Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 484 Righteousness and Hypocrisy

The concluding remarks of Wen Haoyu reverberated throughout the grand assembly hall.

The Emperor's eyes turned gradually in the direction of Bai Zihan.

"Bai Zihan, are you conceding to the accusations leveled against you?"

Countless stares fixed upon the solitary young man positioned in the midst of the courtroom.

Bai Zihan showed no delay in his response.

"Concede?" His voice stayed composed. "What proof does he possess?"

"Certainly," Bai Zihan went on, his look scanning the assembled crowd, "the Imperial Court won't decide culpability merely on the basis of one individual's statement?"

His glance momentarily connected with the Emperor's.

"Or does a single testimony prove enough for condemning my clan?"

The underlying message rang out plainly.

Someone lacking proof and merely accusing would have become anxious and responded feebly.

However, rather than showing agitation-

Wen Haoyu grinned assuredly.

"Naturally," he remarked, offering another slight bow, "just words alone wouldn't be adequate." He lifted his hand.

A translucent relic materialized in his grasp.

It was circular, clear, emitting a subtle inner glow-its exterior rippling with soft spiritual radiance.

"The Memory Crystal Mirror!"

A wave of whispers spread among the prominent figures present.

An item that could capture occurrences precisely as they unfolded.

Extremely hard to counterfeit.

Wen Haoyu channeled a thread of spiritual energy into the device.

Brilliance burst forth from the crystal.

The space over the court rippled-

And a vision took shape.

The display revealed the entrance gates of the Azure Sun Holy Sect. Next-

It depicted scenes of Bai Clan warriors slaughtering the pupils and seniors of the Azure Sun Holy Sect.

The depiction wasn't lengthy.

Yet it remained vivid and irrefutable.

Bai Zihan observed in silence.

His face showed no alteration.

He soon comprehended.

Wen Haoyu must have captured this prior to vanishing. Apparently, he hadn't fled right away but lingered briefly to collect this proof.

Wen Haoyu had certainly planned meticulously.

The vision concluded.

The crystal faded.

A heavy quiet enveloped the court.

The outcome, at minimum on the exterior, stood unquestionable.

The Bai Clan had assaulted the Azure Sun Holy Sect.

They had annihilated it.

The Emperor's attention returned to Bai Zihan.

"Do you wish to comment on this proof?"

The Emperor inquired, now with an evident criminal-addressing inflection.

Every gaze centered on the isolated form below the dragon throne.

Yet Bai Zihan displayed no distress.

"No!"

Bai Zihan declared.

Whispers surged through the courtroom, as his adversaries sensed the Bai Clan would finally face impeachment.

At the same time, allies of the Bai Clan, such as Chu Xing, couldn't resist shaking their heads.

Despite the unmistakable proof, outright confession wasn't wise.

Although the visuals were sharp and decisive, opportunities existed to navigate or contest them.

Still, he recognized it stemmed from Bai Zihan's youth and limited familiarity with these affairs.

In any case, the severest penalty would surely befall the Bai Clan.

By that point, he would need to aid the Bai Clan in at least lessening the harshness of the

penalty.

Li Jianhong promptly capitalized on the situation.

"Your Majesty!" he advanced, bowing profoundly. "The Bai Clan assaulted the Azure Sun Holy Sect unjustly. They butchered elders and plundered assets. Proof abounds, and Bai Zihan confesses. We demand harsh retribution!"

Multiple voices echoed support.

"The Empire must preserve order!"

"If these deeds go unpunished, what value does Imperial rule carry?"

"Today it's the Azure Sun Holy Sect. Who next?"

Tension in the hall mounted quietly.

Spiritual energies stirred under calm facades.

Bai Zihan stayed unaffected.

The Emperor held back his words for the moment.

His stare lingered on Bai Zihan.

The Emperor gestured faintly with his hand.

The hall quieted anew.

"With nothing to add, do you accept responsibility for attacking the Azure Sun Holy

Sect?"

The Emperor questioned.

"Yes!"

Bai Zihan affirmed truthfully, thrilling his foes.

The Emperor's mouth opened.

The Imperial edict was taking form.

"The Bai Clan, for launching the invasion-"

"Hold!"

The lone term sliced sharply through the hall.

A stir coursed among the influential attendees.

The Emperor's eyebrows creased faintly. His look intensified on the youth beneath the dragon throne.

"You disrupt an Imperial pronouncement," he stated steadily. "Is there more you wish to express?"

Bai Zihan held his stare without any hint of alarm.

"Absolutely, there is!"

His manner was nearly offhand-so effortless that even the Emperor furrowed his brow reflexively.

