Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

On the long street, all was silent.

The once-bustling Marketplace was now deserted. A frigid wind, carrying flurries of snow, cut at one’s face like a knife.

In weather like this, the poor huddled in their homes, using their body heat to fight the bitter cold and praying they would survive the winter.

In stark contrast to the dead silence outside, a grand procession was slowly advancing through the accumulated snow.

Bright yellow dragon banners snapped in the wind and snow. Soldiers of the Imperial Guard, clad in Heavy Armor, flanked the incomparably magnificent imperial carriage, their presence imposing and severe.

Chen Ye sat upright within the carriage, gazing indifferently at the snowy scene outside through the thick glass window.

The journey from the Imperial Palace to the Celestial Altar was not particularly long. After passing through this long street and crossing a stone bridge named Changning, they would be nearly there.

Just as the grand procession set foot on the bridge, disaster struck!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Dozens of sharp whistling sounds suddenly cut through the air. The ice under the bridge shattered, and from the frigid river water emerged dozens of Assassins dressed in white.

Using the bridge piers for cover, they raised powerful crossbows, pulled the triggers, and unleashed a torrent of poisoned Crossbow Arrows toward the imperial carriage like a swarm of locusts.

"Protect His Majesty!"

The Imperial Guard on the perimeter roared and raised their Shields.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Crossbow Arrows struck the thick, specially-made walls of the imperial carriage, only to leave behind white marks, failing to penetrate at all.

Their first volley having failed, the white-clad Death Warriors fearlessly vaulted up from under the bridge, long sabers glinting with a deadly cold light as they charged madly toward the imperial carriage.

The few Death Warriors at the forefront moved with incredible speed, breaking through the defensive line the Imperial Guard had hastily formed and lunging straight for the carriage door.

One of them wore a savage grin, his long saber raised high, poised to cleave the carriage door in two.

But at that very moment, a cold glint of light shot out from a gap in the carriage curtain.

PFFT!

The Death Warrior’s savage grin froze on his face. A Flying Saber, no more than three inches long, was now embedded between his eyebrows. He fell backward, stiff as a board, his warm blood splashing across the snow, a shockingly vivid sight.

Immediately after, several more cold glints flew out, each one precisely claiming a life.

These few Death Warriors who had rushed to the front fell into pools of their own blood, following in their comrades’ footsteps without even seeing who inside the carriage had struck.

This bizarre scene momentarily halted the advance of the other Death Warriors charging from behind.

And in that fleeting instant, a large contingent of the Imperial Guard appeared on the street in the distance. They arrived at incredible speed, swiftly surrounding the stone bridge and completely trapping the white-clad Death Warriors.

The group of white-clad Death Warriors had clearly not expected an ambush, and their formation instantly fell into chaos.

Although each was a skilled fighter, they stood no chance against an enemy that outnumbered them several times over, was well-equipped, and had been lying in wait.

The battle was a one-sided slaughter.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the cries of battle had ceased. Bodies lay strewn across the bridge, and crimson blood had stained the snow a shocking, dark red.

Tong Lei strode to the imperial carriage, knelt on one knee, and announced in a voice like a great bell, "Your Majesty, the traitors have all been vanquished!"

A slender hand drew back the carriage curtain, and Chen Ye slowly stepped out. He stood atop the carriage, looked at the corpses littering the ground, and said coolly, "Search them!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The soldiers of the Imperial Guard immediately moved forward and began to search the bodies of the Death Warriors.

Soon, an officer reported loudly, "Your Majesty, we found tokens bearing the marks of the Cui and Wang Families on these traitors!"

As he spoke, he presented several blood-stained wooden tokens with both hands.

At these words, an uproar went through all the soldiers present.

The Cui Family? The Wang Family?

These two paramount families, whose power overshadowed the entire court, dared to assassinate the Monarch?!

Of course, this so-called evidence had all been prepared in advance on Chen Ye’s orders, only to be "discovered" by Tong Lei’s trusted subordinates.

Regardless of whether the Cui and Wang Families had actually sent these white-clad Death Warriors, the blame had to be pinned on them.

After all, what Chen Ye wanted was a legitimate justification. Nothing else mattered.

Chen Ye took the tokens, glanced at them once, then threw them to the ground. His tone was glacial.

"Cui Lang and Wang Yuanzhi have attempted regicide and conspired to rebel. Their crime is treason!"

"I hereby declare the Cui and Wang Families to be traitors and rebels!"

"Tong Lei, hear my command!"

"Your humble general is here!" Tong Lei answered loudly.

"I command you to immediately lead the Imperial Guard to raid the mansions of the two traitors, Cui and Wang. Anyone within who resists is to be killed without mercy!"

"This general obeys!"

With the order given, several thousand soldiers of the Imperial Guard swiftly split into two forces and charged, brimming with killing intent, toward the mansions of the Cui and Wang Families.

「Meanwhile, inside the Cui Mansion.」

Cui Lang and Wang Yuanzhi were waiting for good news from the front.

In their eyes, the plan was flawless.

With over a hundred Death Warriors trained since childhood, plus a surprise ambush, how could that yellow-mouthed whelp possibly survive?

"Heh heh, once the news arrives, we can claim that His Majesty was killed by rogue Refugees. Then we’ll install an obedient new Monarch on the throne, and the world of Great Zhao will be ours for the taking," Wang Yuanzhi said, lifting his teacup, his face a mask of unconcealed triumph.

Cui Lang stroked his beard and smiled, just about to speak.

Suddenly, heaven-shaking cries of battle erupted outside!

The color drained from both their faces at once.

"What’s happening?"

A steward came scrambling and stumbling into the room, his face filled with terror. "Patriarch, it’s terrible! The Imperial Guard... the Imperial Guard is attacking! They’ve surrounded the mansion!"

What?!

Cui Lang and Wang Yuanzhi froze as if struck by lightning. The teacups in their hands fell to the floor with a CRASH, shattering into a thousand pieces.

The Imperial Guard?

’How could they have gotten here so fast? Don’t tell me the plan was exposed beforehand?’

’But how is that possible?’

Before they could figure out what was happening, a tremendous BOOM came from the direction of the main gate, accompanied by the screams of countless servants.

Volleys of cold arrows flew over the high walls, mercilessly piercing the household guards and servants who were attempting a futile resistance.

With just a single volley of arrows, the Cui Mansion’s resistance was completely crushed.

BOOM!

After the heavy gates were brutally smashed open, soldiers of the Imperial Guard, clad in Heavy Armor, poured in like a pack of wolves.

"It’s over... It’s all over..."

Wang Yuanzhi’s face was ashen as he slumped to the floor.

Cui Lang, being the more seasoned of the two, yanked Wang Yuanzhi to his feet and said sharply, "What are you panicking for? ’Where there’s life, there’s hope.’ Come on, we’ll use the secret passage."

The two of them fled frantically toward the rear courtyard.

But just as they reached the entrance to the inner residence, a squad of elite Armored Warriors, radiating killing intent, caught up to them from behind.

The one in the lead was none other than the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Tong Lei.

He had received Chen Ye’s instructions beforehand and knew the principle of ’to catch bandits, first catch the king.’ Thus, the moment the main gate was breached, he had charged straight for the rear residence.

"Lord Cui, Lord Wang, where might you two be going?"

A cold, mocking smile touched Tong Lei’s lips as he slowly drew the saber from his waist. "His Majesty has issued a decree. He has ordered me to invite you both... to the Imperial Prison for a cup of tea."