The moment Feng Mountain reached out and touched the fur, a fine, smooth texture, like silk, flowed across his fingertips. He immediately knew what kind of pelt it was.

Reindeer and bear hides have a coarse feel, but the one before him was uniquely sleek and oily, as if it had been meticulously cared for.

Despite the existence of modern, high-tech cold-weather gear like expedition-grade down jackets and multi-layered shell jackets that offer maximum insulation, in reality, they have never truly surpassed clothing made from animal pelts, especially when it comes to aspects like windproofing.

In Alaska, the most prized animal pelt is that of the sea otter, followed by sable, wolverine, beaver, moose, brown bear, reindeer, and walrus.

Sea otter pelts are considered the best because their fur allows them to survive the low temperatures of the Ice Sea. Their fur is four times denser than mink, with 125,000 hairs per square centimeter, making any clothing made from it the ultimate in cold-weather protection.

Unfortunately, years ago, the Old Russians hunted them relentlessly, causing the sea otter population in the Bering Sea to plummet. Combined with hunting by Alaskan hunters, the sea otter population was hunted to the point of exhaustion.

The species only began to slowly recover after sea otters were listed as a globally protected endangered animal.

Likewise, with legal restrictions preventing them from hunting sea otters, Wilderness Hunters turned their attention to sable, beaver, and wolverine. The pelts of these three animals are also considered top-tier, and hunting them is permitted in Alaska.

The three fur coats in Tom’s hands were made from wolverine, and a single coat requires at least four complete wolverine pelts.

If they were sold on the fur market, a wolverine fur coat of this quality, including the cost of craftsmanship, would be impossible to get for less than 4,000 US Dollars.

That’s why Feng Mountain remarked that Tom was being incredibly generous.

It was a gift of over 10,000 US Dollars.

"You’ve really spared no expense," Feng Mountain said meaningfully. He was very pleased with Tom’s thoughtfulness toward his younger siblings and gestured for Xiaohua and the other two to accept the fur coats.

Hearing Feng Mountain’s praise, Tom’s face lit up with joy, and he rubbed his hands together.

’What are three measly wolverine coats? The real prize is getting closer to Feng Mountain.’

He quickly turned to Xiaohua and the other two with enthusiasm.

"Kids, hurry and try them on. With these coats, you’ll be able to go anywhere in Alaska."

"Go on, put them on," Feng Mountain nodded. "Old Tom is right. Wolverine coats are incredibly warm. In the wild, your breath won’t even freeze on the fur."

With that, Xiaohua, Hu Zi, and Black Hide happily put on the wolverine coats. The moment the soft fur touched their skin, they felt waves of warmth wash over them.

It felt as if they were wrapped in a warm embrace, and the cold vanished in an instant.

Nearby, Zhang Kai and his three companions felt a little jealous.

’We’re paying you a fortune, and we don’t even get a little something?’

Of course, they only dared to think this to themselves. After all, those were Feng Mountain’s younger siblings; it wasn’t their place to receive gifts.

After giving out the gifts, Tom turned to Zhang Kai and his group. His words revealed the shrewdness and resourcefulness of a true merchant.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Crown Territory. I’m Tom, Feng’s supplier. I heard you were in need of warm coats, so I made a special trip to Fairbanks and brought back a batch of top-quality fur coats. They’re over at my cabin. How about I take you to have a look at the merchandise?"

As he spoke, his eyes drifted over the group, gauging their reactions.

When his gaze met Feng Mountain’s, a silent understanding passed between them like an electric current.

’Feng, should I go for the kill?’

Feng Mountain understood instantly and answered with a look of his own.

’Go for the kill. Don’t hold back!’

At once, the smile on Tom’s face grew even wider. It was a smile as brilliant as the sun, yet it held a faint, almost imperceptible trace of cunning. He enthusiastically beckoned for Zhang Kai and his companions to follow him outside.

The others in the room knew exactly what Tom was up to, but since he had also given each of them a fur coat, no one said a word. Besides, with Feng Mountain present, Tom wouldn’t dare to make an outrageous demand—he’d just pad the price a little.

"How about some Chinese-style barbecue tonight? I’ll do the grilling myself," Feng Mountain said, looking at the others.

The proposal was met with immediate, unanimous approval. They ate meat every day, but it was always either pan-fried or stewed. Everyone had been wanting a change of pace for a while, and the prospect of Chinese-style barbecue was especially exciting.

