Fire God Temple.
As Qing Yan approached the temple, she quickly caused quite a stir.
A gentle breeze blew, making her lavender tassel dress sway lightly. Her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her delicate face, which held a hint of charm within its elegance, made many people unable to resist turning their heads to stare.
“She’s so beautiful. Which family’s young lady is this?”
“As expected of the Great Fire God; even such a beauty has become a believer!”
Some people even began to harbor wicked thoughts.
“I wonder if I can pray to the Fire God to make her my wife?”
“I heard that as long as you can endure the pain of the iron brand in the temple, nearly half of the wishes made come true. There might really be a chance!”
Hearing the conversations around him, the man standing in front of Qing Yan couldn't stop a lecherous smile from spreading across his face.
The first one there gets the prize. As long as he was the first to make a wish to the Fire God, this beauty might just be his.
Just looking at this beauty’s face and figure made one’s mouth water. If he could marry her and bring her home, he feared that no amount of wolfberries would be enough to replenish his strength!
The man walked into the temple with excitement, fumbling through his tattered cloth bag to pull out all his silver, throwing it all into the altar without the slightest hesitation.
Sizzle.
The iron brand was pressed down hard.
Although the man grimaced in pain, his face was filled with wild joy.
He looked up, his muddy yellow eyes filled with desire.
“Lord Fire God, I have only one wish. Please grant me the beauty behind me!
As long as you can fulfill this wish, I will give you anything!”
However, the man did not receive any response, nor did the flame in the center of the temple flicker even once.
The man looked up in confusion, his expression filled with bewilderment.
Why? Hadn't he already offered his sacrifice?
“Lord Fire God?”
“Hmph, do you think someone like you is worthy?”
In the center of the temple hall, the eighteen-foot-tall wooden carving—clad in armor, with a green face and protruding fangs—seemed to suddenly come to life.
Flames ignited in its hand, and it delivered a flying slap.
Bang!
The lecherous man was sent flying straight out of the temple, breaking several ribs upon impact.
The man wailed in agony.
“Lord Fire God, you even granted the filthy wishes of that slovenly vagrant! Why are you targeting me specifically?!”
“Noisy!”
The wooden carving struck out with a palm, and a surging wave of fire instantly descended upon the man.
The man let out a scream as half of his body was charred black.
“The Fire God has manifested!”
“What happened? This is the first time the Fire God has personally appeared in the temple!”
“Well hit! As expected of the Fire God, how majestic!”
The crowd let out a chorus of gasps. The manifestation of the Fire God only made the commoners’ faith in him grow even firmer.
Yet, no one noticed that when the Fire God Statue looked at Qing Yan, the greed flashing in its eyes was almost identical to that of the lecherous man from before.
It opened its mouth and spoke in a deep voice.
“Beautiful mortal girl, speak. What wish do you bring to me?
As long as you are pious enough, I will help you fulfill any wish, just like I did before.”
“A wish?”
Qing Yan thought for a moment and then lightly shook her head.
“I have nothing to pray for. Being able to stay by the young master’s side is already my greatest wish.”
“What? You already have a lover?”
The Fire God Statue’s expression suddenly stiffened, but soon, the corners of the wooden carving’s mouth curled into a lecherous smile that didn't look like that of a deity at all.
“Girl, I see you are still a bit too naive.
What is so good about a weak mortal? Birth, aging, sickness, and death—they only last for a fleeting century.
However, a god is entirely different.
Why don't you stay in the Fire God Temple tonight? I will let you experience an earthly bliss you have never felt before.”
The Fire God Statue’s gaze greedily scanned Qing Yan’s delicate and supple body over and over again.
In the eyes of believers, being graced by a deity was often seen as an extremely glorious thing.
If it were willing, it assumed any woman would gladly offer her body to receive a god’s favor.
However, Qing Yan’s reaction was entirely different from what the Fire God Statue had expected.
She looked up coldly, the chill in her eyes making even the Fire God Statue feel a sudden, inexplicable shiver.
“A weak mortal? The young master’s virtues are far greater than yours.
The young master is handsome and gentle; his calligraphy is beautiful, and he can compose poetry.
You’re just a big, stupid, and extremely lecherous oaf. You’re not worthy of being compared to the young master at all.”
These words were like knives stabbing into the Fire God Statue’s heart, each one hitting a vital spot.
A big oaf? Stupid and lecherous?
When had it ever been belittled like this?
“Little girl, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have a pretty face.
I am the deity in charge of flames! If you provoke me, the consequences will be severe!”
The Fire God Statue’s beard fluttered in anger, and a raging fire suddenly erupted around it. In an instant, the wooden body seemed to expand and grow significantly.
Hearing the conversation, the fanatical believers outside also grew furious.
“How dare she offend Lord Fire God? Does this girl have any idea how high the heavens are?”
“Lord Fire God finally appeared, yet you dare to insult a god like this? Even if you die, you deserve it!”
An even more scorching wave of fire radiated from the Fire God Statue.
Compared to this massive, flaming body, Qing Yan’s small figure seemed insignificant.
But even so, Qing Yan simply tilted her head up, her calm eyes showing no trace of fear.
“I didn't say anything wrong. My young master is a thousand times better than you, a stupid statue.”
“A stupid statue? I am a genuine god!”
The Fire God Statue was completely enraged. It no longer hid the greed in its eyes as its massive, flaming hand reached out to grab Qing Yan.
“Whether you are willing or not, you’re staying here tonight!
Since you dare to insult me so, I will make you pay for your words and actions tonight.”
Boom!
However, the giant flaming hand was suddenly halted in mid-air.
“Who is it?!”
The Fire God Statue froze, never expecting that someone could withstand its strike.
“Your father.”
Chen Ning stepped in front of Qing Yan, and a barrier formed of Purple Qi instantly cut through the waves of fire.
The Fire God Statue roared in fury.
“Junior, do you know what you are doing?
What you are doing right now is offending a god!”
Chen Ning let out a cold laugh.
“You? Worthy of being called a god?
Besides, as long as anyone dares to target my maid, I’ll slay them without hesitation—be they god or ghost!”
A surge of Noble Righteous Qi suddenly erupted from Chen Ning, making his white robes flutter loudly.
A Grandmaster of Confucianism, bearing Noble Righteous Qi and walking the righteous path of heaven and earth, can make demons kneel and gods retreat.
At that moment, an inexplicable fear made even the Fire God Statue’s body tremble slightly!
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