Chapter 5: The Truth - Part 3

                                    

                                          
Lang Qingli picked up her bag, frowning. Despite being small, it could fit dozens of things and she wouldn't feel the weight of it; it was known as a Storage Abyss Pouch. However, it was partly opened, even though Lang Qingli clearly remembered that it was closed.
Flicking through the contents of her bag, she froze in shock as she realized that her calligraphy brush, her notes she'd taken during class, and the paper she'd written her answers on were all gone. The only things that were still in there were her textbooks.
Completely taken by surprise, Lang Qingli's speech was shaky and disoriented.
"I...? What? Where--?"
Lang Xue'ai patted her on the back, speaking to her in a soft voice. "Don't panic, Qingli. Let's figure out a way to get your things back."
After the first few moments of shock, Lang Qingli was able to compose herself, turning to face her sister.
"Let's do a time-reversal vision," Lang Qingli suggested, sitting down and preparing herself. "Xue'ai, mind if you help? It'll be clearer if you help."
Lang Xue'ai nodded to show her agreement, sitting down with her sister. They sat on opposite sides of each other, extending two fingers on each hand to minimize the amount of spiritual energy they were sending out on Lang Qingli's bag. That way, they would be able to create a clear illusion without damaging the bag.
A steady stream of near-transparent, silver-blue energy exited their fingers, flowing into the fibers of Lang Qingli's Storage Abyss Pouch. Slowly, images started to form.
The first scene to form was of Lang Qingli and Lang Xue'ai dueling. Gradually, it faded after a while, and was replaced with a scene of a small, thin girl with dark brown hair held together with a fire-toned ribbon, dressed in eye-catching crimson robes, and a bronze sword on hand. The girl's lower half of the face was concealed by a veil, but Lang Qingli recognized the sword. She let out a gasp of shock, almost breaking the stream of spiritual energy she was sending out: The sword was Wudu, the weapon of Wang Xiaofei.
The pool of water showing a replay of events was now showing Wang Xiaofei quietly reaching for the bag, a nervous expression on her face as she glanced at her two classmates sparring less than a few meters away. She stealthily opened Lang Qingli's bag, taking out the items that Lang Qingli had found missing. 
Even through the opaque material of the white veil, Lang Qingli could tell Wang Xiaofei was smiling as she picked up and took out the missing objects. She then quietly slipped aside and ran away, out of the scene.
The images on the pool of water faded away, before the pool disappeared altogether.
Well, Wang Xiaofei... seems like you've got some explaining to do...
* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° .*
Lang Qingli lay in bed that night, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Her mind raced with the vision she'd seen, the images appeared to be stuck right in front of her eyes.
Lang Qingli remembered her dream from a couple days ago. Perhaps it truly was a premonition, like Lang Yanxiu had assumed, that Wang Xiaofei would betray her. Now that Lang Qingli thought more and more about it, it made sense. 
Wang Xiaofei... Xiao... Fei...
The tribulation-like storm of rain...
The fiery sensation inside...
* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° .*
Lang Qingli made her way to Qianyang College in silence, not even speaking to Lang Xue'ai.
When they got to their first class, alchemy, Lang Qingli immediately went up to Wang Xiaofei's seat.
"Meet me at the central courtyard at the beginning of afternoon break. We need to talk." Without waiting for a reaction, Lang Qingli returned to her seat, preparing for the lesson.
Minutes ticked by slowly as Lang Qingli sat through lessons, the lectures of her teachers entering and exiting her ears without being processed. Afternoon break just couldn't come soon enough...
* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° .*
A new wave of unnoticed worries struck Lang Qingli's mind as she exited her final class before afternoon break. What if Wang Xiaofei simply did not show up at all? What if she just got completely ignored? And, most importantly, would she be able to confront her classmate?
Catching a flash of red, Lang Qingli immediately hurried up to Wang Xiaofei, grabbing her by the shoulder.
"Come with me to the main courtyard. You have some explaining to do," Lang Qingli explained shortly, beckoning Wang Xiaofei to follow her.
Even though Qianyang College was a generally quiet space due to its strict, academic atmosphere, today, every noise was muffled, not reaching Lang Qingli's ears. The hallways were filled with students milling about, but Lang Qingli hardly saw them. Wang Xiaofei was the only person who she noticed at the moment.
Once they reached the main courtyard, Lang Qingli glared at Wang Xiaofei coldly, though inside, she was an absolute mess. Her heart was banging inside her chest out of anxiety, fear, anger, and confusion, while her mind was hardly functioning properly. Lang Qingli couldn't focus on a single thought...
Taking a few moments to gather herself, Lang Qingli immediately asked the question. "Care to give me some reasons why you took my array notes, my answer sheets, and my brushes?"
"How can you prove that I took them?" Wang Xiaofei demanded, seemingly confused and irritated. But what she didn't know, however, was that Lang Qingli had caught the slight, sharp intake of breath, and her eyes widening in shock.
"Simple," Lang Qingli answered. "Don't forget that I am a Shapeshifter. Despite that title, cultivators of the water element can do more than that."
Lifting a hand to her head, Lang Qingli extracted her memory of the vision, showing the crystal-clear vision to Wang Xiaofei. As Wang Xiaofei watched, she began to back up in shock...
Once the memory faded away, Lang Qingli turned to look at Wang Xiaofei. "There you have it. You wore a veil to hide your face, but you didn't bother changing your general style of clothing. Not to mention, I recognized Wudu. Swords can be disguised, but not as other swords."
"Well -- That --" Wang Xiaofei seemed to be at a loss for words. "That so-called memory of yours could be faked!"
Lang Qingli rolled her eyes. "Don't be foolish. That is unheard of. Now, I'll ask you again: Why did you take my things?"
Trembling with fury, Wang Xiaofei opened her bag, angrily returning Lang Qingli's belongings. "Fine! You were right! I took them! If they're really so important, just... just take them, then! And--" Wang Xiaofei stopped here, avoiding Lang Qingli's gaze, "--just... leave. I have no need for you anymore."
Names:
Wudu (无妒), Wang Xiaofei's sword
Wu (无) = Without; to not have
Du (妒) = Jealousy