Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 229 Heavenly Thunder Stirs Earthly Fire, Directly Recognizing Master!
"It's okay. I won't go in during the day. I'll just sneak in at night after it gets dark. I'll keep my head down and I shouldn't attract anyone's attention."

"Well... I'll figure out a way to get you some clothes." Qingchen bit her lip. "We have a storeroom in our temple that's used for storing miscellaneous items. There should be some old Taoist robes that no one wears. I'll sneak over and get you a set tonight."

"it is good."

Chen Ye nodded. "Don't rush to give me the clothes after you get them. Wait until Zhou Yuru arrives before giving them to me."

“I guess she’ll arrive this evening or tonight. The temple will be in a lot of commotion then, which will be a good opportunity for us to sneak in.”

"Yes, I've got it." Qingchen nodded vigorously, remembering every word Chen Ye said.

"Remember, be careful not to get discovered," Chen Ye warned.

"I understand, Brother Chen, don't worry."

After discussing all the details, Qingchen hurriedly returned to the Taoist temple.

She wanted to take advantage of the chaos in the temple to steal clothes from the storeroom.

Chen Ye did not leave. He went around to the back mountain of Yuni Temple, found a towering tree with lush branches and leaves, and then used his movement technique to climb up silently.

This location offers an excellent view, allowing you to see the entire gate of Yuni Temple.

Time passed little by little.

The wind and snow in the mountains seemed to have lessened a bit, but the sky gradually darkened.

Chen Ye patiently waited quietly in the tree.

Sure enough, just as evening approached, a group of people appeared on the rugged mountain road in the distance.

Chen Ye narrowed his eyes.

A magnificently decorated carriage, escorted by a dozen servants, was seen making its way towards the Yuni Temple.

Several guards on tall horses stood before and behind the carriage, their temples bulging and their breathing steady, clearly indicating they were all skilled martial artists.

The convoy soon arrived at the gate of Yuni Temple.

At the same time, the abbess of Yuni Temple, a female Taoist priest who looked to be in her fifties with a slender face and a somewhat otherworldly air, also personally greeted them at the mountain gate.

Behind her stood Wang Daogu and other high-ranking members of the Taoist temple.

The carriage stopped, and a woman dressed as a maid lifted the curtain, revealing a noblewoman in a brocade fur coat who slowly stepped down with the maid's help.

Because they were too far apart, Chen Ye couldn't see her face clearly, but judging from the scene, it should be Zhou Yuru, Sun Demao's wife.

At the same time, the abbot stepped forward to greet them, exchanging pleasantries warmly for a few moments before leading them inside.

The gate was closed again, leaving only the servants and guards stationed outside.

Chen Ye didn't move and continued to wait in the tree.

As darkness fell, the night, like a giant black cloth, enveloped the entire mountain forest.

Inside the Yuni Temple, lights were lit one by one, illuminating the entire temple as if it were daytime.

Faintly, one could hear voices and laughter coming from inside, presumably the abbot was hosting a welcome dinner for Zhou Yuru.

Chen Ye remained motionless, as if he had become one with the surrounding darkness.

Finally, as the noise inside the temple gradually subsided and everything returned to silence.

A petite, furtive figure slipped out from the side gate of the Yuni Temple.

Holding a package in her arms, she peeked around and looked around cautiously before quickly running to the big tree where Chen Ye was hiding.

It is cleansing dust.

Just as she was about to put the package in a snowdrift under a tree, a deep voice came from above her.

"I am here."

Qingchen was startled and looked up to find that Chen Ye had climbed down from the tree at some point.

"Brother Chen... Brother Chen, you scared me to death!" she said, patting her chest and scolding him playfully.

"Shh, don't make a sound."

Chen Ye made a shushing gesture, then asked, "Did you get the clothes?"

"Ah."

Qingchen nodded and handed the package to Chen Ye.

"I found the biggest one; you should be able to wear it."

Chen Ye opened the package, inside was a set of blue Taoist robes that had been starched and faded, and a Taoist crown.

"Okay, you go back first and wait for me outside the courtyard. I'll come over after I change my clothes."

"Ah."

Qingchen responded, then added with some concern, "You...you be careful, don't let anyone find out."

