Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 444 Grade-8 Pill?!

The Bai Clan Estate was silent.

Elders dispersed efficiently, some moving to reinforce defensive arrays, others sending silent messages through jade slips.

After the assassination attempt on Bai Zihan, it was natural for them to be more vigilant.

Bai Zihan lead Xi Yu to somewhere they could talk privately.

Xi Yu followed without hesitation.

She didnʼt seem surprised by the grand appearance of the Bai Clanʼs estate; rather, it almost looked like she was looking down on it.

Bai Zihan led her into a secluded courtyard deep within the estate.

A small pavilion stood at the center, understated yet elegant.

Moments later, servants arrived silently, setting down spirit tea that released a soft, calming fragrance.

The two of them sat across from each other.

For a time-

Neither spoke.

Steam curled lazily from the porcelain cups.

Night insects chirred faintly in the distance.

Xi Yu lifted her cup, took a small sip, then set it down with precise movements.

Only then did Bai Zihan speak. ”Now,” he said calmly, eyes steady on her, ”who are you?”

Xi Yu met his gaze without flinching.

She stared at him with judgmental eyes, as if evaluating him. ”You can call me Xi Yu,” she said at last. ”That name is real.”

Bai Zihan tried to recall anyone famous with that name but couldnʼt. Perhaps he needed to refresh his knowledge of powerful figures. ”And your purpose?”

Bai Zihan asked calmly.

Xi Yu didnʼt answer.

Instead, her gaze sharpened.

It was no longer casual, nor merely observant-it became piercing, as though she were trying to see through his skin, his bones, his very soul. ”Before that,” she said coolly, ”answer me something first.”

Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow slightly. ”Are you really crippled?”

Xi Yu asked as if that question were truly important.

Bai Zihan chuckled.

He lifted his teacup, took an unhurried sip, then set it down. ”You can judge that yourself,” he replied.

Xi Yuʼs eyes narrowed.

Bai Zihan continued. ”Besides,” he added, ”even if I told you yes-or no-would you truly believe me?” Xi Yu didnʼt deny it.

She wouldnʼt.

Words meant nothing when spoken by someone like him-at least according to what she knew.

She leaned back slightly, fingers resting lightly against the table. ”From what I can tell,” Xi Yu said slowly, ”your meridians are indeed shattered. Thereʼs no mistaking that.”

Her gaze flicked briefly to his dantian.

Bai Zihan remained silent. ”But,” she continued, eyes locking onto his, ”your demeanor contradicts it.”

She studied him openly now.

His calm composure.

The faint arrogance that didnʼt bother hiding itself.

The complete absence of despair. ”Iʼve seen many geniuses fall, Xi Yu said flatly. ”Some lose everything-their pride, their confidence. They become empty shells.” ”Some drown in self-loathing and resentment, wallowing in self-pity.” ”Others refuse to accept reality. They cling to delusion, insisting they are still who they once were.”

She lowered her hand. ”You are none of them!”

Bai Zihan was exactly as she had heard-arrogant, as if everything were unfolding just as he expected.

There was no panic, even when he had nearly been assassinated.

Yet despite all that, it didnʼt seem like he was deluding himself into believing he was still the same Bai Zihan as before.

He accepted at least outwardly-that he was crippled. There was no denial, unlike most who couldnʼt accept such a cruel reality.

But no crippled genius acted this arrogantly-not after being struck down at the peak.

Bai Zihan smiled faintly. ”And?”

Xi Yu sighed.

She didnʼt know what kind of person he was-someone even she couldnʼt fully see through.

Like someone who had already given up, she too seemed to give up on understanding Bai Zihanʼs true self. ”Anyway, it looks like you really are crippled.”

Bai Zihan listened, still not understanding why his condition was connected to her purpose. ”I am on a mission given by our Saintess.” (Saintess?)

Bai Zihan pondered that word deeply. Not because such a title didnʼt exist in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Most holy sects named their successors Saint or Saintess.

Even Demonic Cultivators had their own Saints and Saintesses, who would later become sect masters-or even leaders of the entire demonic path.

But for a Saintess-a junior-to command someone as powerful as Xi Yu...

That meant the organization behind her possessed an unfathomable background.

Xi Yuʼs sleeve shifted.

A small jade bottle appeared in her palm and was placed gently onto the stone table between them.

Bai Zihanʼs eyes flickered.

Xi Yu pushed the bottle forward. ”A gift,” she said flatly.

Bai Zihan didnʼt reach for it immediately.

Instead, he studied the jade bottle.

