Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 487 Foolish Decision

Across the hall—

Li Jianhong's fingers clenched subtly inside his sleeve.

(Fool!)

The term rang loudly in his thoughts.

He believed this chance could topple the Bai Clan.

All elements had lined up flawlessly—

Until that mirror activated.

With undeniable proof displayed openly to the whole assembly, backing Wen Haoyu further would surely draw doubt onto him.

Kidnapping kids and conducting tests on them carried severe penalties.

If he voiced support for Wen Haoyu at this point—

Plenty might think the Li Clan had ties to those acts.

Li Jianhong let out a gradual breath.

The prospect of dismantling the Bai Clan proved alluring.

Yet following this exposure—

Sticking by Wen Haoyu wouldn't merely harm; it would prove completely idiotic.

Zhao Wutian's mind mirrored those ideas closely.

Aiding Wen Haoyu offered no benefit, and pursuing it meant inviting self-destruction.

The assembly's mood had flipped entirely.

The position of moral superiority now rested solidly under Bai Zihan.

To challenge him in this moment—

Equated to defying justice for all.

Zhao Wutian's jaw clenched lightly.

Wen Haoyu was done for.

No way to rescue him.

No method to reverse the tide.

The wisest path—

Involved pulling away entirely.

Meanwhile—

In the heart of the hall—

Wen Haoyu kept talking.

Still clutching at vanished hopes.

"This footage has surely been tampered with—"

"The kids might have been planted by the Bai Clan—"

"It's a plot—"

Yet nobody replied.

Nobody supported him.

The quiet he once wielded now engulfed him completely.

Even Li Jianhong avoided glancing his way.

Zhao Wutian remained motionless like stone.

As for the Emperor—

He stayed on the dragon throne.

But a subtle trace of letdown crossed his impassive features.

Not letdown toward Wen Haoyu.

Rather, frustration with the circumstances.

This event aimed to check Bai Zihan's rising power.

To reinforce Imperial control over the Bai Clan.

But it had morphed into a display revealing corruption right under the Empire's watch.

While the Bai Clan would gain honor as the ones unveiling that corruption.

All had seen it.

The assembly had seen it.

The sect heads had seen it.

Should he try to bury this issue—

Even as ruler, numerous would challenge his choice.

Gradually—

The Emperor lifted his hand.

The hall hushed at once.

His eyes fixed on Wen Haoyu with chill intensity.

"Wen Haoyu," the Emperor stated steadily, his words heavy with gravity, "the proof shown today weighs heavily."

"You face charges of misleading this assembly and directing offenses that undermine the Empire's core."

"Defend yourself!"

Wen Haoyu's legs shook.

"Your Majesty, I—"

What words could he utter?

"Should you fail to offer a proper defense," the Emperor went on smoothly, "the Azure Sun Holy Sect will suffer penalty and disbandment by Imperial order."

A brief halt.

"And you shall endure the utmost penalty under Imperial rule."

Wen Haoyu's complexion lost its last hint of hue.

Utmost penalty?

That signified his death.

His mind whirled chaotically.

He absolutely couldn't confess.

He couldn't refute it persuasively.

He couldn't dismiss the proof.

Yet survival was essential.

At minimum—

He needed to detach himself from the offense.

Abruptly, his face transformed.

Stunned.

Then furious.

Then sorrowful.

"Your Majesty!" he shouted, injecting raspiness into his voice. "I... I knew nothing of these horrors!"

Soft gasps emerged.

"I vow on my Dao—I remained ignorant!"

He sank to one knee.

"If such deeds truly happened in the Azure Sun Holy Sect... then I've been tricked!"

A quiver crept into his speech.

"It had to be the Grand Elder... or some elders misusing power covertly!"

He balled his hands theatrically.

"I shall probe this myself! I will expose the guilty and deliver them to the Imperial assembly!"

He bowed his head low.

"If betrayers lurk in my Sect... I will eliminate them with my own hands!"

The hall buzzed with restless whispers.

Numerous mocked Wen Haoyu's nerve, still pretending unawareness.

In usual times—

Such obvious blame-shifting would have been ridiculed from the court.

The Sect Leader unaware of hidden rooms in his domain?

Ridiculous!

But on this occasion—

The Emperor held back from swift condemnation.

Rather—

He stayed quiet.

His expression remained inscrutable.

Beneath that composed facade, schemes raced rapidly.

The Azure Sun Holy Sect held considerable size.

It formed a key support in the Li-Zhao influence network.

Should it crumble fully—

Faction equilibrium would shift.

And who gained the most?

