Lin Yuan shook his head lightly. "Just looking around."
"Ah." The driver grinned. "Checking shipments?"
"Something like that."
The driver didn't pry further. People in Azure Harbor weren't nosy by nature, and that was something Lin Yuan appreciated more than he admitted. There were too many ships and too many secrets moving through this place, and anyone who survived long enough knew better than to ask the wrong questions.
The carriage eventually eased to a halt before coming to a complete stop. The driver gave the console a light tap, then leaned slightly to peek outside, as if confirming the familiar surroundings.
"Alright, you're here. Ironforge Street."
Lin Yuan stepped down and immediately felt the shift in atmosphere pressing against him. The air here was heavier and thicker, carrying a weight that clung to the skin and settled deep in the lungs.
Ironforge Street was known throughout the Iron Yards as the poorest stretch of land, a place where even effort did not always guarantee a better life. The scent of coal dust mixed with the metallic tang of scrap lingered constantly, never quite fading no matter how the wind shifted.
Half-finished tools, broken gear wheels, and bundles of warped metal lined both sides of the road. Nothing here was whole, yet nothing was thrown away, as even the smallest fragment could still be melted down and used again.
Most of the people living in this area were novice smiths still learning their trade, or scrap-workers who survived by reshaping whatever others discarded. Their lives revolved around repetition, heat, and exhaustion, with little room for anything else.
Lin Yuan had only taken a few steps when a rough yet familiar voice called out to him.
"Lin Yuan! Heading to see Old Master Shi again?"
He turned and spotted Uncle Guo leaning against a stack of dented gear casings. The man looked no different than usual, his worn clothes stained with soot and oil that had long since seeped into the fabric.
Lin Yuan offered him a polite smile, keeping his tone relaxed. "Yes, Uncle Guo. Old Master Shi hasn't been doing well lately, so I came to bring him some medicine."
He added lightly, almost teasing, "You know how stubborn he is. If I don't force it into his hands, he'll pretend he's completely fine."
Uncle Guo let out a snort that was half a laugh, his expression both amused and tired. "Stubborn? Every single person here has bad health, boy. That's what working in this place does to you."
Lin Yuan felt the corner of his mouth twitch slightly, caught between agreement and restraint. "Uncle Guo… I wasn't trying to say you're wrong. I really just—"
Before he could finish, another voice cut in from behind him, sharper and filled with annoyance.
"Guo, stop bullying the child. He has more manners than you ever had."
An elderly woman shuffled toward them, leaning heavily on her wooden cane. Her back was deeply hunched, as though years of labor and hardship had settled permanently into her bones.
"Lin Yuan," she said with a gentle smile, "you've helped all of us so much these past two years. You don't owe anyone here an explanation. Don't waste your breath on this old man."
She shot Uncle Guo a sharp, disapproving glance, clearly unimpressed by his tone.
Lin Yuan felt a warm yet uncomfortable tightness settle in his chest, something he had never quite grown used to. He lowered his head politely, keeping his voice calm and measured.
"Auntie Shen, it's nothing like that. I'm not doing anything special. It's just business, really. I'm not helping for free."
The old woman waved her hand dismissively, as if brushing aside his words entirely. "Business or not, kindness is kindness. We know what you've done."
Lin Yuan did not know how to respond to that, so he chose not to force an answer. He simply nodded, gave them a small wave, and continued walking, allowing the conversation to end naturally.
He did not dislike their gratitude, but every time they spoke like this, it reminded him of how fragile life was here. More than that, it reminded him how little he could truly change, no matter how much effort he put in.
Behind him, Auntie Shen watched his departing figure and let out a soft sigh. Her expression carried both pride and a quiet, unspoken worry that lingered beneath it.
"What a good child that boy is," she murmured with a faint smile.
Uncle Guo scratched his beard and nodded slowly, his earlier roughness fading into something more sincere. "He really is. Hardworking, respectful, and never looks down on any of us."
His voice softened slightly as he continued, "If fate treats him well, he might climb higher than any of us ever have. Honestly… if he hadn't been around during the last winter, many families here would've suffered far worse."
