Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1675 Fall
Fang Lihui glanced at the hand on his shoulder, lowered his eyes and said softly, "I didn't understand before why he cared so much about fairness and justice, but now that I'm in this position myself, I understand. No matter how shrewd and cunning a businessman is, or how greedy he is, or how fierce the competition is in the business world, nothing beats going far with integrity."

Fang Zilan withdrew her hand, calmly straightened her sleeves, and said slowly, word by word, "Perhaps Fang Liren is sensitive and meticulous, not the best businessman, but he is certainly a very good head of the family."

After she finished speaking, she casually asked, "Fang Lihui, as Fang Liren's successor, can you do a good job?"

Fang Lihui said solemnly, "I know it is not easy to be impartial, but now that I have taken on the title of head of the Fang family, I will continue to walk the path he has walked with a clear conscience."

"I'm relieved to see you have such awareness." Fang Zilan smiled slightly and said, "At least I didn't entrust my business to the wrong person."

"I will certainly live up to Lord Fang's expectations." Fang Lihui bowed, completely abandoning his previous carefree and dissolute demeanor, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

The old man looked up, his white hair loosening slightly, revealing clear eyes as he gazed at the lush greenery above him, seemingly lost in reminiscence.

"The Second Young Master Zhuge of that time was truly a genius. Not only was his calligraphy first-rate, but his eloquence was also exceptional. He never lost a debate on the Dao or the Dharma." The old man spoke in a light tone, his eyes seemingly shining. "Even Mr. Su Heng praised him highly. And Master Yinian, after talking with him, said that if this young man were to convert to Buddhism, the Zen Buddhist tradition would have a successor, and the name of Baiye Temple as a national temple would not be unworthy."

"What?" A look of shock flashed across Fang Zilan's face. "Old man, who is Master Yinian?"

“The former abbot of Baiye Temple, his master.” The old man said, looking at the noisy crowd. Fang Zilan followed his gaze and immediately saw Master Liaoyuan standing in the center.

His white robes were pristine and spotless. His red cassock, like fire, accentuated his refined features, yet he exuded no alluring charm, but rather a mysterious solemnity.

"Those who fight on the battlefield are always living for today and never tomorrow. If we're talking about seeing through the illusions of life and death, who can compare to them?" The old man sneered, his voice now tinged with coldness. "Those old monks who sit idly in front of wooden and clay sculptures all day long, do they think they can be called enlightened monks just because they're old and chanting sutras? It's utterly laughable."

“Old man…” Fang Zilan was interrupted by the old man before she could finish speaking, “How did such a compassionate heart and a heart full of pity for the world end up like this? If Master Yinian could see this, would he regret shaving his head as a monk back then?”

“Old man, you yourself said that Master Yuan is exceptionally talented and not just a name without substance.” Fang Zilan said firmly, “In that case, no matter what happens, I believe he can make it through.”

“Good girl…” The old man’s eyes suddenly reddened. “I… I just feel sorry that such a good person has to suffer so much. Girl, watch carefully, what we see today will be remembered by future generations.”

Fang Zilan stood up and looked back. Among the monks, Master Liaoyuan was like the rising sun, chatting and laughing freely while calmly wielding his brush. However…

When the crowd saw the words on the paper, they all whispered among themselves. The handwriting was rather unremarkable, certainly inferior to that of the other eminent monks. Although debates and discussions of the Dharma weren't won by handwriting, this kind of writing…

"You've seen Master Yuan's hands!" Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted. Fang Zilan's lips pressed into a straight line as she watched Master Yuan roll up his sleeves to make writing easier, revealing the hideous scars on his arms.

The old man gazed at Master Liaoyuan's calm face and murmured, "Have you let go of everything?" Fang Zilan stood outside the crowd and heard the entire debate clearly. From the Buddha cutting off his own flesh to feed the eagle to the smile of holding up a flower, Master Liaoyuan spoke eloquently, every word a gem. Even Master Randeng, who rarely spoke, had a look of approval and satisfaction on his face.

As the debate drew to a close, she turned to look at the tree. The old man had left sometime earlier, but his repeated, seemingly delirious words lingered in her ears for a long time.

The old man said he deserved it.

“I don’t believe it.” Hong Tai raised an eyebrow. “Little beauty, let’s not even talk about whether such a stupid method will work. Just look at you… you’re unwilling to die.” He deliberately lowered his voice when he said the last half of the sentence, as if he were bewitching her.

Fang Zilan curled her lips and whispered in Hong Tai's ear, "Is it that I can't bear to die, or that you can't bear to see me die?"

“Little beauty, you’re throwing yourself into my arms…” Hong Tai reached out and grabbed Fang Zilan’s wrist, but she remained unmoved, her voice as cold as frost, “It’s not that I don’t understand matters between men and women, it’s just that I’m unwilling. But if necessary, I don’t mind pretending to be innocent and weak, and using my beauty to seduce you.”

Hong Tai tightened his grip a little. "Little beauty, you can be ruthless enough to even use yourself. I'm truly impressed."

Fang Zilan's eyes were filled with affection, and her smile widened. "Likewise, didn't the Boss also use himself to put on a show of unbearable affection with me?"

Hong Tai showed no embarrassment at being exposed, his fingers caressing Fang Zilan's wrist bone as if in silent seduction, "When did you find out, little beauty?"

"From the moment you told me you recognized me as Zixiu," Fang Zilan brushed Hong Tai's hand away, "if I could be used by you, I would be your bargaining chip with Ji Ningtian. Later, you learned my true identity, which could not only be used against Ji Ningtian, but also to curry favor with Li Shengxuan, thus leaving a way out for you and your brother Hong, wouldn't it?"

“According to what you say, little beauty, I am hypocritical and heartless, a worthless scoundrel.” Hong Tai smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes. “That’s right, I admit it all. But…”

He suddenly grabbed Fang Zilan's shoulder and pulled her into his arms. "I've never seen anyone as unmoved as you, little beauty."

“If I had met you before I met Ji Ningtian, I might have fallen into your trap.” Fang Zilan reached out and hooked her arm around Hong Tai’s neck. “If we’re talking about using emotions to manipulate situations, if he’s second, I’m afraid no one in the world would be first. Otherwise, you and I wouldn’t have fallen into this trap step by step to where we are today.”

She tilted her head and leaned on Hong Tai's shoulder as she spoke, "Not to mention, he was an excellent teacher in matters of love and sex, and he taught me a lot. I became so addicted to it that I lost my life, so naturally I won't easily repeat the same mistake."

With tender breaths around him and soft, fragrant flesh in his arms, Hong Tai felt a chill run down his spine and remained silent for a long time.

Fang Zilan straightened up and stared intently at Hong Tai. "However, you were right about one thing just now: I can't bear to die, so I can only let others die."