Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1686 Defection
The group exchanged bewildered glances, wanting to say something but unsure how to begin. Geng Nan was the first to react, saying, "Qianjinfang has access to all the world's news, and its ability to recognize people is unparalleled. How could you not recognize me just now?"

Before he could finish speaking, everyone responded, but Mingxiang didn't even lift an eyelid. "What's so difficult about recognizing people? My master doesn't want to get to know Master Geng, just to save face for him. Don't you agree, Mr. Liu of Canghai?"

As she spoke, she looked at the man who was comforting Huo Chun'er behind her. After being called out, she was stunned for a moment, "Have you seen me before, young lady?"

“Never,” Mingxiang said neither humbly nor arrogantly. “I only guessed it because I saw that you were carrying a sword and that you were very caring towards Miss Huo.”

Upon hearing the words "Miss Huo," Huo Chun'er reacted as if her tail had been stepped on, jumping up and down and exclaiming, "I am the heroine Huo of the Huo family of the Sword Sect!"

"Yes, Miss Huo." Mingxiang readily changed her words, her gaze returning to Geng Nan. "The Little Mirror Lake sect is corrupt from top to bottom, and there are very few people who are virtuous. My master has already shown leniency out of consideration for the shallow friendship between our ancestors. Does Hero Geng really want my master to tell everyone what you have done?"

Geng Nan's face turned pale and then flushed. "You...you mustn't talk nonsense!" He suddenly drew his sword and thrust it straight at Mingxiang.

Mingxiang neither dodged nor flinched. Just as the sword fell, a crisp sound rang out, and a copper coin was thrown out from somewhere, breaking the sword in two.

Startled by the sudden turn of events, the martial artists present drew their weapons one after another. The innkeeper strode in, his round face beaming with smiles. "Distinguished guests, harmony brings wealth. I verified this young lady's invitation as soon as she entered; she is indeed from Qianjin Fang. As for this Master Geng, martial arts are prohibited here. It was unfortunate that my staff broke your sword. We are willing to compensate you with gold of equal value as an apology."

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and a waiter brought over a tray, on which was placed only a single gold leaf.

Seeing this, Geng Nan angrily said, "You damned Zuiyuelou, you look down on people! This sword of mine..."

“If Master Geng’s sword is truly the genuine Qingping sword, whether Zuiyuelou can afford to compensate for it is another matter,” Mingxiang interrupted Geng Nan calmly. “But to say that it was easily broken by a small copper coin is also impossible.”

The stunned crowd finally realized that what Geng Nan held in his hand was not the Qingping Sword, the treasure of Xiaojing Lake, but just a similar-looking imitation. No wonder it broke so easily.

After being exposed by Mingxiang, Geng Nan was furious but dared not make another move. He took the gold leaf in a huff and left Zuiyue Tower looking dejected.

The innkeeper and the three people at Fang Zilan's table nodded in acknowledgment, "It is truly our fault for disturbing the elegant mood of the ladies of Qianjinfang. All expenses incurred by the ladies at the Spring Gathering will be charged to our account."

Zuiyue Tower is a decadent den of extravagance, and the expenses for one person during the ten-plus days of the Spring Festival gathering would be substantial. Yet the manager offered to cover the expenses for three people without hesitation. This blatant flattery clearly confirmed Fang Zilan and her group's status as members of the Qianjinfang (a prestigious establishment).

The people in the hall finally realized what was going on, and some of the more perceptive ones finally understood what Fang Zilan meant by "half a Jianghu person" and the Zhen family of Qianjinfang.

Legend has it that when Zi Xiu wiped out the entire Cangjian Manor, a servant of the Zhen family managed to escape. Undeterred by his desire for revenge, he founded Qianjinfang, operating on the fringes of the martial world and the imperial court, trading information throughout the land, all in the hope of one day exacting his revenge.

Therefore, everyone in Qianjinfang called themselves Zhen, and the most valuable thing in the neighborhood was news of Zixiu, which was sold for a thousand taels of gold.

Li Shengxuan's face showed no expression, but his eyes held a rare tenderness. "I say, the fireworks that year were indeed very beautiful."

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it still reached Fang Zilan's ears clearly.

She suddenly felt as if a firework had exploded in her heart.

It turns out they had crossed paths a long time ago.

Now, with the past resurfacing, this seemingly fateful reunion fills her with a secret joy, yet she can't quite explain why. If this were a normal day when she's lucid, she would definitely want to get to the bottom of it. But right now, she's in a daze, her mind a complete mess.

She didn't even have time to think about whether it was the high temperature of the charcoal fire in the room or a fever that made her sway like a kite in the wind.

Li Shengxuan's words about the fireworks being beautiful, like clouds in the ninth heaven, captivated her. She almost wanted to get closer, but she was afraid of the storm lurking behind the clouds, which would shatter her to pieces in the next moment.

Her mouth was dry, and some words were stuck to her lips, almost bursting out. She could only bite her lips tightly to try to force them back down.

Seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, Li Shengxuan noticed that her expression was exactly like the one he had seen at Baiye Temple that year.

In fact, he had seen her and her mother long before that fire. Rather than saying he had seen them, it would be more accurate to say that he had caught a glimpse of them from afar in Baiye Temple, through the crowds and swirling incense smoke.

As a child, Fang Zilan appeared extremely well-behaved and naturally clever. She was the kind of little girl who, even if thrown into a group of children, would make people take a second look.

As for her mother, she always wore a plain white dress and veiled her face, keeping a very low profile in every move. During festivals, she would always take her to Baiye Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings, appearing very devout among the many worshippers.

Rumors circulated that the lady in the mansion had her face scarred in a struggle for favor, and had since become much more subdued. Her devout prayers to gods and Buddhas were merely a means to ensure a peaceful life.

But he knew that the truth behind the rumors was probably not so.

He had once seen the mother and daughter releasing lanterns in the valley behind Baiye Temple by chance.

The wordless, gray lanterns were gradually licked away by the leaping flames, appearing particularly eerie in the daytime.

He knew those were spirit lamps, lit specifically for the deceased. He had lit them for his brothers who died on the battlefield, but he had never seen any woman in the inner quarters of the house light them; they all considered them unlucky.

Perhaps out of curiosity, he followed the mother and daughter all the way that day, and finally left after seeing them add oil to an ever-burning lamp in front of the Buddha.

After they left, he went up to look at the Buddha amulet on the ever-burning lamp.

The inscription reads: "May our mountains and rivers remain forever."

Time has passed, but he still remembers the shock he felt when he saw those four words, and he also remembers the little girl who said the fireworks were beautiful that night, with her stunning eyes.

At that moment, he felt as if a lock in his heart had clicked open.

But later, thinking he had missed her, he could only reshape his shackles with the ambition of the eternal stability of the country, imprisoning himself in the prison of power.

However, at this moment, as he stared intently at the people in front of him, he realized that they had not missed each other after all.

(End of this chapter)