Outside the main hall, chaos simred beneath forced calm.
Many had co to see what would happen to Bai Zihan, who had been taken away by Han Shenwu.
Those from the Elder Han faction were excited and looking forward to what would happen to Bai Zihan.
Obviously, many of them disliked Bai Zihan for various reasons.
While others, they were thinking that even soone like Bai Zihan who is from the Bai Clan must bow his head towards them from now onwards.
At the edge of the crowd stood Qinglan.
Her expression was cold, but her fingers clenched tightly within her sleeves.
She was under house arrest-an order given by Han Sha, who feared her influence and possible rebellion.
In truth, she had remained neutral and hadn't truly helped either side. And she didn't want to start a Civil war now.
But obviously, Han Sha wasn't convinced and had even prepared to expel her.
She had obeyed his command without resistance, thinking that he would co to his senses.
But he never did.
She wondered whether she should even stay here.
Perhaps leaving would be better.
Then news ca that Bai Zihan had been taken away by Han Shenwu.
"Han Sha, you are going too far!"
She was especially worried since she had heard that Bai Zihan was crippled.
If not for that, there would have been no need to worry-Bai Zihan could have easily killed people like Han Sha.
Disobeying the Sect Leader's explicit order to remain in seclusion, Elder Qinglan ca out from her room.
She knew Han Sha intended to use Bai Zihan for his own ambition.
She hadn't interfered when he outed Tian Yuheng-because even if there were sches involved, it had been done through proper ans.
But targeting a disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect-
This, she could not allow. Especially when it was Bai Zihan, who was her disciple, at least in na.
It didn't take much ti for her to reach the Main hall where a small crowd had ford.
***
"Xueqing! Ziyan!"
She imdiately noticed two of her disciples.
The two of them had been waiting outside the main hall, clearly worried about Bai Zihan.
"Master!"
They called out in relief and surprise.
"Is Bai Zihan inside?" she asked urgently.
They nodded, confirming what she heard.
She waited before the hall, which had been forcefully sealed and protected by a formation.
This kind of asure was only used when enemies infiltrated the sect.
Yet now, it is being used now.
It was enough to confirm that Bai Zihan was being deliberately trapped inside. Qinglan took a step forward.
Another step-
"Master!"
Bai Xueqing grabbed her sleeve, eyes wide.
"If you force your way in now-"
"I know," Qinglan said quietly.
But she did not stop.
Her gaze remained fixed on the closed doors.
Just as she prepared to raise her hand-
The doors creaked open.
A figure stepped out.
Bai Zihan.
Qinglan's breath caught.
"...Bai Zihan?"
He looked unhard.
There was a little blood on his shoes and robe-which was from Han Sha and
his elders, not his own.
Still, it didn't look like anything serious had happened to him.
Even so, Qinglan remained wary. She wanted to keep him safe and take him
back to the Bai Clan imdiately.
Before she could take another step-
Footsteps followed.
Soone erged behind him.
Han Sha.
But-
Qinglan's pupils shrank.
The once-imposing Sect Leader of the Heaven Sword Sect now walked half a step behind Bai Zihan, his back subtly hunched, shoulders drawn inward.
A forced smile was plastered on his face, as if he feared offending Bai Zihan.
There was no arrogance.
No authority.
Qinglan stared.
The surrounding disciples stared stunned.
Silence crashed down like thunder.
"Sect Leader Han?"
Qinglan asked slowly.
He was definitely Han Sha-at least in appearance-but there was no authoritative presence at all, making him seem almost like a different person. Elder Han also noticed the crowd and imdiately changed his expression.
The hunched shoulders straightened.
The forced smile vanished as if it had never existed.
Han Sha stepped forward, his robes snapping sharply as his aura rolled outward-not overwhelming, but enough to remind everyone who he was
supposed to be.
But of course, although he was trying to keep his image, he still remained
behind Bai Zihan.
Then he noticed Qinglan and was angered.
His voice turned cold and authoritative.
"Elder Qinglan," he said sternly.
"Why are you here?"
The words fell like a gavel.
It was the tone of a sect leader reprimanding an elder who had broken the rules
-almost like scolding soone placed under restraint.
