Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 525 Mu Linyue!

Mu Yuelan's arrival illuminated the Alchemy room.

Disciples started whispering about her reason for coming, maybe to offer them guidance.

That sounded perfect.

However, moments later-

Their focus changed.

For they spotted a figure following behind her.

A youth.

Towering, serene, and striking.

His aura stayed subdued, but drew eyes inescapably.

"Who's that?"

A murmur rose, as no one identified Bai Zihan right away.

Though plenty had glimpsed this young master before, it was back when he was a child, still carrying baby fat.

Having matured now, he differed greatly from their old memories.

Sudden recognition dawned.

"Hold on... that's- Bai Zihan!"

A wave of surprise rippled across the hall.

Even alchemists glued to their furnaces stole looks.

Just his name held power, particularly these days.

Yet beyond that, resentment flickered in their stares, like facing a foe.

Tension thickened in the air subtly.

Bai Zihan ignored it completely.

He understood perfectly how he'd antagonized nearly all by refusing alchemy, scorning the craft instead of owning his lack of gift.

Suddenly-

A harsh clang rang out nearby.

Clang!

An alchemy furnace's lid crashed closed.

A silhouette advanced.

A maiden.

Her robes outshone the rest, adorned with fine embroidery denoting rank. Her face held beauty, but her look-

Icy and haughty!

And clearly irritated.

Her stare fixed on Bai Zihan instantly.

Mu Qingyuan's daughter.

Bai Zihan's cousin.

Mu Linyue!

The mood altered the second she stirred.

Certain disciples edged away quietly.

Everyone knew Mu Linyue despised Bai Zihan.

Despite blood ties as cousins, they acted more like bitter rivals than kin.

One side featured Bai Zihan, who loathed alchemy, while the other held Mu Linyue, fiercely proud of it.

Clashes between them were bound to happen.

Her steps came steady, each laden with intent.

She halted steps from Mu Yuelan.

The chill in her eyes eased a touch.

"Aunt!"

Mu Linyue bowed her head politely.

Respect filled her voice.

Any pride she showed spared Mu Yuelan.

Mu Yuelan nodded faintly.

"Linyue!"

Yet before courtesy could linger, Mu Linyue's eyes turned.

They settled on Bai Zihan.

And her poise shattered.

A subtle smile touched her lips.

Courteous, but cuttingly so.

"I didn't expect to see you here today."

Calmness colored her words.

Though an undercurrent lurked.

Her gaze left Mu Yuelan, pinning Bai Zihan directly.

A subtle smile touched her lips.

Courteous, but cuttingly so.

"Young Master Bai..."

She pronounced his title distinctly.

Intentionally so.

"...what draws a figure of your standing to such a spot?"

A brief halt.

Her eyes scanned the room-furnaces, disciples, wisps of smoke drifting.

Then back to him.

"I figured a place like this..."

Gentleness stayed in her tone.

"...held no appeal for you, or did I misremember?"

Her head tilted faintly, feigning confusion.

"I recall someone claiming alchemy wastes time...

offers no real value."

Her eyes narrowed a fraction.

Smile intact.

"So what brings the great Young Master here now?"

Soft-spoken words.

Yet they sliced like hidden daggers.

Tension gripped the room at once.

Plainly, she aimed to drive Bai Zihan away.

Mu Linyue kept her face serene.

Inside, cold scorn boiled.

(Hero of the Demonic War? Hah!)

Disdain flickered in her thoughts.

(Ptui! Others might hail him as special...)

(But to me-)

Her stare intensified subtly.

(-he's just a pampered fool blind to the world's depths.)

Her view stayed fixed.

Unchanging forever.

No matter if Bai Zihan saved myriad lives-

No matter the world's acclaim-

To her-

He remained the one who mocked all she cherished.

Mu Yuelan watched from aside.

Silent, uninvolved.

Her face stayed neutral.

Watchful.

After all, peers in age.

Their disputes were natural.

Intervening would worsen matters.

And aid neither.

Thus, she observed quietly.

Bai Zihan's eyes met Mu Linyue.

He couldn't quite recall her from looks alone, since when he

Upon encountering her, he still couldn't clearly distinguish others' faces.

