Wei Xiaofeng's eyes widened, confusion filling them. Their leader really was that confident in himself.
Xiao Mu looked at Wei Xiaofeng, speechless. Did clearing the way always have to mean fighting?
He stepped half a pace forward, raised his voice, and called out over the surrounding din, "Move aside. You're blocking the way."
The higher-grade students surrounding them all turned at the sound. The blonde girl turned around and raised an eyebrow when she saw who it was. "Can't you see we're dealing with someone?"
Several older students beside her immediately stepped forward, their expressions hostile. "You lower-grade students don't know the rules. Take a detour while you still can."
They all knew Mu Xi's identity, so of course they were going to stand up for her.
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi quietly gathered their Soul Power, ready in case the other side made a sudden move.
"These lackeys are such a pain."
Xiao Mu couldn't be bothered to argue any further. He stepped forward, and the First Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up. An invisible force field spread across the entire open area.
"Out of the way, you useless fools."
In an instant, the few older students who had just provoked him were caught off guard. Their bodies shot into the air, swept up by an invisible force, and spun around several times before crashing heavily into the landscaping.
Mu Xi's expression remained calm. She knew those few had brought this on themselves.
"Xiao Mu, couldn't you have waited until I was done showing off?" She knew this regular at the Blacksmith Association. The guy had absurdly high standards for the parts he ordered.
Even a hair's breadth off, and he wouldn't accept them.
The Blacksmith Association was famous for having lots of money and lots of hassle.
He even went around cursing that the Blacksmith Association was full of useless people who couldn't make a single part.
Unfortunately, in Xiao Mu's eyes, if they could make parts, weren't they just a bunch of high-level fitters? If they couldn't do this or that, what use were they?
I'm the client.
If I wanted black that was a riot of colors, that was my right.
I'd even become a Level Eight fitter myself. Of course, I'd given myself that Level Eight title. The fitter part was real.
But recently, some stubborn kid seemed to have taken on his parts order.
It was a batch of precision gears, and they had to be accurate.
Xiao Mu looked at Mu Xi and said coolly, "No. Absolutely not!"
Just then, Tang Wulin, who was waiting nearby to pick up some materials, looked puzzled and asked, "Who are you two?"
Mu Xi's lips curled with amusement. She raised a hand and pointed at Xiao Mu. "He's the one who posted the parts order you took.
"He's got plenty of money, and even more demands.
"He's extremely strict about the precision of his parts.
"I'd advise you to give up on that order as soon as possible. Even Level Four Blacksmiths wouldn't take it. Otherwise, why do you think it's worth a hundred thousand?"
Tang Wulin turned to look at Xiao Mu and awkwardly raised a hand in greeting, secretly fretting. "So this is the client who posted the order. I should be able to complete it, right?"
Xiao Mu's gaze settled on Tang Wulin. "Just follow my specifications and get every detail right. I won't make things difficult for you."
Then he looked toward Mu Xi. "What are you doing here today? Showing off those forging skills of yours that can't even produce a decent part?"
Mu Xi's face flushed red. "I can forge medium-sized parts on my own now. I'm not the same as I used to be."
"Oh? You failed to meet the standards for my beginner-level parts."
"I... I'm a Level Two Blacksmith now!"
"You haven't made a single one of my beginner-level parts to spec."
"Can you say something else for once?"
Mu Xi was so worked up that Xiao Mu had managed to get under her skin. Was he never going to let her live down that old failure? He made it sound as if anyone at the Blacksmith Association had ever gotten something right on the first try for him.
"Tang Wulin can take on my order. He's younger than you and already a Level Two Blacksmith! Oh, wait. I'm younger than you too, and I'm a Level Three Blacksmith."
Xiao Mu immediately changed his tune, completely unconcerned that Mu Xi was getting angry. He was only nine, so he still had the advantage of being ahead of his time.
Once he grew up, that advantage would disappear.