"rest assured."

Qingchen left, turning back every few steps.

Chen Ye quickly took off his peddler's clothes and put on the Taoist robe.

The Taoist robe was indeed a bit small, especially the sleeves and trouser legs, which were too short.

However, this did not stump Chen Ye.

He slightly used his bone-shrinking technique to adjust his body shape, his shoulders slightly hunched inward, and his height decreased a few inches.

Then he took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out some special medicine, and applied it to his face.

Soon his angular face softened considerably, and his skin appeared even fairer.

Finally, he put on a Taoist crown and tied his hair up.

After dressing up, he looked like an ordinary Taoist nun who was a little taller than the average woman. Unless you got too close, you couldn't see any flaws.

Chen Ye was quite satisfied with his disguise.

He hid the clothes he had changed out of, and then used his movement technique to silently sneak towards the side gate of the Yu Ni Temple.

When they arrived at the side gate, Qingchen was indeed already waiting there.

When she saw Chen Ye dressed as a Taoist nun, she was so surprised that she covered her mouth.

Wow... Brother Chen actually looks quite good dressed as a woman!

Chen Ye listened to her thoughts, his lips twitched, and then he lowered his voice and said, "Don't just stand there, take me inside quickly."

"Oh...oh, okay."

Qingchen then came to her senses and quickly opened the door, leading Chen Ye inside.

Upon entering Yuni Temple, a refreshing sandalwood scent immediately greets you.

The Taoist temple was even more tranquil under the night sky than during the day, with only the occasional cracking sound of branches breaking under the weight of snow coming from afar.

Qingchen led the way, walking very lightly, his whole body tense, glancing back at Chen Ye every now and then, afraid that he would lose him.

Chen Ye followed behind her, walking calmly and with a composed expression.

The nuns in the temple seemed to have already retired for the night, and all the meditation rooms were dark. Only a few courtyards had lanterns hanging under the corridors, swaying in the cold wind and casting dappled shadows.

The two had a safe journey without encountering anyone.

Qingchen led Chen Ye through the temple, turning left and right, passing through several corridors, and finally arriving at a separate courtyard in the backyard.

This courtyard is clearly much more exquisite than other places. Two plum trees are planted at the entrance. Although they are not yet in bloom, their gnarled branches have a unique charm under the moonlight.

The courtyard gate was not closed, but only slightly ajar.

Through the crack in the door, one could see that the courtyard was brightly lit, and two figures were reflected in the window of the main house.

The faint sounds of laughter and conversation could be heard coming from inside.

"This is it."

Qingchen stopped and pulled Chen Ye to hide in the shadows at the corner of the courtyard wall. Then she whispered in his ear, "This is the Tranquil Garden where Madam Zhou stays every time she comes."

Chen Ye nodded, his gaze falling on the window with the light on.

Faint sounds of laughter and conversation could be heard from inside. One voice was gentle and kind, presumably the abbess, while the other voice carried a sense of composure and affability, which must be Zhou Yuru.

They seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation.

Chen Ye and Qing Chen hid in a corner and listened quietly.

Qingchen was so nervous that her palms were sweating, and she gripped Chen Ye's sleeve tightly, her body trembling slightly.

Chen Ye could sense her fear, so he reached out and gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her.

His palms were dry and warm, and a calming power instantly traveled through the back of his hands to Qingchen's heart.

Then her wildly beating heart miraculously calmed down a lot.

She stole a glance at Chen Ye's profile. In the dim light, his features appeared exceptionally resolute, giving her a sense of peace for no reason.

The two of them listened in the corner for about fifteen minutes.

The conversation inside the room consisted mainly of anecdotes from the capital or topics related to Taoist health practices; there was no valuable information involved.

Just as Chen Ye was getting impatient, the figure inside the room moved slightly.

"It's getting late. Madam must be tired from your journey; you should rest soon." It was the abbot's voice.

"Thank you for your help, Abbot. I have benefited greatly from our conversation today." Zhou Yuru's voice was soothing, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.

"You're too kind. It is my honor to be able to share your burdens."

Immediately afterwards, a figure stood up in the window.

The abbot rose and took his leave.

