When Chen Ye realized this, he hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. His predecessor had stumbled upon an illicit affair, and now that it was his turn, he had stumbled upon another.
Lin Yan really was something. Though she was still an unmarried young lady, she was bold enough to come to a temple for a secret tryst.
Though he had learned this important piece of information, Chen Ye thought it over for a moment and ultimately slipped away.
The reason was simple: he had no ability to get involved in the matter right now.
So what if he knew that the Lin Family's third young lady was behaving improperly? When a powerful family like the Lin Family discovered a problem, their first reaction would surely be to get rid of the person who raised it, not the problem itself.
And he had no foundation at all right now. Though he had advanced to become a flying thief, the disparity in strength was still far too great, so the wisest choice was to withdraw for the time being.
Of course, that did not mean he was going to let the matter drop.
Chen Ye tucked it firmly away in his heart, planning to find a chance to expose it someday. The bigger the uproar, the better.
Inside the side hall, a warm fragrance curled through the air.
Lin Yan lay lazily against the man's sturdy chest, tracing circles with her slender fingers. Her voice was full of resentment. "Cousin, you have no idea what I've been through these past two months. Mother watched me like a hawk and wouldn't let me take a single step out of the courtyard. If I hadn't used the excuse that a wish I made last year had come true and I needed to come give thanks, I wouldn't even have been able to see you today."
The man held her and comforted her softly. "Yan'er, you've suffered. It was all my fault for being too careless last time and letting Aunt notice something."
The man was Lin Yan's distant cousin, Zhou Xian. The two had been carrying on a secret affair for the past two years and had long since become a pair of dew-drenched lovers.
"Hmph, she did more than notice something," Lin Yan said, sitting up. The silk quilt slipped down, revealing a patch of snowy skin. "My mother said she wants to marry me off as soon as possible!"
The very thought made Lin Yan's anger flare.
When Zhou Xian heard this, a flash of malice and secret delight crossed his eyes, but he immediately put on a tender, loving expression and drew Lin Yan back into his arms.
"Don't worry, Yan'er. I'll never let you marry anyone else. You're mine, and you will be for the rest of your life."
His sweet words made Lin Yan's heart burst into bloom, and the two soon began rolling together again.
Chen Ye naturally had no way of knowing what went on inside the hall.
Over the next two days, the temple fair remained lively, but Chen Ye never saw anyone from the Lin residence again.
The days flew by, and before he knew it, the New Year had passed.
The festive spirit in the capital gradually faded, and life in the shared courtyard returned to its former calm.
"Chen Ye, in a couple of days, the major gangs in the capital will be comparing their skills. Come with me and broaden your horizons," Fang Tao said, sitting at the table and wiping his short saber.
"Comparing skills?" Chen Ye was curious.
"Mm." Fang Tao nodded.
"To put it plainly, it's how territory gets divided. The Eight Great Schools-Jin, Pi, Cai, Gua, Heng, Lan, Ge, and Rong-gather every spring and let their abilities do the talking. The more capable you are, the more territory you get for the year and the bigger your share of the spoils. It's the same for us in the Rong Character Gate."
"But there's no need to be nervous. I'm only taking you along to see the world. You won't have to take the stage."
Chen Ye nodded and said no more.
Two days later, at a huge abandoned freight depot in the south of the city.
Voices filled the air, and the place was bustling with activity.
People from all walks of life had gathered there. Some were splendidly dressed and carried themselves with distinction, while others wore coarse cloth and short jackets, their faces marked by the air of the jianghu.
The banners of the Eight Great Schools had been planted everywhere. The various schools and factions kept strictly to their own groups, some talking and laughing loudly, others whispering among themselves.
Chen Ye followed Fang Tao, looking around curiously.
The Cai Character Gate drew more attention than any of the others.
Many young and beautiful women had gathered there. They were either storytellers and singers or acrobats.
Every one of them had a graceful figure and roving eyes, drawing frequent glances from the jianghu men.
