Landlord in the Arctic

This thick fur acts as a sturdy barrier, effectively blocking the biting wind and significantly reducing heat loss. It allows them to stay warm even in the icy, snow-covered landscape.

Moreover, a Northeast Tiger’s wide paws help it walk on soft snow, distributing its weight to keep it from sinking too deep.

More importantly, the thick pads and dense fur on their paws provide excellent insulation.

This prevents rapid heat loss as they walk across the frozen ground, protecting them from frostbite.

Additionally, the Northeast Tiger’s massive size allows its body to store large amounts of fat.

This fat plays a crucial role during the cold winter. When food is scarce, these reserves provide a steady supply of extra calories, helping them maintain their body temperature and normal bodily functions to survive difficult periods.

In short, as long as they have an adequate food supply to replenish their energy, Northeast Tigers can tenaciously survive in even the most extreme environments.

This time, as Tyson and the other tigers accompanied Feng Mountain to rescue the Bear Tribe, they had to trudge through snow over a meter deep the entire way.

Every step required enormous effort, draining their stamina without them even noticing.

They now desperately needed food to recover their strength, which was why Tyson had made his eager plea to Feng Mountain upon spotting the cattle frozen to death in the snow.

The cattle had been in the extreme cold for so long that even their blood had frozen solid.

Such meat was naturally inedible for humans, but for these highly adaptable animals, it was perfectly safe to eat.

The Bear Tribe’s camp wasn’t far ahead anyway. Feng Mountain, Ma Wei, and the others could manage the rest of the way on foot.

With this in mind, Feng Mountain reached out and patted Tyson’s head, his eyes full of understanding and compassion. "Go on, eat," he said. "It would be a waste otherwise. You all worked hard getting here. Find us at the Bear Tribe camp when you’re done."

After speaking, Feng Mountain turned his gaze to the Taiga Wolf Pack that had accompanied them.

They had also expended a great deal of energy on the difficult journey and needed to refuel.

"You all get something to eat, too," he said gently.

With Feng Mountain’s permission, the Tiger Pack and Wolf Pack, with their incredibly keen sense of smell, sprang into action.

They searched the surrounding snow and quickly found the frozen cattle.

They dug through the thick snow with their paws and dragged out the carcasses.

Then, baring their sharp fangs, they effortlessly tore through the tough hides. With CRUNCHES and RIPS, they tore at the frozen meat, devouring the rare meal with relish.

Fortunately, they were in the middle of a cold snap and blizzard.

The temperature was extremely low.

The cattle were frozen solid, so there was no gruesome, bloody scene to cause too much discomfort.

Feng Mountain watched the Tiger Pack and Wolf Pack feed. ’I hope they regain their strength quickly,’ he thought.

Then, he gestured to Ma Wei and the other two, and they continued onward, leaving the feasting Tiger Pack and Wolf Pack behind.

The tigers’ importance immediately became clear.

Without the tigers ahead to help pull them along, walking became exceptionally difficult for the humans.

The howling wind roared, blowing so hard they could barely stay on their feet. Their bodies swayed, and they were in constant danger of being knocked over.

Left with no other choice, Feng Mountain tied them all together with a rope. They supported one another, shuffling forward one slow step at a time.

There’s an old saying: "Mountains look close but will run a horse to death." For them, it felt more like the distant smoke would make them run their legs off.

From a distance, the plume of smoke seemed just around the corner, yet it felt like they would never reach it.

After a long, arduous trek, they finally arrived half an hour later.

However, staring at the nearly three-meter-high snow wall before them, Feng Mountain and his companions blinked in bewilderment.

A majestic snow wall, almost three meters tall, stood before them.

He remembered the Bear Tribe camp didn’t used to have such a high wall—just a wooden fence about a meter tall.

Ma Wei stepped forward first. Wearing thick gloves, he vigorously brushed away the outer layer of loose snow from the wall.

As he did, snow slid away with a WHOOSH, gradually revealing the body of a cow.

