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

Across the hall—

Li Jianhong's grip clenched subtly inside his sleeve.

(Fool!)

The term rang out fiercely in his thoughts.

He had viewed this as an ideal chance to topple the Bai Clan.

All elements had lined up flawlessly—

Right up to the moment that mirror glowed.

With evidence so starkly displayed before the whole assembly, persisting in backing Wen Haoyu would surely draw doubt toward him.

Kidnapping kids and conducting experiments on them carried severe repercussions.

If he voiced support for Wen Haoyu at this point—

Numerous individuals might even implicate the Li Clan in the affair.

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 be downright idiotic.

Zhao Wutian's mind raced along parallel lines.

Aiding Wen Haoyu served no purpose and amounted to self-sabotage.

The assembly's mood had flipped entirely.

Bai Zihan now held the ethical advantage solidly.

Challenging him in this moment—

Equated to defying justice outright.

Zhao Wutian's jaw clenched lightly.

Wen Haoyu was doomed.

No way to rescue him.

No method to reverse the tide.

The wisest path—

Involved severing all ties promptly.

In the meantime—

At the hall's core—

Wen Haoyu kept on talking.

Clinging desperately to vanishing hopes.

'This footage has surely been tampered with—'

'The youngsters might have been planted by the Bai Clan—'

'This is a plot—'

Yet nobody replied.

Nobody supported him.

The hush he formerly wielded now engulfed him entirely.

Even Li Jianhong averted his eyes from him.

Zhao Wutian remained rigid like stone.

Regarding the Emperor—

He stayed enthroned on the dragon seat.

But a subtle trace of dismay crossed his typically impassive features.

Not dismay toward Wen Haoyu.

Rather, dismay regarding the circumstances.

This was intended to temper Bai Zihan's rising sway.

To underscore the Imperial power over the Bai Clan.

However—

It had devolved into a display revealing corruption right under the Empire's watch.

Meanwhile, the Bai Clan would emerge as the champions who unveiled such corruption.

All had seen it.

The assembly had observed it.

The sect heads had observed it.

Should he try to quash this issue—

Even as ruler, countless would challenge his judgment.

Gradually—

The Emperor lifted his hand.

The chamber hushed at once.

His stare fixed coldly on Wen Haoyu.

'Wen Haoyu,' the Emperor declared steadily, the gravity in his words profound, 'the proof shown today weighs heavily.'

'You face charges not just for misleading this assembly, but for 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 convincing defense,' the Emperor pressed on smoothly, 'the Azure Sun Holy Sect will suffer penalty and disbandment by Imperial order.'

A brief halt.

'And you shall endure the severest penalty under Imperial rule.'

Wen Haoyu's complexion paled further.

Severest penalty?

That signified his death.

His mind whirled chaotically.

He absolutely couldn't confess.

He couldn't refute it persuasively.

He couldn't refute the proof.

But survival was essential.

At minimum—

He needed to detach himself from the offense.

Abruptly, his face changed.

Stunned.

Then furious.

Then sorrowful.

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

Faint gasps emerged.

'I vow on my Dao—I was oblivious!'

He sank to one knee.

'If such deeds indeed happened in the Azure Sun Holy Sect... then I've been betrayed!'

A quiver laced his speech.

'It had to be the Grand Elder... or specific elders misusing power covertly!'

He balled his hands theatrically.

'I'll probe this myself! I'll expose the guilty and deliver them to the Imperial assembly!'

He bowed his head low.

'Should traitors lurk in my Sect... I'll eliminate them personally!'

The chamber buzzed with restless whispers.

Numerous derided Wen Haoyu's nerve, still pretending obliviousness.

In ordinary times—

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

The Sect Leader professing unawareness of hidden rooms in his domain?

Ridiculous!

But on this occasion—

The Emperor refrained from instant reprimand.

Rather—

He stayed quiet.

His expression stayed inscrutable.

Beneath that composed facade, schemes raced rapidly.

