Chapter 575: Chapter 575

"So, we’ll see each other next time."

"Just squat under the eaves and wait obediently. I’ll come to pick you up after I’m done. Don’t even think about leaving by pulling strings. Without a pass, you can’t go anywhere. To disrupt the competition rules is to forfeit the match," Zhang Xian threatened.

The bus door closed, and it slowly started moving. The girl in the padded coat got off the bus and waved goodbye to them with a smile under the light, as if she were seeing off her own family.

Zhang Xian couldn’t understand why this woman was still smiling after being humiliated to this extent, leaving him with no sense of superiority. Frowning, he found this all a bit eerie. "That woman must have realized that we are targeting Wu City. She’s bound to do something, and if it really alarms the authorities..."

The middle-aged woman was unconcerned. "There’s no need to pay attention to that. Right now, the Imperial Capital is already overwhelmed with that incident; they don’t have the time to care about these matters. What’s most important at this critical moment is that whoever solves the problem will be the hero. To become a hero, we had to do this. What do you think?"

Zhang Xian rolled his eyes inwardly. He was just there for the ride and didn’t want to pay too high a price. But he still asked, "Is the second step of the plan proceeding?"

"After we pick them up tonight and bring them back to the venue, everything will proceed as usual. Don’t leave behind any evidence; after all, there’s still a lot more that we need their cooperation for."

Chairman Wang tapped his leg. His methods were naturally not so basic. It wasn’t just about making them wait hours by hijacking their pick-up; the key was to delay. Humiliating them was useless... but it felt pretty good. Old Zhou, ah, was just too rigid. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be nice if we all shared the resources and she received the glory this time?

Rules, what are they? Jing Shu smiled and took out her phone.

Before long, a convoy of Grain Bureau trucks with passes drove away, loaded with medicinal materials, disappearing completely into the darkness.

"President Jing, this place doesn’t look like it belongs to the Imperial City Medicine Association! This is... a bit too... shabby!"

"Yeah! It doesn’t look like it."

"Why do you all talk so much? No matter where we are, the President will definitely take us to the competition, even though it doesn’t quite look like it."

The Pharmacists, cold and hungry, finally settled down and took care of their precious medicinal materials. After gulping down some hot water and eating some dry food, they took a breather and began to look around at their surroundings, finding them somewhat strange.

The place was like a large warehouse: spacious, with every word spoken echoing. It was well-sealed and very quiet all around—desolate and uninhabited.

Jing Shu, holding a cup of goji berry, red date, and ginger tea, drank contentedly. Hearing their words, she nodded with a smile, "You all know it’s crowded now, and we’ll have to wait a long time for the Medicine Association to pick us up. Let’s make do and rest here for now. Get a good rest, and then wait for them to come get us. Danai, arrange for the night watch, and then everyone can rest."

"Okay," Danai blinked. If they don’t come to pick us up, do we just not go back?

Danai had just quietly asked Jing Shu why, having found a vehicle already, they weren’t going directly to the competition venue but instead taking a detour to this godforsaken place.

At the time, Jing Shu had smiled and actually said, "Don’t rush—let’s disappear for a few days to scare them."

Danai swallowed hard and didn’t say another word. Didn’t they know their standing in Wu City? Even if they all disappeared, nobody would care.

Jing Shu led the fat chicken out of the warehouse and was greeted at the door by Tan Ke, who had a simple smile on his face. "Mirror, is everything settled? You can rest assured, this place is an old granary of the Grain Bureau; your medicinal materials will be very safe inside. Come, come, my sister has made you soft pancakes and egg soup. Warm up first."

Tan Ke felt very guilty. Whenever they visited Mirror’s home, they were treated with fine meats and rice. Now that she had finally made it to the Imperial Capital, the best he could offer were such humble things.

"No need for food, but thank you for your kindness. There’s something more important I need you to do right now..." Jing Shu began to explain, her brow furrowed.

The Fuhai Medicine Association could have only a few reasons for their actions: either because of past hatred, or because she was blocking their financial path or about to cause a conflict of interest. She represented Wu City’s interests, creating an obstacle for others. Past enmities were one thing, but if it was due to a conflict of interest, the situation wouldn’t be so simple. The other party was bound to have more tricks up their sleeve. It would be better to step out of their trap first, gather information, and then decide on a course of action.

After listening, Tan Ke nodded slightly, also coming to an understanding. "That’s true. You just arrived in the Imperial Capital to compete and were immediately targeted . I wouldn’t believe there’s no foul play. And indeed, just as you said, the Imperial City Medicine Association’s competition was announced so suddenly. I suspect there must be something going on."

"It’s a pity we don’t know much from our position. The Jun Family should have some inside information; I’ll go over there in a bit. However, it’s true that some peculiar things have been happening in the Imperial Capital lately as well."

"What peculiar things?"

"According to reports from various places, the mortality rates have suddenly spiked, and martial law was declared soon after. Previously, corpses were transported to a designated place for research, but now all bodies are directly burned and buried, stealthily. No one knows what they’re up to."

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. She knew that the higher-ups had previously used corpses for secondary development, but now they were no longer doing so and were instead directly incinerating them. Were these events connected, though? What was the reason for the increased mortality rate? And did it have anything to do with this competition organized by the Medicine Association?

The night in the Imperial Capital was as calm as usual, but this particular night was destined not to be quiet. Some people were busy, some were rushing about, while others cursed all night long at the airport.

Zhang Xian never expected those country bumpkins to vanish without a trace. They had dared to run off without waiting for him to pick them up and even had the gall to turn off their phones!

He had clearly issued a strict warning that running away on their own was a violation of the competition rules! Weren’t these people afraid of having their competition entry revoked? Latest content publıshed on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝙣𝙚𝙩

And how did a few people manage to run away with several trucks of medicinal materials? The Imperial Capital was under martial law, and trucks were regulated. Which damned person dared to risk taking these people away? Could they have been robbed? Disappearing with so many people and so much medicinal material would be impossible to cover up. If the higher-ups held him accountable, he would be finished.

For a moment, Zhang Xian’s thoughts were in turmoil. Trembling, he made a call to Chairman Wang to report the situation.

"The real show is yet to come. Wait until the Wu City Medicine Association shows up on their own, then report them and have their qualification revoked. The plan proceeds as usual," Chairman Wang said before hanging up. Within half an hour, he called his secretary, handed over a brand new plan, and instructed, "No matter what, we must secure the production rights this time!"

Zhang Xian was so furious he cursed up a storm. For the first half of the night, he cursed the fools from Wu City, calling them as willful as lunatics. For the second half, he cursed Fuhai for their treachery and ingratitude. Zhang Xian patiently waited for two days, but there was still no word from the Wu City Medicine Association. With all the other Medicine Associations having entered the venue and the competition about to begin, he finally started to truly panic. In the end, Zhang Xian contacted Chairman Wang again, begging for help.