It dawned on them then: the Bear Tribe had used the frozen cattle to build this wall as a defense against the cold snap and blizzard.

Feng Mountain and his group circled the snow wall and found that the area it enclosed wasn’t very large.

Judging by its crude construction and the signs of a hasty build, it must have been a rush job, thrown up after the cold snap and blizzard hit unexpectedly.

But that raised a question: where was the entrance?

They circled the wall several times but found no trace of an entrance.

’Did the Bear Tribe plan on trapping themselves in here to die?’

A flicker of worry rose in their hearts at the thought.

With no other option, Feng Mountain took off his snowshoes and had Ma Wei and the other two form a human ladder.

Carefully stepping onto the human ladder, Feng Mountain climbed the wall of cow carcasses.

Perched atop the wall, he saw three tents huddled closely together inside. Carcasses of cattle and sheep were piled between them. The black smoke they had seen from the Tundra was coming from the tents’ smoke vents.

He jumped down from the wall of frozen cattle, landing in the soft, deep snow within the enclosure.

Without stopping to catch his breath, Feng Mountain sprinted toward one of the tents, his heart racing with anxiety. With every step, he sank past his calves in snow.

Moments later, he reached the tent.

Feng Mountain took a deep breath, grabbed the heavy animal-hide flap, and with a surge of strength, threw it open with a SWOOSH.

In that instant, a wave of warm air thick with the rich aroma of meat washed over him. The worried expression on Feng Mountain’s face froze as if he’d been hit by an Immobilization Spell, his eyes wide with astonishment.

The inside of the tent was like a hidden paradise—warm and pleasant, a completely different world from the howling, frozen wasteland outside.

Nash’s entire family, young and old, was gathered around a blazing fire.

A huge iron pot rested over the flames.

Large chunks of beef tumbled in the bubbling broth, sending a tempting, savory aroma throughout the tent that went straight to his nose.

Inside the tent, Bear’s Fang’s family and several other tribe members were feasting on stewed beef, chatting in low voices, and enjoying a brief moment of comfort amid the blizzard.

Suddenly, the hide flap was whipped open by the wind. A bone-chilling gust rushed in like a tidal wave with a WHOOSH, instantly scattering some of the warmth and making everyone by the fire shiver.

Everyone subconsciously assumed it was another member of the tribe visiting. After all, while they were trapped, it was common to visit one another and huddle together for warmth.

So, everyone turned to look at the entrance.

But when their eyes landed on Feng Mountain, standing at the entrance covered in snow...

The smiles froze on their faces. Clearly, no one had expected this.

For Khilla to suddenly appear here at a time like this...

Nash’s eyes flew wide. He shot up from the ground, stammering in disbelief as he shouted.

"Khilla!"

The other members of the Bear Tribe snapped out of their stupor at the cry and scrambled to their feet.

They rushed over to Feng Mountain, and several pairs of strong hands grabbed the still-dazed man, dragging him into the tent while muttering.

"Goodness, Khilla, get in here! It’s freezing outside!"

Once he was inside, everyone bustled about.

One person gently brushed the thick snow from Feng Mountain’s clothes while another carefully pulled off his hide coat, which was covered in icicles. Each piece of ice came away with a sharp CRACK.

Someone else hurried to grab a thick, soft blanket from the side, draping it over Feng Mountain’s shoulders and murmuring.

"We can’t have you freezing, Khilla."

Then, they pushed Feng Mountain down to sit by the warm fire so he could warm up.

Before Feng Mountain could even process what was happening, a bowl of steaming, glistening meat broth was placed in front of him.

The broth had a tempting color and an overwhelming aroma; it had clearly just been ladled from the pot.

Zicao, who handed him the soup, looked anxious. "Khilla, hurry and drink some hot soup. Warm yourself up."

The warmth of the tent and the fervor of the Bear Tribe.

Allowed Feng Mountain’s tense heart to finally relax.

.....