A Slap and an Apology?

Shen Liang's face turned deathly pale as he realized the situation had turned against him.

The Bai Clan servants and guards—all of them—had sided with Bai Zihan.

He had no idea just how far Bai Zihan's influence extended over them—or how little they feared Bai Xueqing in comparison.

He and the other disciples had always assumed that, given Bai Xueqing's status as a genius and Bai Zihan's reputation as a waste, the servants and guards would naturally obey Bai Xueqing.

But who would have thought? Compared to a benevolent ruler, people would always fear and obey a tyrant.

Shen Liang clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

"This… This is ridiculous!"

His voice trembled with suppressed rage.

He hadn't expected all the servants and guards to take part in lying for Bai Zihan.

Yet, what could he do?

Even if all the disciples of the Heaven Sword Sect protested, the result wouldn't change. It would still be concluded that Bai Zihan had no fault as there is a lack of evidence from different parties.

Moreover, just like now, they could always justify Bai Zihan slapping Shen Liang by claiming that Shen Liang had insulted him first.

"Damn it!"

Bai Xueqing frowned slightly. 

She wasn't blind—she could tell the servants were likely favoring Bai Zihan.

But at the same time…

There was no concrete evidence against him. 

And it did seem that Shen Liang had insulted Bai Zihan first, which technically gave Bai Zihan the right to retaliate. 

While his response may have been excessive, it happened within the Bai Clan's territory.

Shen Liang had insulted a direct heir of the Bai Clan in their own estate. That was already a mistake!

Taking a deep breath, Bai Xueqing finally spoke.

"The matter is settled!"

Yun Qingmei and Fei Ling's eyes widened.

"Junior Sister Bai—!"

She raised a hand, cutting them off.

"I've heard both sides. Senior sisters, while my younger brother's actions were excessive, Senior Brother Shen insulted him first which cannot be ignored."

Shen Liang's face contorted.

"Junior Sister Bai, you—"

"Enough!"

Bai Xueqing's tone turned sharp, leaving no room for argument.

Yun Qingmei and Fei Ling's lips quivered in frustration, but they could only lower their heads and swallow their pride.

Using their status, they were used to retaliating tenfold at the slightest grievance.

But against Bai Zihan, in his territory, they were the weaker party. Even with the fault lying on the other side, they couldn't do anything.

Their status as geniuses of the Heaven Sword Sect was useless against Bai Zihan.

Shen Liang, on the other hand, looked like he was about to explode.

Unlike Yun Qingmei and Fei Ling, who were merely insulted, he had been slapped in front of everyone—and had received no justice.

Bai Xueqing turned to Bai Zihan.

"And you."

Bai Zihan smirked, knowing he had won.

"Yes?"

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I will be watching you. If I catch you causing trouble again, I won't be so lenient."

Bai Zihan simply shrugged.

"Of course! Of course!"

Shen Liang could only grit his teeth, his fists clenched in frustration.

"However!"

Bai Zihan suddenly spoke again.

"Why doesn't the Heaven Sword Sect's disciple apologize for falsely accusing me?"

Silence!

The entire courtyard froze.

Even Bai Xueqing was momentarily stunned by Bai Zihan's audacity.

Shen Liang's face twisted in fury.

Apologize? After all of this?

He hadn't received an apology for being humiliated, yet Bai Zihan dared to demand one from him?

It was like a thief stealing from you—then demanding you pay him back for the money he never lost.

The other Heaven Sword Sect disciples, including Yun Qingmei and Fei Ling, looked equally outraged.

"You—"

Shen Liang gritted his teeth.

"Bai Zihan, don't push your luck!"

Bai Zihan tilted his head in amusement, a leisurely smirk on his face.

"Push my luck?" 

He chuckled.

"I merely pointed out the truth!"

He spread his arms as if addressing the entire crowd.

"I was accused of harassment. False!"

"I was accused of stopping people from leaving. False!"

"I was accused of picking a fight. False!"

He looked straight at Shen Liang and grinned.

"You wanted me to apologize when you accused me. But when you're proven wrong, you can't do the same?"

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"You people are such hypocrites. You demand an apology when you're wronged, but when the tables are turned… Suddenly, it's a different story. Tsk! Tsk!"

Shen Liang was trembling in anger. 

The humiliation of being slapped—and now being asked to apologize—was unbearable.

Bai Zihan's smirk widened as he took a step closer.

"Or... do you think the Bai Clan is just some pushover?"

Shen Liang clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

The Bai Clan servants and guards whispered among themselves, their gazes full of pity for the disciples of the Heaven Sword Sect.

They knew Bai Zihan was the troublemaker—yet now, he wanted his victims to apologize to him.

Would the so-called geniuses of the Heaven Sword Sect accept such an injustice?

Well, injustice was something they, as servants, were all too familiar with when dealing with Bai Zihan.

Some even thought the disciples should have let it go when they had the chance.

Now, they had only suffered more by trying to retaliate.

Shen Liang took a sharp breath and turned away.

"Junior Sister Bai, I will take my leave."

Fei Ling and Yun Qingmei quickly followed, their faces pale with shame.

The other disciples hesitated but eventually followed their senior, their backs stiff with anger.

Bai Zihan watched them leave, shaking his head in mock pity.

"Such a shame," he sighed dramatically.

"I thought they would own up to their mistake. Such petty people!"

The servants and guards wanted to roll their eyes.

If anyone in the world was petty, it was definitely Bai Zihan.

Bai Zihan stretched lazily.

(Flawless victory!)

He turned to leave, but before he could, Bai Xueqing's voice stopped him.

"Bai Zihan!"

He turned, still smirking.

"Yes, dear sister? Do you still have something to say?"

Her gaze was cold.

"Don't think no one sees through your tricks. You might have slipped past this situation, but don't think you can do it again."

Bai Zihan smiled innocently.

"What do you mean, dear sister?"

"Hmph! You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Bai Zihan merely grinned at her words.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going then!"