Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 424 I'll Not Give him!

All the others departed from Bai Zihan's tent.

The Grand Elders felt joy over Chu Ziyan, yet concern for Bai Zihan lingered in their hearts.

For now, however, no actions were possible on their part.

Their only option remained to seek out a wondrous pill or perhaps a legendary healer capable of aiding Bai Zihan.

Despite the physician's grim verdict, they refused to abandon hope for Bai Zihan.

Bai Tianheng shared that resolve. He intended to notify his spouse, Mu Yuelan, without delay.

He reasoned that the Mu Clan, renowned as a top Alchemist Clan, could possess the means to resolve this.

For Bai Zihan's sake, they would exhaust every resource in pursuit of a remedy, even resorting to hidden Mu Clan secrets if required.

Each departed carrying personal reflections and schemes, leaving Bai Xueqing and Chu Ziyan alone.

"Xueqing, I'm heading out as well," Chu Ziyan announced.

"Hold on!"

Bai Xueqing halted her in place.

"Chu Ziyan!"

Bai Xueqing uttered her name with grave intensity, hinting at some underlying issue.

"Yes?"

Chu Ziyan pivoted toward Bai Xueqing, noting the serious look on her face that sparked curiosity about the matter.

"Are you truly certain regarding your betrothal to Bai Zihan?"

Bai Xueqing inquired.

"Oh, that matter? Absolutely, I'm quite certain!"

Chu Ziyan responded promptly, showing no doubt.

"Ziyan, should this be on my account, it's unnecessary. Bai Zihan stands crippled now, and nobody could fault you for ending the engagement," Bai Xueqing explained.

A brief pause ensued as Chu Ziyan gazed intently at Bai Xueqing.

Then a smile curved Chu Ziyan's lips.

"Xueqing, no more words are needed on this. My choice is firm."

Chu Ziyan persisted in her refusal.

"Moreover, Xueqing, you realize Bai Zihan remains unc crippled."

Chu Ziyan continued, her gaze locking directly with Bai Xueqing's.

Chu Ziyan's statement barely shifted Bai Xueqing's facial demeanor.

She had pondered such notions before.

Right from the start—even amid the healers' insistent claims of Bai Zihan's crippling—Bai Xueqing never fully accepted it.

That doubt intensified once Bai Zihan started his performance.

His mannerisms, the composed confession of his disability—it all screamed pretense to her.

A genuinely crippled man wouldn't respond in such a manner.

He couldn't possibly stay so composed or propose dissolving the betrothal.

Bai Xueqing remained unaware of Bai Zihan's scheme or its goals, yet one fact she held firm—

He was not crippled.

Should he be, still she trusted Bai Zihan possessed a countermeasure.

A figure capable of bestowing a Saint-Grade Technique alongside a Heaven-Grade cultivation technique would undoubtedly possess methods to restore his form, even post true crippling.

Nevertheless, Bai Xueqing largely clung to the belief he was unharmed.

Perhaps after a full year of this charade from Bai Zihan, she might start doubting.

"What do you mean by that?"

Yet Bai Xueqing pretended not to grasp it.

She couldn't fathom what prompted Chu Ziyan's insight. Their own father had fallen for the ruse—so how had Chu Ziyan seen through?

"Hehe, Xueqing, I never expected you'd keep up the facade before your closest companion."

Chu Ziyan remarked.

"Fine then. Regardless, you recognize Bai Zihan isn't crippled. Thus, I fail to see why you'd urge me to end the engagement."

Bai Xueqing offered no reply.

"What? Afraid I'll claim your brother?"

Chu Ziyan jested lightly.

Bai Xueqing's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Hmph!"

She whipped her head aside abruptly, raising her chin in haughty defiance.

"I have no idea what you're referring to," she stated icily. "I was simply concerned

for your well-being."

Her gaze flicked back for an instant, piercing and keen.

"However, if you're set against dissolving the betrothal, it concerns me not."

She whirled around decisively.

Chu Ziyan observed as her figure vanished through the tent flap.

Briefly, the playful grin stayed etched on her mouth.

"Apologies, but I won't yield Bai Zihan to anybody, not even you."

***

Bai Zihan's scheme to sever the engagement had collapsed in utter defeat—yet his alternate scheme progressed without a hitch.

As Bai Zihan foresaw, despite Bai Tianheng's desperate efforts to suppress word of his crippling, containment proved futile.

One healer—or likely every single one—had undoubtedly disclosed the details.

Even under strict orders of secrecy, competing clans—rival ones in particular—would lavish fortunes merely to secure such intelligence.

Given the widespread awareness that misfortune had struck Bai Zihan, surveillance on the healers accessing the Bai Clan's

healing pavilion was inevitable.

Faced with such alluring bribes, scant individuals could resist spilling the truth.

Regardless, this development thrilled Bai Zihan—it aligned perfectly with his desires.

"Hey, caught wind of the gossip?"

"Indeed. Word is Young Master Bai's turned crippled."

"What?! Bai Zihan?"

"Who besides? Rumors claim his meridians got utterly shattered."

"So he's essentially mortal now?"

"Pretty much!"

"Hah... seems the heavens couldn't abide a prodigy such as Bai Zihan. A prodigy poised

to reshape Desolate Heaven Empire's legacy now lies crippled. What a tragedy!"

Centered on Bai Zihan, the whispers rapidly swept

across the Desolate Heaven Empire.

As throngs lamented with sorrow the downfall of an emerging luminary, some experienced solace and viewed it as divine payback for Bai Zihan's past villainies.

The Li Clan and Zhao Clan especially reveled in the tidings.

Initially, they feared it as a ploy to erode their vigilance—possibly fabricated intel.

Yet after dispatching agents to confirm, the report proved authentic.

Learning of Bai Zihan's crippling, they disregarded even the severe defeats endured battling the Demonic Forces.

Yet one soul brimmed with deep discontent.

That individual now berated Bai Tianheng. "Tianheng, how did you allow this disaster?"

Mu Yuelan, Bai Zihan's mother, had made her entrance.