Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 304 - 250: Arrival (2)

Young Master Xu furrowed his brow slightly and cleared his throat, wanting to defend himself. "We do our fair share of work. You need proof to back up what you’re saying."

However, even he felt his words sounded a bit weak, and an embarrassed expression crept onto his face.

Erica wasn’t buying any of it. She crossed her arms, let out a cold huff, and was about to fire back a retort.

Just then, the roar of propellers echoed through the dark sky. The sound grew louder as it approached, finally booming overhead like a clap of dull thunder.

Jenny quickly put a stop to their squabbling. "Nash is here. We’re representing the Crown Territory now. Don’t make a fool of us in front of the Bear Tribe."

Her tone was laced with an unmistakable seriousness, and her gaze swept over each of them, her eyes full of warning.

Su Ziweng and Young Master Xu immediately sobered up, realizing this was no time for bickering. They quickly straightened their slightly disheveled clothes and stood up taller, trying to look more presentable.

Erica also dropped her argumentative stance. She uncrossed her arms, tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and replaced her scowl with a polite smile.

Maria and Tammy stopped watching the spectacle and quickly straightened up. With polite, welcoming smiles, they turned their gazes in unison toward the sound in the sky.

The roar of the propellers intensified as the silhouette of an aircraft gradually came into view. It slowly descended toward the runway, kicking up a powerful downdraft that sent the hems of their clothes and strands of their hair flying.

The aircraft’s landing gear touched down on the runway with a squeal of tires, and it slowly taxied, its speed gradually decreasing until it came to a complete stop.

Only then did everyone smooth out their wind-tousled clothes and hair before taking a few steps forward.

The aircraft’s cabin door slowly opened.

Nash was the first to emerge from the cabin. His face bore a trace of fatigue from the long journey, but his eyes still shone with joy. After all, returning to the Crown Territory was like coming back to a place he had longed to see.

Immediately after him, a young girl dressed in the attire of the Indigenous People stepped off the plane.

The girl looked to be about ten years old. Her clothes were embroidered with exquisite traditional patterns, and she wore a small fur cap on her head. Beneath its brim, her large, sparkling eyes shone with curiosity and innocence.

She immediately stuck close behind Nash, her small hand clutching the hem of his clothing as she timidly observed the unfamiliar surroundings and the strange faces before her.

After her, several members of the Indigenous People disembarked, carrying a stretcher.

A middle-aged man lay on the stretcher. A closer look revealed a strong resemblance to Nash; the contours of his eyes and brows clearly marked them as blood relatives.

At the moment, however, the man’s face was pale and his eyes were shut tight, as if he were enduring great pain. His breathing was faint, making for a worrisome sight.

"Hey, Nash, welcome home!"

Su Ziweng was the first to react. He hurried forward with a broad, enthusiastic smile and called out a loud greeting to Nash, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere created by the sight of the injured man on the stretcher.

Master Xu followed suit, offering Nash a polite smile and a slight nod. "Nash, it must have been a long trip. This must be your father, then."

In fact, everyone at the camp knew that Feng Mountain had gone to the Bear Tribe, and news that Nash’s father had been injured had already spread.

So, upon seeing Nash’s father on the stretcher, everyone began offering words of comfort.

"Don’t worry, your father is going to be alright."

"Khilla will know how to treat him."

"We’ll all be praying for your father."

One by one, they chimed in, their words full of concern, all hoping to ease Nash’s burden.

As for Nash?

His face remained impassive, as always. It seemed to be his trademark look. In response to everyone’s concern, he simply gave a silent nod.

"Hello there!" Erica and the other women approached the little girl, their eyes full of kindness as they looked at the timid child.

Tammy, ever the enthusiastic one, pulled a piece of chocolate from her pocket and offered it to the girl. "Don’t be scared. Welcome to the Crown Territory. Here, this is for you. Eating something sweet always makes you feel better."

The little girl hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Nash, her eyes questioning, as if asking for his permission.

Seeing this, Nash gave the little girl a slight nod, signaling that she could take it.

Only then did the little girl reach out her small hand and take the chocolate. A sweet smile blossomed on her face as she said in a soft, childish voice, "Thank you, Sister. This chocolate looks so yummy."

Erica smiled and crouched down to the little girl’s eye level. "What’s your name?"

The little girl tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "My name is Chuli, but you all can call me Liu Lan."

The women all laughed at her adorable expression. They gathered around, chiming in one after another to chat with Liu Lan.

Jenny turned to Nash. "We’ve prepared log cabins and living supplies at the camp. You can all get settled in first. Just let me know if you need anything."

Nash, however, shook his head. "The Bear Tribe doesn’t live in settlements. I’ll find a spot outside the camp to set up a teepee. We’ll just need the camp to provide some lumber and food."

"Alright. If you need anything, just ask. We’re all family here."

Jenny knew the Indigenous People had their own customs and often preferred to live according to the traditions passed down within their tribe. Too much interference from outsiders might just make them feel ill at ease, so she didn’t press the matter.

Afterward, Nash led the members of the Bear Tribe, who carried the stretcher and their luggage, off the runway. Step by step, they walked out onto the silent, mossy tundra.

Jenny and her group walked alongside them.

It was Liu Lan’s first time seeing the Tundra during the polar night. She was curious about everything, her wide eyes darting left and right like a child in a new world.

The moss, which would have seemed ordinary on any other day, now appeared to be draped in a mysterious cloak under the faint light of the polar night, emitting a soft, ethereal glow.

"Look! The moss is glowing in the dark!"

"Wow, there are so many berries in the grass! They’re so sweet!"

"Brother, it’s so pretty here! Are we going to live here now?"

After walking for about half an hour, the group arrived at the bank of a thawing ice river. A small grove of fruit trees with new green leaves grew by the water. After surveying the surroundings, Nash finally selected this spot for the tribe’s camp.

A few young men from the Bear Tribe quickly opened their bundles of luggage and took out several large animal hides.

They spread the hides out on the ground one by one. Some were used as ground coverings to create a more comfortable place to sit and rest, while others began to piece some together, apparently preparing to construct simple tents.

Just then, the roar of an engine shattered the quiet atmosphere.

Two bright beams of light sped toward them from the direction of the main camp. As the lights drew nearer, the sound of the engine grew more distinct.

Feng Jun and David had received a message from Jenny. A moment later, the two of them pulled up on snowmobiles, towing a bundle of lumber and some living supplies.

Feng Jun hopped off his vehicle first and called out loudly to Nash, "Nash! We heard you’d arrived. Sister Jenny sent me over with some lumber."

David got off his as well, adding, "There’s also some reindeer meat and other food. If it’s not enough, I can go back for more."

As they spoke, he and Feng Jun began to untie the ropes securing the lumber and food, preparing to unload the supplies and hand them over to the members of the Bear Tribe.

"Thank you," Nash said calmly, before leading his people forward to unload the supplies.

The young members of the Bear Tribe immediately got to work. First, they gathered around the lumber, and with their rich experience and practiced eyes, they quickly selected suitable pieces.

Next, they skillfully began to erect the tent frames. Their tools moved up and down in their hands, their motions deft and precise. They cleverly joined and secured the lumber, and soon the basic shape of a frame emerged, standing steadily on the grassy ground.

Then, they draped the prepared animal hides over the frames and used ropes to secure them firmly in place.

In no time, two conical teepees were fully assembled.

Inside, they laid down thick fur blankets, making the ground soft and warm.

....