Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 460 Familiar Faces

Not everyone bought into Han Sha's explanation, yet they were compelled to go along with the outcome anyway.

Members of his own faction refused to accept that Bai Zihan had bested him and preferred to embrace his version of events. A few even whispered praises about their Sect Leader's boundless generosity and compassion.

In any case, the tension between Bai Zihan and Han Sha appeared to have eased at last.

Even for those still harboring doubts, Bai Zihan had no further moves to make.

"In any event, I've accomplished my purpose here,"

Bai Zihan announced.

(Beating me?)

Han Sha barely restrained a string of curses. Truth be told, the only action Bai Zihan had taken since arriving was to thrash him soundly.

Thus, his goal of delivering that beating had been fully achieved.

Now, regret gnawed at him, as he pondered how avoiding any entanglement with Bai Zihan might have spared him this ordeal.

Yet it felt inevitable; the instant he threw in with the Li-Zhao Alliance, this destiny had been sealed.

Even without his pursuit, Bai Zihan would have sought him out regardless.

(Dammit!)

At any rate, Bai Zihan seemed poised to depart the Sect.

Bai Zihan pivoted a bit, his eyes gliding over Bai Xueqing.

"Head back to the clan,"

he stated evenly, as though it were a simple truth.

After all, the Heaven Sword Sect offered less security than the Bai Clan, and heaven only knew,

figures like Han Sha might emerge again, scheming to exploit him by striking at Bai Xueqing.

All things considered, returning to the clan was the wiser path for her.

Then he tacked on,

"You as well."

The words were directed at Chu Ziyan.

"Sure thing!"

Chu Ziyan replied without hesitation.

Bai Xueqing wavered, obviously itching to speak, but Bai Zihan had already begun to turn.

"I'll be waiting by the flying ship."

***

While Bai Zihan strode beside Kong Zhanhong en route to the docking area, he spotted crowds of disciples bustling around, their faces alight with fervor, chatter filling the air.

"Something big must be brewing," Kong Zhanhong observed offhandedly.

After all, the gathering near the main hall had been rather thin. He'd figured that stemmed from folks being unaware that the Sect Leader had summoned Bai Zihan.

Otherwise, given how people are, a swarm would have rushed to spectate. But evidently, a more captivating spectacle was unfolding somewhere else.

Bai Zihan's eyes scanned the throng—

And halted.

Amid the group loomed two recognizable faces.

Yun Qingmei and Fei Ling.

They served as Bai Xueqing's senior sisters—and his too, these days.

They'd also joined the delegation that had dropped by the Bai Clan following Bai Xueqing's broken engagement.

Spotting them triggered a sly grin on Bai Zihan's features.

"Hey there!"

Bai Zihan hailed, giving a wave.

Fei Ling picked him out right away.

Her face grew taut.

A flash of annoyance crossed it—though it passed quickly.

Old recollections didn't fade easily, and no matter Bai Zihan's newfound notoriety,

they remembered precisely who he was.

She could never view him favorably.

Though outright hatred wasn't there, deep caution defined her stance toward him.

"Fei, watch your face!"

Yun Qingmei cautioned her.

Yun Qingmei dipped her head courteously as their gazes locked.

"Young Master Bai!"

"Oh ho, if it isn't my lovely senior sisters,"

Bai Zihan jested.

Bai Zihan hadn't overlooked their identities. In fact, they were the initial faces he'd encountered after his Earth memories resurfaced.

Fei Ling let out a quiet huff, folding her arms.

Bitter recollections bubbled up.

Yun Qingmei's mouth formed a soft smile.

"It's heartening that you haven't forgotten us, Young Master Bai," she murmured gently. "Especially since...

so much time has elapsed."

Her voice held a serene warmth.

Fei Ling cast her a pointed side-eye.

(Heartening?)

She nearly sneered inwardly.

Bai Zihan's grin stretched a touch—the identical infuriating, shameless arc that had stirred up chaos before.

"Forget you? Impossible," he shot back casually. "Senior sisters who etched themselves so vividly in my mind—particularly you, Senior Sister Fei."

Fei Ling's eyebrows jerked.

Her arms locked more firmly.

This scoundrel—

Zero improvement.

Well, his tongue remained as sharp as ever.

Yun Qingmei displayed no annoyance, merely shaking her head with fond exasperation, akin to humoring a cheeky underling.

"You've kept that trait intact," she remarked.

"It gets results, after all,"

Bai Zihan countered shamelessly.

Fei Ling drew in a measured breath.

Then, lips unmoving, her words rang in Yun Qingmei's thoughts.

"Qingmei, what's this about?"

Her telepathic edge cut through, barely contained frustration bubbling under.

"Why chat with him this way?"