Translucent. Warm to the eye. Faint golden runes flowed beneath its surface like slow-moving veins.

Even without opening it-

He already knew. ”This is...” Bai Zihan murmured. ”A Grade-8 pill,” Xi Yu said, as if stating something mundane. ”Its name is the Heavenly Renewal Heart Pill.”

Bai Zihanʼs pupils contracted-just slightly.

Grade-8.

Not Grade-6.

Not even the near-mythical Grade-7.

Grade-8 pills were legends.

In the Desolate Heaven Empire, even Grade-7 pills were treasures capable of shaking sects and top clans.

As for Grade-8-

There was no alchemist capable of refining them.

Even their ingredients were so rare and precious that one might never obtain them.

They should not exist in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

It was certain that Xi Yu belonged to a force outside the Empire.

Even Bai Zihan-who had seen far more than anyone here should-felt genuine surprise. (To give something like this away so casually...)

His gaze lifted to Xi Yu. (It seems I underestimated the force behind you.) ”That pill,” she continued, ”possesses powerful restorative properties. Although not one hundred percent guaranteed, there is a chance that it will be able to heal your meridians.”

Bai Zihan finally reached out.

Although he could use his System to obtain any pill he wanted, this one could save him Points. ”I understand your intention,” Bai Zihan said. ”But that only makes me more curious.”

He looked at her directly. ”Who is this Saintess?”

Xi Yu shook her head. ”You donʼt have the authority to know.”

The answer was immediate.

Bai Zihan wasnʼt offended.

He had expected as much. ”Do I know her?”

He asked.

Xi Yu hesitated-just for a fraction of a second.

Then she answered honestly. ”I donʼt know either.”

Whether it was the truth or a lie, Bai Zihan couldnʼt tell.

He studied her for a moment longer, then leaned back slightly. ”I see!”

It didnʼt seem like he would get any more information from Xi Yu.

She likely wouldnʼt reveal the sect or clan behind her either, since she had already refused to identify the Saintess.

Xi Yu rose to her feet.

Her movements were smooth and decisive-like someone who had already concluded everything that needed to be concluded. ”My mission is complete,” she said calmly. ”Thereʼs no reason for me to stay.”

Bai Zihan didnʼt try to stop her.

At the very least, after saving him from an assassination attempt and handing him a Grade-8 pill without hesitation, it was clear she wasnʼt an enemy.

Not yet.

And if her Saintess truly favored him...

That, in itself, wasnʼt entirely bad.

She turned to leave the pavilion, her steps light against the stone floor.

Just as she was about to step out-

She stopped.

Xi Yu turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Bai Zihan once more.

This time, there was no scrutiny.

No curiosity.

Only warning. ”Bai Zihan,” she said coldly, ”donʼt get close to our Saintess.”

The words struck like a sudden chill.

Bai Zihanʼs brows furrowed. ...What?

Genuine confusion surfaced on his face. (Get close? I donʼt even know who she is.)

Though he had an idea, he wasnʼt sure to which it was the same as not knowing.

He let out a short breath and looked at her steadily. ”I donʼt even know who your Saintess is,” Bai Zihan said. ”How exactly am I supposed to avoid someone Iʼve never met?”

Xi Yu didnʼt fully turn back. ”Youʼll know,” she replied simply. ”When the time comes.”

Her eyes hardened slightly. ”And when that happens,” she added, ”I expect you to maintain your distance.”

Bai Zihan stared at her back.

The warning made no sense.

Yet... it didnʼt sound empty.

Before he could say anything else- Crack!

Space itself fractured.

Right in front of Xi Yu, the air split open like shattered glass, revealing a dark, twisting rift beyond.

A spatial rift!

Bai Estate was protected by layered formations-defensive arrays capable of suppressing teleportation and spatial tearing even from Immortal Ascension Realm.

To forcibly open a rift here... (Earth Immortal? Or perhaps above...)

Xi Yu stepped forward without hesitation.

Her figure vanished into the rift.

Crack!

The rift sealed instantly, space returning to normal as if nothing had ever happened.

Silence returned to the courtyard.

Only the faint scent of spirit tea lingered.

Bai Zihan remained seated, eyes fixed on the spot where she had disappeared. ”...Interesting,” he muttered.

A Saintess of powerful backing.

An unexpected Heaven-Chosen in the Golden Immortal Realm.

Assassination attempt on him.

It seemed Heaven had no intention of letting him rest.

Bai Zihan picked up the jade bottle, his fingers brushing against its warm surface. ”It seems,” he said softly, a faint smile forming, ”that things are about to get interesting.”