Chapter 28: Dramatic Change (6)

Courtyard No. 66 was precisely the small courtyard where Xiao Lingxi lived. Its number was particularly easy to remember, making it well-known to everyone in the Xiao Sect. When Xiao Jiu uttered "Courtyard No. 66," everyone immediately thought of its resident.

The crowd automatically parted, isolating Xiao Lingxi and her location. She was exposed to everyone's view, with nowhere to hide. Xiao Lie's expression changed drastically. Xiao Che's brow furrowed, his demeanor instantly turning incredibly grim. He stepped forward, shielding Xiao Lingxi, a surge of anger violently expanding in his chest, almost erupting.

The moment Xiao Jiu called out "Courtyard No. 66," Xiao Che finally understood the source of the discomfort he had been feeling all along!

Earlier, with too many people standing relatively close together, Xiao Kuangyun hadn't been able to clearly pinpoint Xiao Lingxi's location. Now, however, he saw her clearly. In an instant, his eyes lit up, radiating a predatory gleam like that of a wolf. This girl appeared slightly younger than Xia Qingyue, a true maiden. Yet, she already possessed bright eyes and white teeth, exuding an enchanting grace, and her delicate face was gentle and beautiful. Her eyes, in particular, though now filled with panic and fear, still resembled a clear, crystal-like spring, pure and captivating.

Xiao Kuangyun swallowed hard, his heart surging. That Xiao Yulong truly didn't lie to me! While Xiao Lingxi's beauty was slightly less than Xia Qingyue's, it was only by a small margin, and her allure would certainly be no less. Moreover, once she fully matured, she might not be inferior to Xia Qingyue at all. To come to such a godforsaken little place and encounter two beauties of such heavenly charm—this was truly heaven's reward for my long journey!

Xiao Kuangyun began to think his initial refusal to come to the Xiao Sect had been an incredibly foolish decision. Fortunately, he had ultimately been unable to resist his father's command and had obediently come here.

"Xiao Lingxi... how could it be you!"Looking at Xiao Lingxi, Xiao Yunhai's expression shifted from surprise to shock, and then to utter disbelief.

"It wasn't me! Sect Master... it truly wasn't me!" Xiao Lingxi shook her head vigorously, her face filled with terror. She had indeed considered stealing the Profound-Opening Pill last night, but after Xiao Lie stopped her, she had obediently returned to her room to sleep. She had absolutely no knowledge of the Profound-Opening Pill's theft.

"Oh, I didn't expect this audacious thief to be just a young girl," Xiao Kuangyun said in a mocking tone. "But as I just said, no matter who it is, they will not be spared!"

"Ah! Xiao Lingxi, how could you... be so reckless and commit such a brazen act! This box of Profound-Opening Pills is a treasure sent to us from the Xiao Sect over a thousand miles away! What am I... to do about this?" Xiao Yunhai sighed heavily, appearing utterly heartbroken.

"Sect Master! It wasn't me, I truly didn't steal it! There must... there must be some mistake! It really wasn't me!" Xiao Lingxi shook her head repeatedly, her cheeks utterly pale.

Xiao Kuangyun flared up in anger, exclaiming sternly: "This box of Profound-Opening Pills was found right under your pillow. If you didn't steal it, did it grow wings and fly there itself? Little girl, I gave you a chance to confess earlier, but you didn't take it. Now, with undeniable evidence and countless witnesses from both inside and outside the Xiao Sect, you still want to deny it? It seems you won't admit it unless subjected to severe punishment!"

The phrase "severe punishment" made Xiao Lingxi tremble. Had Xiao Che not quickly supported her, she might have collapsed onto the ground. Xiao Che clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. He glared at Xiao Kuangyun, his entire being erupting with the first true... killing intent since his rebirth!

"Young Master Xiao, please calm your anger!" Xiao Yunhai quickly stepped forward, abruptly kneeling on one knee, and pleaded: "Xiao Lingxi's theft of an item from the Xiao Sect is indeed an unforgivable offense, but... but her nature is absolutely not bad. She is very well-liked within our Xiao Sect. Her act of stealing the Profound-Opening Pill also had a hidden reason..."

