Bai Zihan smirked.
“Not exactly!”
He dropped onto the couch like it was his personal throne, crossing one leg over the other.
“I came back because I’ve decided to destroy a clan.”
The room went dead silent.
Bai Tianheng blinked in surprise, not expecting such an answer.
And Bai Zihan was acting like he was saying he wanted to go on a stroll.
If it were an average person, they might’ve asked whether Bai Zihan had gone crazy.
“…Which one?”
But Bai Tianheng just asked which clan.
He figured it might be the Shen Clan—they were the ones who’d offended Bai Zihan, after all.
And destroying the Shen Clan wasn’t exactly difficult… but it wasn’t something you decided on over tea either.
If it was the Shen Clan, Bai Tianheng was already preparing to shut the idea down. It wasn’t feasible.
“The Mei Clan,” Bai Zihan said casually.
“…The Mei Clan?”
Bai Tianheng frowned. The name didn’t even ring a bell.
He couldn’t be bothered to remember every small-time group out there, and the Mei Clan was undoubtedly one of those.
So why the hell did his son want to wipe out some no-name clan?
He hadn’t been at the Heaven Sword Sect lately and didn’t know about Mei Rulan falsely accusing Bai Zihan.
Nor did the Grand Elder Bai Ren, who’d arrived late.
“Why?”
Bai Tianheng asked.
He wasn’t against the idea—this was the cultivation world. Destroying a clan or two every few years was practically tradition.
If the Bai Clan did it, people might whisper for a bit… but then they’d forget in few weeks as well.
Still, he wasn’t about to just hand his son a sword and say “go nuts” without a reason.
“She helped Shen Liang falsely accuse me. I warned Mei Rulan I’d destroy her clan if she kept lying. She didn’t listen. So now I’m following through.”
Bai Tianheng’s brows furrowed. Even so, destroying a whole clan wasn’t something you did on a whim.
“I think our Bai Clan’s reputation has been slipping lately. Even someone like Mei Rulan dares to challenge the heir of the Bai Clan. If we crush the Mei Clan, it’ll remind everyone not to mess with us.”
Bai Zihan’s tone was calm, but his intent was sharp.
Bai Tianheng rubbed his temples.
Indeed, ever since the Li and Zhao Clans had formed their alliance, the Bai Clan had been too passive. People were starting to doubt their strength.
Maybe that was why Shen Liang had dared to challenge Bai Zihan in the first place—thinking the Bai Clan had grown weak or distracted.
“Zihan’er, aren’t you saying that just because of your personal grudges?”
“I am,,” Bai Zihan said honestly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
“…Do you know how many elders I’ll have breathing down my neck if we start a blood feud with the Mei Clan?”
Bai Tianheng muttered.
“Then just tell them to hold their breath,” Bai Zihan replied without blinking.
Bai Tianheng exhaled sharply.
“You’re serious.”
“Dead serious!”
Silence!
Then Bai Tianheng leaned back and studied his son.
The brat he’d once thought would never amount to anything.
And now, he is planning to do something as big as this?
“You’ve really changed,” Bai Tianheng murmured.
“About time, right?”
Bai Tianheng chuckled.
“Alright. I’m in a good mood, and you’ve made major contributions to the clan. Doing this favor to you won’t hurt us.”
“I’ll need to know the strength of the Mei Clan first. After that, I’ll decide how many elders to send.”
“Great,” Bai Zihan said, rising. “Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll watch the destruction myself.”
***
Later…
On his way back, Bai Zihan slowed as he heard raised voices coming from the garden near his courtyard.
He frowned.
The Bai Clan estate was usually quiet and orderly—especially around his residence.
But now? Someone was yelling.
“Who the hell are these noisy clowns?”
He turned the corner.
Luo Qing stood stiffly beside a flowerbed, head lowered, gripping a broom with trembling hands.
Surrounding her were three maidservants, arms crossed, faces twisted in mockery.
“What the hell are you doing just standing there? It’s your turn to clean the garden!”
“Yeah, must be nice, huh? Playing little mistress just because you served Young Master Bai before.”
“Hah! Guess we were fools working hard while you just got to laze around.”
Luo Qing’s hands tightened around the broom handle. Her voice was barely a whisper.
“I didn’t rest… I just went to get new broom bristles, I—”
“Excuses again!”
Another maid stepped forward.
“You think we’re stupid? Just because you were his personal maid, you think you don’t need to follow the schedule like the rest of us?”
Bai Zihan’s expression turned icy.
He stepped forward.
“What’s going on here?”
One of the maids, not turning, snapped, “It’s none of your business—!”
Luo Qing gasped softly.
“Young master…”
The maid froze.
They all did.
Heads turned. Faces drained.
“Young Master Bai!”
“I—I didn’t recognize you! Please forgive me!”
They dropped into frantic bows.
Bai Zihan’s voice was cold.
“I’ll ask again. Why were you yelling at my maid?”
One servant stammered,
“S-she was supposed to clean today, young master, but she didn’t show up. We thought she was slacking…”
“Oh?”
Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow.
“So you decided to surround her and scream?”
“N-no! We just—”
“Jealous because she’s pretty, is that it?”
Silence!
“That’s the real reason, right?”
He said, stepping forward.
“She’s prettier than you. Better manners. Got promoted before you. And instead of working harder, you decided to gang up and bully her.”
His gaze was like a blade.
“What, just because I was gone for a few months, you think it’s open season on my people?”
Not a sound.
He laughed coldly.
“Did my reputation drop that low? Or did you think I’d never come back?”
He asked.
“N-no! Absolutely not, Young Master Bai!”
“We didn’t think that, we just—!”
“You are just nothing.”
Bai Zihan interrupted.
“You don’t need to work here anymore.”
Their faces went white.
“Y-young master, please! We were wrong!”
“We’ll apologize! We’ll clean everything ourselves for a month!”
Luo Qing stepped forward, flustered.
“Young master, please… It’s alright. There’s no need to go that far…”
Bai Zihan looked at her.
“You call this alright?”
He turned back to the servants.
“My maid getting bullied isn’t just an insult to her—it’s an insult to me. You ignored my name just because I wasn’t here.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Maybe just firing you isn’t enough?”
The maids dropped to their knees.
“Please! We understand!”
“We’ll resign! We’ll leave immediately!”
“We sincerely apologize!”
He waved them off.
“Get out of my sight!”
They scrambled away like terrified rats.
Luo Qing lowered her head again.
“…Thank you, young master,” she whispered.
Bai Zihan looked at her, and for once, his tone softened.
“Why the hell are you doing extra jobs? Isn’t your only responsibility to keep my courtyard clean?”
She didn’t reply.
It was clear those servants had bullied her into taking extra duties. Her job was easier, and her pay was better.
Back when he was around, nobody even wanted to be associated with him.
They felt pity for Luo Qing who was stuck with him but now, they are jealous because her work is easier and pay is much higher?
“Tsk! You don’t need to listen to what others say. If others try it again, just use my name. And if they still don’t listen…”
He grinned.
“Well, there’s no way they won’t.”
He looked her in the eyes.
“Do you understand?”
Luo Qing nodded quietly.
“Then what is your work?”
“To look after the Young Master’s Courtyard.”
“Good!”