Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

Chapter 1710: Chapter 1710: Hua Guanyu, Huayue’s Father

Seeing the two lying on the chairs contentedly, patting their stomachs, Mu Hanyan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing their stance earlier, she was really worried they might even gnaw on the plates.

”Waiter, the bill.” Ling Baobao shouted out loud while toothpicking.

”Coming right up!” A waiter quickly ran over.

”Lord Mu, Miss Mu, sorry for the inconvenience. I should have treated this meal, but I didn’t bring enough silver taels. Once we return to Huayu Temple, I’ll host a banquet for all of you.” Sikong Qinglan said, embarrassed.

”No worries, it’s just a meal after all.” Ling Baobao threw a large ingot of silver casually and got up with carefree ease.

This guy, despite his shady tricks, is incredibly straightforward.

Sikong Qinglan smiled wryly, not saying much else.

Shortly after, they left the restaurant.

Gazing at Sikong Qinglan’s slightly gaunt figure ahead, Mu Hanyan was deep in thought. This Priest Sikong wasn’t just thrifty, he was genuinely poor.

”Senior Ye, what’s the story with Huayu Temple?” As the carriage drove outside the city, Mu Hanyan said impatiently.

Sikong Qinglan’s worn-out ox cart, patched numerous times, seemed less dignified than Mu Tu’s glamorous priest robe. His embarrassed and impoverished appearance baffled her. A dignified temple priest, and a Prayer Priest at that, how could he be so destitute?

The carriage had now left the city and was covered with thick cowhide blankets, so there was no worry about Sikong Qinglan overhearing.

”To speak of Huayu Temple, it ranks among the oldest temples on the Divine Continent. Though its location is extremely remote, its status was once very exalted; its history has produced several illustrious priests, even legendary ones.

But over twenty years ago, Huayu Temple angered Lord Divine, receiving severe reprimand. In his rage, Lord Divine nearly dismantled Huayu Temple. In the end, the fury was calmed through the persuasion of other Divine Guardian Priests, sparing Huayu Temple, yet they were abandoned, left to fend for themselves.

You’ve felt how harsh the living conditions are on the Divine Continent; often a city may be tens of thousands of miles apart. Meanwhile, within a thousand miles around Mu Family Village, there are two temples, due to the remoteness of Huayu Temple.

Once held in high regard, supported by Divine Guardian Priests and backed by the Main Temple, Huayu Temple’s days were manageable. Over the past twenty-plus years, forsaken by Lord Divine, left to self-destruct, life has increasingly become tough, let alone having various cultivation resources, they struggle even to fill their bellies.

This time Sikong Qinglan seeks aid from Feng City Temple, largely because they can no longer sustain themselves and wish to seek assistance.” Ye Yi’an had anticipated Mu Hanyan’s question, organizing his thoughts as he spoke.

Only then did Mu Hanyan realize why Ye Yi’an hesitated earlier when Sikong Qinglan invited him. The situation at Huayu Temple is unexpectedly dire; going there, not just cultivation, even filling the stomach could be a challenge.

”How did they anger Lord Divine?” Mu Hanyan asked curiously.

”It is said to be related to a Divine Guardian Priest, born from Huayu Temple, named after the temple itself, possessing extraordinary natural talent, hailed as one of the greatest priests of the temple in the last hundred thousand years.

More than twenty years ago, this Divine Guardian Priest reportedly met with some unexpected episode, vanished, with his last known whereabouts being Huayu Temple.

A Divine Guardian Priest thus disappearing, Huayu Temple naturally couldn’t escape implication, inciting Lord Divine’s thunderous wrath.” Ye Yi’an apparently wasn’t too familiar with the inside story, merely retelling hearsay while adding his speculations.

”Divine Guardian Priest, born from Huayu Temple, even named after it...” Ye Yi’an’s words were unclear, yet hearing them sent a shiver through Mu Hanyan’s heart.

Could it be that the Divine Guardian Priest in question is Huayue’s father Hua Guanyu, who defected from the temple to the Holy Court Continent over twenty years ago? It seemed the defection of such a dignified Divine Guardian Priest was too humiliating when spread, prompting Lord Divine to conceal the truth from the world, venting ire upon Huayu Temple.

The more Mu Hanyan thought about it, the more she felt her guesses were correct, feeling an inexplicable excitement.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving at the Divine Continent, a series of unintended encounters led her to the temple where Hua Guanyu was born. Regarding the temple abandoned by Lord Divine and left to self-destruct, Mu Hanyan began to anticipate it.

The carriage continued on toward Mu Family Village, slowed somewhat by Priest Sikong’s old carriage—well, the ox cart—dragging behind, even slower than when they came.

Mu Hanyan took her time cultivating Martial Arts, comprehending the array learned from Feng City Temple, thus not too anxious.

...

Meanwhile, as Mu Hanyan’s group returned to Mu Family Village, in Tianfeng City, the Kang Family was shrouded in dark clouds.

Although Chu Yanghe felt deeply embarrassed by the day’s events, he ordered the temple priests to keep it confidential, but there’s rarely a wall that doesn’t let the wind through; the news still spread out.

Rumor had it the Family Head angered the Master Priest, who not only reprimanded him severely (battered him, in fact), worrying all Kang Family disciples. The Kang Family had produced a few priests over the years, yet among them, only Kang Qingyuan was the most powerful. The rest were rather average, making it difficult for them to compete with priest families. The Kang Family’s foothold in Tianfeng City was largely thanks to the Master Priest’s trust and support for Kang Qingyuan.

If the Family Head were to lose favor, the Kang Family might not have a place in Tianfeng City.

As the worries of Kang Family disciples mounted, another bad news arrived: the Master Priest, still seething after punishing Kang Qingyuan, ordered him removed from his post as Prayer Priest. The despair among Kang Family members was palpable, with some elders even discussing stripping him of his Family Head position to appease the Master Priest’s wrath.

”The Master Priest went too far; Grandfather has been diligent over the years, done so much for him, yet he disregards sentiment so.” Kang Zihe said indignantly in the study.

”Silence.” Kang Qingyuan sternly reprimanded. Already inciting Chu Yanghe’s anger, should private complaints reach his ears, their place in Tianfeng City might truly be untenable.

”It was my recklessness this time, failing to heed your advice and underestimating that little girl who turned out to be a natural Divine Priest. I was careless, so careless.” Afterwards, Kang Qingyuan sighed regretfully.

”What should we do now, let Mu Han Yan, that wretched girl, off just like that?” Kang Zihe asked reluctantly.