Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1721 Surrender
Master Liaoyuan poured himself a cup of tea, and coincidentally, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the tea served today was Shan'er's favorite lotus tea.

She is gone, but they are still alive.

He remembered when Shan'er was a child, she mysteriously said she wanted to see someone, but her older brother wouldn't let her go. At that time, he was unrestrained and had no taboos, so he went with Shan'er.

That was the first time he met Wei Mao. In the dead of winter, by a lake on the outskirts of the city, the half-grown Wei Mao, with a cold face, kicked a child about his age into the lake.

No matter how the child struggled, Wei Mao would press his head down and push him back into the lake. Seeing his breathing weaken, Shan'er cried out and rushed forward to stop Wei Mao.

However, they arrived too late. The child was pulled from the water with only half a breath left and died not long after.

The matter reached the ears of the late Duke of Wei. Without saying a word, Wei Mao jumped into the lake and endured the same ordeal as the child, down to the exact same time, and managed to calm things down himself.

Wei Mao's life was saved, but he never knew that someone could be so ruthless, willing to risk the lives of others, and even more so, their own.

So, like his elder brother, he forbade Shan'er from seeing Wei Mao again, but with her heart set on him, how could he stop her?
Therefore, when he heard that Wei Mao was willing to risk Shan'er's life, he was not surprised, but his heart was filled with nothing but hatred.

He didn't understand. If Wei Mao was willing to risk his own life, then why wasn't it him who died?
It wasn't until later, when he saw the distraught Wei Mao, that he learned the answer.

That was the first and only time in his life he had ever seen Wei Ang in such a disheveled state...

Thinking of this, he sighed deeply, picked up the tea in front of him, which had long since gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp. Then he stood up, walked to the Buddhist shrine where lamps were offered, and added oil to the ever-burning lamp that bore the name "Zhuge Shan" on the Buddha statue.

"You've arrived." The old monk walked up behind Master Yuan, who turned around, bowed, and called out, "Master."

The old monk took the lamp oil from his hand and added it to the ever-burning lamp next to him, which had "Zhuge Jun" engraved on it.

“Master…” Master Liaoyuan hesitated, and the old monk said meaningfully, “Severing worldly ties is not something that can be achieved with just a Dharma name. Although you have a connection with the Buddha, if you cannot overcome the obstacles in your heart, this ever-burning lamp will be of no use.”

After he finished speaking, he hunched over and moved to sit down to the side. Master Liaoyuan sat down beside him and listened as he said, "In a few days, I will be going to travel around the world to spread Buddhism. I'm afraid we will never see each other again after this parting. Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Master Liaoyuan paused, then looked up at the ever-burning lamp engraved with "Eternal Strength of Mountains and Rivers" on the Buddha amulet. "Master, have you found a new person to offer the lamp?"

The old monk nodded. "Although his thoughts differ from those of my old friend, he is still someone I can entrust with this wish. Moreover..."

He coughed and changed the subject, "The destined owner of this lamp has been found, and I can say that I have fulfilled a long-cherished wish."

Master Liaoyuan remained silent, while the old monk smiled and said, “You don’t need to do this. When I entrusted you with the position of abbot, I said that if this action could help you see a peaceful and prosperous world and fulfill your wishes, it would be a meritorious deed.”

As he spoke, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. "The current state of Dajing truly resembles a prosperous era. Now that my merits have been fulfilled, I will travel to all corners of the world to spread Buddhism and Taoism, so as not to fail the name of our Buddhist state religion."

The state religion? Master Liaoyuan chuckled inwardly. If not for this reason, why would he have come here?
At that time, he had only been a monk for a few years, and even with his exceptional talent, he was not qualified to be the abbot. However, for the sake of the Zhuge family, for Li Shengxuan, for Shan'er, and for many others, he became the abbot of Baiye Temple.

Because of his belief in the people's hearts, he believed it was best to manipulate fate. He became the abbot of Baiye Temple, which allowed the Zhuge family to better protect the Li family's empire.

He left home to renounce worldly ties, yet became an abbot for worldly affairs; truly, fate plays tricks on people.

Master Liaoyuan stared intently at the hall full of lights, momentarily blinded, only hearing the old monk's voice mixed with a sigh—"Liaoyuan, the sea of ​​suffering is boundless, only by saving yourself can you save others. From now on, Baiye Temple is entrusted to you."

Fang Zilan woke up very early the next morning, or rather, she hadn't rested much at all.

The story of the past that Deputy General Cao had told her kept lingering in her mind, making her feel an unspeakable sense of guilt towards Zhuge Yu.

Furthermore, considering Zhuge Yu's demeanor at the camp outside the capital yesterday, it's likely that Zhuge Shan's death was a significant blow to him, especially since Zhuge Yu was only a boy of about ten years old at the time.

She was determined to apologize to Zhuge Yu, so she got up early, got ready, and went straight to the government office.

The government office was quiet and deserted in the morning mist, appearing somewhat desolate and lonely.

The gatekeeper and guards of the government office opened the door for Fang Zilan in a half-asleep state. No one expected her to arrive so early, but seeing her cold expression and seemingly bad mood, they were naturally very respectful and dared not neglect her.

The way they forced themselves to yawn made her slightly curl the corners of her lips, making her appear a little softer.

Not long after Fang Zilan arrived, Zhuge Yu also arrived.

He was still dressed in a light blue robe, with a white fox fur cloak draped over it. The pure white color made him appear even more immaculate and added to his aloof and elegant demeanor.

Fang Zilan looked at him and greeted him awkwardly, feeling that the distance between them had suddenly become much greater.

Zhuge Yu remained as calm and indifferent as ever. He took off his cloak and walked to the charcoal fire to warm his hands. "Lord Pei is returning to the Ministry of Revenue today. Does Sister Lan have a clear understanding of the affairs in the Southeast?"

"I..." Fang Zilan hesitated before opening her mouth.

Zhuge Yu turned to look at her, his expression knowing. "Sister Lan, do you have something to say to me?"

Although it was a question, he spoke with absolute certainty.

"Ah Yu, about yesterday's events..." Fang Zilan had just started to speak when Zhuge Yu interrupted her, "It's alright. Yesterday is over, and today is here, so there's no need to bring up the past again."

"Alright." Fang Zilan nodded thoughtfully and said in a low voice, "People always have to look forward. But no matter what, Ayu, I'm sorry."

Zhuge Yu looked at the person in front of him who was hesitant and full of regret, and sighed softly, "Sister Lan, there are many things to do in the Southeast, and there is no time for you to be sentimental. You must cheer up."

"Ah Yu, you don't resent me for dragging you into this?" Fang Zilan asked without thinking, but after asking, she couldn't help but find it funny herself.

"I've never been dragged down by others once I've entered the game." Zhuge Yu raised the corners of his lips, revealing a slight smile. "Sister Lan, do you think it was you who dragged me into the game, or me who lured you into it?"

Fang Zilan lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, saying nothing more.

The tiny barrier between the two, like ice and frost, was evaporated by the rising heat of the charcoal fire.