Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 429 An Invitation to the Capital

The entire Bai Clan plunged into an Emergency State!

No dangers approached.

No initial strikes tested their defenses.

No killers slipped through.

Instead, the heavy tension around the Bai Clan began to lift, not grow worse.

Factions that had wavered before now rushed forward with gestures of friendship.

Those who had lingered on the edges scrambled to voice their support.

Messengers poured in every day.

Presents stacked high in the outer chambers—spiritual artifacts, uncommon minerals, and elixirs. Offers for partnerships arrived endlessly.

Small families!

Medium-sized families!

Mighty families!

Even groups that had sided—secretly or boldly—with the Li and Zhao Clans now tried to repair ties.

Some arrived pretending to express gratitude for the Bai Clan's efforts in the Beast Tide.

Yet everyone could tell they aimed to gain favor with the Bai Clan.

The Bai Clan turned down none completely.

They also avoided quick agreements.

All petitions got noted down.

Each messenger received polite welcomes—while kept at a careful distance.

Steady and composed, just as before.

The Bai Clan felt no urge to hurry.

Now, everyone else orbited around them.

Yet—

Within the flood of offers reaching Bai Clan lands, one type exploded beyond all expectations.

Weddings!

Proposals for marriage—aimed straight at Bai Zihan—came pouring in vast quantities.

Heirs from Mighty Clans.

Granddaughters of Sect leaders.

Skilled young ladies whispered to have unique physiques, uncommon lineages, or stunning looks.

Certain offers stayed indirect.

Others hit with bold straightforwardness.

The cause stood plain to see.

Once word leaked that Bai Zihan suffered crippling, hordes of powers figured the Chu Clan would end the betrothal.

To them, it made perfect sense.

A ruined prodigy lost his shine.

No matter how unmatched Bai Zihan once seemed, Cultivation ruled this realm.

Crippled, he meant little.

As folks often note, geniuses fill the world—but few endure to claim true power.

Anyway, a peak Clan just shy of the Top Three like the Chu Clan—would they truly risk their cherished princess?

Thus, all assumed the betrothal would shatter in time.

Still, Bai Zihan remained Bai Zihan.

He stayed the cherished heir of Bai Tianheng.

Openly guarded and favored by the Bai Clan's Grand Elders.

Crippled or not, his place in the Bai Clan held firm without a dip.

If possible—

For motives beyond their grasp, Bai Zihan commanded even greater respect.

So rather than link through marriage to other Bai Clan kin, they eyed wedding their daughters to what they saw as an overlooked figure.

In their view, this offered the Bai Clan a huge boon.

They figured that given the Bai Clan's rank, securing a bride for Bai Zihan would prove tough—let alone one gifted, lovely, and from a solid lineage like theirs.

What escaped them was that countless others shared this very notion.

In reality, various family heads reached identical thoughts and submitted wedding bids for Bai Zihan too.

But they remained unaware that another had long claimed the role of Bai Zihan's spouse before their plots took shape.

Many overlooked too that Chu Ziyan still held as Bai Zihan's fiancée, pushing their daughters or granddaughters as secondary wives.

After all, the Bai Clan's ascent shone clear, soon rendering them beyond reach.

Even if it meant sending prized daughters into lesser roles,

they accepted it gladly.

Since Bai Tianheng spotted their hidden aims—and had welcomed Chu Ziyan as his son's bride—he flatly dismissed every marriage pitch.

For those suggesting secondary wives, he offered no firm yes or no.

In the end, though he lacked any himself, he held no objection to the concept overall.

For Bai Zihan, adding other partners might bring multiple heirs.

And given Bai Zihan's gifts—despite the crippling—Bai Tianheng trusted his lineage stayed exceptional, able to yield children of matching promise.

Besides, extra heirs bolstered the Bai Clan's long-term strength.

Hence, he saw no harm in Bai Zihan welcoming secondary wives.

Then came Bai Xueqing.

She faced

endless pursuits too.

After all, she embodied perfection in all ways.

But capturing her affection proved a whole different challenge.

