This declaration clearly shook Kong Zhanhong and Fang Jinyan, who had been stirring up trouble for Bai Zihan.
At the same time, the surrounding disciples felt a growing unease toward Bai Zihan after those words.
Although they hadn’t directly provoked him, they weren’t overly afraid either. In their eyes, Bai Zihan was just a waste who had entered the Heaven Sword Sect through the backdoor.
But none of them expected Bai Zihan to openly threaten them using his clan’s name.
After all, disciples from powerful clans usually avoided relying on their background. They wanted to prove their strength independently, to stand tall without their clan’s support.
Unless they could manage something without relying on their clan’s support, they would avoid doing so.
But Bai Zihan, on the other hand, boldly leveraged the power of the Bai Clan’s name.
It could be seen as cowardice.
But would anyone say that out loud? Obviously not—not after being threatened.
Fang Jinyan’s smile froze on his face as Bai Zihan’s cold declaration echoed across the Cloud Pavilion.
His hands, still clasped behind his back, tightened ever so slightly.
Kong Zhanhong, who had been smirking moments ago, now felt his throat run dry.
Compared to Bai Zihan’s background, his own was practically nonexistent. Just one elder from the Bai Clan would be enough to uproot his entire family.
His gaze flicked toward Fang Jinyan, silently pleading for guidance.
(Tch! This guy really is as shameless as the rumors say.)
Fang Jinyan cursed internally, forcing his smile to return.
(He didn’t even hesitate to drop the Bai Clan’s name.)
It was clear now—Bai Zihan wasn’t planning to play along.
He wasn’t going to act humble. He was arrogant, direct, and completely unafraid to throw his weight around.
But Fang Jinyan didn’t have the luxury of backing down.
(I can’t retreat. Not after what Senior Brother Shen promised.)
His mind flashed back to a private conversation just the day before.
“Make him fall from his pedestal,” Shen Liang had ordered, his voice heavy with resentment.
“Bai Zihan must appear weak—so weak that even with his Bai Clan background, no one in the sect would fear him.”
Fang Jinyan had hesitated at the time.
“But… he’s from the Bai Clan. Won’t this bring trouble?”
Shen Liang had laughed.
“Trouble?”
He leaned in.
“The Bai Clan is strong, yes. But Zihan is just one child. If we disgrace him enough—make him a joke—even Elder Qinglan might feel ashamed to help him.”
Shen Liang continued.
“Moreover, would the Bai Clan risk losing their face for a ‘waste’? You don’t need to worry about them.”
He then promised Fang Jinyan valuable pills, rare resources, and most importantly, protection within the sect.
Even a personal recommendation from his uncle to become a Core Disciple.
With Elder Shen behind Shen Liang, Fang Jinyan knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss.
He’d been stuck as an Inner Disciple for years. His current position as Head Disciple of Mystic Moon Peak was likely his limit.
But with Shen Liang’s help—or more precisely, Elder Shen’s help—he could climb higher.
Best of all, he didn’t need to act personally. He could use others to do the dirty work, minimizing risk.
“Make sure the other disciples stop fearing him. The more they see him as weak, the more they’ll target him. I want him isolated and powerless. That’s what I want!”
He couldn’t back down. And yet…
Bai Zihan was proving to be a tougher nut to crack than he had expected.
Fang Jinyan kept his gaze on him.
Bai Zihan was casually dusting off his sleeves, as if he hadn’t just threatened several disciples—many from powerful clans.
But compared to the Bai Clan, even their clans combined wouldn’t amount to much.
“Junior Brother Bai, forgive us if we were too forward. We only wanted to get to know you better. Perhaps he got a little bit too excited.”
Fang Jinyan said smoothly, as though none of the earlier malice existed.
“Excited?”
Bai Zihan echoed, his tone bone-dry.
“That’s a nice excuse. But not quite good enough for seeking death, is it?”
Fang Jinyan’s smile faltered. Despite the polite tone, Bai Zihan continued to press and threaten them.
“Still, isn’t threatening your seniors a bit over the top?”
Fang Jinyan asked.
“Haha… So what?”
Bai Zihan replied coolly.
“Head Disciple, if I were you, I’d pray I don’t become my target. But it seems like you are openly seeking death, aren’t you?”
He stepped closer, voice dropping slightly.
Fang Jinyan frowned. Not even Shen Liang could threaten him like this, let alone Bai Zihan, who was weak and simply abusing his background.
“Junior Brother Bai, aren’t your words a bit too much?”
“Hah? Weren’t you the one looking for trouble with me? Don’t think I’m too foolish not to see through your little act behind that creepy smile.”
Bai Zihan insulted.
“How about this? Tell me who instructed you, and I might let you off.”
Fang Jinyan blinked.
“What? What do you mean, Junior Brother Bai?”
His nervous expression betrayed the lie in his words.
“Looking at you, someone definitely sent you to create trouble for me. Could it be… Shen Liang?”
Bai Zihan speculated.
Fang Jinyan’s eyes twitched.
(This devil! How does he know?!)
“Junior Brother Bai, please stop with these baseless accusations. I was only trying to help our fellow disciples bond.”
Fang Jinyan denied.
“If that displeased you, then… forget it.”
Fang Jinyan finally decided to back off. Any further escalation risked exposing his link to Shen Liang.
Forget becoming a Core Disciple—he might not even retain his position in Mystic Moon Peak.
After all, targeting fellow peak members because of someone’s order was the same as betraying the peak.
“Hehe… Trying to run away now?”
Bai Zihan smirked.
Then, without sparing the others a second glance, he turned to the gathered disciples and spoke—his voice ringing loud and clear.
“Everyone else except him—leave!”
A stunned silence fell over the crowd.
The Inner Disciples looked around uncertainly.
“You may return to your cultivation,” Bai Zihan said sharply.
“Unless… you’d rather be lumped together with this dog.”
No one moved.
They had come here because Fang Jinyan with his authority as Head Disciple called them. But now, Bai Zihan was the one commanding them.
“You think this is a bluff?”
His gaze swept the group.
“I said it once—I don’t care who your clan is. Act against me, and I will retaliate. Not as Bai Zihan, but as the heir of the Bai Clan.”
Several disciples stiffened.
Fang Jinyan gritted his teeth.
“You—!”
Bai Zihan was already challenging him, making it clear that his power and influence as the heir of the Bai Clan far outweighed Fang Jinyan’s position as Head Disciple.
If they listened, then his authority as Head Disciple would be seen as lesser than that of Bai Zihan.
“You don’t want to be dragged into this, do you?”
Bai Zihan asked them, almost kindly.
“Then leave. I don’t want anyone crying to their elders later when they get caught in something they had no business in.”