At dawn, all of Qingyun Sect began bustling with activity. Today was the day of executing sect rules, and all disciples were required to witness the traitor's fate on the Moon Gazing Platform.
Xiao Yi was escorted by two law enforcement disciples, slowly walking toward the Moon Gazing Platform. His hands were bound by special chains, but his expression remained resolute. Disciples along the way pointed and whispered, their eyes filled with contempt and anger.
"Look, that's the traitor!"
"The fate of betraying the sect is death!"
"He should have died long ago!"
These venomous words stabbed at Xiao Yi like knives, but he remained unmoved, walking silently forward.
On the Moon Gazing Platform, the sect's elders had already taken their positions, with Sect Master Qingyun sitting in the center, his expression grave. Below the platform, hundreds of disciples had gathered, a dark mass of people.
Mo Wanxian stood in the crowd, tears in her eyes, her fists clenched tightly. She wanted to rush forward but was held back by her senior sisters.
"Wanxian, don't be impulsive," a senior sister advised. "This is sect law - no one can change it."
"I don't believe Senior Brother Xiao is a traitor!" Mo Wanxian cried.
"The evidence is conclusive - what more is there to say?" another senior sister shook her head. "You're too naive."
Ling Yu stood on the other side of the crowd, his face pale, his hands trembling slightly. He watched Xiao Yi being brought onto the platform, his heart filled with conflicted emotions.
"Senior Brother Ling, what's wrong?" a nearby junior brother asked. "You look terrible."
"Nothing." Ling Yu forced a smile. "Just feel it's somewhat regrettable."
"Regrettable about what?" the junior brother didn't understand. "Traitors deserve to die."
"Yes," Ling Yu's voice trembled, "traitors indeed deserve to die."
Xiao Yi was brought to the center of the Moon Gazing Platform - the very place where the three of them had sworn their blood oath, now become his execution ground. He looked up at the familiar platform, infinite emotions surging in his heart.
"Xiao Yi," Sect Master Qingyun stood up, his voice booming, "do you have any last words?"
Xiao Yi straightened his back and declared loudly: "Disciple Xiao Yi swears to heaven that I have never betrayed the sect! This is all a frame-up!"
"Even at this moment, you still argue?" an elder said angrily. "The evidence is conclusive, with both material and witness testimony!"
"That evidence is all forged!" Xiao Yi shouted. "The real traitor is still at large!"
"Nonsense!" another elder stood up. "Xiao Yi, facing death you still slander others!"
"I'm not slandering anyone!" Xiao Yi's voice grew louder. "I'm only speaking the truth! The real traitor is among us!"
The disciples below began to stir, discussing among themselves.
"Is what he's saying true?"
"Impossible, the evidence is so conclusive."
"Maybe there really is a spy?"
"Silence!" Sect Master Qingyun shouted angrily, and the platform immediately quieted.
"Xiao Yi, you claim someone framed you - then tell us, who framed you?" Sect Master Qingyun asked coldly.
Xiao Yi looked around, his gaze finally settling on Ling Yu. Their eyes met, and a flash of panic crossed Ling Yu's eyes.
"I..." Xiao Yi opened his mouth but ultimately didn't speak. He had no concrete evidence, and moreover, he didn't want to believe Ling Yu would betray him.
"Can't say, can you?" Sect Master Qingyun sneered. "Because there is no frame-up - you are the traitor!"
"No!" Mo Wanxian suddenly rushed out. "Senior Brother Xiao is not a traitor!"
"Wanxian!" The Jade Maiden Peak Lord quickly followed. "What are you doing?"
"Master, Senior Brother Xiao is innocent!" Mo Wanxian knelt on the ground. "Please believe him!"
"Wanxian, you're confused!" The Jade Maiden Peak Lord pulled her. "Come back quickly!"
"I won't go back!" Mo Wanxian broke free from her master's hand. "Senior Brother Xiao, I believe you!"
Xiao Yi looked at Mo Wanxian, warmth flowing through his heart. At least someone still believed in him.
"Mo Wanxian," Sect Master Qingyun's voice was cold, "are you pleading for a traitor?"
"Senior Brother Xiao is not a traitor!" Mo Wanxian said firmly. "He was framed!"
"Since you believe in him so much," Sect Master Qingyun sneered, "then tell us, who framed him?"
Mo Wanxian opened her mouth but couldn't speak. She had no evidence either.
"Can't say, can you?" Sect Master Qingyun shook his head. "Because there is no frame-up. Xiao Yi is the traitor!"
"That's not right!" a voice suddenly rang out. "Someone did frame Xiao Yi!"
Everyone turned to look, and saw Ling Yu slowly walking out.
"Ling Yu?" Sect Master Qingyun frowned. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that someone did frame Xiao Yi." Ling Yu walked to the front of the platform. "And I know who it is."
Xiao Yi looked at Ling Yu in surprise, hope rising in his heart. Had Ling Yu discovered something?
"Then tell us, who framed Xiao Yi?" Sect Master Qingyun asked.
Ling Yu took a deep breath, then slowly said: "The person who framed Xiao Yi... is me."
These words struck like lightning, shocking everyone present.