Soon the door opened, and the abbot, surrounded by a group of Taoist nuns, slowly walked out of the courtyard.

After she left, the entire Jingxin Garden quickly became quiet.

It seems that the maids and servants that Zhou Yuru brought were all arranged to rest elsewhere and did not stay in this courtyard.

Because it was inside a Taoist temple, and the guests were honored and personally received by the abbot, there were no guards stationed outside the temple.

Only two elderly women carried two small stools and sat under the pillars outside the main house, seemingly on night watch.

But perhaps they were tired from working during the day, or perhaps the night was too peaceful, because after exchanging only a few words, they both leaned against the pillars and began to doze off.

The snoring rose and fell, exceptionally clear in the quiet night. The opportunity had arrived!

A glint of light flashed in Chen Ye's eyes as he glanced at Qing Chen beside him. The little girl was also looking at him with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, her eyes questioning him.

Chen Ye nodded to her.

Qingchen took a deep breath, then crouched down and carefully led Chen Ye into the courtyard.

Their footsteps were as light as cats', making no sound at all.

The two dozing old women were completely unaware.

Qingchen's original plan was simply to have Chen Ye peek inside through the window in the courtyard.

After all, barging into a noblewoman's boudoir is a grave offense.

Therefore, she led Chen Ye stealthily to the window of the main house.

The window was covered with a thick layer of paper, and from the outside, only a blurry figure could be seen sitting at the table, seemingly drinking tea.

"Brother Chen... this is the place."

Qingchen pointed to the window and whispered, "You... just stay here and look around, but don't make a sound."

She felt that taking this step was the greatest courage she could muster.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, she saw that Chen Ye did not linger at the window at all, but walked straight around the window to the front of the main house.

Qingchen's eyes widened instantly.

What...what is he going to do?

Under her horrified gaze, Chen Ye reached out and gently pushed her.

The half-closed door creaked open.

This startled Qingchen so much that she almost screamed.

She quickly covered her mouth with both hands to prevent the scream from escaping her throat.

Done!Done!
This is a huge disaster!

Meanwhile, inside the main house.

Zhou Yuru was sitting at the table, sipping a cup of hot tea.

She had removed her glamorous daytime attire and changed into a loose and comfortable plain-colored dress. She had also removed all the jewels from her head, and her long, black hair was simply tied up with a single jade hairpin.

Although she lacked some of the elegance and grace she exuded during the day when she was without makeup, her well-maintained face possessed a unique charm and allure that came with being a mature woman.

She just turned thirty this year, the most beautiful age in a woman's life, and every smile and gesture exudes amazing charm.

When she heard the door open, she thought it was the abbot who had forgotten something and returned.

So she put down her teacup and habitually looked up.

"Abbot, could it be...?"

She stopped halfway through her sentence.

Because what came into her view was not the familiar female Taoist priest, but an unfamiliar Taoist nun with an unusually tall stature.

Zhou Yuru was slightly taken aback.

Who is this Taoist nun?
When did such a person arrive at the temple?
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure rising in her heart.

As the eldest daughter of the Zhou family and Sun Demao's legal wife, she was already used to being the center of attention.

No one is allowed to enter her private room without her permission; this is the most basic rule.

So which courtyard does this unruly Taoist nun belong to?
She was about to rebuke him when she saw the tall Taoist nun slowly raise her head.

Under the light, a handsome yet unfamiliar male face clearly came into her view.

In an instant, Zhou Yuru's mind went blank.

She never dreamed that in the dead of night, in the quiet of the temple, a man would appear in her room!
And he's a young and handsome man!

She was completely stunned. Her well-maintained phoenix eyes widened in shock, and her rosy lips were slightly parted, unable to close for a long time.

After the initial shock came overwhelming rage.

Absurd! Utterly absurd!
This Yuni Temple was the ancestral temple of her Zhou family, and her most private place of quiet meditation.

So, after only a few days away, has this place become a den of iniquity?

Who is so bold as to bring a man into her room?
Is the abbess senile, or are the people below blinded by greed, trying to curry favor with her through such despicable means?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind.

Then her beautiful eyebrows suddenly shot up, and an expression of uncontrollable rage appeared on her face, instantly unleashing an aura of authority that came from long-held power.