Auntie Shen tightened her grip on her cane, her knuckles whitening slightly. "May the heavens give him an easier path than the one we walked."
Lin Yuan proceeded down a narrower side lane that led deeper into Ironforge Street, where the space grew tighter and the air even heavier. The sounds of labor became more constant, blending into a steady rhythm of metal and effort.
Workers hauled crates of scrap along the road, their backs bent and arms trembling with exhaustion as they moved between the forges. No one here had the luxury of rest, and those who did were often too weak to stand.
At the very end of the lane stood a squat workshop with a slanted roof. Its wooden sign was half-burned from an accident long ago, leaving only fragments of its original name.
SHI WORKSHOP
The paint had peeled so badly that only "SHI" and half of a crooked "T" remained visible, barely clinging to the wood.
Lin Yuan paused briefly at the doorway, his gaze lingering for a moment before he stepped inside. The transition from the outside noise to the dim interior felt immediate, as if the world had narrowed to a single quiet space.
The interior was poorly lit, illuminated only by the fading embers of a small forge at the back. The heat was weak, far too weak to support proper forging, and the air carried a lingering chill beneath the ash.
On a stool beside the workbench sat Old Master Shi, his massive frame hunched forward. His once-powerful arms were now wrapped in thick cloth bandages, the fabric darkened in places from repeated use.
"You're early today," the old smith said without lifting his head. "Didn't think I'd see you until noon."
Lin Yuan chuckled softly as he stepped closer, his movements unhurried. "Just delivering you some Cold Restoration Pills while they're still fresh."
"Tch. Don't waste those on an old mule like me." Old Master Shi waved his hand dismissively, though the motion lacked its former strength. "Save them for that harbor fever that's been spreading."
Lin Yuan's expression tightened slightly, a trace of concern surfacing despite his calm. "So the rumors are true then? It's spreading again?"
Old Master Shi let out a dry laugh, the sound rough and worn. "Rumors? Boy, half the workers here look like ghosts."
He coughed into his sleeve before continuing, his voice slightly hoarse. "Fever started near the Old Docks. Should've stayed there, but fools don't rest—so it walked right in."
Lin Yuan stepped closer, concern flickering more clearly in his eyes now. "Uncle Shi, you should go to the Blue Lotus Hall. They'll treat you properly—"
"No."
The old man's voice was firm despite his condition, carrying a weight that left no room for argument. Even weakened, there was still a stubborn strength in him that refused to bend.
"Help me turn that. Need to finish the last order before sunset."
Lin Yuan glanced toward the half-finished work resting nearby, its structure incomplete but still recognizable. "You were trying to complete Hammerwright's gear casing?"
Old Master Shi snorted, his tone laced with self-awareness and irritation. "Trying, yes. Succeeding? Hah."
Lin Yuan unrolled a fabric bundle from his coat and revealed a small ceramic jar, holding it out steadily. His movements were practiced, careful not to spill even a drop.
"It's the lung-clearing blend—same as last time. Drink it twice a day."
Old Master Shi eyed the jar with clear suspicion, his brows knitting together. "You're charging me for that, right?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Three coppers."
Old Master Shi glared at him, though there was no real hostility behind it. "That's the price you give the dock brats."
Lin Yuan met his gaze without flinching, his tone calm but firm. "And it's the price you'll accept—unless you'd prefer I add a discount."
Old Master Shi let out a rough laugh that quickly turned into a cough, forcing him to steady himself. "Bah… fine. Three coppers."
He took the jar reluctantly, though his grip lingered on it for a moment longer than necessary. "Your medicine works. Annoying how well it works."
Lin Yuan allowed himself a faint smile, the tension in his expression easing slightly. "I'll take that as praise."
Old Master Shi's gaze drifted toward the dying embers of the forge, his expression growing quieter and more distant. His voice softened, carrying a trace of thoughtfulness beneath the fatigue.
"You didn't come only to preach about health, boy. Something else is eating at you."
Lin Yuan paused briefly, his expression tightening just a little as the earlier unease resurfaced.
"…There was a man from the Harbor Authority today. Chen Wei."