Yet her voice let him identify her without effort, especially since

she had called his mother aunt.

A subtle arc formed at his lip's edge.

"Oh? Isn't this Cousin Linyue?"

A short pause followed.

His gaze flicked across her, as though he'd only now spotted her there.

"Were it not for your words just moments ago..."

He tilted his head a touch.

"I could've assumed somebody didn't wish me present."

Several disciples almost sputtered.

That precise hint came from Mu Linyue, but Bai Zihan spun it differently.

Utterly brazen!

Mu Linyue's smile froze for a split second.

Her eyes narrowed sharply.

Bai Zihan pressed on regardless, acting oblivious.

"Regarding my prior words..."

A light wave of his hand.

"I never deemed alchemy utterly valueless on its own."

A brief halt.

Then his stare intensified faintly.

"However, those believing it encompasses the entire world..."

His voice stayed steady.

Still, each phrase bore heavy impact.

"...are!"

Silence reigned!

Then—

A snap!

Mu Linyue's poise cracked.

"You—!" Her aura surged briefly.

Her gaze chilled.

"Backpedaling already?"

A crisp, biting laugh burst from her.

"How handy! Typical shameless sort!"

Bai Zihan arched a brow. "Backpedaling?"

He snorted softly.

"Who's to say you recall accurately or just fabricating?"

Mu Linyue's lips jerked. She retorted at once.

"At least we avoid feigning omniscience while scorning everyone."

Bai Zihan laughed.

"Scorning?"

He shot her a look.

"Quite possibly! Considering my level of talent!"

"Talented? Hahaha... Bai Zihan, describing yourself?"

Mu Linyue's pitch climbed a bit.

"You couldn't even manage your Qi right! Now boasting 'talent"? If you qualify as talented, we're all supreme geniuses!" Bai Zihan shrugged. "Hmph! What do you understand? I merely lacked interest in

alchemy then." Mu Linyue sneered. "Lacked interest?"

Disbelief filled her eyes.

"Turning truth to lies—who excels more? You refuse to

admit your own pitiful past."

Bai Zihan offered a faint smile.

"Why confess falsehoods? Plus, progress is endless. Who claims I haven't advanced?"

"Lacking talent!"

She barked. "And patience!"

"Discipline too!"

"Ah! Brains to distinguish one herb from another."

Irritation gripped Bai Zihan at those words.

The System Interface had obscured his sight back then, stopping him from refining even a basic appetizer pill. This girl now twisted the knife in that scar.

"Typical of lifelong herb-stirrer."

Bai Zihan fired back. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Mu Linyue's cheeks flushed crimson.

"At least I handle it well!"

She snapped.

"Unlike one who likely confuses Spirit Grass with weeds!"

True anger flashed on Bai Zihan's face.

"Well done then. Years tending plants teach weed-spotting. Suppose your discipline trumps mine. Such admiration!"

Bai Zihan delivered sarcastically.

"You—! Arrogant—!"

"You narrow-minded—!" "Fraud!"

"Stubborn mule!" "Pretentious peacock!" "Irritating woman!"

"Shameless brat!"

...

The bickering surged fiercely.

Back and forth.

Relentlessly.

Unrestrained.

Like kids quarreling over nothing.

Nearby disciples stood petrified.

Absolutely shocked.

(This... Bai Zihan?)

(This... Mu Linyue?)

Figures once idolized now scrapped like gutter kids.

Mu Yuclan's look grew peculiar.

She first observed in quiet.

Then brows knit slowly.

(Unchanged as ever.)

A quiet sigh left her lips.

At length, she advanced.

"Enough!"

Not a loud voice.

But it pierced all instantly.

Mid-clash, the pair ceased.

Facing her both did.

Mu Yuelan's eyes scanned them evenly.

Yet authority weighed heavy. "Calm yourselves, both."

A brief lull.

"You shame yourselves before the crowd."

Silence dropped!

Mu Linyue tsked softly.

"Hmph!"

Her head turned aside.

Bai Zihan breathed out.

"Hmph!"

He followed suit.

Clear discontent lingered in them.

Still, they complied.

For now at least.