Chapter 269 Framing
The morning light filtered through the window lattice, casting scattered golden spots on the bluestone floor. Yu Wanru walked with light steps toward the courtyard of Class Bing-6, the hem of her robes still carrying the dampness of the morning dew.
In recent days, checking the homework of the outer sect disciples had become her most anticipated activity.
Though she initially felt it delayed her cultivation, she now unconsciously quickened her pace—perhaps it was because of the young man who always hid in the corner, stealing glances at her with wet eyes?
As soon as she crossed the courtyard gate, the familiar inner voice arrived as scheduled:
[Senior Sister changed to a new sword tassel today... it really suits her...]
A slight smile touched Yu Wanru's lips. Pretending not to hear, she proceeded as usual to check the disciples' homework one by one.
When she reached Shen Qingwu's desk, the boy was lowering his head to transcribe the Heart-Purifying Incantation, but the tip of his brush trembled slightly at her approach, smudging a small patch of ink on the Xuan paper.
[I really want... to grind ink for Senior Sister...]
She deliberately pointed a finger at the character he had written incorrectly, and as expected, she saw the tip of the boy's ear instantly turn red, even his breath held. Such a pure reaction brought a trace of sweetness to Yu Wanru's heart.
After finishing the inspection, she was about to leave when she suddenly caught a fragment of an inner voice:
[Should I tell Senior Sister... I clearly saw Senior Brother Xiao that day...]
Yu Wanru's steps faltered.
[On the rest day two days ago, Senior Brother Xiao sneaked into Senior Sister's courtyard... he stole something...]
Undergarments!
She suddenly remembered the intimate garment that had vanished. She had originally thought it was blown away by the wind... Yu Wanru felt a chill.
[It seems to be hidden under his pillow... I even saw him last night, waking up in the middle of the night... and carefully playing with something.]
Hearing this, Yu Wanru could no longer bear it. She abruptly turned around and, under the astonished gazes of all the disciples in the room, walked directly toward Xiao Yun's bed.
With a wave of her fair hand—
"Whoosh!"
A white undergarment was exposed from under the lifted quilt. The obvious creases on the fabric glinted with a suspicious damp sheen, as if it had truly been repeatedly caressed and played with.
In the dead silence of the room, only Shen Qingwu's "panicked" gasp was exceptionally clear:
[Heavens... it really is Senior Sister's... how could Senior Brother Xiao do such a thing!!?]
Yu Wanru's face was like frost as she bit her lower lip hard.
She stared fixedly at the wrinkled undergarment. The suspicious traces on the fabric made her stomach churn.
Thanks to being able to hear Shen Qingwu's inner voice, she had discovered that such a filthy person was hidden among the outer sect disciples.
Recalling that she had previously thought Xiao Yun had an extraordinary demeanor, she now felt a wave of nausea.
The room was silent as a tomb, a few young men frozen in place.
Guo Fugui's eyes were wide, his mouth opening and closing, clearly too stunned by this sudden turn of events to speak.
Xiao Yun's face instantly turned deathly pale, but he quickly forced himself to calm down and said: "Senior Sister Yu, I truly don't know what is going on."
Yu Wanru took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling violently.
If not for the sect rules strictly prohibiting private fights, she would have already drawn her sword.
"The culprit is caught with the stolen goods," her voice was as cold as if quenched in ice, "I need an explanation."
Xiao Yun's gaze swept across the room, his mind racing.
He had always been cautious in his words and actions in the outer sect and never made enemies with anyone.
And this matter was clearly a case of someone framing him. Who could it be...
Guo Fugui?
No! Although they had only known each other for a short time, he could already deeply feel that this round-faced youth was simple and righteous; he could never possibly do something so despicable.
He forced himself to calm down, sweeping his gaze over the surrounding young men.
Among them, some showed disbelief, others schadenfreude... When his line of sight fell on Shen Qingwu, his heart suddenly jolted.
The young man was lowering his head, seemingly fearful and uneasy, but Xiao Yun clearly caught the fleeting curve of his lips.
