When They Finally Realized, I Was Already the Strongest Villain - Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: Sin? What Sin Have I Committed?

“Did you hear!? Senior Brother Gu Han led the trial team into the secret realm, but they were attacked by a demonic beast! As the leader, he completely ignored the lives of his fellow disciples and fled in the face of danger!”

“In the end, it was Senior Brother Ye Qingyun who exploded with terrifying strength, fighting alone against a demonic beast far beyond his cultivation level, and successfully brought Senior Sister Liu Ruyan out of danger!”

“That’s not quite what happened… I heard from some disciples who went into the secret realm that… it was actually Senior Sister Liu Ruyan who broke the rules first and provoked that powerful demonic beast…” a cultivator whispered.

“According to the rules of the secret realm… we disciples are not allowed to provoke overly powerful demonic beasts, otherwise, we must bear the consequences ourselves… Besides, Senior Brother also organized a group to retreat early…”

“What do you know!?”

“This was something Senior Sister Liu Ruyan admitted herself! Everyone knows how well Senior Brother Gu Han always treated her. Would she make things up to frame him?”

…

Gu Han flew his sword into the Wandering Sword Sect.

Naturally, he heard the many rumors spreading throughout the sect. His expression remained calm, without a trace of surprise.

After all, Ye Qingyun was never a decent person. Ruthless and vengeful, he would sacrifice anything for his own interests. That foolish junior sister of his was probably, just like in his previous life, deceived by a few of Ye Qingyun’s words and helped cover up key evidence, placing all the blame on him.

They even twisted the truth, claiming the demonic beast attacked them first when it was clearly they who provoked it.

In his previous life, even after risking his life to protect them and fighting the beast until he lost consciousness, he was still accused of such a crime. In a way, this outcome was already within his expectations.

“Senior Brother Gu Han, Peak Master Mu requests your presence at the Law Enforcement Hall of Profound Feather Peak.”

At that moment, a few streaks of rainbow light appeared in the sky. They were young disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall.

“No need to be so cautious. Since I dared to return, I never planned to run.”

After a cold snort, Gu Han ignored the changing expressions of the enforcement disciples. With his hands behind his back and an indifferent expression, he flew his sword straight toward the Law Enforcement Hall of Profound Feather Peak.

…

On Profound Feather Peak, many disciples gathered. Upon hearing the sound, they looked up in surprise.

A long sword glowing with frosty light streaked across the sky and slowly descended. Standing atop the sword was a white-robed man with his hands behind his back.

His aura was extraordinary. With sharp, defined features and pitch-black eyes as deep as an abyss, his presence gave off a chilling, dangerous edge that captivated and intimidated at once.

Despite the crowd gathered below, Gu Han, standing upon his sword, was like a true dragon soaring through the nine heavens, overlooking countless sparrows beneath him.

“It’s Senior Brother! He really came back instead of running away!”

“Sigh… I finally see it clearly now. The gentle and kind image Senior Brother showed us in the past was just an act! This is his true face!”

Discussions broke out among the disciples below.

But the moment Gu Han stepped off the sword, his cold and sharp gaze swept casually across the crowd. The disciples, who had been chattering, suddenly turned pale. Many quickly lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes, and even stepped back in fear.

At the back of the crowd stood two graceful women in flowing white dresses, each with their own distinct beauty. When they saw the familiar figure, their expressions turned frosty, and their eyes were filled with disgust and disdain.

“Even Senior Sister Youwei and Senior Sister Baizhi came!”

“In the past, Senior Brother Gu Han treated both of them extremely well. He must’ve already held an important place in their hearts.”

“But now that he handled things so poorly and nearly got their junior brothers and junior sisters killed in the secret realm, how could they not be furious? It seems they too have seen his true face today.”

…

The whispers resumed, with disappointment written all over the disciples’ faces.

The Senior Brother they once respected for his strength and gentleness, who seemed almost perfect, was now revealed to be a sanctimonious hypocrite.

Of course, compared to the rest of them, the one who must be the most disappointed was likely the peak master who once accepted Gu Han as a personal disciple.

Ignoring the surrounding noise, Gu Han remained calm and composed as he stepped into the Law Enforcement Hall of Profound Feather Peak.

The entire hall was enveloped in a bone-chilling cold that made it slightly hard to breathe.

Gu Han’s indifferent gaze swept over the rows of disciples standing on either side, then finally landed on the woman sitting on the lotus throne.

She wore a snow-white robe, her expression was stern, her aura cold yet elegant—this was his master, Peak Master Mu Bailin of Baiyu Peak.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Gu Han’s lips. There was not a trace of fear or unease in his demeanor, not even the slightest sign of dread at facing punishment. His smile was arrogant and untamed.

“Disciple Gu Han greets Master.”

He cupped his hands slightly, his voice calm and unwavering.

The moment his voice fell, the disciples in the hall could clearly feel the pressure in the air grow heavier, as if filled with an overwhelming fury.

For a while, Mu Bailin’s chest rose and fell with suppressed rage. Eventually, she could no longer hold back, and her icy voice echoed throughout the hall.

“Rebellious disciple! What kind of attitude is that!?”

“At this point, you still refuse to admit your guilt!?”

“Sin?” Gu Han chuckled. Standing tall, he was completely unaffected by the oppressive pressure around him.

“What sin have I committed?”

“The sect’s rules clearly state that disciples entering the secret realm must not provoke demonic beasts beyond their ability to handle. If they do, they bear the consequences.”

“I merely acted according to the rules. What sin have I committed?”

Each of his words rang loud and clear in everyone’s ears.

But Mu Bailin’s expression only grew colder.

“Even now, you dare speak such lies!”

“According to what your Junior Sister Ruyan said, that demonic beast attacked them first!”

“As Senior Brother, sect rules dictate that you should have responded immediately! Even if you weren’t strong enough to defeat it, you should have gathered the other disciples to fight and repel the beast together!”

“But instead, you abandoned your fellow disciples and fled alone!”

“Gu Han! You’ve truly disappointed me!”

The hall fell silent once more.

All eyes turned toward Gu Han, filled with sorrow and disappointment.

Their Senior Brother had truly changed!

He once acted with integrity and responsibility, but now he refused to take any blame and even tried to shift it onto others.

Gu Han didn’t respond right away. His gaze scanned the crowd, finally locking onto Liu Ruyan, who was hiding timidly behind Ye Qingyun.

As if afraid of his cold and indifferent gaze, Liu Ruyan shrank back and quickly hid further behind Ye Qingyun, not daring to meet his eyes.

Just as he expected.

Liu Ruyan, under Ye Qingyun’s manipulation, had pushed all the blame onto him, even going so far as to twist the truth and fabricate false evidence.

Especially that guilty and evasive look in her eyes—it was truly disgusting.