"What?" Xiao Yi couldn't believe his ears.
"Ling Yu, what are you saying?" Mo Wanxian was also shocked.
The disciples below were in an uproar, completely unable to understand what was happening.
"I said, the person who framed Xiao Yi is me." Ling Yu's voice was calm, but every word was clearly audible. "That evidence was all forged by me. Those witnesses were also bribed by me."
"Why?" Xiao Yi's voice trembled. "Why would you do this?"
Ling Yu turned around, looking at Xiao Yi, complex emotions flashing in his eyes.
"Because I was originally a member of the demonic path."
These words shocked everyone again. Xiao Yi felt the world spinning, as if everything had collapsed.
"Impossible!" Mo Wanxian cried. "Senior Brother Ling, what are you saying?"
"I'm not lying." Ling Yu's voice was cold. "I've been a spy cultivated by the demonic path since childhood, infiltrating Qingyun Sect for over ten years."
"Then... what about our friendship?" Xiao Yi's voice was almost pleading. "What about our oath?"
"Friendship?" Ling Yu sneered. "That was just my disguise. As for the oath..." He paused, "I did say life and death together, never to betray. But what I betrayed was not you, but Qingyun Sect."
Xiao Yi felt his heart being cut by knives. He couldn't accept this reality. The brother who had sworn a blood oath with him, the friend who had once saved him, was actually the one who framed him.
"Why frame Xiao Yi?" Sect Master Qingyun asked. "What is your demonic path's purpose?"
"Simple," Ling Yu said. "Xiao Yi's identity is very special - he's someone we need. But he's too righteous and would never willingly join the demonic path. So we could only use this method to make him lose everyone's trust and have nowhere to go, ultimately forcing him to rely on us."
"Xiao Yi's identity?" Sect Master Qingyun was puzzled. "What's special about him?"
"That," Ling Yu smiled mysteriously, "you'll find out later."
"Ling Yu!" Xiao Yi roared angrily. "You despicable villain!"
"Despicable?" Ling Yu shook his head. "This is called strategy. Xiao Yi, you should thank me. If not for me, how would you see the true faces of these people?"
"What do you mean?" Xiao Yi didn't understand.
"Look at them," Ling Yu pointed at the disciples below. "When you were accused, how many believed you? Besides Mo Wanxian, who else spoke for you? This is the sect you desperately protected, these are the fellow disciples you considered brothers!"
Xiao Yi looked around and saw only cold and hostile gazes. Indeed, except for Mo Wanxian, no one had believed him.
"Now the truth is revealed," Ling Yu continued, "but do you think they'll thank you? Will they apologize for their previous misunderstanding?"
Xiao Yi fell silent. He knew Ling Yu was right.
"Xiao Yi, come with me." Ling Yu extended his hand. "Only the demonic path is your true home."
"Dream on!" Xiao Yi said angrily. "I'd rather die than join the demonic path!"
"Is that so?" Ling Yu sneered. "Then prepare to die. Because even if the truth is revealed, do you think Qingyun Sect will still accept you?"
Xiao Yi looked toward Sect Master Qingyun, hoping to see a trace of trust in his eyes. But all he saw was coldness and suspicion.
"Although Xiao Yi was framed," Sect Master Qingyun said slowly, "he has after all become entangled with the demonic path. For the sect's safety, he cannot remain in Qingyun Sect."
These words were like the last straw that broke Xiao Yi's heart. Even with the truth revealed, the sect still wouldn't trust him.
"Master!" Mo Wanxian cried. "Senior Brother Xiao is innocent!"
"Wanxian, you don't understand." Sect Master Qingyun shook his head. "The sect's safety comes above all else."
Xiao Yi smiled bitterly. He finally understood. In these people's eyes, he would always be suspicious, never truly trusted.
"How about it, Xiao Yi?" Ling Yu extended his hand again. "Do you have any choice now?"
Xiao Yi looked at Ling Yu's hand, struggling internally. He knew that refusing meant death. But accepting meant truly becoming a member of the demonic path.
"I..." Xiao Yi was about to speak when suddenly a strong wave of true qi came from the air.
"Everyone be careful!" Sect Master Qingyun shouted.
Suddenly, dozens of black-clothed figures appeared in the sky, led by a mysterious person wearing a mask.
"Demonic path!" some disciples exclaimed.
"Hahaha," the masked person laughed loudly. "Ling Yu, you did well."
"Demon Lord." Ling Yu bowed respectfully.
"Xiao Yi," the masked person looked at Xiao Yi, "come with us."
"I won't go with you!" Xiao Yi said firmly.
"Is that so?" the masked person sneered. "Then don't blame us for being impolite."
With that, he waved his hand, and the black-clothed figures immediately charged toward the Qingyun Sect disciples.
Battle erupted instantly, and the Moon Gazing Platform was splattered with blood.
In the chaos, Ling Yu took the opportunity to unlock Xiao Yi's chains.
"Xiao Yi, this is your last chance," Ling Yu said. "Come with us, or die here?"
Xiao Yi looked at the chaos around him, his heart filled with pain and confusion. He didn't know what choice to make.
But one thing was certain - his life had been completely changed, and there was no going back.