If he didn't make use of it now, when would he?
"Boss, I think she's the young lady of the East Sea Blacksmith Association. Won't you get in trouble for offending her?" Wei Xiaofeng hurriedly asked.
"No. I've already offended her several times!" Xiao Mu said, perfectly calm.
"Boss, you're incredible. With that personality, aren't you afraid you'll never find a girlfriend?" Wei Xiaofeng asked, perplexed.
"Once I'm strong enough, fate will find its way to me. What's there to be afraid of?" Xiao Mu wasn't worried in the slightest. At worst, he'd cultivate the path of ruthlessness.
What if it worked?!
Wei Xiaofeng felt he'd encountered a born bachelor and decided to take a step back. They'd already nearly ended their friendship over card games.
Just then, Mu Xi finally caught her breath. Xiao Mu was infuriating.
Sooner or later, she'd get Xiao Mu blacklisted by the Blacksmith Association. Was that order even meant for a human to complete?
Not even a god could meet those precision requirements.
"Xiao Mu, you jerk!" Her voice was full of anger. She was probably furious.
"If you've got nothing else, hurry up and leave. Otherwise, you'll end up like your lackey." Xiao Mu quickly shooed her away. He didn't want to go to the Intermediate Division's Academic Affairs Office and see the dean, Long Hengxu.
He'd been there so many times that people might start thinking he was a problem student.
"Seriously, don't you know how to treat a lady?" Mu Xi snapped.
"Please. I'm only nine. Why the hell would I need to know how to treat a lady?" Xiao Mu scoffed, looking unconcerned.
He was still ahead of the times, and that advantage was about to expire. He might as well use it while he could.
"I..." Mu Xi was completely out of things to say. She turned to Tang Wulin and said, "Remember, I want to compete with you in forging. I'll definitely beat you."
"What if he's better than you?" Xiao Mu casually added.
Mu Xi's foot slipped at his words, and she nearly stumbled.
Wei Xiaofeng secretly marveled. Xiao Mu truly was a role model for them all. His fists and feet were fierce enough, but he was just as sharp-tongued.
Tang Wulin put his thoughts in order and bowed in thanks. "Thank you. I wouldn't have known what to do without you."
"It's fine. They were the ones in the wrong." Xiao Mu didn't intend to get involved in this matter.
The main thing was, when enemies met, their eyes blazed with hatred.
The parts he'd ordered had been off by 0.006 millimeters. That grudge was etched into his bones.
He'd already gotten his revenge on the spot.
But that didn't stop him from holding a grudge.
He thought it over carefully, then looked at Tang Wulin. "Remember, the error in my parts can't exceed 0.005 millimeters."
Tang Wulin's heart fluttered with unease. He'd looked over the specifications, but the requirements really were harsh.
Meeting them would be difficult. The parts would need to be worked over many times.
He might even have to redo them.
"I understand. I'll definitely meet your requirements." Tang Wulin agreed confidently, though he wasn't at all sure he could do it.
"Good. That puts my mind at ease." Xiao Mu waved a hand, then left with the others.
Na'er glanced at Tang Wulin, then paid him no more attention. She'd noticed Gu Yue watching them the whole time.
As the days passed, the academy's highly anticipated Class Promotion Tournament began as scheduled. The arena was packed and bustling, with students from Class Five and Class Four crowding around to watch the matches.
Xiao Mu and the others had no interest in watching and didn't show up at all. They'd rather go out and explore than waste their time here.
Na'er kept tugging on Xiao Mu's arm. "Brother, let's go out and have fun. There's nothing worth watching in these matches."
Xiao Mu nodded. "Let's go. We'll head out."
The two didn't linger and went straight to the nearest Gourmet Street.
Meanwhile, a bald man on Gourmet Street had no idea he was about to face someone who was exceptionally reasonable and exceptionally virtuous.
Reason was the gun; virtue was the cannonball.