Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 495 Clan Leader Training

In the days that followed, Bai Zihan returned to a relatively quiet routine. Every morning, he would practice his sword.

Standing alone within the Bai Clan's training grounds, his blade moved with sharp precision.

Each swing cut through the air cleanly. With Intermediate Sword Intent, it would not be wrong to say that Bai Zihan was among the best swordsmen in the Empire.

Still, practice made perfect.

Although his cultivation had already reached the Void Refinement Realm, Bai Zihan had no intention of slowing down. If anything, he pushed himself even harder.

Sword practice.

Cultivation.

Short breaks in between.

Day after day, his routine remained almost identical. Or so he thought. One afternoon, just as Bai Zihan finished his training and was preparing to return to cultivation, a servant approached him.

"Young Master, the Clan Leader wishes to see you."

???

Bai Zihan was confused by the sudden summons.

Inside the clan's main hall, Bai Tianheng sat behind a large table covered in documents and jade slips. He barely lifted his head when Bai Zihan entered. "You're here."

Bai Zihan glanced at the pile of work. His brows twitched slightly.

"...What is it?"

Bai Tianheng finally looked up. His gaze swept over his son briefly before he spoke calmly.

"Your cultivation is already more than sufficient for now."

Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

Bai Tianheng leaned back slightly.

"It's time you start learning how to manage the Bai Clan."

The words made Bai Zihan immediately frown.

"I'm not interested."

He was the heir and might take on the role one day, but not now. Managing a clan? That could be delegated to others.

Of course, he wasn't sure whether he wanted to be one.

Unfortunately-Bai Tianheng wasn't about to accept the refusal.

"You don't have a choice."

His voice was calm but firm.

"As the future Clan Leader of the Bai Clan, whether you like it or not, you must understand your responsibilities, otherwise how can you manage the Bai Clan in future?"

Bai Zihan opened his mouth to object, but Bai Tianheng had already returned to reading the documents.

"Starting today, you will follow me," he said. "Observe and learn. That's how I did it."

The tone left no room for negotiation. Bai Zihan stared at his father for a moment. This time-refusal was not an option.

"...Troublesome," he muttered quietly.

From that day onward, Bai Zihan's peaceful routine disappeared. Instead, he began following Bai Tianheng throughout the clan's affairs.

At first, Bai Zihan simply observed. He watched as his father held meetings with

the clan's elders. They discussed matters such as:

Allocation of cultivation resources.

Management of the clan's territories.

Negotiations with different organizations.

Integration of lands recently taken from the Azure Sun Holy Sect.

Occasionally, Bai Tianheng would suddenly ask him,

"What would you do in this situation?"

At first, Bai Zihan shrugged. But over time, he began answering more seriously. Sometimes his suggestions were blunt. Even ruthless. Yet surprisingly-many were effective.

Although he clearly disliked the work, his judgment was sharp and decisive.

He was also tasked with smaller responsibilities: reviewing minor documents, deciding where a disciple would train, assigning guards, approving budgets, and managing branch reports.

Naturally, Bai Zihan found the entire process extremely annoying. Yet somehow -he handled it well.

Bai Zihan was also sent out to the meeting where Bai Tianheng was usually

needed.

Though others might have complained, well it was Bai Zihan who came.

Who would raise an objection?

Who still dares understimes Bai Zihan?

People began to notice, but they did not find it strange.

After all, Bai Zihan was the next Clan Leader. There had never been any real

competition.

There had been whispers long ago, when he was thought crippled.

Some wondered whether the succession might change, whether someone else

might rise to take his place.

But those doubts vanished the moment everyone realized he was no longer cripple. His body had fully healed, and his cultivation had surpassed

expectations.

Moreover, the Clan Leader had always personally trained the next heir-

teaching how to manage the clan, make judgments in complex situations, and navigate disputes and external relations.

This was a long tradition, typically carried out when the current leader was nearing a breakthrough into the Immortal Realm.

But with the Bai Clan's current growth rate, it seemed Bai Tianheng could reach that level sooner than many anticipated.

Normally, it would be when the Clan leader's son turns 30 or so. Sometimes,

even higher.

Quiet discussions among the elders often touched upon the topic.

"Perhaps Bai Tianheng is preparing to hand the clan over to him."

"Indeed! The Clan Leader is nearing a breakthrough. If he wishes to ascend to the Immortal Realm, he will need long seclusion. During that time, the clan must have a capable leader. Who could be better suited than Bai Zihan?" Of course, there were some concerns. Bai Zihan was still a teenager, and his maturity sometimes lagged behind his talent.

More than once, he would act on personal whims rather than the clan's perspective. But the benefits he brought far outweighed the drawbacks.

It was not just his cultivation that impressed them. His intelligence, judgment, and decisive ruthlessness made him the natural choice.

There was no one more suitable within the clan-or perhaps the entire empire.

As time passed, this became increasingly obvious. Even the younger generation spoke no whispers of rebellion or doubt.

The timing for succession was perfect. Bai Tianheng was on the verge of his breakthrough and would soon need seclusion.

The clan could not risk hesitation or instability. The next leader had to be ready

-trained, experienced, and capable of making confident decisions.

Bai Zihan fit that role perfectly. No one doubted it. No one questioned it.

The natural order of succession had been reaffirmed.

If anything, it seemed inevitable.

Even quietly, in the hearts of the elders and branch leaders, a shared thought lingered: perhaps no one would ever be more suitable than him.

It was, without a doubt, the most natural decision the Bai Clan could make.