And so, the group began to discuss the necessary ingredients and equipment.

Yves went to the workshop to get the grill, Nash prepared the charcoal, and Jenny and the other girls got the ingredients ready.

There wasn’t much of a fancy selection in the Crown Territory, just ordinary ingredients like musk ox, moose, reindeer, Snow Rabbit, and cod.

’It wasn’t that he looked down on foreign barbecue.’

’In Feng Mountain’s view, foreign barbecue was simply subpar. They had perfectly good ingredients but insisted on just throwing them all together on the grill, making it look like a big hodgepodge. They’d claim it was to "preserve the food’s original flavor," or they’d just slather everything with a mess of different spices and sauces.’

’Chinese barbecue, on the other hand, was far more rich and varied. You could make a work of art out of grilling anything, whether it was meat or vegetables.’

’Especially that final moment when you sprinkle on the cumin and chili powder, the aroma just explodes. Then you take a bite, and the flavor bursts in your mouth—now *that* is a taste of heaven on earth.’

The only thing was that the prep work was a little more tedious. The ingredients had to be put on skewers, but Feng Mountain had bought ready-made metal ones from a Chinese supermarket in Fairbanks.

He cut the various ingredients into chunks and threaded them onto the skewers. Tom had also brought some vegetables and fruit with him when he arrived.

Things like cucumbers, onions, green peppers, eggplants, and corn.

Feng Mountain washed the vegetables, cut them up, and skewered them on the metal skewers along with the chunks of meat.

After the sky turned completely dark, a green aurora began to drift across the night sky, ethereal and dreamlike.

Xiaohua, Hu Zi, and Black Hide had gone to bed early after dinner the previous night, so they hadn’t yet had a chance to admire Alaska’s most beautiful sight.

The three of them, wrapped in their warm wolverine coats, gazed up at the ever-shifting aurora in the night sky, feeling as if they had stepped into a fantasy world.

Xiaohua’s mouth hung slightly open, too stunned by the beautiful sight to speak.

Hu Zi and Black Hide excitedly pointed at the aurora, letting out one exclamation of awe after another.

A bonfire was lit in the clearing in front of the cabin. Feng Mountain had already started grilling, taking out his secret three-oil blend to give the meat skewers a "full-body spa."

He then placed the skewers on the grill, one after another.

Grease dripped onto the hot coals with a SIZZLE, and wisps of smoke instantly rose, carrying a tantalizing aroma that permeated the air.

The meat on the skewers gradually turned golden brown under the heat of the charcoal, its surface taking on a slightly charred color.

In the quiet night, the aroma of the barbecue mingled beautifully with the sight of the aurora.

The residents of the Crown Territory stood to one side, watching Feng Mountain skillfully turn the skewers. It seemed as though his hands possessed some magical power; every flip was perfectly timed, ensuring the meat cooked evenly.

The first batch of skewers was ready.

He sprinkled on cumin powder, chili flakes, and fine salt. The delicate seasonings coated the meat evenly, instantly adding a rich color and an irresistible aroma.

"All right, who wants to try my handiwork?" Feng Mountain called out, holding up the skewers.

"I do!"

"Me, me, me!"

"I want some!"

Maria, Erica, and Tammy all raised their hands at once.

"There’s enough for everyone." Of course, Feng Mountain didn’t just give skewers to the three who had their hands up; he passed the grilled meat out to everyone.

As soon as they got their skewers, everyone took an eager bite, not even caring that they were still hot. The delicious flavor of the barbecue exploded in their mouths; the tender, juicy texture and the rich seasoning were an instant delight to their taste buds.

Of course, there was one person who could only watch with longing.

That person was Xiaohua. Due to a health condition, she couldn’t eat charcoal-grilled food, so Jenny had prepared a special, healthy, and nutritious dinner for her.

Steamed cod, a boiled egg, and a bowl of warm milk with berries.

Watching everyone else slurp down their skewers, the aroma of cumin and chili tickling her nose, Xiaohua suddenly felt that her tender cod wasn’t quite so delicious anymore.

"It smells amazing!"

Just then, Zhang Kai and his three companions returned to the cabin with Tom, having finished their shopping. All four of them were now wearing new fur coats.

’Hmm, judging by the pelts... it looks like two bear-hide coats and two Wolf Fur Coats. I don’t even need to check the craftsmanship to know it’s Jason’s work.’

