Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector
Chapter 5 - 3: Profession: Thief

Chapter 5: Chapter 3: Profession: Thief

When Chen Ye opened his eyes again, he was greeted by a searing pain that racked his entire body.

"Hiss..."

Chen Ye sucked in a sharp breath, then strenuously surveyed his surroundings.

The first thing he saw was a statue of a deity with half its head missing. The statue was covered in cobwebs, and the compassionate smile on its face looked exceptionally eerie.

The shrine had long since collapsed, surrounded by crumbling walls. The air was thick with the musty smell of dust and decay.

This was a ruined temple.

And he was lying on the floor of this ruined temple, his body aching in agony.

Just then, memories flooded his mind...

It was a chaotic era, the twilight years of a dynasty.

His predecessor was a Scholar’s Attendant to the young master of the Lin Family in the Capital City.

Three days ago, the Third Miss of the mansion, Lin Yan, claimed to have lost a precious Pearl Hairpin and insisted that his predecessor had stolen it.

No matter how his predecessor pleaded his innocence, no one believed him. Or rather, no one cared about the truth.

In the eyes of the powerful, the life of a mere servant was worth less than a dog’s.

And so, his predecessor was beaten to death by the mansion’s guards and his body tossed out like trash into this ruined temple next to the Chaotic Burial Mound outside the city.

’Goddamnit, starting on nightmare mode again!’

Chen Ye gave a bitter laugh and pushed himself up with great effort.

He checked himself over and found that the fatal internal injuries were gone, with only some superficial wounds remaining.

’Good, it’s not too bad.’

Chen Ye sighed and searched his body, only to find nothing but the tattered clothes on his back.

According to the memories, his predecessor had not, in fact, stolen the Pearl Hairpin.

As for why that pampered and noble Third Miss had targeted him, it seemed that a few days prior, the body’s original owner had accidentally overheard her secret rendezvous in the garden. Although he had immediately hidden himself, the Third Miss might have noticed him. And so, she found an excuse to have him eliminated.

Better to kill an innocent than to let a potential threat go free.

’What a vicious woman!’

And through his predecessor’s memories, Chen Ye discovered that this Dynasty, called the Great Zhao, was indeed in its final years.

The imperial court was rife with power struggles and rampant corruption, leaving the common people destitute. Beyond the Dynasty’s borders, powerful neighbors watched like predators, and war could break out at any moment.

But none of that mattered to Chen Ye at the moment. His most pressing concern was how to fill his stomach.

After all, a man who couldn’t even feed himself had no right to worry about the fate of the world.

Just then, a line of text suddenly appeared.

[Begin Profession Assignment]

Chen Ye’s spirits lifted, and he waited with bated breath.

A moment later, a screen of light slowly materialized.

[Name: Chen Ye]

[Profession: Thief (Level 1)]

[Talent: Aromas on the Hands (Your hands become exceptionally nimble and difficult to detect when performing certain specific activities)]

[Skills: None]

Chen Ye fell silent.

He could sense a profound, twisted sense of humor in this assigned Profession.

’So, because I was framed as a thief, the system’s decided I should just give up and become one for real?’

But complaints aside, something was better than nothing.

Chen Ye staggered outside the temple and saw that it opened onto a vast Chaotic Burial Mound.

It was now afternoon. The Chaotic Burial Mound was deserted, with only the cawing of crows echoing in the distance.

Chen Ye found a small stream and washed his face. Although he was terribly thirsty, he didn’t dare drink the water.

After all, in his current weakened state, drinking untreated water and getting sick could be fatal.

He had to get back to the city as soon as possible.

Staying out here in the wilderness, never mind wild beasts—hunger alone would be enough to kill him. As for going to another city, that was pure fantasy. In his current condition, he’d collapse before he even made it a few miles.

His only hope for survival was to return to the city.

Of course, he absolutely could not be discovered by anyone from the Lin Mansion.

The Lin Mansion was enormous, with countless servants, and he had only been an insignificant Scholar’s Attendant. Now that he had been "beaten to death" and thrown out, the chances of being recognized were slim, but he still had to be careful.

Having made up his mind, Chen Ye hesitated no longer. He dragged his exhausted body and shuffled step by step in the direction of the city from his memories.

He deliberately took a long, roundabout route to enter through a different city gate.

By the time he entered the city, the sky had grown completely dark.

The streets were sparsely populated. Most of the shops on either side had closed for the night. Only a few taverns and restaurants remained open, their lanterns lit, with the faint sounds of revelry drifting out from within.

Chen Ye was so hungry he felt dizzy, his vision blurring. His stomach burned, and every step felt like he was walking on cotton.

He saw a few beggars on a street corner and thought about trying to beg for some food himself. But the moment he made a move, they all shot him fierce glares, like wild dogs guarding their meal.

Clearly, this territory was already claimed.

Defeated, Chen Ye had no choice but to retreat to a dark corner, where he leaned against a wall and slowly sat down. He planned to rest for a bit before looking for another opportunity.

The spot where he sat happened to be near a restaurant. The aroma of food wafted into his nostrils, stoking the fires of his hunger.

An unknown amount of time passed before a staggering figure emerged from a brightly lit restaurant not far away.

It was a man, dead drunk. He reeked of alcohol, was muttering curses, and couldn’t walk in a straight line.

Chen Ye’s heart gave a sudden leap.

An irrepressible thought sprang into his mind.

He suppressed his nervousness, stood up from the shadows, and, pretending to be a casual passerby, walked toward the drunkard.

He didn’t even dare look at the man’s face. He just kept his head down, his target clear: the Money Bag hanging from the drunkard’s waist.

In the instant he brushed past the drunk, he held his breath, his right hand striking like lightning toward the man’s waist and the Money Bag.

The Aromas on the Hands Talent made his movements incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he had "acquired" the drunk’s Money Bag.

Then, feigning composure, Chen Ye walked away without a second glance.

Once he slipped into a small alley, Chen Ye leaned against a wall, panting heavily.

It wasn’t just from the tension of his first attempt, but also because this body was incredibly weak.

Fortunately, the result was a success.

Chen Ye opened the Money Bag with anticipation, only to find nothing but a stack of copper plates. The gold and silver he had imagined were nowhere to be seen.

Chen Ye wasn’t too disappointed, though.

Times were tough for everyone. The drunkard might have looked well-dressed, but the fact that he had to walk home alone after getting plastered suggested he wasn’t very wealthy.

Chen Ye wasted no more time. He tucked the Money Bag away, exited through the other end of the alley, and soon found a noodle stall still open for business on a street corner.

"Boss, a bowl of noodles!"

"Coming right up!"

Soon, a steaming hot bowl of noodle soup was placed before him.

The tempting aroma filled his nostrils, making Chen Ye’s eyes turn a little red. He picked up his chopsticks and, ignoring the heat, began to wolf it down.

The noodles were smooth, the broth rich.

As it slid down his esophagus and into his stomach, a warmth instantly spread through his limbs and bones, dispelling the cold and weakness from his body.

This was the first hot meal he’d eaten since arriving in this world.

A sense of satisfaction and security he had never felt before almost brought tears to his eyes.

The bowl was soon empty; he had drunk every last drop of the soup. Chen Ye smacked his lips, still wanting more, and felt like he had finally come back to life.

He paid and was about to get up and leave to find a place to stay for the night.

Just then, several figures blocked his path. The man in the lead offered a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and clasped his fist.

"Friend, whose territory are you working?"