David saw Nash and a few others carry his injured father into the tent, but it was pitch-black inside. Only a sliver of weak light filtered in from the entrance, making it impossible to see what was going on.
He hurried over to the supplies, squatted down, and rummaged through them until he finally found a kerosene lamp.
He wiped the lampshade and checked the wick. Then he took out a match, struck it, and a small fla flickered in the wind. David quickly cupped his hand to shield it, slowly brought it to the wick, and touched it gently. The kerosene lamp lit up in an instant.
A dim, yellow light shone from the lampshade, dispelling the wilderness’s darkness and casting everything around in flickering shadows.
Carrying the kerosene lamp, David walked into the tent and set it on a small wooden table to the side.
"This will have to do for now. Later, I’ll run a power line over for you from the generator shed."
Nash looked at the kerosene lamp, a grateful expression on his face, and gave David a slight nod.
Seeing that the Bear Tribe was getting settled, Jenny finally breathed a small sigh of relief, a gratified smile spreading across her face.
She walked over to Nash.
"Everyone must be exhausted from the journey, so we’ll leave you to it. You all should get so rest. The dining hall is getting ready for a party, so rember to bring your people. I’m leaving a snowmobile for you. If you need anything, just call on the walkie-talkie."
"We’re taking Liu Lan with us. She’ll be sleeping with ... with Tammy tonight," Erica said, scooping Liu Lan into her arms.
Liu Lan was startled for a mont, then she obediently nestled into Erica’s embrace, her little face holding a mix of shyness and excitent.
To put Nash at ease, Maria said gently, "Don’t you worry, we’ll take good care of Liu Lan. We’ll make sure she gets a comfortable night’s sleep. We’ve all had a long and tiring day."
Nash calmly glanced at his sister, who was peeking at him from Erica’s arms. "Behave yourself. Don’t cause any trouble."
"I know!"
Liu Lan nodded ekly.
"Let’s go, let’s go!"
As if afraid Nash might change his mind, Erica clutched Liu Lan and hurried toward the main camp. Resting on Erica’s shoulder, Liu Lan kept turning back to wave at Nash and her fellow tribespeople.
The others saw this, smiled, and said their goodbyes to Nash as well.
The sound of the girls’ cheerful laughter echoed through the night, seeming to dispel much of the polar night’s biting cold.
.....
「The next morning.」
As the first rays of light struggled to pierce the heavy cloud cover, a fine drizzle began to fall.
The fine, dense strands of rain drifted down, blanketing the entire area in a thin mist that made everything seem hazy and serene.
The weather in Alaska was notoriously unpredictable, as if nature were willfully showing off its fickle temper.
Just yesterday, it had been snowing heavily, blanketing the world in silver-white as flakes drifted down.
But today, it had turned to rain without warning. Droplets pattered against the ground and leaves, making a soft rustling sound.
As usual, Feng Shan was up early for his morning workout. His routine was as reliable as an internal clock, utterly unshakeable.
He ran along the hotel’s path, cutting through the cool morning drizzle.
After his workout, he returned to his room, washed up, and forced down the as-always terrible free breakfast. He then sat by the window, watching the rain drizzle down on the leaves outside.
Loki was playing by himself in the hotel lobby, his tiny figure flitting back and forth. Aside from his bad habit of swearing, he was quite popular with the staff.
Just then, Frank’s pickup truck pulled into the hotel parking lot, right on ti. He got out and headed straight for the lobby.
As he walked into the lobby, his eyes swept the room and imdiately landed on Feng Shan, who was sitting by the window. A look of exasperation instantly appeared on his face, his tone tinged with complaint.
"Buddy, where’s your Wolf Fur Coat? Didn’t I tell you to wear it for the awards ceremony?"
Feng Shan nudged the bag at his feet. "Isn’t this coat a bit too... flashy?" he answered, hesitating.
"Flashy?"
Hearing that word, Frank threw his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture, as if to embrace the whole world. His tone was a mixture of urgency and a hint of frustrated disappointnt.
"Buddy, this is Alaska, not China. Please, take that humble virtue of yours, lock it away in a cabinet, and never take it out again. The only way to earn respect here is by being ostentatious."
"In this land, people value boldness, a show of personality. If you’re too low-key and too humble, no one will give you a second glance."
"Alright, alright!" Seeing Frank getting worked up, Feng Shan knew he was about to launch into one of his long-winded lectures about class theory.
Whenever this topic ca up, Frank could go on for what felt like an eternity. Not wanting to hear the sa old spiel again, Feng Shan quickly opened the bag at his feet, reached in, and pulled out the Fenrir Wolf Fur Coat.
Feng Shan held up the coat and gave it a shake. Under the lights, the fur glead with a rich sheen, as if it still carried the wild aura of the Tundra.
Then, he slowly put on the coat. The mont it settled on his shoulders, Feng Shan’s entire presence underwent a dramatic transformation.
His usual air of calm restraint vanished instantly, replaced by the chilling wildness of the Tundra.
Feng Shan stood there, his posture tall and straight. The hem of the Wolf Fur Coat swayed with his slightest movent, making it seem as if he could transform at any mont into a wolf king that road the Tundra. He exuded a powerful and captivating aura, one that made people afraid to approach, yet unable to look away, completely drawn in by his unique presence.
User Comments
0 comments from readers