Chapter 124 - 105: General’s Divine Thought, Gaining a New Skill

Chapter 124: Chapter 105: General’s Divine Thought, Gaining a New Skill

Chen Ye frowned slightly, but he didn’t dwell on it.

With thousands of people in the audience, each with their own thoughts, it was only natural to receive a few greedy stares.

After the votive opera ended, Chen Ye was backstage removing his makeup.

The Old Temple Priest from the General Temple rushed over with a group of Stewards, his face flush with excitement, and gave Chen Ye a deep bow.

"Boss Chen, you truly live up to your name as the Immortal! After this votive opera, the Grand General’s resentment has dissipated greatly. This will guarantee several years of favorable weather for the Sea Guardian Guard."

Chen Ye quickly helped the Old Temple Priest up. "You’re too kind, old sir. This is merely my duty. There’s no need for such ceremony."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Ye followed the Temple Priest and his entourage into the main hall.

He looked up at the solemn and majestic statue of General Qin Lie, feeling that the aura it emitted was identical to the Divine Thought he had sensed on stage, only much more peaceful.

Chen Ye then took three incense sticks, bowed respectfully three times, and then turned to leave.

This votive opera, which had triggered a celestial phenomenon, firmly cemented Chen Ye’s title as the Immortal.

Moreover, his influence was no longer confined to the Sea Guardian Guard; his great name had reached several surrounding cities.

Countless people flocked to see him, willing to spend a fortune just to watch a performance by the Immortal at the Guangle Building with their own eyes.

Because of this, tickets to the Guangle Building were scalped at exorbitant prices, yet they were still impossible to find.

Seemingly oblivious to the outside world’s clamor, Chen Ye continued his disciplined life: practicing his skills, performing operas, studying scripts, and remaining completely focused.

Meanwhile, a detailed file on Chen Ye was delivered into the hands of Yan Xun.

Yan Xun pored over it, afraid of missing a single detail.

"Born in a brothel?"

"A year ago, he escaped from a brothel, joined the Qingchun Troupe by a stroke of luck to study opera, and then went from a student to the most famous name in the city... in less than a year?!"

Seeing this information, Yan Xun’s face was filled with astonishment. If this report hadn’t been delivered by his most trusted subordinate, he would have thought it was some kind of prank.

’After all, what kind of immortal could master the art of opera to such a sublime degree in just one year?’

But soon, Yan Xun put the report down, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

In his eyes, Chen Ye’s background actually made things simpler.

Though he seemed glamorous and dazzling now, at his roots, he was still a mud-legged peasant from the lowest rungs of society.

And being from the bottom meant he had a narrow worldview and had never seen true wealth.

Therefore, people like him were the easiest to control.

’As long as I offer a high enough price, he can definitely be bought.’

For the next few days, Yan Xun became a regular at the Guangle Building.

He booked the best private room and watched two more of Chen Ye’s signature performances.

The more he watched, the stronger his desire to possess him became.

’This is no longer just an Actor. He’s my ladder to the heavens, my path to power and success!’

On this day, after the opera ended and the audience dispersed, Yan Xun didn’t move. He simply sat quietly in his private room until the crowds downstairs gradually thinned.

Soon, the theater manager, Deng Ming, was brought over by his subordinates.

"Sir, you were looking for me?" Deng Ming asked, his heart pounding as he looked at the distinguished young man before him and the formidable, black-clad bodyguards behind him.

Yan Xun said nothing. He simply took a one-hundred-silver-coin note from his robes, held it between two fingers, and placed it gently on the table.

"I want to go backstage and see Boss Chen."

Deng Ming’s eyelids twitched violently.

’One hundred silver coins!’

’His annual salary was only five hundred silver coins; this one gesture was worth more than two months of his wages.’

But he still wore a troubled expression. "My deepest apologies, sir, but Boss Chen has a rule: he doesn’t see any guests after a performance. It’s..."

"I’m not a guest," Yan Xun interrupted him, his tone flat. "I’m from the Capital City, and I also support an Opera Troupe. You could say I’m a colleague of Boss Chen’s. Having heard of the Immortal’s great name, I’ve come especially to pay a visit and exchange a few pointers. I hope Manager Deng can make it convenient."

