Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk as he heard Bai Jian's declaration.
"Oh? You've changed? Interesting!"
Bai Zihan, his voice dripping with amusement, as if the mere idea of Bai Jian standing up to him was laughable.
Although Bai Zihan was aware that Bai Jian had high cultivation and could easily defeat him in a direct battle previously, it was a different story now considering that he had cultivated the Primordial Chaos Body.
Even if that weren't the case, he didn't believe Bai Jian could actually dare to harm him.
He had a thousand and one methods to make Bai Jian submit, using all sorts of means. Of course, that wasn't necessary now that he has a powerful body.
For a moment, the entire garden fell into silence, the tension thick in the air.
Every Bai Clan member stood still, knowing they couldn't afford to offend either of them.
At the same time, many secretly hoped that the two would fight and destroy each other, giving them a chance at the heir position.
With Bai Zihan and Bai Jian around, the others had little to no hope of claiming that position for themselves.
"So, you plan to continue disobeying me, Jian?"
He asked, his tone sharp, as though daring Bai Jian to answer.
Bai Jian's fists clenched at his sides.
His mind screamed at him to stand firm, to finally take control of his own destiny.
But as the weight of Bai Zihan's gaze bore down on him, a part of him instinctively recoiled.
He had been bullied by this very person for years, humiliated, broken down. It wasn't so easy to erase those memories.
At first, his throat felt dry, but then, mustering all the courage he could, he said, "That's right! You, Bai Zihan, don't get to dictate what I should do!"
Bai Jian's voice was steady, but his gaze flickered briefly, uncertain.
At first, Bai Jian trembled slightly, perhaps out of fear—this was the first time he had openly opposed Bai Zihan.
But the moment the words left his mouth, a sense of relief washed over him, quickly replaced by newfound confidence.
(That's right! There's no need to fear Bai Zihan. He's just a bully abusing his position. Beyond that, he has no real power.)
Bai Jian thought as he felt that the trauma that has been haunting him for years is finally coming to an end.
Bai Zihan laughed, as though finding his uncertainty amusing.
He stepped forward, closing the gap between them with casual ease, his steps light yet purposeful.
As he stood face to face with Bai Jian, Bai Zihan looked down at him, his smile widening.
"You know, Jian," he said with a gleam in his eye, "I find it amusing that you think you can disobey me. But let me remind you of something very important."
Before Bai Jian could react, Bai Zihan's hand shot out, fast and firm, slapping him across the face.
The sharp sound of the strike echoed in the garden, silencing even the wind.
Even Chu Ziyan, who had been watching the entire exchange, was surprised by Bai Zihan's sudden and unexpected slap.
Bai Jian staggered slightly, the sting of the slap burning his cheek.
His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he almost thought that he was dreaming or something.
Bai Zihan stood tall before him, his presence overwhelming, his eyes burning with authority.
"Remember this, Jian," he said coldly, his eyes staring right at Bai Jian.
"I am the future leader of the Bai Clan. And I don't have time for disobedient fools who think they can disobey, now or in the future!"
Bai Zihan declared, a clear warning to Bai Jian and also to the others present.
Bai Zihan's sudden action surprised them and, at the same time, sent a shiver of fear through the crowd.
It wasn't that the slap itself was particularly strong, but the sheer audacity of the act—the way Bai Zihan struck Bai Jian without hesitation—was a chilling reminder of his past behavior.
Many had thought that, due to his low cultivation talent, Bai Zihan would finally lay low and avoid making enemies, especially with his position at risk.
Without the protection of his heir status, continuing to offend others could very well lead to his downfall.
But Bai Zihan was still the same Bai Zihan—a bully who didn't think twice before slapping even someone like Bai Jian.
"Know that this slap is not only for disobeying me but also for speaking those foolish words," Bai Zihan said arrogantly.
The other Bai Clan members, who had been watching with bated breath, let out a collective sigh of relief.
At least it was Bai Jian who got slapped by Bai Zihan and not them.
But as Bai Jian stood there, the sting of the slap still fresh on his cheek, he couldn't believe it.
He, who had cultivated tirelessly and became the second strongest in the clan, had just been slapped in the face—by a so-called "waste."
Perhaps he could have accepted it if it had been Bai Xueqing, but Bai Zihan?
Although he had endured it in the past, he was a different man today. At least, that's what he wanted to believe.
Bai Jian growled angrily as he glared at Bai Zihan.
Although a flicker of nervousness remained—his instincts screaming at him to submit—there was also anger and determination burning in his eyes.
"How dare you slap me? Do you think you can get away with this just because you're the heir?"
"You only got away with your actions in the past because you were the heir. But with your lack of talent, there's no way you can hold onto that position for long. Don't think I will still endure whatever you do like before."
Bai Jian's aura flared as he prepared to strike Bai Zihan.
The gathered Bai Clan members gasped.
"Should we stop him?"
"Zihan is too weak. He might die if Jian attacks him with full power!"
"Oh no! Jian is serious. He's really going to strike Zihan!"
Worry spread through the crowd.
Although many didn't like Bai Zihan and would have loved to see him suffer, killing a fellow clan member—especially the heir—would have dire consequences.
But even if they wanted to stop Bai Jian, they were too far away—and too weak compared to him.
Chu Ziyan also moved, intending to interfere. If Bai Jian really struck Bai Zihan with his Golden Core cultivation, he could kill him.
However, just as she was about to step in, she caught sight of Bai Zihan's confident smile.
She halted in her tracks.
(Does he have some kind of trump card?)
As the heir of the Bai Clan, Bai Zihan must have some life-saving artifact or another hidden trick up his sleeve.
Since Bai Zihan was the one who had slapped Bai Jian first, and Bai Jian was merely reacting, she decided not to interfere—just in case she ended up ruining Bai Zihan's plan.
Besides, knowing Bai Zihan's reputation, she had never heard about him suffering any real setbacks.