Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 484 Righteousness and Hypocrisy

Wen Haoyu's final words echoed across the vast hall.

The Emperor's gaze shifted slowly toward Bai Zihan.

"Bai Zihan, do you admit to the charges brought against you?"

Hundreds of eyes locked onto the lone youth standing at the center of the court.

Bai Zihan did not hesitate.

"Admit?" His tone was calm. "What evidence does he have?"

"Surely," Bai Zihan continued, his gaze sweeping across the gathered people, "the Imperial Court does not intend to determine guilt based solely on one man's words?"

His eyes briefly met the Emperor's.

"Or is testimony alone sufficient when it comes to punishing my clan?"

The implication was clear.

One without evidence, offering only accusation, would have grown nervous and retorted weakly.

But instead of growing flustered-

Wen Haoyu smiled confidently.

"Of course," he said, bowing slightly once more, "mere words would not suffice." He raised his hand.

A crystalline artifact appeared within his palm.

It was round, transparent, faintly glowing from within-its surface swirling with faint spiritual light.

"The Memory Crystal Mirror!"

A murmur broke out among the gathered powers.

An artifact capable of recording events exactly as they occurred.

Difficult to falsify.

Wen Haoyu infused a strand of spiritual energy into it.

Light erupted from the crystal.

The air above the court shimmered-

And an image formed.

The projection displayed the mountain gates of the Azure Sun Holy Sect. Then-

It showed footage of Bai Clan members massacring the disciples and elders of the Azure Sun Holy Sect.

The scene was not long.

But it was clear and conclusive.

Bai Zihan watched quietly.

His expression did not change.

He quickly understood.

Wen Haoyu had recorded this before he disappeared. It seemed he did not immediately escape, but instead stayed for a few minutes to gather this evidence.

Wen Haoyu had indeed prepared well.

The projection ended.

The crystal dimmed.

Silence pressed down upon the court.

The conclusion, at least on the surface, was undeniable.

The Bai Clan had invaded the Azure Sun Holy Sect.

They had destroyed it.

The Emperor's gaze returned to Bai Zihan.

"Do you have anything to say regarding this evidence?"

The Emperor asked, this time with the unmistakable tone of addressing a criminal.

All eyes focused on the lone figure beneath the dragon throne.

But Bai Zihan wasn't flustered either.

"No!"

Bai Zihan said.

Murmurs filled the courtroom, with his enemies feeling that finally the Bai Clan would be impeached.

Meanwhile, members of the Bai Clan alliance, like Chu Xing, couldn't help but shake their heads.

Even if the evidence was clear, it wasn't a good idea to immediately admit to it.

Though the images were clear and conclusive, there were still ways to maneuver or argue around them.

But he understood it was because Bai Zihan was young and didn't have much experience in such matters.

Either way, they would undoubtedly impose the highest punishment possible upon the Bai Clan.

By then, he would have to help the Bai Clan at least reduce the severity of the

punishment.

Li Jianhong immediately seized the moment.

"Your Majesty!" he stepped forward, bowing deeply. "The Bai Clan has invaded the Azure Sun Holy Sect without reason. They slaughtered elders and seized resources. There is enough evidence, and Bai Zihan admits to it. We must punish them severely!"

Several others voiced agreement.

"The Empire must uphold order!"

"If such actions are ignored, what meaning does Imperial authority hold?"

"Today it is the Azure Sun Holy Sect. Tomorrow, who knows?"

The pressure within the hall rose subtly.

Spiritual fluctuations stirred beneath composed exteriors.

Bai Zihan remained unbothered.

The Emperor did not speak immediately.

His gaze lingered on Bai Zihan.

The Emperor raised a hand slightly.

The hall fell silent once more.

"Since you have nothing to say, do you admit to invading the Azure Sun Holy

Sect?"

The Emperor asked.

"Yes!"

Bai Zihan said honestly, much to the delight of his enemies.

The Emperor's lips parted.

The Imperial decree was already forming.

"The Bai Clan, having invaded-"

"Wait!"

The single word cut cleanly through the hall.

A ripple passed through the gathered powers.

The Emperor's brows furrowed slightly. His gaze sharpened upon the youth

below the dragon throne.

"You interrupt an Imperial declaration," he said evenly. "Do you have anything

further to say?"

Bai Zihan met his gaze without the slightest trace of panic.

"Sure, I do!"

His tone was almost casual-so natural that even the Emperor frowned

instinctively.

Bai Zihan was truly treating him as if he were any other person.