"You audacious madman! Who are you? How dare you...?"

She was about to shout at them and call for the servants outside.

Just then, the man moved.

He showed no sign of panic; instead, he strode towards her at a leisurely pace.

His eyes were deep and calm, like a bottomless lake, possessing a captivating magic.

Zhou Yuru's heart skipped a beat for no reason.

In that instant, Chen Ye activated the Heartstring Master talent.

He wanted to hear what this high-society lady truly thought when faced with this unexpected situation.

Instantly, an incredibly complex inner voice surged into Chen Ye's senses.

[A man! It's a man! What's he doing here?]

[How dare he! What is he planning to do?]

[He's actually quite good-looking...much better than that old geezer Sun Demao...]

[It's the dead of night, a man and a woman alone... If he were to do something to me... should I... should I scream? Or should I not?]

【Oh dear, what am I thinking! I'm going crazy!】

But it's been so many years... so many years since a man looked at me like that...

His eyes... are so intense... I... I actually kind of like them...

The complex emotions—surprise, anger, shame, fear, and a barely suppressed joy and anticipation—startled Chen Ye.

He had anticipated all sorts of possible reactions from Zhou Yuru: fear, anger, scolding, cries for help...

But what no one expected was that such a shameful thought was hidden deep in her heart.

It seems that the rumors in the Drunken Cloud Society's intelligence report about her and Sun Demao's strained relationship were not unfounded.

A noblewoman in her thirties, in the prime of her life, marries a hypocrite obsessed with perverse fetishes who has no interest in his wife. She spends her days alone in her empty room, and one can only imagine the loneliness and repression she feels.

Now, in this quiet and secluded temple, a handsome stranger suddenly barges into her boudoir.

This forbidden yet exciting scene instantly rekindled the long-dormant spark within her.

Chen Ye couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

However, there was no time to delve into the complex inner world of this noblewoman at this moment.

Although Zhou Yuru had a lot of inner monologues, the anger and murderous intent on her face were genuine.

She had recovered from her initial shock, clenched her fists, and was preparing to unleash her thunderous fury.

Chen Ye had to completely subdue her before she could cry for help.

Just as Zhou Yuru took a deep breath, about to shout out her reprimand...

Chen Ye took the lead, activating the full power of the Heartstring Master's talent!
An invisible spiritual force surged into Zhou Yuru's mind like a tide.

Chen Ye showed no mercy, forcefully implanting a simple yet domineering idea into her chaotic and complex mind.

—Don't make a fuss!
—The man before you is your destined master!

You will trust him unconditionally!

This thought was like a mental bomb, exploding deep within Zhou Yuru's soul.

Her body jolted, and the rebuke that was about to come out was abruptly stuck in her throat.

Then her eyes lost focus, becoming empty and lost, as if her soul had left her body.

He was in a daze like never before.

Chen Ye stood in front of her, watching quietly.

He could clearly feel his mental power invading her consciousness, dismantling her defenses, and reshaping her beliefs.

This process was much more difficult than when he dealt with Bai Jie, Xiao Ya, and Qing Chen.

After all, back then it was just about implanting a simple idea, unlike now where you can directly change someone's mindset.

In addition, Zhou Yuru came from a noble family and had a much stronger will than ordinary women.

Therefore, her subconscious was frantically resisting this foreign invasion.

But it's no use.

Under the absolute dominance of the Casanova, any woman's resistance is futile.

After a moment, Zhou Yuru's empty and confused eyes gradually regained their luster.

When she looked at Chen Ye again, the anger, wariness, and authority in her eyes had vanished without a trace.

Instead, a light that Chen Ye had never seen before shone with an intense, obsessive, and devout intensity.

At the same time, her breathing gradually became rapid, and a sickly flush appeared on her fair face.

This is because her emotions and desires, which had been suppressed for more than a decade and never satisfied, finally erupted like a volcano that had been suppressed to the extreme, under the powerful stimulation of Chen Ye's professional talent.

Then she parted her red lips slightly and called out in a trembling, tearful voice.

"Master...master!"

Chen Ye: "..."

"????"

(End of this chapter)