"Well then, we will see each other next time."
"Find some shelter and wait obediently. I will come get you when I'm done. Don't even think about leaving without permission. Without an official pass, you can't go anywhere in this city. Breaking the competition rules is the same as forfeiting," Zhang Xian threatened, his voice echoing through the partially open door.
The bus doors hissed shut with a sharp mechanical sound, and the vehicle slowly pulled away, its tires splashing through the freezing slush. The girl in the big, padded cotton coat stood on the curb, smiling under the flickering airport lights. She waved at them with a cheerful energy, looking as if she were sending off a group of beloved family members rather than people who had just humiliated her.
Zhang Xian watched her through the rear window, unable to understand the reaction. Even after being slighted so publicly, why was she still smiling so sweetly? He didn't get a shred of the superiority he had expected to feel. Instead, a heavy sense of unease crept into his chest, and his frown deepened as the bus hummed down the dark road. "This woman knows we are targeting Wu City. She is bound to do something. What if she really manages to alert the higher-ups about the scheduling?"
The middle-aged woman sitting in the front row didn't even flinch. "Don't worry about it. Right now, the capital is in total chaos because of that matter. No one has the time or energy for a minor logistical complaint. What matters is that whoever solves a problem at a critical moment becomes a hero. To be a hero, we have to act this way. Don't you agree?"
Zhang Xian rolled his eyes in his mind. He was just along for the ride and didn't think the plan was worth paying a heavy personal price for, but he still asked, "Is the second phase of the plan going ahead as scheduled?"
"We will pick them up from the site tonight as usual. Don't leave any loose ends. After all, there's still a lot they will need to cooperate on once the real work begins."
President Wang tapped her leg rhythmically, confident that her method wasn't crude. It wasn't just about making them wait for a few hours in the cold or causing a bit of humiliation. The key was delaying their time. The humiliation alone wouldn't help her goals, though it certainly felt satisfying. Lao Zhou was far too rigid in his ways. If everyone shared the resources this time and the glory went to her, wouldn't that be better for everyone involved? Rules were merely tools for those who knew how to use them.
Jing Shu watched the bus disappear into the haze, then pulled out her phone.
Soon, several heavy trucks with official passes from the Food Regulation Bureau rumbled into the light. They carried the fully loaded herb crates away, the tail lights disappearing entirely into the thick, dark night.
...
"President Jing, this place doesn't look like the capital's Medicinal Herb Association at all! This is way too isolated."
"Yeah!" a younger pharmacist added, looking around the cavernous space. "It really doesn't look like a competition venue."
"Why are you so fussy? No matter where we are, the president has got to lead us for the competition," someone muttered, trying to calm the group down.
The pharmacists were exhausted, cold, and hungry. They had finally settled into the space, checked on the health of their precious herbs, and shared a quick meal of dry bread and hot water. Only then did they start truly noticing their surroundings. Something felt deeply off about their situation.
The place looked like a massive, industrial warehouse. It was empty and echoing, though it was well-sealed against the wind. It felt eerily isolated from the rest of the bustling city.
Jing Shu took a slow sip of her goji, red date, and ginger tea, feeling the spicy warmth hit the back of her throat. She smiled at the group. "You all know there are too many people in the city now. It will be a long wait for the Herb Association to come get us. For now, we will rest here, get some sleep, and wait for them to reach out. Danai, arrange the night watch rotation. Everyone else, get some rest."
"Got it," Wang Danai said, her eyes blinking with fatigue. She moved closer and whispered. "Wait a second. Does this mean if they don't pick us up, we just stay here indefinitely?"
She had quietly asked Jing Shu earlier why, after finding a reliable vehicle, they didn't just go straight to the competition site themselves. Jing Shu had just smiled and told her not to rush. She had mentioned disappearing for a few days to scare the coordinators. Wang Danai swallowed hard and didn't say another word. Wu City wasn't exactly powerless, but even if they vanished, she wondered if anyone would really care in such a chaotic climate.
Jing Shu left the warehouse with the fat hen, Xiao Dou, following at her heels. At the heavy metal door, they were met by Tank, who was grinning broadly despite the cold.
"Mirror, is everything settled inside? Don't worry. This used to be a Food Regulation Bureau storage warehouse, so it's reinforced. Your herbs are safe inside. Come on, come on. My sister made porridge patties and egg soup. Warm yourselves up first."
Tank felt a guilt as he looked at their modest setup. They had gone to Mirror's place in the past, where he had been served the best meat and fresh rice, and here, after she had traveled all the way to the capital, this was all they could offer in return.
"The food is fine, and thanks for the thought, but there's something more important I need you to do," Jing Shu said, her brow furrowing as she started to explain.
That Fuhai Herb Association situation could only be a few things: old grudges, people blocking their profits, or upcoming conflicts of interest. She represented Wu City's interests, so the other team had a clear reason to interfere with her arrival.
If it was just old grudges, she could handle it. But if it was about future profits, things would get complicated fast. They would likely have backup plans in place. It was better for her team to step out of their trap first, gather independent information, and act accordingly.
Tank nodded slightly, his expression turning grim as he understood the implication. "That makes sense. It's your first day in the capital, and you are already being targeted. If nothing was up inside the association, I wouldn't even believe it. And as you said, the competition was announced very suddenly. Something is definitely going on behind the scenes. Unfortunately, our current position doesn't give us much high-level info. The Jun family should know some inside details, though. I will go check with them. But yes, something unusual has happened in the capital recently."
"What kind of unusual things?"
"Reported death rates spiked in several regions recently, and then martial law was imposed almost overnight. Previously, corpses were sent to special research sites for study. Now, all corpses are being cremated or buried secretly under heavy guard. Nobody knows why the policy changed so fast."
Jing Shu raised an eyebrow at that. She knew the higher-ups had been repurposing corpses for resources before. Now, they were being destroyed outright.
But were these matters related? Why did the death rates rise so suddenly? Did it have anything to do with the sudden herb competition?
...
The night in the capital was as peaceful as usual on the surface. Yet, this night was destined to be anything but quiet for the people involved. Some were busy, some were running through the streets, and some were cursing at the airport all night long.
Zhang Xian never imagined that a bunch of rural bumpkins would simply vanish. They had dared to leave without waiting for him! And they had all turned off their phones! He had made explicit threats; leaving without permission broke the established rules. Weren't they afraid of being disqualified from the biggest event of the year?
How had a few outsiders taken several trucks of sensitive herbs and disappeared into the night? With martial law in place and all trucks strictly controlled, who the hell had dared to pick them up? Were they robbed? Losing so many people and a full shipment of herbs like this couldn't be covered up. The higher-ups would definitely hold someone accountable for the loss.
Zhang Xian's mind spun in total chaos as he paced his office. Shaking with nerves, he finally called President Wang to explain the situation.
"The real show is coming later. Wait for the Wu City Herb Association to show up on their own, then report them for disqualification immediately. The plan remains the same," President Wang said, her voice cold before she hung up the phone. Half an hour later, she summoned her secretary, handing over a brand-new plan with strict instructions.
"No matter what, we have to secure this production right!"
Zhang Xian swore in frustration as the call ended. The first half of the night, he had been cursing the Wu City idiots for being reckless. The second half, he had cursed the Fuhai team for being ungrateful and treacherous. Two full days passed with no word from the Wu City Herb Association. All the other regional associations had arrived and settled into their quarters, and the competition was about to officially start. Only then did he truly panic, and he finally called President Wang for help again.