Crown River Beach Camp.
At this mont, it was a small, warm world amidst the dark polar night, brightly lit and full of life.
Tourists strolled leisurely through the camp, their faces filled with comfortable and relaxed expressions.
Although the camp didn’t have many recreational activities—none of the city’s dazzling amusent parks or rowdy, neon-lit venues—this tranquility was incredibly precious and captivating.
So people liked to fish. They could rent a rod from the staff and cast a line by the Ice River, experiencing the ferocity of the cold-water fish from the Far North.
If they wanted to taste their catch, they could pay a fee at the restaurant, and the chef would turn the fish they caught into a delicious al.
So liked to walk, free to wander the vast mossy grasslands.
So liked to soak in the hot springs. The pools were outdoors, and you could soak for as long as you wanted.
Others enjoyed shooting. The range was open 24/7, and as long as you were willing to pay, you could shoot a gun until it was worn out.
If tourists had other special requests, like exploring the Tundra or going to the Ice Sea to see whales and Polar Bears, that was no problem either—as long as they paid.
Furthermore, all prices at the camp were clearly marked. There was no racial discrimination, no fake nus for different custors, and no hidden fees.
In a steaming hot spring pool, four old n were squeezed together contentedly.
The water gave off a billow of warm steam that slowly rose, tinting the four old faces a faint red.
On the grass by the pool sat several bottles of beer, beads of condensation clinging to them, looking refreshingly cool.
Next to them was a platter of fresh vegetables for dipping: crisp green cucumbers cut into small pieces, tender lettuce leaves fanned out, and slender scallions arranged neatly, all accompanied by a bowl of savory egg sauce that slled richly of fernted soybean paste. The sight alone was enough to whet one’s appetite.
"This is the life. I don’t even want to go back!"
Old Liu was the first to stand up. He grabbed a room-temperature beer, tilted his head back, and chugged a couple of mouthfuls. GULP, GULP. Then he let out a satisfied, boozy sigh, his face a picture of contentnt.
Hearing this, the other three old n chid in in agreent.
"You can say that again. I’ve been here a few days, and my body feels so much better. I used to toss and turn all night, half-awake and restless. These past two days, I’ve slept soundly until morning."
"Sothing even crazier happened this morning. My mory’s bad, and I forgot to take my blood pressure dicine. Guess what? My head didn’t feel dizzy at all. Before, if I forgot my dicine, my head would get all fuzzy and start buzzing."
"Exactly! If we’d known, we should’ve brought Old Zhang along. We old buddies have it so good here—soaking in the hot springs, eating healthy food, and just chatting every day. It’s so carefree."
As the decision-maker of the group of old n, Old Liu waved his hand grandly.
"I’ll tell Kaizi later that I’m not going back with the tour group. I’m going to stay here for a while. It’s not like I can spend all my pension anyway. I’ll just treat it like renting a place."
"Okay, sounds good to . I’ll call that little brat later."
"I’m not going back either."
"If you three aren’t going back, then neither am I. All I do is get grief back ho anyway."
And just like that, with one person adding a word here and another there, the four of them decided to stay. Relaxed expressions spread across their old faces, as if they could already see the wonderful, carefree days that awaited them here.
"Well, we’d better talk to the tour group properly, then. We don’t want to cause them any trouble," Old Liu added. After all, they had co with a tour group, and they needed to handle a last-minute change of plans properly.
"Right, right, we need to make it clear. But I doubt it’ll be a big problem. We’re paying our own way, so it’s not like we’re affecting anyone else."
Old Li, the one with the goatee, replied, and the other two old n nodded in agreent.
「anwhile.」
Gang Nash called. The first group of migrating clansn from the Bear Tribe had already reached the airspace above the Crown Territory by plane and would be landing soon.
Jenny, along with Erica, Maria, Tammy, Su Ziweng, and Young Master Xu, was already waiting by the runway early.
The three girls, Erica, Maria, and Tammy, stood together, chatting in low voices and speculating curiously about what the Bear Tribe mbers would look like. Their chattering added a lively air to the scene.
Su Ziweng, on the other hand, looked drowsy and utterly listless.
He had been drinking all night. He’d planned to sleep in this morning, but not long after he’d finally laid down, soone woke him up and dragged him to the runway to welco the Bear Tribe.
Now he was yawning, rubbing his eyes, and muttering complaints.
"Why do *I* have to be here to welco Nash’s people? I’m dead tired, I can barely keep my eyes open. Seriously."
Young Master Xu stood to the side. He wasn’t complaining like Su Ziweng, but his face also showed his fatigue. After all, the two of them had been drinking together last night and hadn’t gotten much rest either.
"Hmph. The other n in the camp all have their own work to do. You two are the only idle ones, doing nothing but drinking and lazing around all day. You can’t expect us won to do the welcoming, can you?"
Erica said this while shooting a contemptuous look at the two drunkards, Su Ziweng and Young Master Xu. Her eyes were full of disdain, as if she were looking at a pair of unruly children.
Su Ziweng felt a bit indignant hearing this and mumbled in rebuttal, "Hey, what kind of talk is that? We were just blowing off so steam last night, it’s a rare chance for us. Who knew this was going to happen today? Besides, it’s not like we’re the only ones who could do this welcoming job."
But even as he said it, his voice lacked conviction. After all, he really had drunk too much last night. It was no wonder people were disgusted with him for being dragged here to fill a spot.
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