Bai Zihan remarked arrogantly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
He could easily tell that these disciples were here for him—though not to welcome him, judging by their expressions.
But did he care about what others thought of him?
Since they had gathered because of him anyway, calling himself "popular" wasn’t exactly wrong, even if it wasn’t in a positive sense.
Bai Xueqing sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Popular? More like hated," she said bluntly.
"Don’t be an idiot. They’re not here to welcome you."
Indeed, the expressions among the disciples varied—some filled with disdain, others with barely concealed fury.
Many were glaring at Bai Zihan as if he were a pest that needed to be removed.
Bai Zihan chuckled, unfazed.
"Hate and admiration aren’t so different. Either way, they’re here for me."
The carriage landed smoothly, the sect’s disciples watching with expressions ranging from disdain to outright hostility.
The moment Bai Zihan stepped out, a wave of hushed murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"The so-called Inner Disciple!"
"Trash like him doesn’t belong here!"
Despite the venomous words, Bai Zihan remained composed, his smile never leaving his face.
He leisurely scanned the crowd, as if appraising a group of insignificant insects.
Then, a voice boomed from the center of the crowd.
A tall figure stepped forward, his aura domineering.
Dressed in the traditional white and blue robes of the Heaven Sword Sect, he exuded an aura of sharpness, like an unsheathed sword ready to cut down anything in its path.
His gaze was piercing, and his expression was anything but welcoming.
"You dare to step into the Heaven Sword Sect so shamelessly?"
Liu Tian’s voice carried authority, his cold eyes locked onto Bai Zihan.
"An Inner Disciple? You don’t deserve it. And worse, you forced Chu Ziyan into an engagement?"
A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd.
Bai Zihan tilted his head, amused.
He placed a hand on his chin.
Anyone could tell that Liu Tian had an agenda against him, and Bai Zihan could easily figure out why just from that last remark.
(This guy must be one of Chu Ziyan’s pursuers.)
He had already anticipated that some lovesick fool would crawl out to cause trouble for him, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon—right when he had just arrived at the Heaven Sword Sect.
Moreover, with the Bai Clan backing him, what gave Liu Tian the guts to confront him so openly?
There were many who would openly challenge him even if they wanted to.
Bai Zihan tilted his head as he asked.
"Hmph! I am Liu Tian."
Liu Tian spoke arrogantly. His name was well-known, and he expected Bai Zihan to recognize him immediately after giving his name.
However, how could Bai Zihan, the arrogant young master of the Bai Clan, bother remembering someone like Liu Tian?
He genuinely had no idea who this man was.
Liu Tian’s aura flared, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
He thought Bai Zihan was deliberately pretending not to know him.
After all, he—Liu Tian—was no mere bystander.
His Liu Clan might not be as powerful as the Bai Clan, but it was comparable to the Chu Clan.
Moreover, he himself was a genius acknowledged by the Heaven Sword Sect.
Though his cultivation talent wasn’t as high as Chu Ziyan or Bai Xueqing, he possessed a rare physique called the Sword Body—a trait that granted him extraordinary affinity with sword intent, allowing him to comprehend sword techniques at an incredible pace.
Within the Heaven Sword Sect, Liu Tian was regarded as one of the top sword geniuses of his generation.
Not only within the sect but throughout the Desolate Heaven Empire, his swordsmanship was renowned.
Yet, despite all his achievements, the woman he had pursued for years—Chu Ziyan—had never been interested in him and had rejected him countless times.
And now, instead of a genius like him, she was engaged to a waste like Bai Zihan.
The sheer injustice of it burned within him.
Moreover, this arrogant bastard had the gall to pretend he didn’t even know who he was?
Liu Tian clenched his fists, his sword trembling in its sheath as his aura flared even further.
The disciples watching could feel the pressure exuding from him—sharp and cutting, like an invisible blade.
Liu Tian growled, his voice filled with suppressed fury.
"Enough of your arrogance! If you have any dignity, fight me right now! If you do, I will at least acknowledge your courage!"
Bai Zihan let out a lazy yawn, stretching his arms as if Liu Tian’s challenge was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"You sure are noisy," Bai Zihan muttered, shaking his head.
"First, you cry about my engagement. Now, you want to fight me? What’s next? Are you going to beg me to call off the engagement?"
Liu Tian’s expression twisted with rage.
His sword finally left its sheath, gleaming under the sunlight.
The moment it was drawn, a chilling sword aura spread through the courtyard, forcing several weaker disciples to instinctively step back.
"If you have any pride as a cultivator, then fight me! Or are you afraid to prove that you’re nothing but a waste hiding behind your clan’s name?"
"So? Let’s say I am. What is your problem?"
He wasn’t some shallow fool who did everything for the sake of fame or saving face.
In the end, those things didn’t matter much.
As the saying went, only the poor use morality to act superior—because they have nothing else.
It was the same here.
Liu Tian had no real justification for his anger and could only resort to slander as an excuse to challenge Bai Zihan.
Liu Tian’s patience snapped.
Against Bai Zihan, who seemed completely indifferent to his reputation, there was little Liu Tian could do—unless he was willing to attack first and force a fight.
But that would mean making an enemy of the Bai Clan, and who knew what kind of trouble that would bring to his own family?
Moreover, with Bai Xueqing present, any attempt at an attack would be futile. She would intercept him effortlessly—and likely beat him to a pulp.
Chu Ziyan stepped forward, stopping the conflict from growing further.
"Liu Tian, you have no right to challenge Bai Zihan."
A stunned silence fell over the courtyard.
Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly.
"Well, well, looks like my fiancée is quite protective of me."
Bai Zihan intentionally said, further angering Liu Tian and other boys who pursue Chu Ziyan.
Liu Tian clenched his jaw. His crush was here in front of him defending another boy, how could he not be hurt by this.
"Junior Sister Chu, you—"
Chu Ziyan’s gaze sharpened.
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
Liu Tian trembled with frustration but knew he couldn’t go against her.
With a deep breath, he withdrew his sword and took a step back.
"This isn’t over," he muttered darkly.
Chu Ziyan ignored him and turned to Bai Zihan.
Bai Zihan’s smirk widened.
"So eager to be alone with me? How bold!"
Chu Ziyan’s eye twitched.
As the two walked away, the crowd could only stare in shock.