The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: The Plight of Donglin City Chapter 345: Chapter 345: The Plight of Donglin City Jing Yan glanced at the long street on both sides, found a gap, and hurriedly arrived at the entrance of the Pill Tower.

“Thump thump thump!”

Jing Yan knocked on the door.

“We are not open for business recently!” A deep voice came from inside.

Jing Yan’s heart stirred, recognizing the voice as that of Jing Chenxing.

“Uncle Chenxing, it’s me!” Jing Yan called out with a slight boost of his voice.

“Ah?”

Inside the Pill Tower, there was first a sudden hush, followed by exclamatory cries, and then the sound of hurried footsteps approaching the door.

“Is that Jing Yan?” Jing Chenxing’s voice came from behind the door, clearly recognizing it was Jing Yan, but to be safe, he called out again to confirm.

“It’s me,” said Jing Yan.

“Squeak!” The door was pulled open.

With a swish, Jing Yan entered the Pill Tower, and Jing Chenxing quickly closed the door behind him.

Jing Yan swept his gaze across the room and saw many staff of the Splendid Pill Tower gathered there.

Jing Chenxing was present, as were Su Zixuan and Jing Qingyan, along with some other important pharmacists.

Jing Yan now removed the cloak from his head.

“Jing Yan, why have you returned so suddenly?” Jing Chenxing looked at Jing Yan excitedly.

The others were also emotionally charged, their eyes reddening.

Clearly, they had been facing tough times recently.

“I received news, has City Lord Huo Chunyang gone missing?” Jing Yan turned and spoke.

“Yes, the City Lord has been missing for over a month now.

At first, the City Lord’s Mansion kept this matter a secret, but later the news was still spread by the Zhao Family.

Now the whole Donglin City is quite chaotic: the Zhao and Cai families, those two despicable clans, are utterly shameless.”

“Jing Yan, the South District Market has already been seized back by the Zhao Family.

It seems it won’t be long before the Jing Family’s West District Square will become the property of the Zhao Family.

The Jing Family has no strength to contend,” Jing Chenxing said with a face full of anger.

“What’s the current situation with the Jing Family?” Jing Yan asked with furrowed brows.

Before returning to Donglin City, Jing Yan had mentally prepared himself for the situation there.

“The Jing Family is in a dire situation.

Although the Jing Family is in an alliance with the Lin Family, we are no match for the Zhao and Cai families.

There have been quite a few conflicts between the two sides during this period, with heavy casualties on the Jing Family’s side!” Jing Chenxing heaved a sigh.

“Uncle Chenxing, you just said that the South District Market had been taken back by the Zhao Family?

They haven’t made a move against our Splendid Pill Tower?” Jing Yan found this rather odd.

“Our Pill Tower has not been open for business for a month.

Initially, the Zhao Family seemed intent on leveling our Pill Tower, but later, for some reason, they changed their minds.

Now the Zhao Family intends for the Splendid Pill Tower to become their property,” Jing Chenxing explained with a frown.

Jing Yan let out a cold laugh, “The people of the Zhao Family are not fools.

The Splendid Pill Tower is like a treasure trove.

For them, taking the Splendid Pill Tower into their possession is much more profitable than destroying it.”

“Uncle Chenxing, what about the current situation in the City Lord’s Mansion?” Jing Yan’s gaze became more intense.

“The City Lord’s Mansion is also in a difficult position now.

With the City Lord missing, they can no longer control Donglin City.

Although the Armored Guard is still present, they are powerless to exert pressure externally.

Additionally, the City Lord’s wife has been primarily focused on finding the City Lord,” Jing Chenxing was well-informed.

Hearing that the City Lord’s Wife Lv Qin was unharmed, Jing Yan felt somewhat relieved.

Huo Chunyang and Lv Qin had always been good to him, and he remembered their kindness.

While Jing Yan couldn’t investigate Huo Chunyang’s disappearance right now, he still intended to protect Lv Qin to the best of his abilities.

“Jing Yan, what should we do now?” Jing Qingyan’s expression was extremely grave.

Jing Yan turned to look at Jing Qingyan and was shocked to see that there were many white hairs among his black ones.

Jing Qingyan was indeed a few years older than Jing Yan, but only by a few years.

Under normal circumstances, he should not have any white hair.

Yet, when Jing Yan left a little more than a year ago, Jing Qingyan had a full head of black hair.

The pressure Jing Qingyan had been under recently must have been immense.

Jing Chenxing was somewhat better off, as despite likely having the greatest pressure, he was experienced and knew how to manage it.

Looking at Jing Qingyan’s furrowed brows, Jing Yan’s heart tightened.

“Brother Jing Yan, the Zhao Family has made threats that if we don’t hand over the Splendid Pill Tower, they will not only raze it to the ground but also execute all of us,” Su Zixuan said, biting her lip and clenching her fists tightly.

The pressure they had faced over the past month had been enormous.

Having just seen Jing Yan, they were all very happy and excited.

But they also knew that even with Jing Yan’s return, they were powerless to change their fate.

Now, the entire Donglin City was under the Zhao Family’s control.

Although, as of now, the Jing Family had not been eradicated, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time.

The Zhao Family hadn’t acted yet because they had not yet fully controlled the situation in Donglin City.

Donglin City had not only the Four Great Families and the City Lord’s Mansion but also dozens of smaller forces.

Individually, these forces didn’t amount to much.

But if these forces bonded together, they could form a formidable power.

Therefore, the Zhao Family was also trying to sway these smaller forces, using a combination of threats and inducements, attempting to sever their association with the Jing Family.

Once the Jing and Lin families were completely isolated, the Zhao Family would undoubtedly make their move against the Jing Family.

The Zhao Family had long marked the Jing Family for elimination.

“Jing Yan, the situation in Donglin City is now extremely perilous and likely irreparable.

I think we should consider relocating the Splendid Pill Tower, leaving Donglin City for the time being,” Jing Chenxing suggested.

Over the past few days, in the absence of Jing Yan, the owner of the Pill Tower, the management team had also been deliberating whether to relocate.

The most valuable assets of the Splendid Pill Tower were not the structure of the tower itself, but the pharmacists and the vast quantities of medicine inside.

These resources could be moved flexibly.

“The number of our personnel in the tower is not large.

We could leave Donglin City quietly without attracting attention,” Jing Chenxing continued, clearly having a plan ready.

If Jing Yan had not returned, he would have implemented this plan within a day or two.

Time waits for no one, and any further delays could mean the Zhao Family completely sealing off the Pill Tower, making it too late to leave.

“Brother Yan, tell us, what should we do!

The Jing Family is now powerless to assist us,” Su Zixuan said, evidently having matured much over a year, now capable of assuming responsibility.