The Azure Sun Holy Sect wasn't insignificant.

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

Should it crumble completely—

The faction equilibrium would shift.

And who gained the most?

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

If Azure Sun vanished outright—

The Li-Zhao partnership would falter markedly.

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

Deliberately—

He nodded faintly.

'So be it!'

The assembly buzzed with bewilderment.

Was the Emperor genuinely this naive?

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

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

He sensed that aligning with the Emperor brought real benefits.

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

Wen Haoyu grasped precisely why the Emperor chose this, despite the backlash it would provoke from many.

Ultimately, though justice called, power held sway.

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

'You'll receive time for inquiry.'

A wave swept through the assembled figures.

'If evidence shows certain elders operated without your awareness, and you haul the offenders here to this assembly—'

His eyes narrowed keenly. 'Then mercy might be extended.'

Wen Haoyu prostrated at once.

'Gratitude, Your Majesty! I won't disappoint! I'll assuredly deliver those offenders!'

Across the assembly—

Li Jianhong's look wavered slightly.

Zhao Wutian's tension relaxed just a touch.

This favored them.

Azure Sun could sacrifice some pawns.

Yet the Sect might endure.

They recognized that securing a fall guy was straightforward, and even sans their initial aim, preserving their pact sufficed.

'Your Majesty—'

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

'I understand your worry. Still, we can't confirm fully who's responsible. Wen Haoyu understands the Azure Sun Holy Sect thoroughly and ought to identify the participants.'

The Emperor went on.

'We mustn't penalize the blameless too. Offering Wen Haoyu another opportunity also grants him atonement.'

Noting the Emperor's resolve, no one else dared speak up.

However—

At the assembly's heart—

Bai Zihan suppressed his chuckles but ultimately failed.

'Hahaha...'

In the quiet, a single voice erupted in wild laughter—and directly before the Emperor.

The Emperor clearly resented it.

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

The Emperor queried with a harsh look. 'Naturally! Who could endorse your idiotic choice?'

Bai Zihan openly disrespected the Emperor in full view.

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

'Bai Zihan, beg forgiveness now!'

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

But clearly, Bai Zihan disregarded them utterly and brushed them aside.

The Emperor scowled and seethed visibly.

How could a youth mock him within his own realm?

The Emperor's gaze grew shadowy.

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

His tone shifted beyond stern—it bore the clear bite of sovereign command.

'You stand in my domain. Before my seat. Yet you presume to mock my judgment freely.'

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

'This constitutes outright defiance of the throne.'

His stare intensified.

'One more word, and you'll suffer consequences. No further mercy!'

The chamber stilled.

Even the officials who had yelled earlier sensed their pulses quicken. The Emperor was genuinely furious now.

Still—

At the epicenter of that crushing presence—

Bai Zihan displayed zero worry.

On the contrary—

He grinned, nearly entertained.

Consequences?

He didn't deign to address the warning.

Instead, he cocked his head a bit.

'Whatever,' he remarked offhandedly, like chatting about trifles, 'an probe isn't necessary.'

A murmur of bafflement spread through the chamber.

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

Bai Zihan's grin broadened subtly.

'I've handled it already.'

Ere anyone grasped his statement—

He clicked his fingers.

And then—

The Imperial assembly's portals swung wide.

Bai Ren strode in.

The mood altered instantly upon his arrival.

The Emperor's visage shadowed over.

'Who permitted his entry sans my approval?!' His roar boomed.

The palace sentinels at the gateway tensed.

Beads of perspiration dotted their brows.

Permitted?

How might they block a figure like Bai Ren?

Even attempting it—

Would they remain upright?

The sentinels bowed their heads mutely, trapped in a dilemma.

Bai Ren, though, seemed utterly unperturbed.

He advanced leisurely.

Then halted.

Delivering a cursory incline—not fully a salute.

'Your Majesty,' he stated flatly, 'calm yourself.'

The informal phrasing made several officials gasp.

'I've come with purpose!'