

Shen Tianhaoʼs breathing slowed.

The rage in his eyes didnʼt vanish-but it shifted.

He closed his eyes.

One breath.

Then another. ”... Youʼre right,” he said at last.

His lips curled into a cold smile. ”A crippled Bai Zihan,” he muttered. ”What threat is that? I will let my son slowly humiliate and torture that bastard!”

After all, once the Bai Clan fell-

Bai Zihan would be nothing more than a helpless mortal. Even without his arm, Shen Liang was hundred, not thousands times stronger than Bai Zihan.

Shen Tianhao straightened. ”Fine,” he said. ”Iʼll wait!”

But then-

His expression hardened again. ”There is still a problem,” he said, eyes sharp as knives. ”The Bai Clan!”

Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian both looked toward him.

He clenched his fist. ”Even with Li, Zhao-and all of us gathered today,” he said slowly, ”I donʼt believe we have a hundred percent chance of crushing them.”

The room grew quiet.

It was true. Even before their recent rise in strength, the combined Li and Zhao

Clans couldnʼt fully suppress the Bai Clan.

One might say that now, with their alliance, they could.

But one also had to consider that while their alliance was growing, the Bai Clan was doing the same-perhaps even faster.

Zhao Wutian didnʼt answer immediately.

Instead-

He smiled with the calm confidence of someone who already knew the ending of the game.

Li Jianhong, too, allowed a faint smile to curve his lips. ”We donʼt need to worry about that,”

Zhao Wutian declared.

The words sounded arrogant-especially considering their opponent was the

Bai Clan.

Shen Tianhao frowned. ”What is it?”

He demanded. ”Are you saying you still have a way?”

Zhao Wutian slowly rose from his seat. ”Youʼre right, Brother Shen,” he said mildly. ”If it were only us, the result might be ambiguous.”

His eyes swept across the chamber.

Several figures nodded grimly.

Then Zhao Wutian turned toward the far end of the chamber-toward a section of the stone wall that appeared no different from the rest. ”But fortunately,” he continued, voice steady, ”this alliance isnʼt just us.”

A low hum echoed through the chamber.

Then-

The stone wall split apart.

It opened.

A narrow passage revealed itself, deep and dark.

Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from within.

Step! Step! Step!

The moment the figure emerged, several clan leaders instinctively rose to their feet.

Their pupils shrank.

Their breathing stalled.

The man wore imperial black-gold robes, embroidered with ancient draconic patterns.

No clan insignia.

No sect emblem.

Only a single token at his waist-

The Imperial Crest!

His face was calm, expressionless, eyes deep and unfathomable.

Yet the aura he released-

Was terrifying.

Earth Immortal Realm!

Shen Haoʼs heart slammed violently. ”...You-!”

His voice caught in his throat.

Others reacted no better.

Some staggered back. ”Th-The Emperorʼs... right hand...” ”Ji Zhenhuang!”

Whispers and disbelief filled the room.

Everyone knew him-one of the most loyal and powerful figures of the Desolate Heaven Empire, whose sole duty was to protect the Emperor.

No one had ever imagined he would appear anywhere without the Emperorʼs direct will.

His presence here could only mean one thing.

The Imperial Family-

Was standing on their side.

Of course, nothing was officially declared yet.

But this alone was enough to shake the balance of power.

The man stopped beside Zhao Wutian and Li Jianhong.

Given his status, he stood on equal footing with them.

Zhao Wutian clasped his hands slightly, his smile deepening. ”Allow me to introduce our final pillar,” he said calmly. ”The Emperorʼs personal guardian-Royal Commander, Ji Zhenhuang!”

A heavy silence followed.

It pressed down on the chamber harder than any aura.

Several clan leaders exchanged looks, shock written plainly on their faces. Ji Zhenhuangʼs name alone was enough to crush hesitation.

Finally, someone couldnʼt hold it in. ”Royal Commander Ji...” an elder said cautiously, rising halfway from his seat. ”Why is the Emperorʼs personal guardian here?” ”Does this mean... the Imperial Family has chosen a side?” ”If the Emperor stands with us-then the Bai Clan-”

Before the speculation could spiral further- ”Enough!”

Zhao Wutianʼs voice cut through the chamber like a blade.

It silenced everyone instantly.

He turned slowly, gaze sharp and composed, sweeping across the gathered figures. ”This is not a marketplace,” he said coolly. ”You will hear what you need to hear -when it is time.”

Several people stiffened, expressions darkening, but none dared to speak again. None-

Except Shen Tianhao.

He rose to his feet, eyes fixed on Zhao Wutian, fists clenched. ”Brother Zhao,” he said, forcing restraint into his tone, ”donʼt keep us waiting.”

His gaze flicked briefly toward Ji Zhenhuang, then back. ”Why is the Royal Commander here?”

The question echoed.

Zhao Wutian studied him for a moment.

Then-

He smiled. ”Let me ask you something first, Brother Shen,” Zhao Wutian said lightly. ”How do you think a Great Ascension Realm assassin-one of the most infamous in the Empire-managed to infiltrate the Imperial Palace?” The room froze.

Shen Tianhaoʼs pupils shrank.

Several others sucked in sharp breaths.

Zhao Wutian continued calmly. ”That banquet was attended by the Emperorʼs court. Grand elders. Sect masters. Every servant, every dancer, every musician was screened layer by layer.”

His fingers tapped the table once. ”Yet Abyssal Sparrow walked in.”

The implication settled like a suffocating fog.

Shen Tianhaoʼs throat went dry. ”Youʼre saying...” he began slowly.

Zhao Wutian nodded. ”Yes!”

Li Jianhong spoke up at last, his tone even but heavy. ”The Imperial Family opened the door.”

Shock rippled through the chamber.

Some faces turned pale.

Others lit up with restrained excitement.

Zhao Wutian straightened, his voice carrying absolute certainty. ”The Emperor has already made his choice,” he said. ”He will not openly declare it-not yet.”

His eyes flicked briefly to Ji Zhenhuang, who stood motionless, expression unreadable. ”But his will is clear. If the Imperial Palace had truly intended to protect Bai

Zihan,” Zhao Wutian continued, ”that assassin would never have made it past the outer gates.”

The room erupted into low, stunned murmurs.

Shen Tianhao slowly exhaled. ”So the Emperor...” he said hoarsely, ”has chosen to stand against the Bai Clan.” ”Not openly,” Zhao Wutian corrected. ”Not yet.” ”But when the time comes-”

Li Jianhongʼs eyes gleamed. ”-the Bai Clan will stand alone.”

All eyes turned to Ji Zhenhuang.

Ji Zhenhuangʼs gaze swept over the gathered figures, cold and indifferent. ”His Majesty,” he said flatly, ”has no objections to the fall of the Bai Clan. They have been labeled a threat to the Desolate Heaven Empire.”

Those words made everyoneʼs assumptions certain.

The Emperor had chosen their side.

Even though everyone here knew the truth was that the Bai Clanʼs strength challenged the Imperial Familyʼs authority, they didnʼt expose him.

After all, the Imperial Family would coat every word like they are doing this for the good of the Empire while it was for their own.

Li Jianhong smiled faintly. ”With the Imperial Family standing behind us,” he said, ”Brother Shen-do you still doubt our chances?”

Shen Hao swallowed hard.

Slowly-

A grim smile spread across his face. ”No!”