The eting inside Zimo's opulent office had been nothing short of a battlefield.
For four long hours, the four powerful clan leaders and the city lord clashed over who would lead the newly ford rchant guild, created under the influence of the Celestial Heavenly Store.
Heated argunts, raised voices, and endless accusations filled the room as each clan vied for power, their ambitions clouding any sense of reason.
The atmosphere was tense, thick with frustration and the weight of generations-old rivalries.
Zimo, seated calmly at his desk, barely reacted to the chaos unfolding around him. He allowed them to argue and shout, silently observing as their true colors erged.
He knew that this decision would reshape the political landscape of the city, giving imnse power to the chosen clans, and he had every intention of letting them fight for it.
Finally, after hours of relentless bickering, the decision was made: the Sun Clan and the Wei Clan would lead the new rchant guild.
As the leaders filed out of the store, the Sun clan leader, an elderly man with a sharp gaze, wore a grin so wide it seed as if his face would split.
His hands were clasped confidently behind his back, and he walked with a triumphant swagger.
Beside him, the Wei clan leader mirrored his expression, his steps heavy with satisfaction.
The two n exchanged glances, wordlessly basking in their shared victory. The future was now theirs to shape, and their clans would reap the rewards for generations to co.
The Sun clan leader's mind was already racing with plans. 'This is the beginning of a new era for our clan. Let them envy us—we've earned it.'
anwhile, the Wei clan leader couldn't help but smirk to himself. 'Finally, the Wei na will stand at the top, no longer second to anyone. The death of my son did not go in vain'
Behind them, the other two leaders followed their faces stark contrasts to the jubilant n ahead.
The Mo clan leader, a stern and dignified woman, walked with clenched fists, her expression twisted with frustration.
She had fought hard for her clan's position, only to be denied. Her lips pressed tightly together as she fought to suppress the anger threatening to spill over.
Her sharp eyes lingered on the backs of the two triumphant n ahead of her, resentnt burning in her chest.
'They think they've won, but this isn't over.' Mo thought, her mind already plotting her next move.
Beside her was the city lord, a man once revered for his authority and control over the city's affairs.
His face was dark with barely contained fury. It wasn't just the loss of power that irked him—it was the sheer audacity of the Sun and Wei clan leaders.
How dare they?
Not once had they shown him the respect he was due as city lord during the entire eting. Instead, they treated him as though he were an obstacle, sothing to be brushed aside.
'Have I lost all my authority?' The thought gnawed at him. 'When did these re clan leaders stop fearing ?'
His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. The grievance was almost too much to bear.
He wanted to lash out, to remind them who held true power in this city, but he knew it was too late.
The decision had been made, and now the Sun and Wei clans would rise, further diminishing his influence.
The city lord's thoughts were bitter as he trailed behind the group. 'They'll pay for this insolence. I won't be ignored much longer.'
Last on the trail was the Feng clan leader, moving with a steady, unhurried pace. His face remained a mask of neutrality, revealing neither joy nor disappointnt.
Unlike the other leaders whose emotions were clearly written on their faces, his was unreadable, giving nothing away. Those who glanced at him would find no hint of what thoughts occupied his mind.
But beneath that calm exterior, his thoughts churned with quiet intensity.
'If this continues, it's only a matter of ti before my clan fades into obscurity,' he mused, his eyes narrowing slightly as his gaze drifted toward the bustling city streets.
'I won't allow that. My clan can't, and won't, lag behind any longer.'
The decision today had been a blow, but not a fatal one. While the Sun and Wei clans celebrated their triumph, the Feng clan leader was already calculating his next move.
'The adventure guild...' His thoughts turned toward the future.
It was ti to push every able-bodied mber of his clan to join it. That guild held the real key to survival in this ever-changing city.
The Fire Resistance Robes sold by the Celestial Heavenly Store were a re glimpse of what adventurers would have access to, and that was what he intended to capitalize on.
Though the rchant guild was now out of his grasp, the adventure guild offered an entirely different avenue of opportunity, one that aligned with the plans he had quietly set in motion long before the rchant guild was even conceived.
'Let the Sun and Wei clans have their mont of glory, he thought, his lips pressing together in a thin line. They won't see what's coming. When the ti is right, my clan will rise, not through trade, but through strength and strategy.'
…
The following day, the news of the newly created rchant guild spread throughout the city like wildfire, catching everyone off guard.
The flas of excitent surrounding the Fire Resistance Robe had barely begun to die down, and now the Celestial Heavenly Store had released another bombshell that sent shock waves through the city.
The thought of a rchant guild appearing in Dongping City threw the entire populace into a frenzy. Those who had been unable to join the adventure guild rushed to seize this new opportunity.
The streets buzzed with excitent as rchants, traders, and even common folk discussed the implications of the guild.
To be part of the Celestial Heavenly Store's network now seed like the key to unimaginable wealth and influence.
anwhile, inside the inn, Wu Xia and her group were taken by surprise when a young lady in a maid uniform appeared before them.
"Are you serious?" Wu Xia asked, her eyes wide with astonishnt.
"Yes," the maid responded with a calm nod.
Instantly, a bright smile broke across Wu Xia's face.
The eting from the day before had left her disappointed, and she had thought all hope of collaborating with the mysterious Celestial Heavenly Store had slipped through her fingers.
She had ntally prepared herself for the possibility of rejection.
But who would have expected the sa indifferent store owner to summon them the next day?
Without a mont of hesitation, Wu Xia and Mr. Hu followed the maid out of the inn. Their hearts raced, pounding with a mixture of nervousness, anticipation, and a touch of fear.
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