"Abbess, here's what happened. We came to pay our respects because we'd heard of your temple's reputation... but on the way, we saw the magnificent scenery along the river and took a detour. Now, Young Master Zhou here is rather lazy. After admiring the river, we headed this way and discovered that one of your temple walls stood right beside it, so we simply climbed over. We never expected to disturb anyone here. We're truly sorry."
Zhang Xing sincerely explained matters to the actual nun who had come to question them, adding with particular emphasis, "We absolutely weren't trying to steal radishes."
The elderly nun looked the three of them over repeatedly, first scrutinizing Young Master Zhou Xingfan. This prompted him to hastily cross his hands and bow, which softened her expression somewhat.
But when she looked at Zhang Xing and Qin Bao and noticed the Embroidered-Mouth Sabers at their waists, she hesitated several times before finally speaking. "Naturally, I don't believe you were stealing radishes. But why have distinguished gentlemen from the north come to visit us in plain clothes?"
"We really did come to pay our respects. There's no trace of the True Fire Sect in the north, and we were genuinely curious." Zhang Xing grew still more earnest, utterly unconcerned that their identities had been exposed. "We wore plain clothes to avoid causing alarm... or must we change back into our brocade uniforms and make a formal occasion of it before we're allowed inside to worship the Red Emperor?"
The nun paused, then corrected him solemnly. "Our True Fire Sect does not worship the Red Emperor. We worship only the true fire kindled by Sage Maiden Qionghua!"
"Of course, of course." Zhang Xing immediately nodded solemnly. "In fact, learning about these doctrines was precisely why we came."