Chen Ye also saw the chief steward of the Rong Character Gate, a lean-faced old man with sharp eyes. Every member of the Rong Character Gate who saw him had to respectfully address him as Elder Uncle.
Before long, a middle-aged official in official robes, a long saber at his waist, entered the gathering surrounded by several constables.
The moment he arrived, the previously noisy depot fell considerably quieter.
"That's Constable Zhao of the Arrest Bureau. His rank isn't high, but he's specifically in charge of people in our line of work," Fang Tao explained beside him.
Sure enough, after seeing him, even the most senior Elder Uncles had to bow to him respectfully.
Constable Zhao was clearly no stranger to gatherings like this. He exchanged a few brief pleasantries with several Elder Uncles, then said in a ringing voice,
"Everyone, it's the same old rules, so I won't go over them again. It's getting late. Let's begin."
The atmosphere immediately turned solemn.
The various schools and factions began taking turns demonstrating their special skills.
A medicine peddler from the Pi School swallowed live centipedes and scorpions on the spot, while a martial artist from the Gua School performed a set of punches that whipped up a fierce wind.
Of course, the greatest attraction was still the women of the Cai Character Gate.
Some played instruments and sang, while others performed difficult acrobatics. With their graceful figures and pretty faces, they were truly a feast for the eyes of the men present.
At last, it was the Rong Character Gate's turn.
Just then, another Shaojun from the Brushing Walls faction stepped forward and gave Fang Tao a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Shaojun Fang, I heard you had a good haul last year. I imagine your brothers' skills have improved quite a bit too. But my brothers recently learned a new trick themselves. How about a contest?"
At those words, the gathering fell silent, for everyone knew this was a contest for territory.
Fang Tao naturally knew the man had come with ill intentions. His name was Yang Ze, and he and Fang Tao had never gotten along. But Fang Tao could not back down now, so he simply smiled.
"All right, Shaojun Yang. Everyone's here today anyway, so let's have a contest."
Yang Ze snorted coldly and waved his hand. Several of his men immediately carried a large iron cauldron and a stove into the middle of the gathering, lit a fire, and poured in oil.
Soon, the oil in the cauldron was bubbling, sizzling, and giving off bluish smoke.
A short, wiry man then came to the cauldron.
"This brother of mine will demonstrate a special skill for everyone today. If Shaojun Fang's people can do it too, then there's nothing more to say. We'll admit defeat, and whenever we see Shaojun Fang's people from now on, we'll step aside of our own accord and acknowledge that we're a head beneath them. But if they can't... heh heh, sorry, but you'll have to hand over your territory in the East Market to me," Yang Ze said with a cold smile. Then he gave the man a look.
The man tossed a copper coin into the cauldron of oil. Once it had sunk to the bottom, he took a deep breath and plunged his hand into the oil like lightning. When he pulled it back out, the coin was held firmly between his fingertips, and there was not a trace of a burn on his hand!
"Bravo!"
"Fishing a coin out of boiling oil! What fine skill!"
Amid the cheers, the man's face was full of arrogance as he looked toward Fang Tao in challenge.
Several of the veterans Fang Tao had brought immediately looked troubled. They had all practiced Fishing Coins from Boiling Water, but the temperature of water and oil were not remotely the same. If they put their hands into that boiling oil, their hands would be ruined.
Seeing that no one dared accept the challenge, Fang Tao's face instantly darkened.
Although he could do it himself, he was a Shaojun. If he personally took the stage, it would mean he had no one under him, which was tantamount to admitting defeat outright.
If that happened, not only would his territory be taken, but when his men encountered the other side's people in the future, they would have to stand a head beneath them.
For a moment, the atmosphere froze.
Everyone's eyes settled on Fang Tao. Some gloated over his misfortune, while others felt sympathy.
Just as Fang Tao was caught between advancing and retreating, a calm voice sounded behind him.
"Shaojun, how about I give it a try?"