Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 583 Patriarch Xue’s Gamble

Patriarch Xue saw Bai Zihan fall silent.

His heart immediately tightened, thinking that he was going to refuse.

The Bai Clan's decision would determine whether the Neutral Alliance could truly survive the coming storm.

Patriarch Xue quickly spoke again.

"Clan Leader Bai…"

His tone became even more cautious.

"I know what you are worried about."

Patriarch Xue forced out a faint smile.

"The Nie Clan!"

Patriarch Xue continued cautiously.

"I know about the entanglement between the two clans."

His voice slowed slightly.

"But those things are all in the past and that if the Bai Clan doesn't mind it, then the Nie Clan shouldn't either…"

Toward the end, his confidence weakened slightly.

He wasn't fully certain what the Nie Clan's stance on this might be.

And thinking about the proud Nie Fengzhuo, he felt that it wouldn't be easy for him to seek help from someone who had once humiliated him.

But in Patriarch Xue's mind, if the Nie Clan truly understood the situation, then they should agree.

This wasn't merely about personal grievances anymore.

This concerned their survival. More importantly, the overall survival of the alliance.

If the Nie Clan rejected this simply because of past conflicts, then perhaps they had never truly cared about the alliance to begin with.

After all, concessions were normal, especially during chaotic times like this.

If one could avoid such trouble simply by letting go of a grudge, then that was naturally for the best.

Looking at Bai Zihan, Patriarch Xue felt that there was no real hatred or hostility from the Bai Clan's side.

Otherwise, Bai Zihan wouldn't have even listened to him and might have thrown him out the moment the alliance was mentioned.

Deep down, Patriarch Xue believed that the matter between the Bai Clan and Nie Clan had never truly reached the point of irreconcilable hatred.

At least not between the clans themselves.

After all, from his perspective, Bai Xueqing had simply chosen to break off the engagement because she did not wish to marry.

What was wrong with that?

She was a heavenly phoenix whose future path was vastly different from the previous Nie Fengzhuo.

She would almost certainly reach the Immortal Realm, while the old Nie Fengzhuo's limit had seemed to be merely Foundation Establishment.

If things had continued that way, Bai Xueqing might have become a widow within a few hundred years and spent the remaining thousands of years in loneliness.

Wasn't that cruel?

Although the engagement had been arranged by their predecessors and breaking it off had indeed been improper, Bai Xueqing had not acted without reason.

She had even prepared compensation back then.

It was the Nie Clan who refused it.

And despite everything, the Bai Clan had never suppressed the Nie Clan afterward.

Otherwise, with the Bai Clan's power, erasing a clan like the Nie Clan would have been effortless.

That alone already proved enough.

At least in Patriarch Xue's eyes, it showed that the Bai Clan did not truly regard the Nie Clan as an enemy.

The real issue was not between the clans but between the two youths themselves.

Nie Fengzhuo and Bai Xueqing.

That was all!

Seeing that Bai Zihan still remained in deep thought, Patriarch Xue assumed he was still hesitating because of the Nie Clan.

"Clan Leader Bai,"

His expression turned more resolute.

"If your concern is that others within the alliance may object,"

He took a slow breath.

"Then I will personally visit them and ask for their opinions. But I know that no one would object to such blessing."

In truth, aside from the Nie Clan, no one else would refuse the Bai Clan's participation.

So, he only intended to personally visit the Nie Clan and discuss the matter—or rather, inform them that the Bai Clan might join the Neutral Alliance.

As for the others, he would merely send letters notifying them.

And if anyone dared object, they would simply be expelled from the Alliance.

And if—

If the Nie Clan truly opposed it, Patriarch Xue's eyes hardened slightly.

Then he could only ask them to leave the Neutral Alliance as well.

Because compared to the survival of the alliance, no single clan was indispensable.

Even if he was grateful for what Nie Fengzhuo had done previously.

Reality was reality.

This alliance was not built for one person.

It was built for everyone who wishes to avoid getting dragged into the battle for the throne.

If the Nie Clan truly wished to act selfishly, then for the sake of his own clan and everyone else, he could only expel them.

Bai Zihan sat quietly in his seat, his expression unreadable.

Patriarch Xue's heart tightened slightly.

Had he said too much?

Or perhaps—

Too little?

Just as he was beginning to feel uneasy, Bai Zihan suddenly spoke.

"Patriarch Xue."

His calm voice broke the silence.

"If that is the case,"

Bai Zihan slowly stood up.

"then I shall go with you."

Patriarch Xue blinked.

For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

"Go…?"

His mind blanked briefly.

"Go where?"

The question escaped almost instinctively.

Bai Zihan looked at him calmly.

"To the Nie Clan!"

The simple words instantly froze Patriarch Xue in place.

"The Nie Clan?!"

His eyes widened in disbelief.

He had thought he misunderstood.

But clearly, he had not.

Bai Zihan wanted to personally visit the Nie Clan?

For what?

To convince the Nie Clan that the Bai Clan wished to join the alliance?

That hardly seemed believable considering the Bai Clan's status.

For a moment, Patriarch Xue became completely confused.

After all, with Bai Zihan's identity and status, personally visiting the Nie Clan was no small matter.

Not to mention, the relationship between the two sides was… complicated.

Bai Zihan's thoughts, however, were much simpler.

He simply wanted to see what the Nie Clan looked like.

Even after everything that had happened back then, Bai Zihan had never personally visited the Nie Clan.

When Bai Xueqing broke off the engagement, he had deliberately avoided going there.

At the time, he had feared accidentally becoming entangled in some Heaven Chosen-related conflict and dying because of it.

So before becoming strong enough, he had no intention of stepping into Heaven Chosen's territory.

Everything he knew about the Nie Clan came only from reports.

But now he was powerful enough. He wanted to personally check the Nie Clan.

And perhaps…

He might discover a hidden opportunity that is waiting for Nie Fengzhuo or even if that is almost impossible, he can certainly learn more about Nie Fengzhuo's weaknesses.

Although Nie Fengzhuo had not been much of a threat after his defeat to Bai Xueqing, Bai Zihan still had no intention of lowering his guard.

Knowing Nie Fengzhuo's weaknesses would simply serve as additional insurance for the future.

Bai Zihan's eyes flickered faintly.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Xue's thoughts were already in chaos.

(Clan Leader Bai is personally going…?)

His scalp tingled slightly.

This matter had suddenly escalated far beyond his expectations.

If Bai Zihan personally appeared at the Nie Clan and the Nie Clan rejected him to his face—

Wouldn't all of Patriarch Xue's efforts collapse instantly?

Patriarch Xue swallowed before carefully speaking.

"Clan Leader Bai, are you certain? I believe my presence alone should be enough. If Clan Leader Bai requires anything, this humble one will do his best to accomplish it."

Bai Zihan merely smiled faintly.

"Since we are discussing cooperation, isn't it normal to meet everyone personally?"

A slight pause followed.

"Not to mention, the Nie Clan and the Bai Clan share a rather special relationship. It wouldn't be inappropriate for me to pay them a visit together with Patriarch Xue, would it?"

His tone was casual.

"O-Of course not!"

Patriarch Xue hurriedly responded.

"If Clan Leader Bai personally visits, that would naturally be the Nie Clan's honor!"