The Bai Clan! Following today's occurrences, Bai Zihan's reputation had soared.

If Azure Sun vanished completely—

The Li-Zhao partnership would diminish greatly.

The Emperor wouldn't permit any force to ascend without restraint.

Steadily—

He offered a slight incline of the head.

"Fine!"

The hall rippled with bewilderment.

Did the Emperor truly act so naively?

Wen Haoyu clearly ranked as the primary offender, yet now the Emperor let the wrongdoer probe his own misdeed?

Wen Haoyu, conversely, felt initial shock, then surging thrill.

He sensed aligning with the Emperor brought real perks.

Even caught in such villainy, he could still slip free.

Wen Haoyu grasped why the Emperor chose this, despite widespread doubt.

In the end, power trumped mere justice.

Dismantling him and the Azure Sun Holy Sect would merely aid his foes.

"You receive time for inquiry."

A wave moved among the assembled chiefs.

"Should proof show that specific elders acted beyond your awareness, and you deliver the guilty to this assembly—"

His stare intensified. "Then mercy could apply."

Wen Haoyu prostrated at once.

"Gratitude, Your Majesty! I won't disappoint! I will surely deliver those guilty!"

Across the hall—

Li Jianhong's eyes twitched faintly.

Zhao Wutian's posture relaxed by the tiniest amount.

This favored them.

Azure Sun could forfeit some expendable members.

But the Sect might endure.

They understood locating a fall guy proved simple, and though they missed their initial aim, preserving their coalition sufficed.

"Your Majesty—"

Chu Xing clearly wouldn't accept that. Yet the Emperor lifted his hand prior to any objection.

"I understand your worry. Still, we lack full certainty on the perpetrators. Wen Haoyu possesses deep knowledge of the Azure Sun Holy Sect and ought to identify the participants."

The Emperor pressed on.

"We mustn't penalize the blameless too. Offering Wen Haoyu another opportunity serves as his path to atonement."

Noting the Emperor's resolve, no one else could object.

However—

In the midst of the assembly—

Bai Zihan suppressed his chuckles but ultimately failed.

"Hahaha..."

Within the hush, a single figure burst into wild laughter—and right before the Emperor.

The Emperor clearly disliked it.

"Bai Zihan, do you object to my ruling?"

The Emperor queried with a harsh look. "Naturally! Who would endorse your silly choice?"

Bai Zihan openly disrespected the Emperor in front of all.

"Bai Zihan, how bold!" "Mind your words!"

"Bai Zihan, beg pardon now!"

Various officials rose in fury. Even if the Emperor erred or chose poorly, it wasn't for Bai Zihan to mock him openly.

But clearly, Bai Zihan disregarded them utterly and paid no heed.

The Emperor scowled and showed clear rage.

How could a youth mock him within his own realm?

The Emperor's gaze grew shadowed.

"I've endured you sufficiently, Bai Zihan."

His tone surpassed sternness—it bore the clear bite of sovereign command.

"You appear in my domain. Facing my seat. Yet you openly scorn my verdict."

An overwhelming force emanated from the dragon dais, spiritual energy surging like an impending tempest.

"This amounts to outright defiance of the throne."

His eyes narrowed keenly.

"One more word, and punishment awaits. No further mercy!"

The hall grew utterly still.

Even the officials who had yelled earlier sensed their chests constrict. The Emperor held genuine ire now.

Still—

Amid that crushing presence—

Bai Zihan displayed zero worry.

Rather—

He grinned, nearly entertained.

Punished?

He didn't even acknowledge the warning.

Instead, he cocked his head a bit.

"Whatever," he remarked offhandedly, like chatting idly, "an inquiry isn't necessary."

A wave of puzzlement swept the hall.

The Emperor's forehead creased. "What are you implying?"

Bai Zihan's grin broadened slightly.

"I've handled it already."

Before others grasped his statement—

He clicked his fingers.

And then—

The doors to the Imperial assembly swung wide.

Bai Ren stepped in.

The mood altered instantly upon his arrival.

The Emperor's expression soured right away.

"Who permitted his entry without my approval?!" His roar echoed.

The palace sentries at the doorway tensed.

Beads of perspiration dotted their brows.

Permitted?

How might they halt a figure like Bai Ren?

Even attempting it—

Would they remain upright?

The sentries bowed their heads mutely, trapped in a bind.

Bai Ren, though, seemed utterly unperturbed.

He advanced leisurely.

Then halted.

Giving a cursory dip—not fully a bow.

"Your Majesty," he uttered flatly, "calm down."

The informal phrasing made multiple officials draw sharp breaths.

"I've come with purpose!"