"A hidden reason? What hidden reason?" Xiao Kuangyun asked, his face dark.

Xiao Yunhai glanced meaningfully at Xiao Lingxi and Xiao Che, who stood together, then spoke with a pained expression: "Xiao Lingxi is the only daughter of our Xiao Sect's Fifth Elder. She has a nephew, Xiao Che, who is one year older than her. Her nephew, unfortunately, was born with crippled profound veins. Xiao Che has no other talents, and with crippled profound veins, his life is essentially half-ruined. Xiao Lingxi cares for Xiao Che immensely and has always sought ways to restore his profound veins. Everyone in the Xiao Sect, and even throughout Floating Cloud City, knows this clearly; everyone present can attest to it. The reason Xiao Lingxi would commit such a bold act as stealing the Profound-Opening Pill is evidently because she heard it has the effect of repairing damaged profound veins. Out of an urgent desire to save her nephew, she committed this audacious offense.

"Although the crime has been committed and the evidence is conclusive, leaving no room for denial, I still humbly request Young Master Xiao to consider that Xiao Lingxi from our sect is still young and possesses an innocent heart. We ask for a lenient punishment. Everyone in the Xiao Sect will be profoundly grateful for Young Master Xiao's great kindness."

Though Xiao Yunhai's posture was humble, his words were sincere, striking a chord with everyone and deeply moving them. His words also brought sudden realization to those who couldn't fathom why Xiao Lingxi would be so brazen as to steal the Profound-Opening Pill. It turned out the Profound-Opening Pill could repair damaged profound veins—no wonder...

It was common knowledge throughout Floating Cloud City that Xiao Che was born with crippled profound veins. Xiao Lingxi had always been exceptionally protective of him and constantly worried about his profound veins, a fact known to everyone in the Xiao Sect. Given this, Xiao Lingxi's act of stealing the Profound-Opening Pill no longer seemed brazen, but entirely reasonable.

Xiao Yunhai had been kowtowing to Xiao Kuangyun, a sight many secretly disdained. Now, however, everyone felt a genuine admiration for Xiao Yunhai in their hearts. To protect a disciple of the Xiao Sect, this Sect Master, even facing the wrath of someone from the Xiao Clan, had earnestly pleaded for leniency, speaking reasonably and movingly, even going so far as to kneel on one knee.

Only Xiao Che was sneering in anger. What a flawless performance! On the surface, it was an appeal for Xiao Lingxi's leniency, but in reality, it was meticulously solidifying her guilt! If he were an outsider, perhaps even he would believe that Xiao Lingxi was responsible for everything.

"So, there's this underlying story." Hearing Xiao Yunhai's words, Xiao Kuangyun's expression noticeably softened. He said indifferently: "Hmph, I am not a ruthless person. Since she committed such a grave error to save her own nephew, considering this circumstance, as long as she obediently admits her mistake and apologizes, I can consider leniency..."

"It wasn't me! I truly didn't steal it!" Xiao Lingxi shook her head vigorously, biting her lip, and cried out in a slightly hoarse voice: "If I had done it, I would definitely admit it... But the Profound-Opening Pill truly wasn't stolen by me! And I have no idea why it appeared in my room... There must be a mistake somewhere! Sect Master, please believe me, it really wasn't me!"

Xiao Lingxi's desperate cries not only failed to move anyone but, under the weight of Xiao Yunhai's earlier elaborate setup, had the opposite effect. She was the person with the most reason to steal the Profound-Opening Pill, and it was found in her room; these facts were enough to definitively prove her guilt. Moreover, Xiao Yunhai had gone to great lengths, risking danger and his dignity to plead with Xiao Kuangyun on her behalf, which was truly benevolent and touching. Yet, she still refused to confess. In the eyes of others, this was simply being ungrateful.

