“Gods... at work?”
“Yes, but whether it is a true god remains unknown. Brother Chen, you can accompany me to the Fire God Temple in the south of the city. With your keen insight, you will likely be able to tell very quickly.”
“I want to come too!”
Qing Yan chimed in eagerly, smiling softly.
“I’ve never seen Young Master look dashing while slaying demons before. Besides, if possible, I hope I can be of help to Young Master!”
“Alright. After visiting the Fire God Temple, I’ll take you around to see other places.”
Having just arrived in the Imperial Capital, Qing Yan likely didn't want to stay alone in the inn.
This time, Chen Ning brought her along.
The journey wasn't long.
Soon, the group arrived at the Fire God Temple south of the Imperial Capital.
This Fire God Temple appeared to have been renovated recently. Not only did a massive and majestic Fire God Statue stand inside, but the temple itself was built with blue bricks and green tiles, with lifelike birds and beasts carved along the eaves, looking exceptionally grand.
More importantly, a sea of people crowded outside the Fire God Temple, an endless stream coming to worship.
Whether wealthy individuals dressed in brocade robes or poor people clad in rags, all carried large amounts of offerings in their hands, their faces filled with reverence.
Curling wisps of incense smoke rose into the air, shrouding the Fire God Temple as if it were truly an immortal realm.
Chen Ning frowned slightly.
“Is today some grand festival?”
Even with the large population in the Imperial Capital, the scene of thousands of people worshipping at a single Fire God Temple was far too abnormal.
Qin Heng shook his head.
“No. Over the past six months, many temples in the Imperial Capital have seen scenes like this almost every day. And in the past month, this phenomenon has grown even more rampant.”
Hearing this, Chen Ning turned his gaze back to the Fire God Temple.
Commoners were not fools. Although many claimed to be pious, without practical benefits, the vast majority would never spend money like water for something as ethereal as faith.
Let alone for half a year straight.
As Noble Righteous Qi surged, Chen Ning’s hearing and vision were greatly enhanced, and the events unfolding near the Fire God Temple clearly came into view.
At this moment, a tottering old woman slowly walked into the Fire God Temple.
She placed all the broken silver she had obtained from selling off all the grain in her home onto the altar. Clasping her dry, wrinkled hands together, she pleaded in a trembling voice:
“My son is in his thirties and has yet to marry or have children, but our family has no money to buy a house or pay a betrothal gift for him. The Yu family has passed down through a single heir for generations, and he is the only child left. Please have mercy, Lord Fire God, and make sure my son finds a wife. As long as my wish comes true, I am willing to sacrifice my old life to Lord Fire God.”
As she spoke, the woman unexpectedly picked up a branding iron roasting in a nearby brazier without hesitation and pressed the scorchingly hot iron directly onto her own flesh.
Sizzle.
The old woman let out an agonized cry of pain.
When she pulled the branding iron away, a flame-shaped mark had been seared onto her bloody skin.
Even when dealing with prisoners, branding was an extremely harsh punishment.
Yet the moment she saw the flame at the center of the temple flicker and dance upward, the old woman excitedly kowtowed several times toward the Fire God Statue.
This was a sign of the Fire God manifesting his presence!
Her wish was going to be granted!
Right after, a potbellied, plump merchant walked into the temple.
“Money, I only want money! As long as you can give me more money, I am willing to dedicate everything I have to Lord Fire God!”
Greed covered the merchant’s face. After chanting his plea in a manic frenzy, he also picked up the branding iron and seared it onto his body.
His plump flesh already bore two brand marks; clearly, he had come to the Fire God Temple to pray once before.
Next, more and more people flooded into the temple.
Some wished to pass the examination to become a Jinshi overnight and gain wealth and status; some wished for the woman they fancied to appear directly in their bed the next morning; others even wished for a curse to kill their enemies.
The wishes were varied and bizarre, fully displaying the greed of human nature.
Chen Ning asked, “The Fire God also oversees marriage and childbirth?”
Qin Heng smiled bitterly. “Naturally, no one would have prayed to the Fire God for marriage before. But starting six months ago, in the eyes of the common people, whatever god it was became an almighty deity that could grant anything. Not only that, but many believers’ wishes actually came true. Take that tramp over there, for example. The day after he received the brand, a beautiful wife appeared in his dilapidated hut that didn't even have a roof. However, a month later, someone discovered that his wife was actually the unmarried daughter of a local Yuanwai. Yet no matter how the Yuanwai tried to persuade her, the young woman adamantly refused to leave the tramp, seemingly devoted to treating him as her husband.”
“Yes, I understand now.”
After contemplating for a moment, Chen Ning’s gaze quickly sharpened.
Even if gods truly existed in this world, they wouldn't grant wishes so casually, let alone advertise it in such a high-profile manner.
If they did that, they could no longer be called “gods.”
Chen Ning asked once more, “Since there are so many rumors of divine miracles occurring, has anyone ever seen the temple’s god reveal its true form with their own eyes?”
“Yes, but very rarely. Supposedly, the gods in the temples will only reveal their true form when someone appears who piques their interest. In particular, regarding this Fire God Temple, while there have been many rumors of wishes being granted to believers, the Fire God in this temple has never once shown himself.”
“Someone who piques their interest?”
As long as this “Fire God” in the temple didn't have terrible taste, Chen Ning felt he had a suitable candidate.
“Qing Yan, there’s something I might need your help with.”
Chen Ning leaned close to Qing Yan’s ear and whispered a few words softly.
After listening, Qing Yan’s eyes lit up, and she nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Chen Ning cautioned, “However, entering the temple alone might be dangerous.”
“I rarely get a chance to help Young Master, so I’m not afraid of danger. Besides...”
Qing Yan beamed, her smile blooming like a flower.
“Besides, I believe Young Master will definitely protect me in time.”
“Ahem, you silly girl...”
To be honest, Chen Ning sometimes couldn't tell whether his maid was truly naive or not. After all, while Qing Yan seemed silly at times, at other times she could flirt to the point of making even his thick-skinned face flush red...
“Xiao Jiu, hide inside Qing Yan’s clothes and be ready to protect her at any time.”
Although Qing Yan carried Rules and paper figures on her person, Chen Ning still added an extra layer of security.
Understood!
Xiao Jiu immediately slipped obediently into her sleeve.
With an air of unruffled ease, Qing Yan smoothed the stray hairs by her temples and walked toward the Fire God Temple all by herself.
Watching her slender and graceful figure as she walked away, Qin Heng stepped forward and asked, “By the way, Brother Chen, if the Fire God really shows himself, what do you plan to do?”
“Then we slay a god.”
In the calmest tone, Chen Ning uttered the most terrifying words.
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