Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

The lamb soup, in particular, was a favorite among the dockworkers of the Sea Guardian Guard.

Men like them, who did heavy manual labor, were always craving something rich and fatty, but they couldn’t afford large cuts of meat. So, someone came up with the idea of making soup from lamb offal.

And that was how lamb soup came to be.

Chen Ye’s bowl contained lamb intestines cooked until falling-apart tender, crisp tripe, and a few cubes of bright red blood curd.

The broth was a milky white, without the slightest gamey smell. It didn’t need many seasonings—just a light sprinkle of pepper and fine salt. He took a sip, and a current of warmth instantly flowed down his throat and into his stomach, spreading out to every limb. On a cold winter day like this, it was pure bliss.

With their bellies full, everyone was content and just about to head home.

Just then, they noticed the crowd ahead was surging in one direction, a cacophony of noise suggesting some major event was taking place.

"Hey, friend, what’s going on up there?" Tie Dan asked, grabbing a passerby.

"Hey! The City God Temple invited the Mingfeng Troupe to perform for three straight days! It’s free, you should go check it out!"

Hearing there was a play to watch—and from a famous city troupe, no less—everyone was suddenly intrigued. They forgot all about going home and pushed forward with the crowd.

When they arrived at the square in front of the City God Temple—my goodness, it was an absolute sea of people.

Since there was no admission fee and the performers were famous, people had flocked from all the surrounding towns and villages.

Chen Ye and his friends had to struggle with all their might just to find a decent spot in the crowd.

Before long, a gong sounded with a loud CLANG, followed by a rapid drumbeat. The grand play had begun.

The first act was *Uproar in Heaven*, depicting the birth of the Monkey King and his spectacular battle against a hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals, which earned thunderous cheers from the crowd.

Immediately after, the scene changed. The sound of the gongs and drums turned gentle and melodious.

The announcer stepped forward and shouted, "Next up, *Peach Blossom Fan*!"

The moment the words left his mouth, a stir went through the audience.

A Cyan Robe actress in a pink costume entered the stage with slow, graceful, lotus-like steps.

Her figure was graceful, her long water sleeves fluttering lightly. Her face was delicately powdered and rouged, her eyes and brows as perfect as a painting.

With just a single pose and a single glance, she perfectly embodied both the gentle charm and the unyielding spirit of the famous Qinhuai courtesan.

"BRAVO!!!"

The audience instantly erupted in a tsunami of cheers.

Beside Chen Ye, Tie Dan, Chunyan, and the others were utterly captivated. They stared with mouths agape, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the figure on stage.

After a long moment, Tie Dan wiped the drool from his chin and couldn’t help but exclaim, "My heavens... To sing that well, how many beatings must she have taken!"

Chen Ye was just as stunned. It was the first time he had truly experienced the charisma of one of this world’s top performers.

When *Peach Blossom Fan* concluded, the audience remained spellbound. After a long pause, they erupted in cheers even more thunderous than any that had come before.

The play ended, but the crowd didn’t disperse. The City God Temple was giving out free vegetarian meals that day.

So, the crowd surged towards the temple.

The moment Tie Dan heard there was food, his craving was instantly sparked. He grabbed Chen Ye and began to push his way into the temple.

Once inside, Chen Ye took in the sights of the City God Temple. With its green bricks, red walls, upturned eaves, and interlocking brackets, it was magnificently built.

Chen Ye wasn’t particularly interested in the vegetarian meal, so while Tie Dan and the others lined up for food, he wandered through the great halls by himself.

The main hall enshrined the City God. The statue depicted him with a Golden Body and a furious glare, radiating an intimidating aura. Flanking the City God were the Civil and Military Judges, Ox Head and Horse Face, and other Yin Department Divine Generals. Each one was terrifyingly lifelike, with a ferocious expression that would make anyone tremble in fear.

There was also a couplet at the hall’s entrance.

The first line read, "If your deeds are wicked, your incense is wasted." The second line: "If your heart is righteous, your failure to bow is no offense."

’Interesting!’

After studying it for a while, Chen Ye looked around, hoping to run into the young Daoist named Ge Kun again. Unfortunately, his search was fruitless.

After they finished the vegetarian meal, it was already getting dark, so the group headed for home.

For the next two days, Chen Ye and the others returned to the City God Temple square right on time to watch the opera.

The Mingfeng Troupe truly lived up to its reputation. For two days straight, every performance was a masterpiece, leaving the audience mesmerized and shouting for more.

In the blink of an eye, it was the final day of the engagement.

But when the opening gongs and drums sounded, Chen Ye’s brow furrowed slightly.

’Something’s not right.’

’Today’s drumming is completely different from the past two days.’

’The music for the past two days was loud and festive, creating a lively atmosphere. But today’s drumming is dull and oppressive, and the gong is sharp and piercing. It sounds like it’s clearing a path for something... it has an indescribably eerie quality to it.’

The common folk might not have noticed the subtleties, thinking it was just a bit odd. But Chen Ye, with his experience, could clearly discern the cold, murderous aura embedded in the music.

The announcer stepped forward and shouted, "The final act: *Kaiyin Mountain*!"

At this announcement, the faces of many of the older people in the audience paled.

This was because *Kaiyin Mountain* wasn’t some romantic tale of scholars and beauties, but a genuine Ghost Play. It told the story of Mulian saving his mother, breaking into the Underworld to deliver lonely, wandering spirits from their suffering.

This kind of play wasn’t performed on ordinary days; it was only staged for religious ceremonies or other highly significant occasions.

As the opera began, the atmosphere in the square changed in an instant.

The stage filled with a sinister Ghost Qi as green-faced, tusked Ghost Soldiers and disheveled, vengeful spirits appeared one by one.

The singing was no longer gentle and melodious, but high-pitched and shrill, as if it could pierce a person’s eardrums and stab straight into their Divine Spirit.

The audience had never witnessed such a spectacle. They were all frightened into silence, and the more timid children burst into tears.