Midnight, Qingshui County Government Office.

In the courtyard, a bonfire blazed brightly, dispersing the surrounding cold and darkness.

Zhang Yuan sat on a stone bench, holding two skewers of seasoned meat, turning them over the fire.

The meat sizzled and smoked, releasing a rich aroma of roasted meat.

Carried far away by the night wind.

Once the meat was crispy on the outside and tender inside, Zhang Yuan sprinkled some finely ground spices on top.

Just as he was about to feast, a shadow suddenly darted over the courtyard walls like a night owl, landing steadily in front of the bonfire.

The newcomer was a burly, bearded man.

Although this man wore simple wooden clogs and attire, his commanding presence and unspoken authority were anything but ordinary!

Across the bonfire, the man and Zhang Yuan locked eyes.

He suddenly smiled and said, "Little brother, could you spare me a skewer of roasted meat?"

Despite the man’s rugged appearance, his smile conveyed warmth and approachability.

"No problem."

Zhang Yuan handed over a skewer without hesitation.

Even though the man’s sudden appearance late at night was peculiar, Zhang Yuan’s intuition told him he meant no harm!

"Thank you!"

The bearded man accepted the skewer joyfully, sat down, and eagerly took a big bite.

His eyes lit up instantly.

"Delicious!"

He gave Zhang Yuan a thumbs-up, expressing sincere admiration.

Zhang Yuan smiled faintly.

Of course, it was delicious.

The meat he used was from the tenderest part of a bighorn sheep, paired with his own concoction of sauce and spices as valuable as gold—it would be surprising if it wasn’t good!

The bearded man devoured the skewer with wolfish hunger, quickly finishing it off.

Finally, he even licked the wooden skewer in satisfaction.

"Help yourself to another skewer."

With a cheerful smile, Zhang Yuan handed the man another prepared skewer of raw meat.

Since cultivating the "Six Harmonies Qilin Body" technique, his appetite had increased significantly.

Now that this horizontal cultivation technique had reached great success, he could devour a whole roasted sheep in one go!

In Zhang Yuan’s storage space, there was an ample supply of meat, some bought and some hunted—that could be cooked anytime his hunger struck.

He had stocked up on all sorts of seasonings like salt, oil, soy sauce, onions, ginger, and garlic.

When it came to food, Zhang Yuan never shortchanged himself!

"Great!"

The bearded man was overjoyed.

Perhaps feeling a bit guilty about eating Zhang Yuan’s food for free, he introduced himself while grilling the meat: "I am Yan Bei, a Jianghu wanderer. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

The bearded man’s strength and perception were formidable.

Though he couldn’t see Zhang Yuan’s cultivation realm, he certainly didn’t think of him as an ordinary person.

After all, what ordinary person would comfortably sit and barbecue in this eerie city of death?

Zhang Yuan replied simply: "Outer Guardian of Upper Scenic Celestial, Zhang Yuan."

He did not conceal his true identity.

Because Zhang Yuan was quite curious about this unexpected visitor.

If his judgment was correct, Yan Bei, who claimed to be a Jianghu wanderer, should possess Tier Six True Gang cultivation.

Moreover, he might have reached the peak level!

In Jianghu terms, he was a formidable force to be reckoned with.

Such individuals weren’t considered top-tier within Yongzhou, yet their presence here was far from ordinary.

"Upper Scenic Celestial!"

Yan Bei exclaimed in surprise: "So you’re an expert from a sect, pardon me!"

Upper Scenic Celestial, one of the four great ancestral courts of the Daoist lineage, might not be the most renowned in Jianghu, but any wanderer with some experience would certainly know of it.

In fact, disciples of Upper Scenic Celestial rarely ventured into Jianghu, yet many legends about them existed in the martial world.

Yan Bei had not expected Zhang Yuan to be from Upper Scenic Celestial, thus feeling quite shocked.

No more underestimation!

"I’m hardly an expert!"

Zhang Yuan chuckled: "Just borrowing the name, not truly part of the sect."

Yan Bei shook his head: "You’re too modest."

The martial hero’s mind raced as he asked, "Protector Zhang, forgive my curiosity, but did you come to Qingshui to investigate the drought in Yongzhou?"

Although Yan Bei’s words were cautious.

Zhang Yuan immediately understood and countered, "Brother Yan, are you also here to uncover the truth?"

Yan Bei was silent for a moment, his expression turning grave.

He nodded slowly, saying, "The situation in Yongzhou is highly unusual. I suspect a Drought Fiend might emerge, so I traveled a great distance here to see if there’s anything I can do."

The martial hero sighed: "In the past half month, all I’ve seen is a living hell!"

When he mentioned "Drought Fiend," a slight, almost imperceptible shift occurred in Yan Bei’s aura.

The focus of this Tier Six expert was entirely on Zhang Yuan.

Yet Zhang Yuan seemed unaware, simply smiling and saying, "What a coincidence, I came for the same reason!"

Yan Bei’s eyes flickered, and he asked seriously, "Protector Zhang, have you discovered anything?"

"Not yet."

Zhang Yuan shook his head: "But I suspect the drought in Yongzhou is not just a natural disaster—it might also be man-made!"

Zhang Yuan’s conjecture was purely speculative at this point, mainly based on Upper Scenic Celestial’s stance and the large number of Celestial Beings appearing in Yong’an City.

From past experiences, nothing good ever came from the arrival of Celestial Beings.

So could the emergence of a Drought Fiend be related to them?

That required further investigation!

As he spoke, Zhang Yuan pointed to the sky.

Yan Bei’s gaze grew profoundly deep.

This martial hero didn’t speak further, just silently turned the skewer in his hand.

After a long while, Zhang Yuan suddenly reminded him, "It’s burning."

The lamb Yan Bei was grilling had been overcooked, with many parts charred black.

Yan Bei snapped back to reality, hastily lifting the skewer and taking big bites.

With his mouth full, the Tier Six expert mumbled: "No problem, it tastes good."

He finished the overcooked lamb in one go, then took out a wine gourd hanging from his waist and handed it to Zhang Yuan: "Protector Zhang, since we’ve met by fate, try my thirty-year-old Spirit Stream Wine!"

Zhang Yuan took the wine gourd, opened the wooden plug sealing it, and drank a large mouthful without hesitation.

He was quite moved: "Good wine!"

This thirty-year-old brew was indeed extraordinary, feeling like swallowing a ball of fire, spreading infinite heat within.

It made his blood race!

Yan Bei burst into laughter: "Good wine with good meat, that’s the real thrill!"

He did not revisit their previous conversation.

Instead, they drank and ate while discussing Jianghu tales and strange rumors.

This Tier Six expert had vast knowledge and experience.

The stories he shared were ones Zhang Yuan had never heard, captivating him deeply.

Everything felt quite novel.

Unknowingly, time quietly slipped away.