Chapter 101: Plan Goes Wrong.
Jun Wu and Mei Ling left the City Lord’s library when the sun had already dipped beyond the horizon, painting the streets in shades of red and gold before giving way to night.
Jun Wu stared at Mei Ling and asked softly. "If you don’t mind, why don’t you stay in my mansion?"
She had come from Frostwind City without any family in Mystic City. Thus, he believed it was his duty to look after her.
"I don’t want to trouble you further," she said firmly, though her eyes softened when she saw his faint frown.
In the end, she found a modest inn nearby and decided to stay there instead.
They had both agreed to explore the ancient ruin after Jun Wu’s open lecture in a few days, and she wanted space to prepare her mind.
Back in his mansion, Jun Wu sat under the pavilion.
The fragrance of freshly cooked dishes drifting up into the cool night air.
A low table was set before him, covered with an array of meals, roasted beast meat, fragrant rice, and delicately prepared vegetables, all arranged with care.
He picked at each dish slowly, savoring every bite with a faint, satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
"Xinyue, your cooking has once again improved," he said warmly, raising his head to meet the shy figure standing a little to the side.
Xinyue’s cheeks flushed crimson at his words. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "Y-Young Master... Do you really like it?"
Jun Wu nodded without hesitation. "Of course, I like it. I can’t wait to eat your food every day."
The words lit up her face with a bright smile, one that seemed to chase away the shadows of the night.
She had worked tirelessly to improve her cooking, reading every book she could find whenever she had a spare moment in the store.
Each dish was the result of countless hours of effort and experiments, failures and triumphs.
Now, hearing Jun Wu’s sincere compliment, all her struggles felt worthwhile.
Outside the pavilion, Zhang Wei and Mao Yun approached them.
"Uncle Zhang, Uncle Mao," Xinyue greeted them politely, "Would you like to eat as well?"
The two exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.
Mao Yun gave a small bow. "Miss Xinyue, please don’t trouble yourself. Besides, we are not hungry."
"Alright," she said softly. "If you change your mind, just let me know." With that, she excused herself, leaving the men to their conversation.
Jun Wu’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure for a moment before he turned back. "How is it?" he asked in a low tone.
"Young Master," Mao Yun reported respectfully, "The three clans have not revealed your name."
They had given the three merchant clans a harsh lesson and even set the Gong clan’s store ablaze.
Jun Wu had anticipated retaliation and had already devised several countermeasures.
But instead of striking back, the three clan masters had chosen to remain quiet.
Jun Wu’s brows furrowed slightly.
"Cunning," he muttered.
Even if they had guessed who was responsible for the Gong clan’s destruction, they had decided not to say it aloud.
"What of the other forces?" he asked casually, lifting a piece of soft beast meat with his chopsticks.
He placed it in his mouth, savoring the tender flavor.
It was cooked to perfection, and he couldn’t help but nod in appreciation.
"Young Master," Mao Yun continued, "Everyone is merely speculating. Many wonder who destroyed the store, but no one suspects you."
Jun Wu gave a faint smile. "Just as we predicted."
To many, he was only an array master, skilled, yes, but far from someone to be feared on a grand scale. They underestimated him and this was what he was betting on.
His gaze shifted to Zhang Wei. "How are the preparations for the hideout and the tavern?"
"Young Master," Zhang Wei replied, "The tavern’s renovation will be completed tomorrow. As for the hideout... we still need another week."
Jun Wu’s expression hardened. "Time is not on our side. Speed it up. After the open lecture, we need to act swiftly."
Zhang Wei bowed his head. "I’ll see to it immediately."
....
Elsewhere in the city, while Jun Wu plotted against his enemies, a shadow crept forward.
A group of men clad in black robes slunk through the streets under the cover of night, their faces hidden beneath their hoods.
Their destination: the Blazing Sun Pavilion.
The pavilion had no guards patrolling its area, which made the intruders’ work all too easy.
With practiced ease, they scaled the outer fence and dropped silently into the backyard, moving like hunting wolves.
Their mission was straightforward—steal the array plates and uncover the secrets behind them.
At a silent hand signal from their leader, the five thieves split apart and fanned into different directions.
One by one, they searched every room in the pavilion, but their swift, silent searches yielded nothing.
The leader’s brows furrowed beneath his hood.
How is this possible?
They had combed through every corner.
He shook his head, they must have overlooked something.
They tried again, this time searching even more thoroughly, overturning everything.
Yet when the second round of frantic searching ended, they were met with the same result.
Not a single array plate was found.
The five gathered once more, fury flashing in their eyes.
"Burn it down," the leader growled.
If they couldn’t retrieve their objective, then they would leave only ruin behind.
This would even please their employer.
They searched for rags or kindling, but to their confusion, there was none to be found.
The pavilion seemed strangely devoid of anything flammable.
"Outside then," the leader snapped coldly. "We’ll torch it from there."
Nodding in agreement, the thieves rushed toward the wall. With quick, fluid motions, they scaled over the fence, only to land back inside the courtyard they had just left.
All of them froze.
"What... what just happened?" one thief muttered in disbelief.
They had clearly leapt over the wall, but here they were again, standing in the same backyard.
"I don’t believe this," another spat, his voice rising with panic. He sprinted to a distant wall and jumped over it with all his strength.
Whoosh!
Bang!
He landed roughly, just a few paces from where the others stood.
Their eyes widened in horror, hearts thundering like war drums in their chests.
What kind of sorcery was this?
How could they jump the wall, only to reappear where they had started?
Unease twisted in their stomachs, but desperation forced them to cling to stubbornness.
"I don’t know what trick this is," the leader barked, his tone heavy and grim, "but we cannot give up. Attack! Destroy everything if we must!"
None of them realized that they had already stepped into an Illusory Array Formation.
Their fate, though they did not yet know it, was sealed the moment they crossed the fence.