Two kilometers from the front-line camp, on an unnamed stretch of Gobi desert, behind a massive wind-sheltering boulder.
A campfire encircled by dozens of stones of varying sizes blazed fiercely. Half a pig, swiped from the camp kitchen, was skewered on a simple rack. As Fisherman muttered about the essentials of Siberian barbecue, he evenly sprinkled the seasonings in his hand over the constantly turning pork.
Rich fat seeped from within the meat, carrying the freshly scattered spices as it dripped into the flames. Amid the crackling, one potent aroma bomb after another exploded—bay leaves, basil, thyme, rosemary, white pepper... Sun Hang had no idea where Fisherman had gotten so many spices, but that was hardly important...
Sun Hang could not take in a single word of Fisherman's muttering. His entire attention was fixed on the fragrant roasted meat.
He could feel the glands in his mouth frantically producing saliva. That deadly barbecue aroma kept drilling into his nostrils, constantly tempting the deepest desires in his heart.
No one could refuse barbecue, not even Anomalies. So Sun Hang thought. He turned to glance at Xue Yue, who was likewise squatting beside the campfire. The subtle movement in her throat showed that she was swallowing repeatedly, her eyes wide with anticipation. By comparison, Wang Xiyi on the other side was far more direct. Every dozen seconds or so, she would ask, "Is it done yet? How much longer does it need? How much longer until I get to eat meat?"
"Don't rush, don't rush, don't rush! Soon, soon, soon!" Fisherman's answer was somewhat perfunctory, prompting Wang Xiyi to say, "Why don't I give the fire a boost and get the meat cooked faster?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Fisherman hurriedly stepped in front of her in alarm. "If you add your Dragon