The Taste Is Off.

Tang Zhishang and his group struggled along a muddy trail slick with moisture. The path beneath their feet had long since been overrun and torn apart by enormous, intertwined tree roots. It was less a trail than a narrow passage naturally formed between the roots.

The air was thick with the damp, earthy smell of soil and the stench of decaying plants. The heavy odors pressed against everyone's chests, making even breathing feel thick and sticky.

After three hours of trekking, even novices like Tang Zhishang were starting to feel the strain.

But they could already see the Miao village ahead.

"It's quite a sizable village."

Tang Zhishang looked at the village before them, his expression grave. The company was willing to offend these Miao people from the Lost City for the sake of those two old men, but it would much rather guide them gradually than drive the natives of the Lost City into open rebellion.

At the thought, Tang Zhishang took a deep breath and led the group behind him toward the village.

"Wait!"

Miao Zongpan, who was walking ahead, stopped. She turned and addressed Tang Zhishang and the others. "Please follow my people to my tribe and rest for a while. If the Sacrifice King is willing to meet with you, I'll send someone to invite you."

"This..." Tang Zhishang couldn't help cursing inwardly. The company sent me here to protect those two old men. The secondary objective is to get the Sacrifice King to cooperate with the company. Now both sides have left me out of it? What did I even come here for?

For a moment, Tang Zhishang was struck by the question: Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do? But he already had a feeling this mission might go