Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector
Chapter 8 - 6: Temple Fair, Catching an Illicit Affair

Chapter 8: Chapter 6: Temple Fair, Catching an Illicit Affair

The man was completely unaware he was being watched. He swaggered through the temple fair, the candied hawthorns in his hand going CRUNCH, CRUNCH as he bit into them, scattering bits of sugar all over the ground.

Chen Ye tailed him unhurriedly from behind, like a patient Hunter.

The temple fair was crowded, but the man was clearly on his guard. His money pouch was tucked deep inside his lapels, covered by a thick cotton robe. Ordinary methods would have a very hard time succeeding.

Unfortunately for him, he had run into Chen Ye.

Ahead was a fork in the road where the crowd grew even denser. Chen Ye saw his chance and squeezed right through.

In the instant he brushed past the man, a Small Knife as thin as a cicada’s wing appeared between Chen Ye’s fingertips. The blade silently sliced through the man’s cotton robe and inner lapel. The force was controlled with sublime precision, cutting only fabric, not flesh.

Immediately after, his fingers probed inside as if they had eyes of their own and gave a gentle tug.

By the time Chen Ye squeezed back out of the crowd, the heavy money pouch was in his hand, and the man was still completely oblivious.

Chen Ye walked away without a backward glance. Once he was far from the crowd, he found a quiet corner, took out the money pouch, and opened it. His eyes lit up.

Inside, aside from a string of copper coins, there were even a few pieces of broken silver, probably adding up to two or three taels.

For an ordinary person, this was a small fortune.

Chen Ye emptied out all the money, filled the empty money pouch with rocks, then strolled into a temporary latrine set up for the temple fair and casually tossed it into the pit.

After all that, Chen Ye whistled as he cheerfully headed back the way he came.

The old man selling candied hawthorns was still at his stall. The red palm print on his face was even more obvious now, looking like a ripe peach.

Even so, he was still forcing himself to call out to customers.

Chen Ye walked up to the stall. "Sir, how much for the candied hawthorns?"

Seeing a customer, the old man quickly forced a smile. "Sir, three cents a string."

Chen Ye took a string of candied hawthorns, then casually shoved the string of copper coins at him.

"Keep the change!"

After saying this, Chen Ye turned and melted into the crowd, disappearing from sight.

The old man was stunned by this sudden gesture. He looked down at the heavy string of copper coins in his hand—there must have been over a hundred of them. This was more than enough from selling over half his cart of candied hawthorns.

"Hey, sir—"

By the time he came to his senses and looked up to find the young man, the latter had already vanished without a trace.

The old man’s eyes instantly reddened, and his lips trembled as he muttered to himself.

"What a good person. I’ve truly met a good person today!"

Meanwhile, Chen Ye had already strolled into Fayuan Temple.

The haul from that man alone was enough for today’s mission. Coupled with having helped the old man, Chen Ye was in an exceptionally good mood and decided to take a look at the thousand-year-old temple.

But just as he reached the pagoda ahead, he stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze locked onto a figure hurrying past in the distance.

It was a handmaiden. She wasn’t old, but she was dressed in silks and satins, her hair adorned with glittering pearls and jade. She was dressed even more respectably than the young lady of a typical wealthy household.

Others might not recognize this woman, but Chen Ye did.

’Isn’t that Meng Tao, Third Miss Lin Yan’s personal handmaiden?’

When his predecessor was framed for stealing a Pearl Hairpin, it was this very handmaiden who had swaggered over to deliver the message. Chen Ye still had a vivid memory of her arrogant, condescending face.

Right now, Meng Tao was leading a few junior handmaidens, hurrying toward the main hall. She didn’t notice Chen Ye hiding behind the pagoda at all.

Not that it would have mattered if she had.

In the past six months, Chen Ye had shot up in height, and his facial features had changed significantly. So forget Meng Tao; even an old acquaintance might not recognize him at a glance.

After Meng Tao had walked some distance away, Chen Ye emerged from behind the pagoda, a little puzzled.

’What is she doing here? Is something going on?’

At that thought, Chen Ye quietly followed her.

As he neared the main hall, Chen Ye discovered that the area had been cleared.

A dozen or so burly men in uniform, with standard-issue long swords at their waists, were lined up on both sides, blocking all worshippers from approaching.

From their attire, Chen Ye recognized them at a glance. They were the private soldiers kept by the Lin Mansion.

’Just as I thought.’

The precious and pampered Third Miss Lin, Lin Yan, had arrived.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a grand display, one that could have a thousand-year-old temple like Fayuan Temple cleared on a whim.

’But the question is, what is she doing here?’

Chen Ye didn’t believe for a second that this woman had come to the temple just to sincerely pray to Buddha.

’Besides, there’s something strange about this. If Lin Yan had really come just to offer incense, the security detail should have been far larger. They would have had to seal off the entire Fayuan Temple. Don’t think it’s impossible. The Lin Family is a powerful Noble Family that wields great authority. For a female member of the Direct Lineage to come to a temple to offer incense, completely clearing the place would be standard procedure. So why didn’t she do it?’

Full of questions, Chen Ye retreated into the shadow of a large, distant tree, concealed his presence, and observed quietly.

After about a quarter of an hour, the doors to the main hall opened.

Surrounded by a crowd of handmaidens and old servants, a beautiful woman dressed in a luxurious fur coat slowly walked out.

The woman had a slender figure and a beautiful face, and her expression held an innate air of arrogance and nobility. It was Lin Yan.

Upon seeing her, a sudden impulse rose in Chen Ye’s heart. He wanted nothing more than to rush up right now and kill that woman with a single strike.

’This must be the memories of my predecessor acting up.’

Fortunately, Chen Ye quickly suppressed the urge.

After all, the fully armed Lin Family private soldiers were just a short distance away. If he really charged in, the most likely outcome would be failing to kill her and exposing himself instead.

’Patience! There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with her in the future!’ Chen Ye thought to himself.

Meanwhile, after finishing her incense offering, Lin Yan did not leave immediately. Instead, she began to tour the temple with great interest.

Chen Ye’s brow furrowed slightly.

’Without a doubt, this woman definitely has an ulterior motive.’

So, Chen Ye continued to follow quietly from a distance.

Lin Yan’s group walked and paused, eventually arriving at a rather secluded side hall.

Then, Lin Yan entered the side hall, while the handmaidens and servants stood guard outside.

Hiding behind a distant tree, Chen Ye watched the closed hall doors, his heart growing even more suspicious.

’What on earth is that Lin Yan up to?’

’Could it be... she’s having an affair with a Monk from this temple? Using the excuse of offering incense to have a secret tryst with her lover?’

But he dismissed the thought as soon as it appeared.

’No, that’s not right. When they cleared the area earlier, forget ordinary Monks, even the abbot of Fayuan Temple was politely asked to leave. So it can’t be a Monk.’

Just as Chen Ye was racking his brains, he saw Meng Tao leading a few junior handmaidens, hurrying over from another path.

One of the women was a head taller than the other handmaidens. She kept her face half-covered with a plain white silk handkerchief, revealing only her eyes. She walked with hurried steps, as if terrified of being seen.

They quickly entered the side hall, and the doors closed once more.

Chen Ye stood in the shadows behind the tree, his mind rapidly replaying the scene he had just witnessed.

’That posture, that straight back, and that familiar silhouette...’

A scene buried deep in his memory suddenly overlapped with the one before him!

’It’s him!’

’The man his predecessor caught having a secret rendezvous with Lin Yan in the Lin Family’s back garden!’