Chapter 1930: Chapter 2029: Mu Hanyan’s Blazing Fury

The pitiful look on her face made Han Yan’s heart ache.

At this moment, the other priests, hearing the commotion, also rushed over. Seeing the scene before them, they guessed what had happened, and their eyes revealed anger.

However, having heard about Zhao Xinggu’s identity, they knew such a person was not someone they could afford to offend, and even the Master Priest had to show him some respect. Therefore, they were angry but didn’t dare to speak.

"Master Priest, you truly spare no effort for Huayu City, staying up so late without resting," Zhao Xinggu completely ignored the anger in their eyes, as if nothing had happened, casually flattering Han Yan.

Although she knew long ago that Zhao Xinggu was shameless, she never expected him to be so shameless as to commit this vile act and still act as if nothing had happened. Han Yan was utterly disgusted and contemptuous of him.

"Lord Zhao, shouldn’t you first explain what’s going on?" Han Yan didn’t acknowledge his comment, asking with a cold face.

Seeing Zhao Xinggu’s attitude, it was clear he wanted to minimize the situation. The other priests knew his identity and didn’t dare to confront him, but Han Yan would surely not let him off easily.

Even though she wasn’t familiar with Ruan Zhi due to the significant difference in their statuses, Ruan Zhi revered her as if she were a deity, always cautious and afraid to breathe loudly in her presence, making it hard for Han Yan to find the closeness she once had with her personal maid in Heishi City. However, these days Ruan Zhi had cared for her daily needs and could be considered part of her household, and with Lady Mu’s protective nature, how could she possibly stand by while she was humiliated?

Moreover, this was Huayu Temple; she was the Main Priest there. If she remained unmoved while the temple maids were defiled, how could she face the priests? How could she face the parents who sent their daughters to the temple, or the tens of thousands of citizens in the city?!

"Oh, here’s the situation: I thought this maid looked decent and wanted her to serve me, but who would’ve thought this little girl would be so ungrateful? I was impatient for a moment, made the Master Priest laugh. There’s no need to punish her; she’s young and ignorant, and will regret it later," Zhao Xinggu said indifferently.

Han Yan was slightly stunned, almost suspecting her ears had issues. Forcing a temple maid to serve someone was absolutely not a glorious thing in Han Yan’s eyes, yet he spoke so openly as if it was justified, even pleading on Ruan Zhi’s behalf, asking Han Yan not to punish her. If pleading were necessary, it should be him pleading for himself, shouldn’t it?

Looking at the other priests again, their eyes seemed thoughtful, with a faint sadness in their expressions. Han Yan vaguely realized that Zhao Xinggu’s shamelessness might not be that simple.

"Master Priest, are you unaware of these rules?" Seeing the surprise in Han Yan’s eyes, Zhao Xinggu thought of something and asked.

"What rules?" Han Yan coldly asked.

"It’s like this, whenever an Upper Priest visits a subordinate temple for business, the temple usually arranges for a maid to serve them overnight. Generally speaking, for girls from common families, it’s a great opportunity to rise to prominence. If an Upper Priest favors them, it’s not surprising for their entire family to benefit, so no one would refuse," Zhuge Qiu explained, clearly showing some disdain in his eyes.

After thinking for a moment, he added: "Of course, not every Upper Priest requires maid service; it varies from person to person." This sentence was an attempt to vindicate the temple.

Being a Penalty Priest, he also abhorred such things, but there was nothing he could do; with his strength and divine position, he simply couldn’t change anything.

Han Yan had no doubts about Zhuge Qiu’s words. Seeing the faint sadness in the other priests’ eyes, she knew the temple indeed had such rules, but Huayu Temple had been abandoned by the Divine Lord for years, with no Upper Priest visiting, so everyone had forgotten this matter.

"Master Priest, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my room to rest." Seeing Zhuge Qiu had explained for him, Zhao Xinggu strolled to the guest room without a care.

Behind him, Shen Yuhe and An Xiaxin clenched their hands together, fingers turning white.

As fellow women, they were even more disgusted by such matters. Despite Ruan Zhi being the one humiliated, seeing her pale face, tears of grievance, tender and fragile shoulders, Shen Yuhe and others felt her pain and humiliation deeply, igniting their inner rage.

If possible, they would wish to tear Zhao Xinggu to shreds, but considering his status and position, along with the longstanding customs, they were undoubtedly helpless.

"Stop!" At that moment, Han Yan suddenly shouted sternly.

"Master Priest, is there anything else?" Zhao Xinggu asked impatiently.

He noticed Shen Yuhe and others’ discontent, and saw the suppressed anger in Han Yan’s eyes, but he was fearless, not taking this small matter to heart.

He was one of the Twelve Punishment Priests of the Life God Temple. It was a matter of his words whether Han Yan received the rewards from the Main Temple. He also had a big brother who was a Right Priest of the Life God Temple. Furthermore, the matter of maid service had long been customary. He didn’t believe Han Yan would make an issue of such a trivial matter.

However, he was wrong.

"Lord Zhao, do you think you can get away with such vile and shameless acts?" Han Yan asked, suppressing her anger.

"Otherwise, what does the Master Priest want, death as compensation? Hahaha..." Zhao Xinggu laughed contemptuously, clearly not taking Huayu Temple, much less Han Yan, seriously.

Seeing this, the priests were indignant and ashamed even more, barely able to contain their rage. If it weren’t for Han Yan’s growing influence, no one daring to offend her authority, several passionate young priests might have acted impulsively.

"Lord Zhuge, is the rule you mentioned also temple law? I’ve never heard of it," Han Yan asked Zhuge Qiu coldly, giving him a glance.

"It’s not actually temple law, but a custom agreed upon by various temples over generations. However, over time, it became as justified as temple law," Zhuge Qiu said.

"I understand." Han Yan nodded.

This answer wasn’t unexpected for her. In fact, such things weren’t uncommon among the wealthy families on the Holy Court Continent, but since it was against proper conduct, it could never become official law; it was just something everyone understood.

"Lord Wen, according to temple law, what is the punishment for defiling a temple maid?" Han Yan turned to ask Wen Gaoren.

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