Chu Mian snatched a skewer of grilled squid and took a massive bite. The spicy sauce coated the tender, grilled tentacles, creating a rich texture that exploded with flavor in her mouth. It was a world away from the taste of hastily grilled snakes she’d had to catch on Feng Island. Chu Mian ate with pure satisfaction, a single thought crystallizing in her mind: *This makes it all worthwhile.* If s