Chapter 1023 - 373: Barbecue Chef, You’re Awake!

He asked all the key questions without missing any.

He gradually relaxed and started talking more.

While grilling, he rambled on about his insights into handling different types of Life Ghost Meat: "The Deep Sea Stingray’s meat is tender but has a strong smell. You need to add more juice from the Ice Thorns Fruit into the sauce to eliminate the odor perfectly..."

Fang Qingyu listened quietly and noted down what he was saying.

The tips from the compendium quietly emerged after he silently observed and mentally simulated his barbecuing moves dozens of times.

[Detected "Barbecue Chef" profession, activating (1/100)...]

It worked.

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Fang Qingyu’s mouth under his mask.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

...

When the first pale light of dawn struggled to pierce the leaden gray clouds,

projecting onto the cold steel outline of the Arctic Great Wall.

Fang Qingyu, carrying a bulging paper bag,

pushed open the familiar wooden gate of the small courtyard.

In the living room, Wei Banmeng, Lu Jiuyuan, and Su Wanqing were sitting around the table,

their faces showing fatigue, yawning.

Slowly sipping hot water to refresh themselves.

"Awake?" Fang Qingyu walked into the living room, placing the steaming and food-scented paper bag on the table, "Eat while it’s hot."

Inside the bag were freshly baked, golden-crusted stuffed pancakes.

There were also several steaming cups of soy milk in thick paper cups.

The rich aroma instantly dispelled the morning chill and the weariness on everyone’s faces.

No one was reserved about it.

It was normal for Fang Qingyu to bring them breakfast early in the morning.

No one found it unusual.

After washing up, the group sat around the table, quietly discussing the day’s key tasks for building the City of Dawn over their hot breakfast.

The atmosphere was busy yet orderly.

Fang Qingyu also picked up a cup of soy milk, took a sip, and habitually glanced at everyone around the table.

Suddenly, he paused.

His starry eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the people around the table.

"Where’s Xiaojiang?"

He put down his paper cup, his voice calm, yet his words instantly silenced the whispers at the table.

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.

Subconsciously, they looked at each other.

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan exchanged a glance.

A trace of imperceptible doubt flashed in their eyes.

Fang Qingyu frowned slightly, not waiting for anyone to speak further.

He suddenly stood up, crossing to the stairwell in two steps, and with a blur of movement, he was already on the second floor.

He walked straight to Jiang Wei’s room, curled his fingers,

and lightly knocked on the door panel twice.

Knock... Knock...

The sound was remarkably clear in the silent corridor.

There was no response from within the room.

Fang Qingyu hesitated no more, grasped the doorknob, and gave it a gentle twist.

The door was pushed open a crack.

The faint morning light filtered in through the corridor window,

barely illuminating a small area inside the door.

As Fang Qingyu’s gaze swept inside, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Almost instinctively, he stepped back half a step.

The movement was exceedingly quick.

With a swift reverse of the hand, he slammed the door shut with a "bang".

"What’s wrong, Qingzi?"

Wei Banmeng, Lu Jiuyuan, and Su Wanqing had followed him up at this moment.

Seeing Fang Qingyu’s unusual action,

Wei Banmeng promptly asked.

Fang Qingyu, facing the door, frowned slightly and said softly, "Xiaojiang... has grown again."

"???"

The three showed bewilderment simultaneously...

The scene from last time, when Jiang Wei suddenly grew from a child to a teenager under the Drought Fiend’s touch, was still vivid in their minds.

Has she grown again now, huh??

"I’ll go in and take a look."

Su Wanqing reacted the fastest, stepping forward and gently pushing open the door.

She slipped inside with a sideways glance.

Wei Banmeng followed closely, also stepping in and quietly closing the door behind her.

Only Fang Qingyu and Lu Jiuyuan remained in the corridor.

The atmosphere felt a bit heavy.

"Qingzi." Lu Jiuyuan spoke in a low voice.

"Last time, it was after the Drought Fiend acted. This time there’s no sign. Could it be that the Drought Fiend..."

He didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.

Had the Drought Fiend secretly done something to Jiang Wei again?

Fang Qingyu slowly shook his head.

That’s unlikely; with Old Man Hong here in the Great Wall, the Drought Fiend can’t get in.

Then Fang Qingyu paused, gazing at the tightly closed door.

Deep concern lingered in his eyes.

Compared to what Old Lu said,

he was more worried that last time, after Jiang Wei grew, she said they were coming.

And this time...

The two fell into silence.

Just then, the door was gently pulled open.

Wei Banmeng and Su Wanqing came out.

Their expressions were relatively calm.

"It’s okay, she’s breathing steadily like she’s in a deep sleep,"

Wei Banmeng quickly said, glancing at Fang Qingyu and Lu Jiuyuan, "Her body has completely matured. She looks about twenty years old."

She paused, seemingly weighing her words, "...and she looks almost identical to the Drought Fiend."

The tense string in Fang Qingyu’s heart slightly relaxed.

Wei Banmeng continued, "We’ve changed her clothes. You stay here and wait for her to wake up. I’ll take the team to continue building outside the city."

Fang Qingyu was slightly stunned upon hearing this, then shook his head, "Wanqing can stay here to keep watch, I’ll go with you."

The news just reported an Abyssal Level Life Ghost breaking the unspoken rules.

Fang Qingyu was the only Tier Four force among them; he wouldn’t feel assured unless he went out personally.

Upon hearing Fang Qingyu’s words,

Su Wanqing didn’t hesitate: she agreed immediately.

"Okay, you guys can go without worry, I’ll inform you as soon as there’s news about Xiaojiang."

Fang Qingyu nodded, acknowledging this.

He looked at Wei Banmeng and Old Lu: "Let’s go then."

With that, he quickly descended the stairs while swiftly taking out his phone,

sending Old Man Hong a message about Jiang Wei’s situation.

Almost immediately after sending the message, a reply popped up.

Just three words.

[Don’t worry.]