Yun Qingmei's features stayed steady, her response flowing effortlessly.

"Fei, the situation has shifted."

Fei Ling's eyes tightened a fraction.

"Shifted?" she retorted. "He's the identical sly flirt who spins tales effortlessly and pulls strings on everyone nearby. See how he speaks—does that seem altered to you?"

Yun Qingmei exhaled mentally.

"His nature isn't the issue," she clarified. "It's his status."

Fei Ling paused briefly.

Yun Qingmei pressed on steadily.

"His fame, strength, and sway now eclipse certain Sect Leaders. Like it or not, Bai Zihan defies old judgments."

Fei Ling's look wavered.

"Plus," Yun Qingmei noted, "he's hailed as a key warrior in the battle against the Demonic Forces."

That halted Fei Ling short.

Just briefly.

"Even so..."

she grumbled in her mind.

Her stare returned to Bai Zihan, who leaned in a smidge, plainly relishing her unease.

"Just look," Fei Ling urged. "Hero status aside, power or otherwise—he's unchanged, that rogue!"

As though her words drew him, Bai Zihan cocked his head.

"Senior Sister Fei," he chirped brightly, "keep glaring like that, and folks might get the wrong idea."

Fei Ling's eye flickered.

"Wrong idea about what?" she barked openly.

"Who can say?"

Bai Zihan prodded.

Silence reigned!

Then—

"Bai. Zi. Han."

Fei Ling gnashed her teeth.

Yun Qingmei veiled her mouth delicately, amusement sparkling in her gaze.

"... You've stayed true to your core," she observed.

Bai Zihan laughed, drawing upright.

"Perhaps," he conceded. "But why bother changing?"

Fei Ling advanced a pace—then froze.

Her expression toughened.

"So? Have you mulled over my earlier words?"

Bai Zihan inquired.

"???"

Fei Ling and Yun Qingmei puzzled over it.

"What do you mean by that, Young Master Bai?"

Yun Qingmei queried civilly.

Bai Zihan blinked.

Then grinned.

"As my concubines, naturally."

For an instant, the din around them dulled to nothing.

Yun Qingmei's smile faltered.

Fei Ling's eyes widened in shock.

And Kong Zhanhong—lingering a half-step back the whole exchange—almost sputtered.

"...What?"

(Young Master... aims for them as concubines?)

His thoughts reeled. It defied logic.

Utterly.

In recent months—nay, over the last year—innumerable women had flung themselves at Bai Zihan.

Gifted prodigies. Sect beauties. Heiress nobles. Ladies outshining in realm, lineage, allure, and clout.

All had met rejection.

Kong Zhanhong had chalked it up to Bai Zihan's devotion to Chu Ziyan.

And yet—

These two?

Kong Zhanhong stole another peek at Yun Qingmei and Fei Ling.

As a Misty Cloud Peak disciple himself, they counted as his senior sisters—vastly superior in talent to him. They weren't deficient by any measure.

But against the caliber Bai Zihan had spurned?

... The Young Master's preferences were downright peculiar.

Another realization hit, sending chills down his spine.

(And Miss Chu?)

Should Chu Ziyan catch wind of this—

No way.

He refused to dwell on it.

Fei Ling snapped back first.

Her cheeks burned—not from shame, but rage.

"You—!"

She lunged a step ahead.

"Still spouting that rubbish in jest?!"

Her tone dipped low, laced with menace.

"Right now?!"

Yun Qingmei lingered in daze a beat more.

Then she issued a resigned chuckle, massaging her forehead.

"Young Master Bai," she uttered with strained poise, "it's somewhat complimentary, I suppose—"

She halted, then tacked on wryly,

"Junior Sister Chu would end us."

Her eyes honed a tad. "So kindly drop this jest for good."

Briefly, Bai Zihan regarded them.

Then—

The grin dissolved.

Simply gone.

The playful twist of his mouth evened out. His stance firmed. Even his gaze shifted—shedding the idle, taunting spark for a steady, piercing clarity.

"Fine. Enough of that."

He flicked his hand dismissively, shelving the matter.

"Now," he pressed on, voice turning brisk, "mind filling me in?"

Yun Qingmei traced his stare.

"This horde of people," Bai Zihan noted, eyes slitting faintly.

"Where's everyone off to?" The flirtatious rogue had vanished. In his place loomed the famed Bai Zihan—

The figure who put Sect Leaders on guard.

The name that commanded respect.

"...You truly have no clue."

Fei Ling huffed lightly.

"I figured you'd shown up out of concern for him."

"Him?"

Bai Zihan creased his brow faintly. "Who exactly?"

"Lin Xuan," Fei Ling answered. "Junior Brother Lin's about to duel."