Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

He was indeed exhausted. Though he hadn’t suffered any physical injuries through the whole ordeal, the mental toll had been considerable.

"Hey, wait!" Cong Bo called out to him.

"Brother, this Puppet Sect is a serious threat. Since the killer dared to commit such a major crime in Wang Family Village, they might still be lurking around Yu Huo County."

"You’re all alone, so be extra careful."

Cong Bo was genuinely warning Chen Ye.

After all, Chen Ye was the key person who had ruined their ritual. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t be targeted for revenge.

"Thanks!" Chen Ye waved a hand without looking back, his figure quickly disappearing through the main gate of the Demon Slayer Department.

Watching his retreating figure, Cong Bo shook his head helplessly, a wry smile on his face.

’This kid... he’s a real oddball.’

For the next few days, all of Yu Huo County was plunged into an unprecedented state of tension.

The streets and alleys were filled with patrolling Demon-slaying Captains and Government Office constables, weapons in hand.

The inspections at the city gates became exceptionally strict, and anyone entering or leaving had their Identity carefully checked.

The wanted poster for the handsome young man was plastered in every conspicuous location.

And the bounty of one thousand taels of silver drew in countless drifters from the Martial World and Bounty Swordsmen, all of whom fancied themselves capable. They sprang into action, sniffing around for any news.

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

This was a small, quiet tavern in a secluded corner of Yu Huo County.

Its patrons were mostly small merchants and manual laborers. Though the environment was cramped, the prices were cheap, and crucially, dishes could be ordered by the half-portion.

Thus, you could often see people here blissfully drinking away with just a half-plate of peanuts.

And that was considered pretty good, as some people couldn’t even afford a half-plate of peanuts. But their craving for alcohol was hard to quell, so they would carry a small pouch of coarse salt. When drinking, they’d open the pouch, dab a finger on a grain or two of salt, and that would serve as their bar snack.

Yun Heqing, of course, was not so destitute. He could even be extravagant sometimes, asking the Shopkeeper for a plate of sliced pig’s head meat and a cold dish of dried tofu or the like. Then he would sit at a table converted from one of the Big Wine Vats and drink slowly, often for the better part of a day.

Because of this, the tavern’s regulars all knew him as an old Daoist who loved wine more than life itself.

On this day, Yun Heqing ordered his usual three items, regular as clockwork: a pot of old baijiu, a plate of pig’s head meat, and a serving of salted dried tofu. Then, he began to drink with great relish.

As he drank, he chatted and joked with the Female Shopkeeper behind the counter.

A large part of the reason he was willing to drink here stemmed from this Female Shopkeeper.

Although she was nearly forty, and years of hard work had etched wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, her skin was fair and her frame was buxom—exactly Yun Heqing’s type. He wished he could visit eight times a day.

But the Female Shopkeeper kept him at arm’s length, neither distant nor close. Sometimes she would smile and hold out her hand, asking him to read her palm; other times, she would put on a stern face and give him the cold shoulder.

The more she acted this way, the more his heart itched with an unbearable craving. Today was no exception. He was intentionally yet casually trying to steer the conversation in *that* direction, but the Female Shopkeeper simply wasn’t taking the bait.

At this time, the tavern gradually began to fill up. After all, the weather was turning colder, and having a drink to warm up after a long day’s work was the only comfort for these men from the lowest rungs of society.

Many people greeted Yun Heqing as they came in, and he responded to each of them with a smile.

The Shopkeeper got busy again, so there was naturally no more chance to talk. Yun Heqing lowered his head and began drinking by himself.

Just as he was getting tipsy, lost to the world, he suddenly felt the small tavern fall silent. An instant later, a familiar, prickling sensation, like needles on his back, washed over him.

Yun Heqing’s expression changed instantly. He wanted to get up, but it was already too late. With a look of utter resignation, he could only raise his head.

Sure enough.

A young girl had appeared across from him.

A young girl with a round face and round eyes.

It was none other than the mysterious Gu-wielding girl from before, Su Yuan!

She walked over to Yun Heqing’s table with a gentle smile and sat down across from him.

Seeing this, many people in the tavern wore looks of astonishment.

Everyone knew that this Daoist Master was not only fond of his drink but also extremely keen on the fairer sex.

Hadn’t they all seen him hitting on the tavern’s Female Shopkeeper all day long?

But perhaps because his methods were too crude, no one had taken the bait in all this time.

Even the Female Shopkeeper gave him the cold shoulder, so why would such an innocent and adorable young girl suddenly show up today?

But Yun Heqing felt not a shred of happiness in his heart; instead, he was filled with dread.

But since it had come to this, he could only bite the bullet and force a dry laugh. "Miss S-Su... what brings you to a place like this?"

"What? If you can come here, why can’t I?" Su Yuan said with a beaming smile, looking like a little girl asking for candy.

But a cold sweat broke out on Yun Heqing’s brow. He had felt a dangerous aura that, though fleeting, was still enough to make his heart pound in terror.

Yun Heqing forced a wry smile. "Miss Su... no, Eldest Granny Su, I’m just a swindler from the Martial World who gets by on smooth talk. If I’ve offended you in the past, I hope you can forgive me. You’re a magnanimous person, surely you don’t need to trouble yourself with a small fry like me."

"Small fry?" Su Yuan laughed again. "You were able to recognize that the Gu I use is of superior quality. How could you be a small fry?"

The color drained from Yun Heqing’s face. He had only ever said those words to one person: Chen Ye.

’But I was so careful at the time, how could she possibly know? Could Chen Ye have told her? No, that’s impossible. That Chen guy didn’t seem like the type to betray a friend for a pretty face.’