Beyond these matters, little stirred.

The Bai Clan enjoyed broad tranquility—far calmer than anyone foresaw.

But Bai Tianheng eased not one bit.

If anything, the surface peace heightened his vigilance.

The Emergency State stayed active.

Protective arrays buzzed around the clock. Guard shifts held steady without cuts.

Each messenger got watched from entry into Bai Clan grounds

right up to their exit.

And visits to Bai Zihan required Bai Tianheng's direct approval alone.

***

Two weeks flew by swiftly.

By that point, the Beast Tide's fallout had mostly wrapped up.

Beast remains got removed, and broken arrays on the Northern Defense Line fixed.

And at last—

The Imperial Family stepped forward.

A formal decree swept across the realm, delivered by royal couriers and shared far and wide.

The Beast Tide stood repelled.

The Demonic Forces pushed away.

Triumph claimed by the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Along with that decree followed the following reveal.

A massive imperial gathering!

All key players in the conflict summoned to the heart city, for honors granted, deeds logged, and power shifts officially set.

Among the figures named—

The Bai Clan topped the list.

And one entry stood out right away, pulling eyes.

Bai Zihan!

After all, beyond the Bai Clan's Grand Elders who faced the fiercest Immortal-level foes, Bai Zihan had cut down more adversaries under Immortal Realm than anyone—including Demonic Elders at Great Ascension Realm.

His name beside Immortal Realm powerhouses felt entirely fitting.

Bai Tianheng's brow creased sharply.

Mu Yuelan's face chilled with concern.

One mind united them.

Bai Zihan ought to remain here.

Though an imperial command demanded compliance, Bai Zihan lay crippled now—and threats loomed from foes eager to strike him down.

The Clan offered his surest shelter.

To end Bai Zihan, attackers would first shatter the Bai Clan.

The heart city differed sharply.

Far too many wild factors.

Far too many risks.

Especially for Bai Zihan, stripped of all Cultivation at present.

"It's better if you don't go," Mu Yuelan stated resolutely, "Your injuries haven't healed. The capital is not safe."

Bai Tianheng agreed with a nod.

"No one will dare complain. We'll handle the explanation to the Emperor ourselves."

But Bai Zihan shook his head.

"I have to go."

His tone stayed even, nearly detached, but brimmed with unyielding determination.

"If I don't," he went on, "it will look like the Bai Clan is already placing itself above the Imperial Family."

Defying a royal call now would just fuel wild guesses.

After all, murmurs already swirled that the Bai Clan's might placed them over the Imperial Family. Even with good cause, the moment rang risky.

Should the Bai Clan decline, foes would twist it into a storm.

Bai Tianheng grew quiet.

Mu Yuelan wavered.

Both grasped Bai Zihan's logic.

Of course—

Bai Zihan's real aim lay elsewhere.

The Imperial Family mattered little to him.

If they sensed peril and chose battle, fine.

If not, old ties could hold.

He sought departure for the ideal chance.

Calm had dragged on too long.

No killers.

No testing blows.

No frantic plays.

For days, he had lingered—watchful and intent—for action to break.

None did.

(Did I really make fewer enemies than I thought?)

The idea nearly drew a chuckle.

A figure like him—who irked folks endlessly with mere words—lacking foes?

Absurd.

He knew full well that in his weakened form, spotted alone on any path, crowds would itch to end him.

Whether rivals from before his Earth memories returned, or after his past life's recall awakened.

If anything, this showed the Bai Clan's guards stood flawless.

Even bitter haters held back from rash acts. They bided for the perfect strike. After all, crippling endured forever. A clever foe would await the prey's step beyond safe walls.

Thus, Bai Zihan planned to hand them the very opening they craved.

And what grander arena than the heart city?

(Good!)

Bai Zihan mused with icy resolve.

Besides, it granted a face-to-face with the Emperor and Imperial Family.

What true views did they hold toward the Bai Clan?

Would the Imperial Family align beside them?

Or had they secretly linked with his adversaries?

Answers would come shortly!