However, just then, Bai Zihan gave him a displeased glare.
Han Sha's breath caught.
A chill crawled up his spine.
He hadn't even turned around yet, but he already knew.
Bai Zihan was looking at him.
Just a calm, flat gaze-one that carried a weight Han Sha now understood far
too well.
The kind of look that said:
You've overstepped!
Han Sha's pupils shrank.
His thoughts scread.
(Right-Elder Qinglan was his master.)
...No.
Not truly. Everyone knew it.
Bai Zihan had never learned anything from her.
He had rely been registered under her peak-a formality, nothing more.
Bai Zihan was far stronger than Elder Qinglan. There was nothing she could teach him in the first place.
Soone who could slaughter countless Void Refinent cultivators in the blink of an eye-what could she, who was in the sa realm, possibly teach
him?
Still, it does look like he still treats Elder Qinglan with respect.
Han Sha swallowed.
His tone changed instantly.
"...Elder Qinglan," he said again, far more restrained.
Qinglan stared.
Han Sha exhaled slowly, then turned fully toward her and clasped his hands.
"Thinking back on it," he continued, voice steady but tight, "The punishnt imposed upon you was a little excessive."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
How can this be? When did the almighty Sect Leader ever feel guilty for doing sothing
excessive?
He even expelled several disciples and elders simply because they refused to join his faction.
And that was him being lenient. Others-those who belonged to Sect Leader Tian's faction-were imprisoned instead, with various reasons fabricated against them.
Han Sha forced himself to continue with a smile.
"For sothing you did not do," he said carefully, each word chosen with
precision, "such treatnt was inappropriate."
Then, louder-so everyone could hear: "From today onward, Elder Qinglan's punishnt is lifted."
The words echoed across the plaza.
Shock spread like wildfire.
Disciples gaped.
Elders exchanged stunned glances. Qinglan stood still.
For a long mont, she said nothing.
Her gaze drifted-not to Han Sha-but to Bai Zihan.
She knew that Han Sha's obedience-and even the lifting of her punishnt- was entirely because of Bai Zihan.
She had initially been worried, especially after hearing that Bai Zihan was
crippled. But looking at the situation now, she realized that had clearly been false.
Clearly, where no one has seen anything, Bai Zihan has done sothing to Han
Sha.
And considering Bai Zihan's personality, it was closer to violence than through words.
"Bai Ziyan!"
Chu Ziyan stepped forward quickly, eyes scanning Bai Zihan from head to toe.
It didn't look like he had fought at all-yet the bloodstains remained.
So sothing had definitely happened in the Main hall.
"They didn't do anything to you, right?"
Chu Ziyan asked worriedly.
Bai Xueqing followed half a step behind her.
Bai Zihan glanced at them.
"What can happen?"
He replied.
"I was rely talking with the Sect Leader about the future of the sect."
His eyes flicked-briefly, casually-toward Han Sha.
"And congratulating him on his new position," Bai Zihan added.
"Right?"
Han Sha stiffened as Bai Zihan turned to him.
There was no need to ask twice. He knew what response to give.
He nodded vigorously.
"Of course!" Han Sha said quickly, his voice a little louder than necessary.
"Young Master Bai Zihan is a precious disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect.
Naturally, I felt it necessary to speak with him personally and seek his opinion on improving the sect."
He forced a benevolent smile, clasping his hands like a model sect leader. "After all, I have only recently risen to the position of the Sect Leader of Heaven
Sword Sect. It would be unacceptable if there were any dissatisfaction among the disciples and elders."
"So, I wanted to discuss with a brilliant disciple like Bai Zihan and improve my
way of managent." Concern!
Consideration!
Care!
Every word sounded perfect.
Many of the naive disciples have even believed such blatant lies.
Chu Ziyan blinked.
Bai Xueqing's lips twitched ever so slightly.
Elder Qinglan said nothing-but her gaze sharpened, lingering on Han Sha's
rigid posture, the faint tension in his shoulders, and the way his eyes avoided
Bai Zihan for more than a heartbeat.
They could all see it.
Clear as day.
Whatever had happened inside that hall-
Bai Zihan had done sothing horrible to Han Sha.
To the point that he doesn't seem to have any will to disobey him at all.
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