Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector
Chapter 9 - 7: The Eight Great Sects’ Discourse on Arts

Chapter 9: Chapter 7: The Eight Great Sects’ Discourse on Arts

Upon realizing this, Chen Ye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His predecessor had stumbled upon one illicit affair, and now it was his turn to stumble upon another.

’This Lin Yan is really something else,’ he thought. ’So brazen for an unmarried maiden, running off to a temple for a secret rendezvous.’

Although he now possessed this crucial information, Chen Ye thought for a moment before ultimately deciding to retreat quietly.

The reason was simple: he currently lacked the power to interfere in this matter.

’So what if I know the Lin Family’s third young miss is behaving improperly? When a great Noble Family like theirs discovers a problem, their first instinct isn’t to solve the problem, but to eliminate the person who exposed it.’

’And I, with no foundation to speak of, am no match for them. Even though I’ve been promoted to a Flying Thief, the power disparity is simply too great. The wisest choice is to retreat for the time being.’

Of course, this didn’t mean he was just going to let the matter drop.

Chen Ye committed the incident to memory, already plotting to find a future opportunity to expose it. The bigger the scandal, the better.

-----------------

Inside the side hall, warm incense smoke curled in the air.

Lin Yan lay languidly on the man’s muscular chest, tracing circles with a slender finger. Her voice was full of complaint. "Cousin, you have no idea what I’ve been through these past two months. Mother watched me like a hawk, not letting me take a single step out of the courtyard. If I hadn’t claimed that a wish I made last year came true and I needed to come give thanks, I wouldn’t have been able to see you today."

The man held her, comforting her in a soft voice, "Yan’Er, you’ve suffered. It’s all my fault for being too careless last time, letting Aunt notice something was amiss."

This man was none other than Lin Yan’s distant cousin, Zhou Xian. The two had been carrying on a secret affair for two years and had long since become lovers.

"Hmph, it was more than just noticing something was amiss," Lin Yan said, sitting up. The silk quilt slipped down, revealing a patch of snow-white skin. "My mother said she wants to marry me off as soon as possible!"

The mere thought of this made Lin Yan’s anger flare.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of sinister glee passed through Zhou Xian’s eyes, but he quickly replaced it with a gentle and affectionate expression, pulling Lin Yan back into his embrace.

"Yan’Er, don’t worry," he said. "I’ll never let you marry anyone else. You’re mine, and you always will be."

A few sweet nothings were enough to make Lin Yan ecstatic, and the two soon began to tumble together again.

Naturally, Chen Ye was oblivious to the scenes unfolding inside the hall.

For the next two days, the temple fair remained lively, but Chen Ye didn’t see anyone from the Lin Mansion again.

The days flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the New Year had passed.

The New Year’s atmosphere in the Capital City gradually faded, and life in the compound returned to its usual tranquility.

"Chen Ye, in two days, the major sects in the Capital City will be holding their annual skills competition. You should come with me and broaden your horizons," Fang Tao said, sitting at a table while wiping his short blade.

"Skills competition?" Chen Ye was a little curious.

"Mhm," Fang Tao nodded.

"To put it bluntly, it’s about dividing up territory. Golden Skin and Colorful Hangings, the Eight Great Sects of Henglan and Ge Rong—every spring, they all gather and let their skills do the talking. Whoever is more capable gets a bigger territory for the year and a larger share of the profits. It’s the same for us in the Rong Character Sect."

"But don’t be nervous. I’m just bringing you along to see how things work. You won’t have to participate."

Chen Ye nodded and said no more.

「Two days later, at a huge, abandoned warehouse in the city’s southern district.」

The air was thick with the clamor of voices, the scene bustling and chaotic.

People from All Walks of Life were gathered together. Some were dressed splendidly and carried themselves with an extraordinary air, while others wore coarse, simple clothes and radiated the rugged aura of the Martial World.

The banners of the Eight Great Sects were planted everywhere. Each sect and faction was clearly distinguished, gathered in their own groups, some laughing and talking loudly, others whispering amongst themselves.

Chen Ye followed behind Fang Tao, curiously sizing up his surroundings.

Among them, the most eye-catching was the group from the Colorful Character Sect.

