“What kind of trouble did you get into this time?”
Bai Xueqing asked.
Not only was she present—Chu Ziyan was there as well, standing inside the Punishment Hall.
(Looks like Shen Liang wants to humiliate me in front of my sister—just like I did to him. And Chu Ziyan? He clearly wants to sabotage my engagement.)
Bai Zihan shook his head, almost pitying Shen Liang.
Once again, it seems Shen Liang’s ready to be humiliated in front of his crush—my sister. And on top of that, he brought a whole crowd to watch.
“Trouble? Dear sister, can’t you see I’ve been falsely accused again? And I’m certain the culprit is the same.”
Bai Zihan said, glaring at Shen Liang.
“B-Bai Zihan, don’t talk nonsense! What did I do to deserve such an accusation?”
Shen Liang shot back.
“Tsk! You know what you did. Not that you’d ever admit it.”
Bai Zihan smirked.
“You! Hmph! I won’t waste my breath on someone so shameless.”
With that, Shen Liang turned and stormed off.
(Idiot! If you’re not smart enough to scheme, you probably shouldn’t try. Too bad no one told you that you are an idiot.)
“You’re here too?”
Bai Zihan said, his words clearly aimed at Chu Ziyan.
“Well, I heard my fiancé has been stealing other girls’ underwear. So naturally, I had to be here, right?”
Chu Ziyan said, more amused than angry.
Not that Bai Zihan expected anything else.
After all, she was the one who said he could have other women—their engagement was just a matter of convenience.
So it’d be strange for her to suddenly care just because someone said he stole another girl’s underwear.
“So you’re just here for the show?”
Bai Zihan asked.
“How could you say that? I’m here to support my dear fiancé and prove his innocence!”
Chu Ziyan dramatically clutched her chest like a devoted wife ready to die for her husband.
“Then do it!”
Bai Zihan said.
“Ahem! Well, we have to follow sect rules. Let’s see what evidence they’ve brought.”
Chu Ziyan replied with a shrug.
Bai Zihan couldn’t tell if Chu Ziyan actually believed he was innocent—or if she was just like his sister, thinking he was causing trouble again.
Not that it mattered. Still, he was curious… though he figured it was probably the latter.
Elder Shen, seated at the highest position in the Punishment Hall, finally raised his hand.
“Silence!”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried unmistakable authority.
The murmurs ceased. Disciples held their breath.
Elder Shen’s eyes—calm, cold, and calculating—swept over the hall before settling on Bai Zihan.
“We are not here to bicker like unruly children,” he said, his tone sharp as tempered steel.
“This is the Punishment Hall. The rules of the Heaven Sword Sect are absolute, and all must answer to them—regardless of status.”
He let those words linger in the silence before turning toward the stern elder who had brought Bai Zihan in.
“Elder Shan,” Elder Shen called, voice clipped. “State the charges.”
Elder Shan stepped forward.
“Honored Hall Master!”
He bowed respectfully, then turned to address the gathered hall.
“The disciple Bai Zihan is accused of breaching Sect Rule Twenty-Seven—’Trespassing upon sacred or private areas designated to a specific gender’—and Rule Thirty-Four—’Conduct unbecoming of a Heaven Sword Sect disciple, including but not limited to theft of personal property.’”
He continued, voice unwavering.
“There are multiple eyewitness accounts placing Bai Zihan near the women’s bathing grounds. Furthermore, Inner Disciple Mei Rulan has testified that her personal garments were stolen—and she claims she saw Bai Zihan fleeing the scene.”
Chu Ziyan raised an eyebrow. Bai Xueqing’s expression soured. Shen Liang lowered his gaze, hiding a satisfied smirk.
Gasps and whispers erupted once again, but Elder Shen raised his hand, and they quieted immediately.
“And this accuser…” Elder Shen narrowed his eyes. “Is she present?”
“She is,” Elder Shan replied. “I request permission to call her forward.”
Elder Shen gave a curt nod.
“Bring in Mei Rulan.”
The side doors creaked open.
In stepped a young woman in inner disciple robes, delicate features twisted in a mixture of shame and outrage.
Her eyes were red from crying, her hands trembling as she bowed before the elders.
She looked like the perfect victim—pitiful, vulnerable, wronged.
“I… I didn’t want to come forward at first,” Mei Rulan said, her voice quivering.
“But it was too shameful… I saw Bai Zihan near the hot springs. He was looking around suspiciously. And when I went back, my—my clothes were gone. I’m sure it was him! I saw his face clearly!”
Another wave of murmuring rippled through the crowd.
Some disciples shook their heads in disgust. Others looked skeptical. But the damage was done—she said she was sure.
Bai Zihan didn’t speak immediately.
He just stared at Mei Rulan, lips slightly parted in disbelief—as if he couldn’t believe the performance she was putting on.
“Hahaha…”
He laughed.
Loudly and unhinged.
The soft laughter soured the air, drawing scowls from most of those present.
Some sneered, thinking Bai Zihan was simply being his arrogant self—too deluded to recognize his own downfall.
But others… others felt a chill creep down their spines.
There was no fear in that laugh. Not even in the face of the Punishment Hall or serious accusations.
“What’s funny?”
Elder Shen asked, frowning.
Ignoring the elder, Bai Zihan stepped forward.
One hand rested casually at his side; the other lifted to point directly at Mei Rulan.
“You’re sure it was me?”
Mei Rulan flinched, but nodded quickly.
“Don’t try to deny it! I’d recognize your face anywhere! Y-you were wearing white—like the robe you’re wearing now. And—and I saw your ring too!”
Bai Zihan’s expression darkened. The amusement drained from his face like ink washing off parchment.
“Mei Rulan, was it?”
He asked, voice low, cold, and quiet.
“Are you really sure you want to accuse me of this?”
“I—yes! I—”
“Good!”
His voice dropped even lower—venom in every syllable.
“Because I want you to remember this moment. I want you to remember that I gave you a chance. One. Single. Chance.”
The hall fell utterly silent.
“You want to falsely accuse me?”
Bai Zihan’s gaze turned icy. His smile disappeared.
“Fine. Then lie. But you better do it all the way. You better pray the sect executes me today—because if they don’t…”
His eyes burned with terrifying intent.
“…I will come for you. And I won’t just ruin your life. I’ll erase your name. I’ll burn your house to the ground. I’ll make your clan beg for mercy they’ll never receive.”
Mei Rulan stumbled back, eyes wide in horror.
“Y-you’re threatening me?! In front of the Punishment Hall?!”
Bai Zihan didn’t blink.
“Threatening you? No. I’m making a promise.”
The entire Punishment Hall was deathly silent.
Everyone was stunned—Bai Zihan was openly threatening someone, right in front of the entire sect and inside the Punishment Hall no less. Bold didn’t even begin to cover it.
Bai Xueqing and Chu Ziyan both looked stunned.
Bai Zihan still acted like he was in the Bai Clan—arrogant, reckless, threatening whomever he pleased.