Bad things happen often

Chapter 76

"because……"

Just as Xiao Xiao was about to answer, a disciple rushed into the garden and said to Wen Su, "Uncle-Master, the Island Lord has summoned everyone to the main hall."

Wen Su nodded.

Xiao Xiao was overjoyed. Did this mean she didn't need to practice her swordsmanship anymore? She immediately put down her twin swords and prepared to leave with a look of anticipation on her face.

Seeing this, Wen Su sighed helplessly and turned to walk out of the flower garden.

...

Inside the main hall, the disciples of the East Sea had already gathered, each with a solemn expression and utterly silent. Wen Jing sat in the hall, flanked by the leaders of several major islands in the East Sea.

Wen Su entered, bowed, and sat down on a chair to the side. Xiao Xiao walked to the middle of the disciples and stood obediently.

"Is everyone here?" Wen Jing asked.

Lin Zhi, who was standing to the side, immediately replied, "All is ready, Island Master."

Wen Jing nodded and said, "I have gathered everyone here today because there is something I need to tell you." Wen Jing paused slightly, "Last night, one of our disciples secretly sailed away from the island..."

After Wen Jing finished speaking, there was an uproar among the disciples.

Xiao Xiao was a little confused, but she understood a bit better now. It seemed that leaving the island without permission was a serious crime…

“According to the sect’s rules, no one may leave the island without the island lord’s order. Violators will be punished according to the sect’s rules.” A branch leader next to Wen Jing spoke up. “The island lord is benevolent. As long as that person can step forward on his own, the island lord can be lenient with him.”

The lobby fell silent instantly.

Xiao sighed. So, it turned out they were just catching people. How boring… Come to think of it, it was just a private voyage; did they really need to go to such lengths?

After a moment of silence, Wen Jing stood up and said, "Since I became the island lord, I believe I have worked diligently and treated everyone well. Now, someone has violated the sect rules and gone to sea without permission. No matter the reason, I hope that he can come forward and give me an explanation."

“Island Lord, why waste words?” One of the leaders stood up. “Setting out to sea in the dead of night without permission, they must be spies from the South China Sea, lackeys of the imperial court! I will investigate personally! If any of our disciples cover it up, they will be punished as accomplices!”

These harsh words caused whispers among the disciples.

Xiao Xiao looked around, full of curiosity about who the traitor was.

Suddenly, a disciple stepped forward and said, "Island Master, I have something to report."

"Speak." Wen Jing sat down.

The disciple said, "Last night at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), I saw someone heading towards the sea."

Who is it?

The disciple glanced at Wen Su, slightly timid, but still spoke up: "It's...it's Zuo Xiaoxiao!"

Xiao Xiao was startled. All the disciples around her stared at her, creating quite a spectacular scene.

"Really?" Wen Jing looked at Xiao Xiao and asked the disciple.

The disciple, slightly timid, said, "Island Master, this matter can be clearly understood simply by asking the disciple who shared a room with her!"

All eyes turned to Ye Li. Ye Li looked somewhat embarrassed, and hesitated, "I...last night..."

Xiao Xiao froze. Singing at the beach in the middle of the night. No one would believe that even if she said it, right? Besides, this senior sister had always been distant; she definitely wouldn't speak up for her…

"Uh...actually I..." Xiao Xiao scratched her head, wondering how to get out of this predicament.

"Island Lord, why ask so many questions! Under severe torture, let's see if she tells the truth!" Several helmsmen nearby couldn't contain their temper and interrupted her, shouting.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao's heart skipped a beat. Torture? No way? She blinked, then rushed forward and knelt down with a thud, crying out, "Island Lord, please forgive me! It's all my fault... I... I really didn't know I couldn't go to sea without permission..."

Everyone was stunned.

Xiao Xiao, tears streaming down her face, said with deep sorrow, "I did it, but I'm absolutely not a spy from the South China Sea, a lackey of the imperial court! I know I was wrong... Island Lord, please forgive me..."

Wen Jing looked bewildered and couldn't say a word.

The other leaders beside him were furious.

"You bastard! So it was you! You begged for forgiveness from the South China Sea, disgracing the East China Sea, and now you've gone out to sea on your own?! We asked you to confess, why didn't you?!"

Xiao Xiao said innocently, "I...I'm scared, so...Masters...I won't do it again next time..."

"Island Lord, this matter is of utmost importance and must be severely punished!"

Xiao Xiao lowered her head and sighed. Where is justice? Why is she so unlucky? Sigh… oh well…

"Wait a minute," Wen Su stepped forward and said.

"What, you want to plead for her?" The leader's expression was unfriendly.

“No.” Wen Su walked to Xiao Xiao’s side. “I just want to ask her a few questions.”

Xiao Xiao looked up at him, puzzled.

"How did you go out to sea last night?"

She blinked slightly, "Rowing..."

"Are you alone?"

"Just me..."

"From the east bank or the west bank?"

Xiaoxiao looked at him timidly and said, "...West...West Bank..."

At this moment, a commotion arose among the disciples. Wen Jing and the other leaders in the hall also wore strange expressions.

Wen Su turned around and said, "Island Master, she doesn't even know our sect's shipyard, how could she possibly sail out to sea?"

