Chapter 28 - Shadows of the Past
Hearing Bai Zihan's voice, everyone turned toward the source.
Bai Zihan stood at the entrance of the garden, his expression twisted in irritation.
While others might see this as him being angry due to these Bai Clan members approaching his fiancée, in reality, he was angry because he, Bai Zihan, had to come here to help Chu Ziyan.
His presence, while not particularly domineering, carried a certain arrogance—though those who knew him understood it was just his usual attitude.
Chu Ziyan glanced at him, her expression unreadable.
(So he finally decided to show up, huh?)
Chu Ziyan was certain that Bai Zihan wouldn't show up at all, yet he did, which added some points in her opinion—although that would be until she learned that Bai Zihan was forced by his sister.
Bai Clan members began to flatter him at his presence, with some already fleeing the scene, wanting nothing to do with the problematic child of the Bai Clan.
Others were also planning to do the same.
(It's like he's some kind of plague.)
Chu Ziyan thought when she saw many of those people who had been pestering her run away at the speed of light.
The people she had difficulty trying to chase away were immediately leaving at the mere presence of Bai Zihan.
Although that could just show how bad a reputation and personality Bai Zihan had, at the moment, she felt good about this trait of his.
Bai Jian, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Zihan, I was just speaking with your fiancée," Bai Jian said with a smirk.
Although he didn't like dealing with Bai Zihan most of the time, today wasn't a situation where he could easily back down.
"Hah?"
Bai Zihan sounded irritated as he looked around.
"And I reckon that you all are here for the same reason as well?"
Bai Zihan said as he glared at them.
They didn't know what to say and merely nodded in agreement.
Sigh!
He didn't sigh because of their answer. Rather, even with so many people gathered here, Bai Zihan knew that they had failed.
Just looking at Chu Ziyan's face, Bai Zihan knew that they could never succeed in seducing her even if he gave them three years.
She looked more like she was ready to beat them up—just as she had beaten him years ago—rather than someone who could fall in love.
(Useless!)
He thought.
"If so, then you should all leave!"
Bai Zihan directly commanded them as if he owned the Bai Clan's garden.
Bai Jian turned toward Bai Zihan with a composed smile.
"Ah, Zihan. No need to be so aggressive," Bai Jian said smoothly.
"We were merely having a friendly conversation. After all, Miss Chu is going to be part of our Bai Clan. Isn't it only natural for us to get to know her better?"
Some of the other Bai Clan geniuses nodded in agreement, feigning innocence.
"Cut the bullshit, Jian," Bai Zihan said coldly.
"I know exactly what you're all thinking."
A brief silence fell over the group.
Bai Zihan let out a low chuckle.
"I don't care what fantasies you have, but let me give you a piece of advice—leave it alone while I'm still being nice."
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Bai Zihan didn't want to deal with them anymore, and if he didn't help Chu Ziyan while they were still harassing Chu Ziyan, then he knew that he would be called again by Bai Xueqing.
Since that was the case, and these useless fools weren't going to succeed anyway, he wanted them to give up right then and there to avoid wasting his time.
"What? Still not going?"
Bai Zihan asked, now visibly annoyed by the lack of obedience from these people.
One should know that he, Bai Zihan, was always domineering in the Bai Clan, and no matter how strong one was, they had to listen to him.
(Just because you think my position is unstable, you want to be disobedient?)
Bai Zihan thought.
"Hah! Just because I have been behaving particularly well these days, you now think that you can go against me?"
(Lies!)
Everyone thought as Bai Zihan lied through his teeth about being on his best behavior.
If he had truly been on his best behavior, he wouldn't have made trouble for those Heaven Sword Sect disciples.
"Especially you, Bai Jian. I don't think you've forgotten, have you?"
Bai Jian's fingers curled slightly, but he kept his face calm.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Bai Jian replied nervously.
"Oh? Maybe I should remind you," Bai Zihan said, tilting his head.
"Don't you remember begging me to spare you? And I did—on the condition that you'd obey whatever I said. What? Have you forgotten already?"
The surrounding Bai Clan members stiffened as they all knew what Bai Zihan was talking about.
Even Chu Ziyan raised an eyebrow as she wasn't aware of such an interesting thing.
Bai Jian's eyes darkened, but he kept himself composed.
"That was a long time ago!"
Bai Jian yelled as his hand trembled.
"Was it? Just a little boy who got a bit stronger, and now you think you can go against me?"
Bai Zihan said, poking a finger against Bai Jian's forehead.
Bai Jian's jaw tightened.
Indeed, he was once just a boy who was thoroughly bullied and humiliated by Bai Zihan.
Of course, it wasn't just him. Perhaps almost every Bai Clan Member of his generation had suffered at least once at the hands of Bai Zihan.
Before cultivation, Bai Zihan was much stronger than others, and talent didn't matter much because all of them couldn't cultivate.
But Bai Zihan had always been the heir and, as such, wielded much more authority than others.
It didn't help that he was nurtured well due to being the heir and also because of his doting mother, who spared no resources to help him since birth.
They, the Bai Clan's younger generation, knew that Bai Zihan was the heir and someone that they had to listen to.
Therefore, Bai Zihan could do whatever he wanted to them, and during that period, they were indeed helpless against Bai Zihan—to the point that they are still scared of Bai Zihan to this day.
They might be powerful, much more powerful than Bai Zihan, but their mental scars made them fear Bai Zihan, despite them insulting and backbiting him in his absence.
This was especially true for Bai Jian, who had likely suffered the most under Bai Zihan's hand.
While Bai Zihan didn't always resort to violence, he treated the Bai Clan members like servants, often pushing them around, and Bai Jian, in particular, found himself blamed for things he hadn't done—things that were actually Bai Zihan's fault.
This treatment was what drove Bai Jian to work relentlessly to escape Bai Zihan's bullying and the suffering that came with it.
It was also the reason why he became obsessed with the position of heir—so that one day, Bai Zihan would understand the pain of losing everything and suffering like he did.
"Zihan, don't think you can threaten me like before. I'm not that same person anymore. I've changed!"
Bai Jian declared, his voice firm with newfound resolve.
(This time, I'll overcome my trauma!)
In the past, he would have been too afraid, his instinct forcing him to bow down before Bai Zihan due to the scars of his previous humiliation.
Even now, deep down, he knew he was stronger than he used to be, but the memories of his torment would have usually made him hesitate.
But today... Today, something had shifted.
Bai Jian felt a surge of courage he hadn't felt in years.
The time had come for him to finally confront the shadows of his past and break free from the chains that Bai Zihan had once wrapped around him.