Xiao Kuangyun's recently softened expression darkened again. He sneered: "What mistake? This Profound-Opening Pill was personally found in your room by someone from our Xiao Sect. Are you implying that we, the Xiao Sect, deliberately framed a small girl from the Xiao Sect? Hmm?"

Xiao Kuangyun spoke with full rage and confidence. Would the mighty Xiao Sect deliberately frame someone from the Xiao Sect, who they consider less than dirt? To anyone listening, it was a joke.

At this moment, Xiao Li, the Great Elder of the Xiao Sect, stood up and sternly pointed at Xiao Lingxi: "Xiao Lingxi! You have committed such a grave mistake, bringing shame upon the entire Xiao Sect! The Sect Master personally pleaded for you, and even Young Master Xiao was considering leniency, yet you are still so ungrateful! You truly are... a great disappointment to us!"

"Alas, it's more than just disappointment; it's utterly heartbreaking." Second Elder Xiao Bo shook his head, his face sorrowful. "The Sect Master pleaded so earnestly, and yet she... sigh! Xiao Lingxi, how could the Xiao Sect, such a formidable entity, deliberately frame you? To admit a mistake and correct it is the greatest virtue. But your current behavior has made us lose all face before our friends in Floating Cloud City."

"I... you... you..." Gazing at the ruthless, indifferent stares, Xiao Lingxi's delicate body trembled, tears welled up in her eyes, and her mind went blank, leaving her unable to utter a complete sentence.

At this moment, Xiao Che gently squeezed her small hand, standing beside her, and spoke softly in a voice only she could hear: "Little Aunt, don't be afraid... Don't say anything for now, because anything you say at this point will be useless. It doesn't matter if they believe you or not; I will always believe Little Aunt. Leave the rest to me."

Leave the rest to me...

His profound energy was weak, his body frail, and he had always grown up under her protection. Yet, as this frail body stood before her and uttered those simple words, her panicked, helpless, and cold heart quickly found peace and warmth. It was as if she were back in her childhood, when he would always rush over from a distance to shield her whenever she was bullied, using his hands, feet, and even teeth as his fiercest weapons to ensure she didn't suffer even the slightest harm.

Little Che... she murmured softly in her heart.

"Cough, cough..." Xiao Che took a few steps forward, feigning a cough a few times to successfully draw everyone's attention. He bowed slightly, a faint smile on his face, and said: "Young Master Xiao, and to the other three friends who have traveled a long way from the Xiao Sect, allow me to introduce myself... I am Xiao Che, Xiao Lingxi's nephew, whom everyone considers utterly useless. Regarding the stolen and recovered Profound-Opening Pill, I have a few questions I'd like to ask the Sect Master. That should be fine, shouldn't it?"

"Oh... you're that notorious good-for-nothing from Floating Cloud City?" Xiao Kuangyun glanced at him indifferently, letting out a dismissive sneer. "You're not trying to absolve your Little Aunt, are you? Heh, fine. I'd like to see what you can ask."

"Che'er..." Xiao Lie, whose face had already turned ashen, spoke softly. The reply he received, however, was Xiao Che's right hand, hidden behind his back, making a gesture for silence.

"Very well then!" Xiao Che nodded, turning his gaze to Xiao Yunhai: "Sect Master, regarding the Profound-Opening Pill, I have a few questions I wish to ask you..."

Without waiting for Xiao Yunhai to respond, Xiao Che went on to ask: "My first question... Sect Master, both your profound energy cultivation and your mental cultivation are outstanding within our Xiao Sect. Furthermore, your character is consistently steady and cautious; otherwise, you wouldn't be able to serve as our Sect Master. This fact is well-known to everyone in the Xiao Sect, and even throughout Floating Cloud City. So, here's the problem—excavator... oh, no, sorry—given the Sect Master's consistently cautious nature, after receiving such an important treasure from the Xiao Sect, the most appropriate action would have been to keep it on your person, as that would be the safest approach. However, the Sect Master placed it in the Pharmacy, arguably the least secure location. Can the Sect Master explain this?"