Xiao Yi was imprisoned in Qingyun Sect's dungeon, a dark and damp place with only a small window letting in weak light. He sat on a pile of straw, recalling everything that had happened in recent days, his heart filled with unwillingness and anger.
"Xiao Yi." A familiar voice came from outside the cell door.
Xiao Yi looked up and saw his master, Qingyunzi, standing outside the cell with a complex and pained expression.
"Master." Xiao Yi stood up and walked to the cell door.
"Why?" Qingyunzi's voice trembled slightly. "Why did you betray the sect? I raised you from childhood - why would you do this?"
"Master, this disciple has never betrayed the sect!" Xiao Yi said urgently. "This is all a frame-up!"
"A frame-up?" Qingyunzi smiled bitterly. "The evidence is conclusive, with both material and witness testimony. How long will you continue to argue?"
"Master, you've watched this disciple grow up since childhood. You should understand my character best!" Xiao Yi's voice was somewhat hoarse. "How could this disciple possibly betray you and the sect?"
Qingyunzi was silent for a long time before slowly saying: "I don't want to believe it either, but... the facts are right before our eyes. Xiao Yi, if you confess now, I can plead for you to spare your life."
"Master!" Xiao Yi knelt on the ground. "This disciple would rather die than admit to something I never did! This disciple swears to heaven that I have never betrayed the sect!"
Qingyunzi looked at Xiao Yi kneeling on the ground, pain flashing in his eyes. Finally, he turned to leave, leaving behind one sentence: "Take care of yourself."
Xiao Yi watched his master's departing figure, his heart aching like a knife. Even his master no longer believed him - who else would believe in his innocence?
The next day, news spread throughout Qingyun Sect. Xiao Yi's collusion with the demonic path and betrayal of the sect became the topic of everyone's discussion.
"I never would have thought that Xiao Yi was actually a demonic spy."
"I always felt something was off about him - always keeping to himself."
"Good thing we discovered it early, or who knows how many more secrets would have been leaked."
"I heard tomorrow they'll execute the sect rules on the Moon Gazing Platform."
These discussions reached Mo Wanxian's ears, cutting her heart like knives. She knew Xiao Yi's character - he could never do anything to betray the sect. But faced with ironclad evidence, she didn't know how to defend him.
"Junior Sister, are you still feeling sad for that traitor?" A senior sister approached with disdain in her voice. "Xiao Yi betrayed the sect - you should distance yourself from him."
"Senior Brother Xiao is not a traitor!" Mo Wanxian said excitedly. "He's been framed!"
"Framed?" The senior sister sneered. "The evidence is conclusive - what more is there to say? Junior Sister Mo, you're too naive."
"I don't believe it!" Mo Wanxian said firmly. "Senior Brother Xiao could never betray the sect!"
"Since you believe in him so much, are you also an accomplice?" another senior sister said sarcastically.
"What nonsense are you talking!" Mo Wanxian looked at them angrily.
"Enough, stop talking." Her master, the Jade Maiden Peak Lord, approached. "Wanxian, come with me."
Mo Wanxian followed her master to a quiet place.
"Master, Senior Brother Xiao is truly innocent!" Mo Wanxian said urgently.
"Wanxian," the Jade Maiden Peak Lord sighed, "I know you and Xiao Yi have a good relationship, but now the evidence is conclusive. You can't speak for him anymore."
"Why doesn't even Master believe him?" Mo Wanxian's eyes filled with tears.
"It's not that I don't believe, but the facts are right before our eyes." The Jade Maiden Peak Lord shook her head. "Wanxian, you must understand that emotions cannot cloud reason. Xiao Yi is no longer the Xiao Yi of the past."
"No!" Mo Wanxian cried. "Senior Brother Xiao is still the same Senior Brother Xiao - he hasn't changed!"
"Wanxian, listen to your master and forget about him." The Jade Maiden Peak Lord said earnestly. "You're still young - don't ruin your future for a traitor."
Mo Wanxian said nothing more, but her conviction grew stronger. No matter what others said, she believed Xiao Yi was innocent.
Meanwhile, Ling Yu was also under tremendous pressure. As Xiao Yi's close friend, many people questioned whether he was also involved in the betrayal.
"Senior Brother Ling, you had such a good relationship with Xiao Yi - did you really not know about his collusion with the demonic path?" a junior brother asked.
"I didn't know." Ling Yu's voice was cold. "If I had known, I would have reported him long ago."
"Then how do you view Xiao Yi now?" another senior brother asked.
Ling Yu was silent for a long time before saying: "Those who betray the sect deserve to be killed by all."
Saying these words, Ling Yu's heart was bleeding. He didn't want to believe Xiao Yi would betray the sect, but the evidence was conclusive, and he didn't know what to think.
"Senior Brother Ling is right," that senior brother nodded. "Xiao Yi betrayed the sect - he is our enemy."
"Yes, we should all go watch tomorrow's execution."
"Let everyone see the fate of those who betray the sect!"
Listening to these words, Ling Yu felt conflicted. He remembered the days of cultivating with Xiao Yi, their blood oath on the Moon Gazing Platform, and their vow of "life and death together, never to betray."
But now, everything had changed.
That night, Mo Wanxian secretly came to the dungeon. The guard saw her and looked troubled.
"Senior Sister Mo, you can't go in," the guard said.
"I just want to see him," Mo Wanxian pleaded. "Just one look, please?"
The guard hesitated, then finally stepped aside.
Mo Wanxian walked to the cell door and saw Xiao Yi sitting on the straw pile, looking haggard.
"Senior Brother Xiao." Mo Wanxian called softly.
Xiao Yi looked up, saw Mo Wanxian, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes, but it quickly dimmed.
"Wanxian, you shouldn't have come here," Xiao Yi said. "It will implicate you."
"I'm not afraid." Mo Wanxian said firmly. "Senior Brother Xiao, I believe you are innocent."
"Thank you." Xiao Yi's voice choked slightly. "But perhaps this is fate."
"No!" Mo Wanxian said urgently. "There must be a way to prove your innocence!"
"Wanxian," Xiao Yi walked to the cell door, "if I really die, you must live well and forget about me."
"I will never forget you!" Mo Wanxian cried. "Didn't we promise to travel the world together?"
"That promise..." Xiao Yi smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid it can never be fulfilled."
"It will be fulfilled!" Mo Wanxian said firmly. "I believe you will definitely be able to prove your innocence!"
Xiao Yi looked at Mo Wanxian's determined eyes, warmth flowing through his heart. At least someone still believed in him.
"Wanxian, you should go," Xiao Yi said. "It wouldn't be good if someone saw you."
Mo Wanxian nodded, but before leaving, she said: "Senior Brother Xiao, no matter what happens, I will always believe in you."
Watching Mo Wanxian's departing figure, Xiao Yi felt both warmth and pain in his heart. He knew that tomorrow would be his death, yet he couldn't prove his innocence.
But he wouldn't give up. Even until the last moment, he would defend himself and let everyone know that he, Xiao Yi, had never betrayed the sect!
The night was deep, and all of Qingyun Sect was waiting for tomorrow's arrival.
It would be a day that changed everyone's fate.