Bai Zihan was genuinely regarding him like an ordinary individual.

The Emperor's demeanor chilled.

"Out with it!"

Bai Zihan angled his head a bit.

"Your Majesty intended to pronounce the Bai Clan culpable, didn't you?"

The Emperor replied promptly.

"Indeed! Evidence presented and your admission demand we enforce the penalty."

"And the basis for that? Why deem my Clan at fault?"

Bai Zihan posed.

For the initial occasion, bewilderment appeared on various faces within the hall.

"The basis?"

The Emperor echoed, tone serene yet laced with annoyance.

"For the Bai Clan assailed another sect without provocation. They breached Imperial statutes and upset the Empire's equilibrium."

The logic was straightforward. Blunt. Legitimate.

Numerous officials and heads nodded.

But Bai Zihan merely offered a subtle smile.

"Who claimed," he inquired gently, "we lacked cause?"

Quiet descended once more.

The Emperor's gaze tightened marginally.

"What cause," he demanded, speech controlled, "could warrant wiping out the Azure Sun Holy Sect?"

All attention swung to Bai Zihan.

Bai Zihan's poised bearing hadn't faltered at all.

Wen Haoyu felt unease, aware that revealing the truth would brand him a demonic cultivator.

Yet, eyeing Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian, then the Emperor gradually, his assurance revived.

Backed so strongly, why fear Bai Zihan?

Bai Zihan folded his arms behind him.

Then he uttered.

"Because I desired it."

The statement held no volume or intensity.

Still, in the oppressive hush of the Imperial Court- It exploded like thunder.

Briefly, nobody responded.

Even the Emperor's face stiffened. "...What was that?"

The Emperor queried deliberately.

Bai Zihan's eyes stayed firm.

"I stated," he reiterated steadily, "The invasion of the Azure Sun Holy Sect stemmed from my desire."

A collective gasp swept the hall.

Various elders regarded him as if insanity had seized him.

The Emperor's eyes constricted.

"Are you claiming," his tone grew deeper, "this serves as your rationale for eradicating one of the Empire's premier sects? A pillar of Imperial order?"

"Yes!"

Bai Zihan offered no pause.

"The primary motive," he added indifferently, "is my desire. Else... why expend effort on such a trivial sect?"

Gasps.

Astounding disbelief.

Fury.

The sheer audacity in his words shone bare-unhidden.

The Azure Sun Holy Sect.

Trivial?

Li Jianhong's visage turned scarlet.

"Your arrogance exceeds bounds!" he exploded, restraint shattered. "No court would entertain such an absurd rationale!" The atmosphere in the hall quivered slightly.

Bai Zihan's gaze turned icy toward him.

"And what rationale," Bai Zihan murmured coolly, "did your Li Clan possess when assaulting the Bai Clan two years past?"

Li Jianhong's lips parted-

But Bai Zihan denied him a chance.

"I trust it was some noble, virtuous purpose?"

A slight, derisive smirk played on his lips.

Several bureaucrats traded discomfited looks.

That event-

All recalled it.

"Ahem!"

Li Jianhong drew himself up rigidly.

"Your youth blinds you," he asserted with strained poise. "The Immortal Emperor's Inheritance poses too great a peril to remain with one clan. We intervened for the Empire's welfare."

A murmur of endorsement emerged from select groups.

Bai Zihan snorted disdainfully.

"What a farce! Save your foolish pretexts for private."

His tone shed its indolence.

His stare lifted.

It clashed directly with the Emperor's.

A taut strain materialized.

"When my Bai Clan endured siege... when these so-called virtuous powers sought to rob us..."

He inclined his head marginally.

"Where lay this regard for Imperial equilibrium then?"

Utter silence!

The Emperor's features toughened subtly.

The suggestion was evident.

Bai Zihan held his ground without averting eyes.

"Yet now," he pressed on evenly, "the Empire turns so virtuous abruptly?"

The phrases weren't bellowed.

No necessity existed.

They hung like unsheathed swords.

Numerous courtiers fidgeted restlessly.

The Emperor's focus stayed riveted on Bai Zihan.

"You venture perilous territory," he murmured.

Bai Zihan's visage remained unaltered.

"I merely state truths. If Empire's steadiness concerns you deeply, why not compel Li Jianhong and Zhao Wutian to provide fitting grounds for breaching our lands?"

A pause elapsed.

Then one more. Spiritual aura amassed faintly below the dragon throne-mighty, oppressive, regal.

Nevertheless, Bai Zihan stood tall under it. Unyielding and steadfast. The court ceased resembling a mere hearing.

It resembled a clash.

"Indeed, no grounds required simply because it's the Bai Clan, isn't it?"