Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1892 Refusal
"Amitabha." The old monk who led the way put his hands together and said to Fang Zilan, "If you wish to offer incense, please follow me."

"Thank you for your trouble." Fang Zilan sheathed her sword in front of everyone, but she didn't forget to stir up the water even more. "Speaking of which, did you all come to Zhongling Temple at the invitation of Abbot Randeng, or were you deceived by Geng Nan?"

"Shut up!" Geng Nan roared, but Fang Zilan remained unmoved. "Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect, and retribution is inevitable. How fitting!"

After she finished speaking, she followed the old monk to the gate of Zhongling Temple. Before she could even step across the threshold, a sword was placed in front of her. "Zixiu, you owe the martial world a life. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"You can represent the martial world?" Fang Zilan casually flicked the sword in front of her, and the sword broke in two. The sword's owner took a step back and dared not step forward again.

"Since Zixiu is here today, we must settle this matter once and for all," Fang Zilan declared. "I will wait until I have finished burning this incense stick before we begin our fight."

The group of martial arts practitioners behind her exchanged glances, and as if in tacit agreement, slowly stepped forward, approaching her.

Hong Tai turned around, his back to Fang Zilan, and said in a deep voice, "I'll guard it for you. You just go."

"How long can you hold out?" Fang Zilan asked calmly, while Hong Tai replied resolutely, "At least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"And then what?" Fang Zilan turned around and stood side by side with Hong Tai. "If I don't make it out, what will you do?"

Hong Tai remained silent, while Fang Zilan drew her sword. "I'd rather see you alive than avenge you."

"You don't trust me that much?" Hong Tai raised his eyebrows and curled his lips, still maintaining his usual carefree and unrestrained demeanor.

“I trust her, but I can’t bear to part with her.” Fang Zilan said, pulling Awan into her arms and pushing her towards Hong Tai. Then she stood in front of them, scrutinizing the group of martial artists who were only a few steps away from her with an almost arrogant look, and said in a cold voice, “It seems you all want to come at me together?”

Before she could finish speaking, the sound of swords clashing suddenly arose, surging towards her from all directions like a tidal wave, engulfing her and refusing to stop until she was shattered to pieces.

"You're courting death." Fang Zilan's voice was very soft, but the old monk behind her heard it clearly. "Amitabha, forgive me, forgive me."

"Master, stop chanting." Hong Tai said helplessly, spreading his hands. "At this point, chanting anything is useless."

Awan felt a chill run down her spine and couldn't help but look at Hongtai, "Aren't you going to help her?"

“She has murderous intent. Even if I act now, I will not escape death.” Hong Tai sighed softly and said quietly, “Today, Zhongling Mountain is destined to be a river of blood.”

Awan clenched her fists and said angrily, "But if she kills everyone here today, countless people will come to claim her life tomorrow. She can't kill everyone in the world."

"Do you think she doesn't know?" Hong Tai's expression was inscrutable. "Using killing to stop killing is never a good method. But if she doesn't do this..."

"Please stop, everyone." A clear voice came from inside Zhongling Temple, but it was instantly swallowed up by the fighting and disappeared without a trace.

Only when Shengxue's white robes were stained crimson with blood did the newcomer have a brief moment to deflect Fang Zilan's plum blossom sword and simultaneously block the attacks of numerous martial artists for her. "Please, everyone, stop." The newcomer was young, yet possessed an air of authority that commanded respect without anger, and despite being caught between the two sides, he was not at a disadvantage.

"Who are you?" Fang Zilan narrowed her eyes, her plum blossom sword already at the man's neck. He neither dodged nor flinched, and calmly replied, "I am Bai Moci, a lay disciple of Zhongling Temple."

"Bai Mo Ci." Fang Zi Lan repeated the name softly. When he turned around and bowed to her, he said, "Miss Zi Xiu, I've heard so much about you."

Fang Zilan remained unmoved and asked, "Did Master Ran Deng send you?"

"No." Bai Moci raised his head, and Fang Zilan finally saw his face clearly—the young man was handsome and refined, with a calm and composed demeanor in every move.

"Those who block my path will surely die." Fang Zilan's face was frosty, while Bai Moci smiled and said, "I know."

"Then how dare you..." Fang Zilan had barely opened her mouth when Bai Moci interrupted her, "Miss Zixiu, my name is Bai Moci, so I was born with many things I could not refuse."

"Wait a minute." Ashi walked over and blocked the commander who wanted to take Li Shengxuan and Xiahou Zhang away. "General, this matter was caused by me. If you want to arrest people for questioning, you might as well take me back."

The commander frowned, and Ashi explained, "I fell in love with their master at first sight, but I was too shy to say it, so I bought flower cakes and gave them to them, hoping to express my feelings through this."

"What evidence do you have for this?" the commander questioned. Ah Bu calmly replied, "These flower cakes come from Zuiyuelou. They are filled with fresh flowers picked this morning, and each cake has a plum blossom mark on it, making them different from other flower cakes. They are a token of my affection."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan opened the bag and took out one of the flower cakes. Just as A-Shi had said, there was a bright red plum blossom mark on the cake, which was exquisite and beautiful.

Seeing this, Awan and Mingxiang breathed a sigh of relief. However, they heard the commander say, "This flower cake is quite strange. We can't just listen to your side of the story."

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and soldiers took Ah Shi away. "Since the flower cakes came from this young master and have nothing to do with you two, then release them."

Fang Zilan stared blankly as A Shi was taken away, while Li Shengxuan and Xiahou Zhang were released. By the time she realized what had happened, it was too late; the soldiers were nowhere to be seen.
"Ah Da, Ah Er, come with me." Fang Zilan's voice was like frost. Ah Wan and Ming Xiang were startled and before they could say anything, they heard her say, "Ah Wan, Ming Xiang, you two don't need to come with me."

Li Shengxuan and Xiahou Zhang followed Fang Zilan into her room. As soon as they closed the doors and windows, they heard her say in a cold voice, "Tell me, what exactly are you up to?"

As she spoke, her sharp gaze swept over the two men, but they remained silent, prompting her to let out a cold snort. "If you won't speak, I will. That commander just now knew your identities and conspired with you to put on a good show, didn't he?"

Fang Zilan remained silent in response, as if she had expected this. She was unusually patient and did not press the matter further.

After a long while, Li Shengxuan slowly spoke, "When did you figure it out?"

"Leaving aside the fact that the people from the Jiangnan camp arrived too quickly—we had just settled in yesterday, and today they came to search our place—and regardless of how strange the commander's behavior of clinging to the flower cakes seemed, the commander himself was extremely scheming. He had been watching the two of you from the very beginning, but then he made up some excuse to release you two and arrested A-Shi instead." Fang Zilan paused, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Anyone with eyes and a brain would see through it."