Even more bizarrely, although Shen Qingwu's face was full of panic, Xiao Yun always felt that there was a smile hidden deep in his eyes.
But without any evidence, he could not make an accusation based on a mere feeling.
"I..." Xiao Yun's Adam's apple bobbed. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and say, "I really don't know anything. I ask for Senior Sister's wise judgment!"
"Enough!" Yu Wanru interrupted sharply.
She recalled the line from Shen Qingwu's inner voice, "carefully playing with it in the middle of the night," and then looked at the suspicious traces on the undergarment, feeling another wave of nausea.
"The culprit is caught with the stolen goods. If you have any grievances, go explain them to the senior brothers of the Enforcement Hall tomorrow!"
When she turned to leave, the hem of her robes stirred up a cold gust.
Just as she crossed the threshold, a soft, warm inner voice drifted into her ear:
[Senior Sister, don't be sad... not all men in this world are so unbearable...]
This voice caused Yu Wanru's tense shoulders to relax slightly.
That's right, at least there was still that pure young man...
The next morning.
Xiao Yun and Guo Fugui stood early before the great doors of the Enforcement Hall. After all, with a matter like this, the sooner it was explained clearly, the better. Avoiding it would only make it seem more real.
Out of the entire Class Bing-6, only Guo Fugui was willing to believe he was innocent.
He had not slept all night, his eyes bloodshot, yet he still held his back ramrod straight.
His thoughts during the night led him to a terrifying conjecture—last night, whoever wanted to frame him was inextricably linked to Yu Wanru. Because Yu Wanru had suddenly walked over and lifted his quilt, which meant she knew from the start that the item was on his bed! But he had no grudge or enmity with her, so why would she frame him?
"Creeak—"
The heavy hall doors were pushed open. Sandalwood incense curled inside the Enforcement Hall.
The senior brother on duty, Zhou, was wiping his sword. Seeing Xiao Yun arrive alone, he slightly raised an eyebrow: "So early?"
"Senior Brother Zhou." Xiao Yun clasped his fists in a salute, his voice hoarse but firm. "This disciple has an important matter to report."
He then recounted everything that had happened yesterday in its entirety.
After hearing the full story, the sword-cleaning cloth in Senior Brother Zhou's hand fell to the ground with a "pat." He looked at the youth before him in disbelief: "What did you say? Junior Sister Yu found... on your bed? How is that possible?"
He shot to his feet. "Whoever can enter the Sacred Land of the Immortal Spirit hasn't gone through numerous tests? How could anyone do something so filthy!"
Guo Fugui also said: "For the past few days, I have been with Senior Brother Xiao day and night. He absolutely did not have the time to do such a filthy thing!"
Xiao Yun met the other's scrutinizing gaze without flinching: "This disciple is willing to swear on his Dao Heart that he absolutely did not do this."
...
"A Dao Heart oath?"
A voice came from afar. "For someone whose heart is not inclined toward the Dao in the first place, what use is a Dao Heart oath?"
Footsteps approached from outside the hall. It turned out Yu Wanru had already hurried over with Shen Qingwu and the others.
In the morning light, her face was also as pale as paper, with faint dark circles under her eyes.
"Junior Sister Yu." Senior Brother Zhou said in a deep voice, "Do not jump to conclusions. Junior Brother Xiao truly does not seem like that kind of filthy person."
"Senior Brother Zhou, we entered the outer sect in the same year. You would rather believe a junior brother you've only met once than believe me, your junior sister, who caught the culprit with the stolen goods?" Yu Wanru said resentfully. The more she thought about last night's events, the more disgusted she felt.
"This..."
"In that case, I still find one thing strange—" Xiao Yun, at this moment, no longer paid heed to Yu Wanru's status as a senior sister. He took a deep breath and looked at her with a gaze like a torch: "Even if I were the culprit, I could have hidden the stolen goods in many places. May I ask Junior Sister Yu to tell me, how were you able to find the hiding spot so precisely the moment you came in!?"
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