’From the Capital City? And he supports an Opera Troupe?’

Deng Ming’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at the silver note again, and the scales in his heart tipped instantly.

’Visits and exchanges between peers were common in the Peach Garden Lineage; it wouldn’t be breaking the rules.’

He gritted his teeth, plastered a smile on his face, and discreetly slipped the silver note into his sleeve.

"So you’re a great Class Leader from the Capital City! My apologies for the disrespect! This way, please. I’ll take you there right now."

In the backstage dressing room, Chen Ye had just taken off his Phoenix Crown and was about to undo his hair bun.

After a knock on the door, Chen Ye said, "Come in," and saw Deng Ming push the door open, followed by Yan Xun.

"Boss Chen, this is Boss Yan. He’s from the Capital City and is also one of us in the opera business. He was so impressed after watching your performance that he insisted on coming to pay his respects," Deng Ming introduced with a fawning smile.

At the same time, Yan Xun’s gaze fell upon Chen Ye, and for a moment, he was completely captivated.

Chen Ye hadn’t removed his makeup yet. He wore a magnificent Cyan Robe costume, his face was powdered white, and his features were exquisite.

That androgynous, peerless elegance, even to someone like Yan Xun who was accustomed to stunning beauties and famous actors, was truly unparalleled in the world.

He even felt that Yu Fengxian, the celebrated star from the Capital City who was praised to the heavens, seemed to lack some of the otherworldly, ethereal aura of the person before him.

"Boss Yan, I’ll leave you to chat with Boss Chen. I’ll see myself out," Deng Ming said, taking the hint and discreetly exiting.

Although Chen Ye didn’t know who this man was, his sharp intuition, a benefit of his Professional Talent, allowed him to sense an extremely uncomfortable possessiveness in the man’s undisguised, scrutinizing gaze.

He frowned, his voice cold. "What is it?"

Yan Xun snapped back to reality and smiled faintly. His gaze, however, swept around the small dressing room before he shook his head and sighed.

"For Boss Chen, with your heaven-defying abilities, to be relegated to such a humble place... it is truly a case of a pearl cast into the darkness. A pity, such a pity."

Chen Ye didn’t speak, merely watching him coldly, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing that Chen Ye was unmoved, Yan Xun stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

"Boss Chen, come with me to the Capital City. My Yan Family has its own theater in the Capital City, more than ten times larger than this Guangle Building. So long as you agree, I guarantee you’ll become the most famous star in the Capital. Princes and nobles will be your honored guests, and the Royal Family and Relatives will spend fortunes on you. Gold, silver, jewels, luxurious mansions, beautiful companions... whatever you want, you’ll have."

The terms he offered were undeniably generous. In his view, no one who had clawed their way up from the bottom could possibly refuse such a temptation.

Because this was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step.

However, Chen Ye’s reaction was completely unexpected.

"Not interested."

Chen Ye’s reply was crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

The smile on Yan Xun’s face froze. He thought he must have misheard. "What did you say?"

"I said, I will not go with you." Chen Ye picked up a cloth and began wiping the greasepaint from his face, his movements unhurried. "I appreciate Boss Yan’s kind offer, but I must decline. Please leave."

Yan Xun’s expression darkened. He took a deep breath, suppressed his displeasure, and upped the ante.

"Boss Chen, think this through. I’m not offering you a monthly salary, I’m offering you a stake! I’ll give you a thirty percent non-contributory share in my theater. What can this backwater place, the Sea Guardian Guard, possibly offer you? A lifetime of performing here can’t compare to one glorious year in the Capital City!"

A thirty percent non-contributory share!

This was no longer a recruitment offer; it was an invitation to become a partner. It was enough to show Yan Xun’s "sincerity."

But Chen Ye didn’t even raise an eyelid.

"Are you finished?"

He set down the cloth, revealing a handsome face tinged with coldness.

"Boss Yan, as they say, those with different principles cannot work together. I will go to the Capital City, of course, but not now, and certainly not like this." Chen Ye’s gaze was as calm as still water, yet it held an unquestionable resolve.

"I will walk into the Capital City openly and honorably, on my own merits, and perform on the grandest stage—not be carried there like a piece of merchandise."

With that, he shouted, "Manager Deng, see our guest out!"