Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 7 Eight Schools of Art

Upon realizing this, Chen Ye couldn't help but laugh and cry. He never expected that after his predecessor had caught someone in an affair once, he himself would be caught doing it again.

This Lin Yan is really something else. She's still unmarried and yet she's so bold as to go to a temple to have a secret rendezvous with someone.

Although he learned this important information, Chen Ye pondered for a moment and then quietly left.

The reason is simple: he simply doesn't have the ability to get involved in this matter right now.

Even if they know that the third young lady of the Lin family is immoral, so what? When a prestigious family like the Lin family discovers a problem, their first reaction is definitely not to solve the problem, but to deal with the person who raised the problem.

He currently has no foundation, and although he has been promoted to a thief, the difference in strength is still too great. Therefore, the wisest choice is to retreat for the time being.

Of course, this doesn't mean the matter is over.

Chen Ye kept this firmly in mind, planning to find an opportunity to expose it later, and to make it as big as possible.
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Inside the side hall, a warm fragrance wafted.

Lin Yan lay lazily on the man's muscular chest, her slender fingers tracing circles, her tone full of resentment: "Cousin, you have no idea how I've gotten through these past two months. Mother has been watching me like a hawk, not letting me step out of the yard even once. If I hadn't made up the excuse that the wish I made last year had come true and I was coming to fulfill it, I wouldn't have seen you today."

The man put his arm around her and gently comforted her, "Yan'er, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. It's all my fault for being so careless last time, and my aunt found out what was going on."

The man was Lin Yan's distant cousin, named Zhou Xian. The two had been having an affair for two years and were already living together as lovers.

"Hmph, it's more than just discovering clues," Lin Yan sat up, the silk quilt slipping down to reveal a patch of snow-white skin, "My mother says she wants to marry me off as soon as possible!"

The thought of this made Lin Yan furious.

Upon hearing this, a hint of malice and smugness flashed in Zhou Xian's eyes, but he quickly put on a gentle and affectionate expression and pulled Lin Yan back into his arms.

"Don't worry, Yan'er, I will never let you marry someone else. You are mine, and you will be mine for life."

A few sweet words made Lin Yan very happy, and the two soon started rolling around again.

Chen Ye had no way of knowing the scenery inside these halls.

The temple fair remained lively for the next two days, but Chen Ye did not see anyone from the Lin family again.

Time flies, and the New Year has passed in the blink of an eye.

As the festive atmosphere of the New Year gradually fades in Beijing, life in the courtyard houses returns to its usual tranquility.

"Chen Ye, in a couple of days it will be the day for the various gangs in the capital to compete in martial arts. Come with me and broaden your horizons," Fang Tao said, sitting at the table and wiping his short knife.

"Discussing art?" Chen Ye asked with some curiosity.

"Mm." Fang Tao nodded.

"To put it bluntly, it's about dividing up territory. The eight major clans of Jinpi Caigua, Henglan Ge Rong, and others gather together every spring to prove their abilities. Whoever is more capable gets the bigger territory and the more profits. Our Rong clan is no exception."

"But you don't need to be nervous. This time, we're just taking you to broaden your horizons. You don't need to participate."

Chen Ye nodded without saying anything more.

Two days later, at a huge abandoned warehouse in the south of the city.

It was full of people and lively.

People from all walks of life gathered together. Some were dressed smartly and had an extraordinary air about them, while others were dressed in coarse clothes and had a rough, street-smart look on their faces.

The banners of the Eight Great Schools were planted everywhere, and each school and faction was clearly distinct. When they gathered together, they either talked and laughed loudly or whispered among themselves.

Chen Ye followed behind Fang Tao, curiously looking around.

The most eye-catching part was the colorful characters on the gate.

There was a large group of young and beautiful girls gathered there. These women were either telling stories and singing songs or performing acrobatics.

Each of them had a slender figure and captivating eyes, attracting the frequent glances of many江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) men.

At the same time, Chen Ye also met the head steward of the Rong family, an elderly man with a lean face and sharp eyes. All the members of the Rong family had to respectfully call him "Uncle." Before long, a middle-aged official dressed in official robes and carrying a long sword at his waist walked into the arena, surrounded by several constables.

The moment this person arrived, the previously noisy warehouse became much quieter.

"This man is Chief Zhao of the Arrest Division. Don't let his low rank fool you; he's in charge of us gangsters," Fang Tao explained from the side.

Sure enough, upon meeting this person, no matter how high their seniority, everyone had to bow respectfully to him.

This Chief Zhao was clearly not a first-timer at such a gathering. He exchanged a few pleasantries with the men and then spoke loudly.

"Gentlemen, it's all the usual routine, so I won't go into details. It's getting late, so let's begin our discussion on art."

The atmosphere suddenly became solemn.

Each school and sect began to take turns performing their unique skills.

There were drug dealers with the "skin" style who would swallow centipedes and scorpions alive on the spot; and martial arts masters with the "hanging" style who would perform a set of powerful and impressive boxing techniques.

Of course, the most eye-catching are the girls with colorful characters on their doors.

Some played musical instruments and sang songs, while others performed high-difficulty acrobatics. With their slender figures and beautiful faces, they truly delighted the men present.

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

Just then, another young master from the same faction of Fuqiang stepped forward and said to Fang Tao with a forced smile, "Young Master Fang, I heard that your harvest was good last year. I suppose your brothers' skills have improved quite a bit. However, my brothers have recently learned a new skill. How about we have a competition?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent instantly, for everyone knew that this was a territorial dispute.

Fang Tao naturally knew that the visitor was not friendly, because the speaker was named Yang Ze, and he had always been at odds with him. However, he could not back down at this time, so he just smiled.

"Alright, Young Master Yang, since everyone's here today, let's have a competition."

Yang Ze snorted coldly upon hearing this, then waved his hand, and several of his men immediately carried a large iron pot and stove to the center of the field to start a fire and pour oil.

Soon, the oil in the pot boiled and sizzled, emitting blue smoke.

Then a short, thin man came to the pot.

"My brother here is going to show you all a special skill today. If Fang Shaojun's men can do it too, then there's nothing more to say, we'll admit defeat and avoid Fang Shaojun's men in the future, acknowledging our inferiority. But if they can't do it... hehe, sorry, they'll have to give up that territory in the East Market to me." Yang Ze sneered, then winked at the man.

The man reached out and threw a copper coin into the oil pot. After it sank to the bottom, he took a deep breath, swiftly reached his hand into the oil pot, and pulled it out. The copper coin was firmly held between his fingertips, and there wasn't even a trace of burn on his hand!

"it is good!"

"Making money out of boiling oil! What a skill!"

Amidst cheers and applause, the man's face was full of arrogance as he looked defiantly at Fang Tao.

The experienced men Fang Tao brought immediately looked troubled. They were all skilled at scooping money from boiling water, but water temperature and oil temperature were completely different concepts. If they put that in boiling oil, their hands would be ruined.

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

He himself could do it, but he was the young lord. If he personally took to the field, it would mean that he had no one under his command, which was tantamount to admitting defeat.

In this way, not only will their territory be seized, but they will also be inferior to the other party when they meet them on the street in the future.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

All eyes were on Fang Tao, some gloating, others sympathizing.

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

"Young Master, how about I give it a try?"

(End of this chapter)