Chen Wen was initially stunned, then his face turned ecstatic.
He imdiately shared the news with Hua Yun behind him.
Sitting on the back of the moose, Hua Yun hurriedly took out a map, examining it carefully.
After spotting the marked location of the small town, she let out a long breath.
White mist drifted away from the edges of the rabbit fur, blending with the snowy sky.
Hua Yun sneezed and wrapped her coat tighter.
With a stuffy nose she said, "We’re there, the bridge ahead and east is where the town is."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wen brushed off the snow from his beard.
To be honest, if he hadn’t felt they were close to town, he wouldn’t have stepped out in such weather.
Too risky!
But it was a risk worth taking.
He and Hua Yun had arrived at the first town marked on the map!
In this snowy weather, going into town to get a warm room, shave, and soak in a hot spring.
Then ordering a large bowl of hot noodles in a restaurant, hmm... foreigners might not know how to make noodle soup.
Well, so hot at soup will do!
And so side dishes, enjoying a delightful al.
Return to the hotel and sleep soundly.
That is the ultimate enjoynt!
Chen Wen quickly said, "Let’s go into town!"
"I’m already looking forward to the hot bath!"
Hearing this, Hua Yun’s eyes also sparked with longing.
After staying outside in this icy world for a month, the thought of a hot bath was truly unbeatable!
Eagerly she said, "Let’s hurry, faster!"
...
There are few people in the Yukon Territory, with a permanent population of less than fifty thousand.
And seventy percent of the population lives in the capital, White Horse City.
The remaining thirty percent are scattered in other major cities and these small towns.
Many Canadian towns are famous, such as Banff Town, Jasper Town, and so on.
But in the Yukon Territory, towns here are not well-known.
Towns here are more like settlents ford by indigenous people unwilling to leave, to maintain past lifestyles.
Few young people stay in such isolated small towns.
An important reason small towns can survive is comrce and tourism.
Just at the entrance of the town, Chen Wen and Hua Yun spotted a notice board.
The notice board had been there a while, perhaps enduring many a battle.
Yet, the stickers on it were quite new.
Essentially stating that a snowstorm awaited in the coming days, and travelers without extraordinary survival abilities should rest at the town’s Grizzly Dinner lodge until the snow stopped.
It also kindly marked the route to Grizzly Dinner from here.
"This must have been put up by the owner themselves, really... making money!"
Chen Wen was full of admiration.
Sitting on the moose’s back, Hua Yun could see so other notices, or rather proclamations.
There were three-year-old governnt blizzard warnings, recruitnt for hunters to hunt grizzly bears, suggestions for travelers to hire hunters as guides for hiking safety, and many advertisents.
But all were advertisents for stores in the town.
Hua Yun glanced over them and said, "This place may be small, but it’s well-equipped, with general stores, outdoor shops, fishing shops, even weapon shops, though no hospitals or schools; it’s got most of what you need."
"No hospital?"
Chen Wen was a bit surprised, "Then your cold..."
Hua Yun shook her head, "Although there’s no hospital, there is a clinic, a private one."
That’s good enough.
Chen Wen said, "Where should we go? I haven’t seen the show crew."
Hua Yun said, "To Grizzly Dinner, our crew is there."
The na Grizzly Dinner didn’t sound too good.
Chen Wen muttered.
Not sure if they served grizzly at there, or if the owner, like a grizzly, would strip travelers of their money.
After all, no matter where you are, shady places are an essential dish.
...
Chen Wen and Hua Yun, along with the moose, reindeer, lynx, and Golden Eagle, strolled down the main street of the town.
Or rather one of the two streets.
The Golden Eagle perched on Chen Wen’s shoulder, curiously observing its surroundings.
It was its first ti in human society, never having seen humans before eting Chen Wen.
The lynx, though it had seen humans, was its first ti in a human settlent, curiously looking around as well.
The moose and reindeer remained calm.
Perhaps because they couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
The streets were piled with deep snow.
The surrounding houses were also buried in snow, if it weren’t for the light inside.
Chen Wen might have thought the place was a ruin.
Because it was deathly quiet, without a soul in sight.
At that mont, as if drawn by the heavy footfalls of the moose.
A small window in a blue house was pulled open with a clatter.
Chen Wen looked towards the sound, seeing a small girl in a red hat, Caucasian features.
Chen Wen gave a friendly nod.
Probably a local resident?
But upon seeing Chen Wen’s party, the little girl looked as if she’d seen a ghost.
She rubbed her eyes hard, shouting for her brother.
Then, a smaller blue hat peeked out from below.
Little Blue Hat was a Caucasian boy, who gasped upon seeing the bizarre group.
Chen Wen could vaguely hear the child’s words.
Roughly, My God, what’s that, he’s so cool, and so on.
Chen Wen puffed out his chest, giving Little Blue Hat a smug glance.
As they continued forward, adults gradually appeared on the street.
This was a roadside shop, where a sleepy old man was sitting inside.
The old man seed lacking energy, but what he was selling made Chen Wen’s eyes widen.
"Wow, is this a gun shop?"
Chen Wen asked in shock.
On the most prominent shelf lay long hunting rifles.
Though the shop sold other things, those guns captured Chen Wen’s attention.
"Hunters’ Weapon Shop, sells weapons for hunters, and hunting tools, bows and crossbows are here too."
Hua Yun said, her eyes glued to a recurve bow hanging on the wall.
She could tell at once it was a very fine recurve bow!
With exquisite craftsmanship, not made from ordinary materials.
And bearing signs of use, likely having belonged to this old man!
Hesitating, Hua Yun said, "Shall we... skip the inn for now?"
Chen Wen, eyes unblinking at the guns, nodded repeatedly, "Exactly what I was thinking!"
As they approached, the old man heard footsteps, and confusedly opened his eyes.
This damned weather, who’s here to buy sothing?
Or is soone here to invite for drinks?
Is it that old fellow Jason?
As the old man just opened his eyes, he saw the face of a moose approaching, with a woman bundled up tightly, scarfed in rabbit fur on its back.
He paused, a bit baffled.
But even more perplexing things unfolded.
An Asian male of indeterminate age approached, a wide grin on his face.
He was leading a reindeer, with sothing perched on his shoulder...
Was that a Golden Eagle?
The old man’s eyes widened, almost exclaiming aloud.
What shocked him further was yet to co.
At the man’s feet, a pure black lynx skirted around a hunting chair at the entrance, sauntering over to the stove, lying down comfortably.
What?
Just what is this?
The old man pinched himself hard, thinking he must be dreaming.
But the pain woke him, this was no dream!
By then, Chen Wen had co forward, cheerfully speaking in English, "Hello there, kind sir, the humble monk from Eastern Tang has arrived..."
Hua Yun pulled Chen Wen back, tiredly explaining, "We are participants of ’Wilderness Survival: Two Together’, just arrived in town, we thought we’d check out the goods you have."
Saying this, Hua Yun’s eyes glistened, "Does your bow happen to be for sale?"
The old man felt his mind whirling a bit.
However, he caught the keywords: ’Wilderness Survival: Two Together’ participants!
Similar to the four who’d co before.
But, the question was, what was up with so many animals?!
User Comments
0 comments from readers