Many beautiful young women were gathered there. These women were either storytellers and singers or acrobats.

Each had a slender, graceful figure, and their flirtatious glances drew frequent looks from many of the Martial World men.

Chen Ye also spotted the Chief Steward of the Rong Character Sect, a lean-faced elder with sharp eyes. Upon seeing him, all members of the Rong Character Sect had to respectfully address him as "Venerable Uncle."

Before long, a middle-aged official in an Official Uniform, a long saber hanging from his waist, entered the venue surrounded by several constables.

As soon as this person arrived, the originally noisy warehouse instantly quieted down considerably.

"That’s Chief Zhao from the Arresting Department. His rank may not be high, but he’s the one who manages people like us," Fang Tao explained from the side.

Sure enough, upon seeing him, even the highest-ranking elders of the sects had to bow to him respectfully.

This Chief Zhao was clearly not attending such a gathering for the first time. He exchanged a few simple pleasantries with several of the elders, then announced in a clear voice.

"Everyone, it’s the same old rules, so I won’t waste time repeating them. It’s getting late, let the skills competition begin."

The atmosphere immediately grew tense.

The various sects and factions began to take turns performing their signature skills.

There was a medicine peddler from the Pi Character Sect who swallowed live centipedes and scorpions on the spot; there was a Martial Master from the Hanging Character Sect whose fist technique was as swift and powerful as a pouncing tiger.

Of course, the most eye-catching of all were still the young women from the Colorful Character Sect.

Some played instruments and sang, others performed difficult acrobatics. Combined with their slender figures and pretty faces, they were truly a feast for the eyes of the men present.

Finally, it was time for the Rong Character Sect to take the stage.

Just then, another Young Monarch from the same Fujia’Er faction stepped forward. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said to Fang Tao, "Fang Shaojun, I hear you had a good harvest last year. I imagine your brothers’ skills have improved quite a bit. However, my own brothers have recently learned a new trick. How about a little comparison?"

Hearing this, the venue instantly fell silent. Everyone knew this was a challenge for territory.

Fang Tao knew, of course, that the man came with ill intentions. The speaker, Yang Ze, had always been at odds with him. But now was not the time to back down, so he simply smiled.

"Alright, Yang Shaojun. Since everyone’s here today, let’s have a competition."

Yang Ze snorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, several of his men immediately carried a large iron wok and a stove to the center of the floor, where they lit a fire and poured in oil.

Soon, the oil in the wok was boiling, sizzling loudly and giving off wisps of smoke.

Then, a short, wiry man walked up to the wok.

"My man here is going to perform a unique skill for everyone. If Fang Shaojun has someone who can do the same, then there’s nothing more to say. We will concede defeat, and from now on, we’ll steer clear and admit our inferiority whenever we cross paths with his people. But if they can’t do it... hehe, then I’m afraid that territory in the East Market will have to be handed over to me," Yang Ze sneered, then gave the wiry man a meaningful look.

The man reached out, tossed a copper coin into the wok of oil, and waited for it to sink to the bottom. After taking a deep breath, he plunged his hand into the boiling oil like lightning. When he pulled it back out, the copper coin was held firmly between his fingertips, and his hand showed not a single trace of a burn!

"Bravo!"

"Scooping a coin from boiling oil! What incredible skill!"

Amidst the roar of applause, the man’s face was filled with arrogance as he shot a provocative look toward Fang Tao’s group.

The veterans Fang Tao had brought with him immediately looked troubled. They had all practiced Boiling Water Money Collection, but the temperature of boiling water and boiling oil weren’t even in the same league. Plunging a hand into that wok would mean crippling it for good.

Seeing that no one dared to accept the challenge, Fang Tao’s expression instantly darkened.

Although he could do it himself, he was a Young Monarch. If he personally stepped up, it would mean he had no capable men under him, which was tantamount to admitting defeat.

In that case, not only would his territory be snatched away, but in the future, his men would have to bow their heads whenever they met the other party on the streets.

The atmosphere grew tense and stagnant.

All eyes focused on Fang Tao. Some were filled with schadenfreude, others with sympathy.

Just as Fang Tao was caught in a dilemma, a calm voice sounded from behind him.

"Young Monarch, why don’t you let me give it a try?"