After descending the mountain, Chen Miao and his two companions received a warm welcome from Yao Wen.
The table was laden with food, including meat dishes such as roast chicken.
"Yao Wen, isn't killing forbidden in your village?"
It was Wang Chuan who spoke, as blunt as ever.
"Sir, the merchants slaughtered the animals outside the mountains and brought the meat here. It was originally their own food, but when you gentlemen arrived, I went and traded for some."
"I don't know whether it will suit your tastes."
Chen Miao smiled and said it looked wonderful, but instead of picking up his chopsticks, he took a wrapped flatbread from inside his robe and bit into it.
His attitude was even more infuriating than Wang Chuan's rudeness.
Sure enough, not only the villagers attending them but even the perpetually cordial Yao Wen grew cold-faced.
"Sir, you have yet to tell us what important business brings you to Medicine Village."
Chen Miao waved a hand.
"No hurry, no hurry. Let me finish my flatbread with these dishes to look at first."
As he spoke, Chen Miao said to Wang Chuan and Jiang Yi, "Why aren't you eating? Once these dishes are gone, you'll have nothing to go with your dry flatbread."
Without another word, Wang Chuan and Jiang Yi took out their flatbreads and began chewing as they looked at the dishes on the table.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room turned bizarre.
Three minutes later, Chen Miao brushed the crumbs off his hands and let out a satisfied breath.
Wang Chuan and Jiang Yi quickly stuffed their remaining flatbread into their mouths, finishing it in a single bite.
"Village Chief Yao, we received a mission report claiming that Medicine Village has secretly been conducting blood sacrifices and practicing the