Chapter 95: Visiting the City Lord.
The following day.
"How is it?" Jun Wu asked, his sharp gaze fixed on Elder Peng, who stood stiffly before him.
"Young Master," Elder Peng replied, his voice laced with suppressed fury, "they refused. I tried to be reasonable with them, but those piles of shit dared not give me any face."
Jun Wu leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, though a storm flickered faintly in his eyes. "Tell me the clan names."
To say he wasn’t furious would be a lie. But he knew...
Anger was useless here.
Dwelling on spilled milk would not make any difference, and Jun Wu was not the type to lash out blindly.
He preferred to move with precision.
Besides, he already knew these clans were nothing but lackeys, pawns dancing to the tune of a greater mastermind.
"Young Master," Elder Peng said solemnly, "They are the Chen clan, the Lian clan, and the Han clan."
Jun Wu’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Those were not small fry.
They were the three largest metal ore businesses in Mystic City, their networks sprawling across countless mines.
Without any warning, the three clans had suddenly decided to stop selling metal ore to them.
Even worse, they had returned the money for shipments that had already been paid for, a blatant insult.
Elder Peng’s fists clenched tightly.
If not for Jun Wu’s carefully laid plans, he would have already revealed his identity as a Grade-1 Blacksmith and crushed those fools to teach them a lesson.
Jun Wu, however, remained composed.
He rose slowly to his feet, the calmness in his demeanor more terrifying than outright rage.
His enemies thought they could cripple his business from the inside out.
Without iron ore, how could he forge the array plates that were now in demand across the city and beyond?
If they thought cutting off his supply would make him bow his head, they were gravely mistaken.
"Tell Zhang Wei to prepare the carriage," Jun Wu said, his tone steady but cold as steel. "We’re going to the Array Formation Association."
Elder Peng bowed his head. "At once, Young Master."
Since the enemies had already bared their fangs, Jun Wu had no reason to remain passive.
If they wanted to play this game, then it was time for him to make his move—a big one.
A short while later, a carriage pulled to a stop in front of the grand building of the Array Formation Association.
The streets were bustling, but the moment the carriage appeared, countless eyes turned toward it.
The apprentices and junior members of the association who were stationed outside paused their work and whispered among themselves.
Creak!
The carriage door swung open, and a young man stepped out. His presence alone caused a ripple of excitement.
"Is... is that him?" a young girl stammered, her hands trembling with excitement as she gripped the sleeves of her robes.
"Wow! This is the first time I’ve seen him up close," another apprentice whispered, eyes wide with admiration.
"What do you think? Should we ask him for a pointer?" one dared to suggest, only to be silenced by the incredulous looks of his companions.
Jun Wu smiled faintly at their enthusiasm as he strode casually toward the association’s entrance.
Inside the lobby, the commotion grew even greater.
Everyone recognized him instantly.
In the world of array formation, Jun Wu was a rising star, a celebrity, the undisputed number one genius whose name carried weight far beyond the city.
Elders and senior members poured out of the corridors one after another to greet him warmly, their respect evident in every word and gesture.
Jun Wu responded with polite nods and calm words, but his pace never faltered.
Only after carefully extricating himself from their enthusiasm did he finally manage to find some space.
"Is the president around?" Jun Wu asked Elder Shen, who had just approached him.
"Yes, Young Master. The president was informed of your arrival and is waiting for you," Elder Shen replied respectfully, bowing her head.
She still felt immense gratitude toward Jun Wu. He had once enlightened her and the president when they had been lost in the wrong path of array formation.
His words had shifted her perspective entirely, allowing her to break free of her stagnation. Without him, she might have spent the rest of her life fumbling against the current.
Beside her, Elder Kang also smiled warmly at Jun Wu.
Though he did not know the full story of what transpired between Jun Wu, Elder Shen, and the president, he had noticed the subtle yet profound changes in Elder Shen since then.
The hints she occasionally gave him only deepened his respect for Jun Wu.
After exchanging pleasantries, the two elders guided Jun Wu to the president’s office before respectfully excusing themselves.
Creak!
Jun Wu pushed open the wooden door.
The scent of ink and old scrolls lingered in the air. The president sat behind his desk, a smile lighting up his features as soon as his eyes landed on Jun Wu.
"Young Master Wu, welcome," the president said warmly. "Do you care for tea?"
"Perhaps another time," Jun Wu replied with a small shake of his head. His gaze was steady. "President, I need your help with something."
The seriousness in his voice immediately put the president on alert. He set aside his teacup, his expression sobering as he straightened his back.
"Young Master, please speak. If there is anything I can help with, I will do my utmost."
Jun Wu nodded and explained the situation in concise detail—the refusal of the Chen, Lian, and Han clans, their breach of trust, and how they had attempted to choke his supply of iron ore.
The president’s expression darkened. His hand tightened around the armrest of his chair.
"Those bastards!" he spat, unable to suppress his anger.
Merchant clans cared for nothing but profit.
Their loyalty was fickle, shifting to wherever the money flowed. Such people were unreliable.
Still, he did not waste time brooding over their treachery. The problem was pressing, and a solution was needed.
"Young Master," the president said solemnly, "I can only think of one solution."
Jun Wu’s gaze sharpened. "Which is?"
"The City Lord," the president replied firmly.
"The City Lord controls many of the mines in and around Mystic City. If he agrees to supply you directly, the threats of those clans will mean nothing."
Jun Wu considered it briefly, then nodded. The logic was flawless. "You’re right. No clan can compare to the authority of the one who rules the city. How can I meet him?"
"That is easy," the president said with a smile. He rose to his feet. "Young Master, let us go together."
Inside the grand office of the City Lord’s manor, Jun Wu and the president sat quietly across from the Mystic City Lord.
The City Lord was not an imposing man by appearance—average in build, with calm features—but his presence carried the weight of authority.
His deep eyes lingered on Jun Wu for a long moment before a faint smile broke across his face.
He remembered clearly the day Jun Wu had restored and even improved the city’s defensive array.
Since then, Jun Wu’s name had spread through every corner of Mystic City, earning him the favor of both the city and the academy.
And now, an opportunity to repay that debt had arrived.
"Young Master Wu," the City Lord said, his tone steady yet carrying the warmth of sincerity, "this is nothing. From this moment onward, the city itself will supply you with all the iron ore you require."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he made his declaration.