Xiao Xiao was stunned.

Wen Su looked at her and said, "Our sect only has docks on the north and south banks. Are you going to say that you go out to sea in your own boat?"

"I..." Xiao Xiao was speechless.

Wen Jing, sitting in the hall, smiled faintly and said, "Xiao Xiao, if it's not you, why do you confess?"

Xiao Xiao swallowed hard, "I..."

“Island Master, this girl is rambling incoherently, her words don’t make sense, there’s definitely something fishy going on. Even if it’s not her, I’m afraid she’s still connected to that spy,” the leader said.

I'm utterly helpless. How did it get so complicated...?

"Xiaoxiao, do you know who the traitor is?" Wen Jing asked.

Xiao Xiao was on the verge of tears, "I..."

“Island Master,” Wen Su said, “her reckless behavior is entirely due to my poor upbringing. I beg you to entrust this matter to me.”

"Wen Su, are you protecting your own?" the helmsman said unhappily.

Wen Su looked up, his eyes icy cold. "This disciple dares not."

Seeing this, Wen Jing stood up and said with a smile, "Since you are willing to investigate this matter, I will give you a chance. However..." He looked at Xiao Xiao, "This matter is of great importance. Even if she is not a traitor, she should be punished for such nonsense. For your sake, I will spare her physical punishment and send her to Yunya to reflect on her mistakes."

"Thank you, Island Master." Wen Su glanced at Xiao Xiao, "Aren't you going to say anything?"

"Ah? Oh!" Xiao Xiao snapped out of her daze and said, "Thank you, Island Master!"

Wen Jing smiled and sighed, gesturing for everyone to leave.

Xiao Xiao walked dejectedly to the door. As soon as she looked up, she saw Ye Li looking at her with a complicated and unreadable expression. Xiao Xiao was puzzled, so she could only nod as a greeting.

Upon seeing this, Ye Li immediately turned and walked away.

Xiao Xiao was increasingly confused. Then, remembering that she would have to reflect on her actions, she felt a pang of helplessness. Ah… life is full of hardships; this perfectly describes her situation…

...

As night fell, all was quiet.

Xiao Xiao sat on the cloud-covered cliff, utterly bored. The weather in the East Sea was hot during the day, but at night, the sea breeze brought a chill. Besides, this cloud-covered cliff offered no shelter and was barren; if he sat here for a few more days, he'd probably dry out completely.

Xiao Xiao patted her stomach and sighed. Why was she so unlucky? Why couldn't she escape hunger and cold no matter where she went? Was it because she had done too many good deeds lately? Was she being punished?

She lay helplessly on the ground, limbs spread wide. The moonlight was dim tonight, but the sky was full of twinkling stars, a beautiful sight.

She remembered that when she was a child, whenever they camped in the wild, her master would teach her to recognize the stars. She would always interrupt from time to time, asking all sorts of random questions, such as how many stars there were in the sky.

No one could answer that question. But her master smiled and said to her: I recognize 191 of them.

Slightly dissatisfied, he asked: What about those I don't know?

The master replied confidently: Why bother with people I don't know!

Xiao Xiao was speechless.

Xiao Xiao chuckled, reaching out to the stars in the sky, and murmured to herself: "Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, Winnowing Basket, Dipper, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Danger, Room, Wall, Legs, Stomach, Ang, Net, Beak, Three Stars, Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Extended Wings, Chariot, and in the center are the Four Auxiliary Guardians of the North Pole..."

That's right, there are a total of 191 stars in these constellations.

As her interest grew, she began to count them one by one.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. Just as she was about to get up to defend herself, a blanket fell from above and covered her head.

"Wow—" Xiao Xiao's vision went black, and she immediately screamed. She sat up abruptly, frantically pulling off the blanket. When she looked up, she saw Wen Su with an expressionless face.

Wen Su looked down at her and said, "If I had come here to kill you, you would have been dead long ago."

Xiao Xiao glanced at him, then at the blanket covering her, "Uncle-Master... can you kill someone with a blanket?"

Wen Su looked disdainful. He tossed the paper bag he was carrying to Xiao Xiao, sat down on the ground, and didn't say a word.

Xiao Xiao carefully opened the paper package; the buns inside were still steaming hot. Her eyes lit up. She took a bite and mumbled, "Thank... Uncle-Master..."

Wen Su nodded slightly, without saying anything.

Xiao Xiao wrapped herself in the blanket and ate the steamed bun earnestly.

"Whose sins are you taking the blame for?" After a long while, Wen Su finally spoke and asked.

Xiao Xiao shook her head. "No."

"So that means you're just making up a guilty plea?"

Xiao Xiao thought for a moment, "Uh..." She looked at Wen Su and said, "Uncle-Master, how do you know I confessed to something I didn't mean?"

Wen Su was silent for a moment, then said, "Didn't I just say that you don't even know where the dock is?"

"Then how did you know that I didn't even know where the shipyard was?" Xiao Xiao tilted her head and continued to ask.

Wen Su was taken aback, then said with slight anger, "Don't bring this up with me! I'm asking you a question. If you didn't do it, why did you confess so easily? Betraying the East Sea is a serious crime. If the branch leaders insist on killing you, what will you do?"