The investigation within Qingyun Sect began immediately. All core disciples were summoned for interrogation, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Xiao Yi was among the first to be questioned. He sat in the interrogation room facing Elder Yan Wuji and several other senior members of the sect.
"Xiao Yi," Elder Yan began sternly, "where were you during the night of the attack?"
"I was in my quarters, cultivating," Xiao Yi replied honestly. "I only came out when the alarm was raised."
"Can anyone verify this?"
"I was alone, so no one can verify it directly. But I never left my room until the attack began."
The questioning continued for what felt like hours. Xiao Yi answered every question truthfully, but he could see the suspicion in the elders' eyes growing.
After the interrogation, Xiao Yi returned to his quarters, exhausted and troubled. But his troubles were far from over.
The next morning, he was awakened by a commotion outside his door. Several enforcement disciples stood there with Elder Yan Wuji.
"Xiao Yi," Elder Yan said coldly, "we need to search your quarters."
"Of course, Elder. I have nothing to hide."
But as the search progressed, Xiao Yi's heart began to sink. The disciples were being unusually thorough, checking places that seemed unlikely to hide anything.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
"Elder Yan!" one of the disciples called out. "I found something!"
He held up a core disciple token - one that bore Xiao Yi's name.
"That's impossible," Xiao Yi said, reaching for his own token. It was still there, hanging from his belt. "I have my token right here."
"Then how do you explain this duplicate?" Elder Yan demanded, examining the token closely. "This appears to be genuine."
"I don't know! Someone must have forged it!"
But the search wasn't over. Soon, more damning evidence was discovered: a black manual hidden beneath his floorboards and several suspicious letters tucked behind a loose stone in the wall.
Xiao Yi watched in horror as the evidence was laid out before him. The manual was clearly a demonic cultivation technique - the "Blood Demon Great Method" - and the letters appeared to be correspondence with demonic sect members, detailing Qingyun Sect's defenses and patrol schedules.
"This is impossible," Xiao Yi said, his voice shaking. "I've never seen these things before in my life!"
"The evidence speaks for itself," Elder Yan said grimly. "Xiao Yi, you are under arrest for treason against the sect."
"No! This is a setup! Someone planted these things!"
But his protests fell on deaf ears. As he was led away in chains, Xiao Yi's mind raced. Who could have done this? Who had access to his quarters? Who could forge such convincing evidence?
The letters were particularly damning - they were written in a hand that looked remarkably similar to his own, and they contained information that only a core disciple would know.
As he was thrown into the sect's dungeon, Xiao Yi realized the full scope of what was happening. This wasn't just a random frame-up - it was a carefully orchestrated conspiracy. Someone had been planning this for a long time, gathering information, preparing evidence, waiting for the right moment to strike.
But who? And why him?
As he sat in the darkness of his cell, Xiao Yi couldn't help but think about his friends. Would Mo Wanxian and Ling Yu believe his innocence? Or would they, like everyone else, be convinced by the overwhelming evidence against him?
The thought that even his closest friends might doubt him was almost more painful than the prospect of execution.
But one thing was certain - he would not give up. Somehow, he would prove his innocence and expose the real traitor. He had to, not just for himself, but for the sect that had raised him and the friends who had stood by him.
The conspiracy was deep and well-planned, but Xiao Yi was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
Even if it meant discovering that the betrayal came from someone he trusted most.