Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 463 Kneel Before the Young Master

The waves of noise had yet to settle when the overseeing elderʼs sharp voice cut cleanly through the chaos.

”Yuan Jie!”

The elderʼs gaze was cold and heavy.

”You made a wager before this duel began. You will need to keep it!”

Still half-propped against the shattered edge of the platform, his expression stiffened.

The bet.

If he lost, he would kneel before Bai Zihan and apologize publicly for his earlier provocation.

At the time, he had been certain of victory. The wager had been nothing more than a display of confidence.

Now-

It was a blade hanging over his neck.

Yuan Jie slowly pushed himself upright. His body trembled-not from injury, but from humiliation.

”I... understand. I will do it when I see Bai Zihan.”

He nodded stiffly.

Outwardly compliant.

Inwardly-

(Keep my words? Fine!)

(After today, Iʼll simply enter closed-door cultivation. Iʼll stay hidden for months -years if I must. People will forget quickly.)

By the time he reappeared, this incident would be an old story.

Who would still care?

Yes!

That was the best solution.

A flicker of calculation returned to his eyes.

But before he could move-

A calm, faintly amused voice drifted across the arena.

”No need to wait. You can do that right now!”

The crowd stirred.

Bai Zihan stepped forward.

The moment he appeared, the atmosphere shifted subtly.

”It can be done now.”

His tone was gentle.

Yet it left no room for evasion.

Lin Xuan froze for a split second.

Then his face lit up with unmistakable excitement.

”Young Master!”

He immediately sheathed his sword and hurried over, completely forgetting the solemn atmosphere from moments ago.

”When did you come?”

His voice carried genuine joy, like a disciple eager to show his achievements.

Bai Zihan smiled faintly.

”Iʼve been watching. You have grown stronger.”

Bai Zihanʼs compliment filled Lin Xuan with excitement-and a bit of embarrassment, since he hadnʼt known he was being watched.

If so, he thought that he wouldnʼt have wasted young masterʼs time and ended

the match without giving Yuan Jie any chance from the start.

Some disciples thought the praise was lacking compared to what Lin Xuan had accomplished.

Others understood it differently.

To Bai Zihan, who had already achieved far more, comprehending Sword Intent might not seem like such a great achievement.

Bai Zihanʼs gaze lingered on Lin Xuan for a brief moment-approval clear within it-before shifting past him.

And settling on Yuan Jie.

The arena filled with anticipation.

Everyone understood.

The wager.

This was it.

Yuan Jie stiffened under countless gazes.

Sweat gathered at his temples.

His pride screamed in defiance.

(Why is he here?)

He absolutely didnʼt want to. Not before so many people. If he did, wouldnʼt his

reputation be completely ruined?

Seconds passed.

Then more.

The silence began to grow uncomfortable.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

”What is he waiting for?”

”He said heʼd do it.”

”A wager is a wager.” ”Keep your word!”

One voice shouted-

”Do it!”

Another followed-

”Do it!”

Soon the chant spread, echoing across the arena in growing waves.

”Do it!”

”Do it!”

”Keep your word!”

The pressure mounted visibly on Yuan Jieʼs face.

His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Before him stood Bai Zihan-calm, composed, hands loosely folded behind his

back.

Time stretched unbearably.

The chanting continued.

”Do it!”

”Bow!”

”Keep your word!”

Yuan Jieʼs breathing grew uneven.

His pride.

His status.

His face.

All of it trembled on the edge of collapse.

And before the entire Heaven Sword Sect-

He had no escape.

Yuan Jie swallowed.

His throat felt dry.

The chanting pressed in from all directions.

His gaze flickered toward Bai Zihan.

Perhaps... perhaps there was still room to salvage this.

He forced a stiff smile, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

”Young Master Bai,” Yuan Jie began, his voice hoarse but trying to remain steady, ”about earlier... It was merely a moment of heated words between disciples. We are of the same sect. Thereʼs no need to escalate matters to such an extent.”

A pause.

”Keep your word!”

The pressure mounted visibly on Yuan Jieʼs face.

His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Before him stood Bai Zihan-calm, composed, hands loosely folded behind his

back.

Time stretched unbearably.

The chanting continued.

”Do it!”

”Bow!” ”Keep your word!”

Yuan Jieʼs breathing grew uneven.

His pride.

His status.

His face.

All of it trembled on the edge of collapse.

And before the entire Heaven Sword Sect-

He had no escape.

Yuan Jie swallowed.

His throat felt dry.

The chanting pressed in from all directions.

His gaze flickered toward Bai Zihan. Perhaps... perhaps there was still room to salvage this.

He forced a stiff smile, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

”Young Master Bai,” Yuan Jie began, his voice hoarse but trying to remain steady, ”about earlier... It was merely a moment of heated words between disciples. We are of the same sect. Thereʼs no need to escalate matters to such an extent.”

A pause.

”If Young Master is willing, I can compensate for the offense. Gold, pills, rare materials-”

He forced himself to continue.

”I recently returned from a mission. I obtained a Thousand-Year Frost Crystal. I

can offer it as an apology”

A faint murmur ran through the crowd.

A Thousand-Year Frost Crystal was no small treasure.

A Grade-5 treasure that could be refined into a Grade-6 pill with the help of a

Grade-6 alchemist.

But Bai Zihan did not react.

He did not look tempted.

He didnʼt even look interested.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly.

”Finished?” Two simple words.

Yuan Jieʼs heart sank.

Bai Zihanʼs gaze was calm-almost indifferent.

”When,” Bai Zihan asked gently, ”will you begin?”

No anger. No sarcasm.

Just a simple question.

As if discussing something trivial.

Yuan Jieʼs fingers trembled.

Negotiate with Bai Zihan?

Impossible!

If it were anyone else, perhaps wealth would work. Perhaps resources.

Perhaps favors.

But this was Bai Zihan.

The man who is rumored to be the richest cultivator in the entire Desolate

Heaven Empire.

The one whose personal wealth surpassed that of many sects and clan leaders.

What could he possibly offer?

Treasures?

Connections?

Bai Zihan had everything.

And more.

The worst part-

Bai Zihan seemed hell-bent on seeing this through.

Yuan Jie understood then. Delaying would only make this uglier.

The longer he resisted, the more pitiful he would look.

The chanting had not stopped.

”Bow!” ”Do it!”

”Keep your word!”

His jaw tightened.

His teeth ground together.

His pride screamed.

But under the weight of thousands of eyes-

He moved.

Slowly.

Stiffly.

Yuan Jie stepped forward.

Then-

His knees bent.

The sound of fabric brushing against stone seemed thunderous in the silence.

He knelt before Bai Zihan.

His head lowered, fists clenched against the platform so tightly that fresh blood

seeped from his palms.

”...I was wrong.”

The words scraped out of him like broken glass.

”I spoke arrogantly and disrespected Young Master Bai.”

A tremor ran through his shoulders.

”I apologize!”

Silence fell over the entire arena.

Even the wind seemed to pause.

For a Soul Formation cultivator-

A core disciple-

Someone who used his status as Han Shewuʼs lackey-the son of the new Sect

Leader-to throw his weight around-

To kneel publicly like this-

It was unforgettable!