Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 421 Bai Zihan Crippled???

"Clear the area!"

"Seal the surroundings. No one approaches without permission!"

Bai Clan disciples scattered at once, fear and urgency warring across their faces.

The medics arrived in a rush-three senior healers accompanied by several assistants. Their expressions turned pale the instant they laid eyes on him. "Put him down-slowly!"

Bai Tianheng carefully lowered his son onto the jade platform, his movements uncharacteristically gentle, as though even the slightest mistake might kill him. The lead medic extended his spiritual sense, sweeping carefully through Bai Zihan's body.

Seconds passed.

Then his expression changed completely.

"This... is bad," the medic said.

"How bad?"

Bai Chu demanded sharply.

The medic swallowed.

"His meridians are torn in over a dozen places. Several have already collapsed. His internal organs have suffered severe damage, and his dantian has endured extreme backlash from Qi overload."

He paused, choosing his words with care.

Bai Ren's eyes narrowed.

"He'll live," he said. "Won't he?"

The medic hesitated-just for half a breath-before nodding slowly.

"Yes. His life is not in immediate danger."

Relief barely had time to surface before the medic continued.

"But..."

Everyone's hearts sank.

His gaze fell to Bai Zihan's pale, motionless face.

"The damage to his meridians is catastrophic."

Silence swallowed the tent.

"Then what do we do now?"

Bai Tianheng's voice was low and hoarse, stripped of the authority he usually commanded on the battlefield.

"Tell me what must be done."

The lead medic exhaled slowly, steadying himself.

"I will stabilize his meridians."

He immediately went to work, acting with extreme caution and full concentration, guiding the raging Qi within Bai Zihan's body into stillness.

As he worked, the lead medic couldn't help but glance at Bai Zihan in astonishment.

Such pain-pain far worse than shattered bones-would have caused even Century Old cultivators to scream in agony.

Yet Bai Zihan did not react at all.

His expression did not change.

It made the process casier-but also far more unsettling.

After more than an hour, the medic finally withdrew his hands.

"Phew..."

Sweat streamed down his face as he straightened.

"For now, his condition has been stabilized," he said. "The backlash in his dantian has been suppressed, and the internal damage will no longer worsen."

"But from this point onward," the medic continued gravely, "everything depends on Young Master Bai himself."

"He must not circulate Qi-at all. If even a trace of Qi is forced through his damaged meridians, the remaining pathways could collapse entirely."

The Bai Clan members felt a brief sense of relief-but it was quickly overshadowed by dread.

"With proper medicine and rest, his body can recover," the medic said. "The internal injuries will heal with time. But the meridians..."

He shook his head slowly.

"They may never fully recover."

The implication struck like a hammer.

"What do you mean, doctor?"

Bai Tianheng asked solemnly.

"Even if he survives," the medic said softly, "there is a strong possibility that Young Master Bai will no longer be able to cultivate."

Crippled.

The word went unspoken-but everyone heard it.

Bai Tianheng stood frozen, staring at his son.

The blow was heavier than any battlefield loss.

Bai Zihan-someone who could have led the Bai Clan to the very top-had been

declared crippled.

"T-This is all my fault..."

Bai Tianheng's fists clenched.

"If I had stopped him..."

The Grand Elders said nothing.

Silence was all that remained.

"T-Then... we will take our leave," the lead medic said quietly.

The medics withdrew.

After a long while, Bai Tianheng stepped forward again, his gaze never leaving

his son.

"Guard this place," he said hoarsely. "No one enters without my permission."

"Yes!"

The surrounding disciples responded immediately.

***

Outside the medical tent, however, the camp was anything but calm.

Whispers spread like wildfire.

Despite the Bai Clan's efforts to suppress the news, too many had seen Bai Zihan carried back-blood-soaked, barely conscious.

Speculation ran rampant.

Some claimed that Bai Zihan had clashed with Bai Tianheng himself, pointing to

how the Clan Head had chased after him earlier.

Others whispered that Bai Zihan had suffered Qi deviation-punishment for forcefully raising his cultivation realm through a forbidden technique.

No one knew the truth.

That did not stop the rumors.

After all, this concerned Bai Zihan.

And inevitably, those rumors reached the ears of his fiancée-Chu Ziyan.

She rushed to the Bai Clan's camp at once, only to be stopped by the guards

despite her status.

Fortunately, Bai Xueqing came out when she heard Chu Ziyan's voice.

"What happened?"

Chu Ziyan asked urgently.

"Is it true that Bai Zihan is heavily injured?"

"Let's talk somewhere else."

Bai Xueqing did not answer directly.

She glanced around, her gaze sweeping over the guarded camp-and the many

unseen ears listening from the shadows.

Chu Ziyan immediately understood and nodded.

Bai Xueqing led her to her tent, far from the medical area. With a flick of her

wrist, she activated several formation flags.

A sound-isolation barrier enveloped the tent.

Only then did Bai Xueqing talk.

"What I'm about to tell you," she said calmly, "must not leave this tent."

"I understand!"

Chu Ziyan replied firmly.

Bai Xueqing explained nearly everything-the cause, the pursuit, and why it had

happened.

Though she did not know exactly who Bai Zihan had fought, she was certain it

was a powerful Demonic Cultivator.

And Chu Ziyan learned the story.

That it all began because Luo Qing had been kidnapped.

For a fleeting moment, a trace of jealousy surfaced in her heart.

To be driven to such fury... to risk everything like that... If only he felt the same

for her.

But the thought vanished almost instantly.

Her worry was far greater.

"What about his injuries?"

Chu Ziyan asked quietly.

Bai Xueqing lowered her gaze.

"Severe. The medics managed to stabilize him, but..."

She paused.

"His meridians are heavily damaged."

Chu Ziyan stiffened.

"...How badly?"

"There's a chance," Bai Xueqing said carefully, "that he may never cultivate

again."

The words lingered in the air.

Chu Ziyan did not cry.

She did not shout.

She simply stood there, fear tightening her chest.

Not fear of losing a powerful fiancé.

But fear for Bai Zihan's life.

He had too many enemies.

If word spread that Bai Zihan was crippled, countless people would come for

his life.

Even the Bai Clan itself might turn cold once his value disappeared.

Chu Ziyan clenched her fists.

(I will protect you!)

Her resolve hardened-not spoken aloud, but burned into her heart.