The Emperor's expression cooled.

"Speak!"

Bai Zihan tilted his head slightly.

"Your Majesty was about to declare the Bai Clan guilty, correct?"

The Emperor answered without hesitation.

"Correct! Since the evidence is laid bare and you have admitted to it, we must proceed with the punishment."

"And why is that? Why is my Clan guilty?"

Bai Zihan asked.

For the first time, confusion flickered across more than one face in the hall.

"Why?"

The Emperor repeated, his voice calm but edged with irritation.

"Because the Bai Clan invaded another sect without just cause. They violated

Imperial law and disrupted the balance of the Empire."

The reasoning was simple. Direct. Lawful.

Several officials and leaders nodded.

But Bai Zihan only smiled faintly.

"Who said," he asked softly, "that we had no reason?"

Silence fell again.

The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What reason," he asked, voice measured, "would justify the extermination of

the Azure Sun Holy Sect?"

All eyes turned to Bai Zihan.

Bai Zihan's calm demeanor had never once wavered.

Wen Haoyu was nervous, since he knew that once the truth came out, he

would be condemned like a demonic cultivator.

But glancing in the direction of Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian, then slowly at the

Emperor, his confidence returned.

With such backing, would he need to be afraid of Bai Zihan?

Bai Zihan clasped his hands behind his back.

Then he spoke.

"Because I wanted to."

The words were neither loud nor forceful.

Yet in the suffocating silence of the Imperial Court- They detonated like thunder.

For a moment, no one reacted.

Even the Emperor's expression froze. "...What did you say?"

The Emperor asked slowly.

Bai Zihan's gaze remained steady.

"I said," he repeated calmly, "The reason the Azure Sun Holy Sect was invaded

was because I wanted to."

A sharp intake of breath rippled across the hall.

Several elders stared at him as if he had gone mad.

The Emperor's eyes narrowed.

"Are you telling us," his voice deepened slightly, "that this is the justification you

offer for exterminating one of the Empire's foremost sects? A backbone of

Imperial stability?"

"Yes!"

Bai Zihan did not even hesitate.

"The biggest reason," he continued lazily, "is because I wanted to. Otherwise...

why would I waste energy on such an insignificant sect?"

Gasps.

Shock.

Rage.

The arrogance in his tone was naked-unconcealed.

The Azure Sun Holy Sect.

Insignificant?

Li Jianhong's face flushed crimson.

"You are too arrogant!" he burst out, unable to endure it further. "Such a

ridiculous justification would never be accepted in this court!" The pressure in the hall trembled faintly.

Bai Zihan's eyes shifted toward him coldly.

"And what reason, Bai Zihan asked softly, "did your Li Clan have when you

invaded the Bai Clan two years ago?"

Li Jianhong's mouth opened-

But Bai Zihan did not allow him the opportunity.

"I hope it was for some selfless, righteous cause?"

A faint, mocking smile curved at the edge of his lips.

Several officials exchanged uneasy glances.

That incident-

Everyone remembered it.

"Ahem!"

Li Jianhong straightened stiffly.

"You are too young to understand," he said with forced composure. "The

Immortal Emperor's Inheritance is far too dangerous to be left in the hands of a single clan. We acted for the stability of the Empire."

A ripple of murmured approval rose from certain factions.

Bai Zihan scoffed.

"Nice joke! Keep your stupid excuses at home."

His voice was no longer lazy.

His gaze rose.

It met the Emperor directly.

A subtle tension snapped into place.

"When my Bai Clan was besieged... when so-called righteous forces tried to

plunder us..."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Where was this concern for Imperial balance then?"

Silence!

The Emperor's expression hardened slightly.

The implication was unmistakable.

Bai Zihan did not look away.

"But now," he continued calmly, "suddenly the Empire is so righteous?"

The words were not shouted.

They did not need to be.

They lingered in the air like drawn blades.

Several ministers shifted uneasily.

The Emperor's gaze remained locked onto Bai Zihan.

"You tread dangerous ground," he said quietly.

Bai Zihan's expression did not change.

"I only speak facts. If you are so worried about the Empire's stability, why don't

you have Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian give a proper justification for invading

our territory?"

A beat passed.

Then another. Spiritual pressure subtly gathered beneath the dragon throne-vast, suffocating, imperial.

Yet Bai Zihan stood straight beneath it. Unbowed and unflinching. The court no longer felt like a simple trial.

It felt like a confrontation.

"Well, no justification is needed because it was the Bai Clan, right?"