’The price couldn’t have been cheap.’

’But these guys have money,’ Feng Mountain mused. Before they arrived, Zhang Kai had called him.

The seven-day hunting tour in the Crown Territory cost 20,000 US Dollars per person. There were additional fees if they wanted to take any hunted game back home with them. All Feng Mountain had to provide were the hunting spots, transportation, food, and lodging.

20,000 US Dollars per person for seven days.

That price wasn’t cheap, really. A package tour could get you ten days for just 30,000 RMB.

’But in Feng Mountain’s opinion, 20,000 US Dollars wasn’t expensive at all.’

’Could a regular package tour get you into the Crown Territory?’

’Did other places have a tribal Fire Seed? Could you eat Fire Seed food there, or receive the Fire Seed baptism?’

’And I’m even guiding the hunt for free.’

’All things considered, I feel like I’m the one losing out on this deal.’

"Brother Feng, give me a few skewers. Load them up with chili—make it insanely hot," Su Ziweng said, walking up to the grill in his thick bear-hide coat.

The customer had a special request. The service had to be perfect.

Feng Mountain brushed the musk ox skewers with his three-oil blend, then grabbed a handful of his secret chili powder and showered it over the meat.

A choking cloud of chili powder instantly billowed out, forcing the people nearby to back away. They stared in horror at the skewers, which had gone from a charred brown to a fiery red.

"Yes, yes, that’s the stuff," Su Ziweng said, taking a deep, appreciative sniff of the pungent chili air.

"A man of taste! Here you go." Feng Mountain handed over the loaded skewer.

Taking the skewer, Su Ziweng immediately stuffed a piece into his mouth. The chili powder and the charred, fragrant musk ox created an intense explosion of sensation in his mouth.

The spicy flavor burned on his tongue like a flame, shocking his taste buds and jolting him awake.

The charred exterior of the musk ox was intensely fragrant, while the meat beneath was tender and juicy. This blended with the fiery chili powder to create a truly unique taste.

"Incredible!" Su Ziweng exclaimed between chews, a satisfied look on his face. "Brother Feng, this chili really packs a punch!"

Seeing how much he was enjoying it, the others—despite having been driven back by the choking chili cloud—couldn’t help but become a little curious about the taste.

"Can I try one of those?" Erica asked, inching forward.

HSSS...

"You have to take a big bite to really get the full effect," Su Ziweng said, sucking in air through his teeth. He generously handed over one of the spicy skewers.

Nearby, Feng Mountain knew his chili powder was a secret blend of several different peppers. Just a little bit could set your tongue on fire; only a true chili aficionado could handle it. He offered a piece of well-intentioned advice.

"It’s extremely spicy. You probably shouldn’t try it."

"I’m not afraid of spicy. I can even eat tacos with Mexican chilis," Erica retorted, paying him no mind.

’Well, suit yourself. It’s your funeral.’

Feng Mountain just smiled and went back to grilling his skewers.

Erica took the spicy skewer from Su Ziweng. She gave it a sniff; it smelled spicy, but not overwhelmingly so.

Then, copying Su Ziweng, she took a huge bite and started to chew.

"Is it good?" Tammy and Maria asked expectantly.

"Mmm!"

At first, Erica thought it was just a little spicy, about the same level as the chili on a Mexican taco.

But the more she chewed, the more she realized something was wrong. The spiciness began to spread slowly from the root of her tongue, as if a ball of fire was igniting in her mouth.

Soon, the intense heat assaulted her senses. Her eyes grew watery, fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her entire face turned beet red.

"Whoa! So hot, so hot!" Erica finally couldn’t take it anymore. She dropped the half-eaten skewer and began fanning her open mouth furiously with her hand, trying to quell the heat.

"Don’t worry, just ride it out and it’ll pass," Su Ziweng coached from the sidelines.

But Erica couldn’t hear a word he was saying. Her ears were ringing, her mind was a complete blank, and the intense spice was overwhelming her senses, making it impossible to think.

"Watha! I neeb watha! Help me!" she cried out, her words slurred and unintelligible as tears and drool streamed uncontrollably down her face.

"Here, milk helps with the spice," Xiaohua said kindly, handing over her cup of berry milk.

Erica took the milk and drained it in a series of desperate gulps. GULP, GULP, GULP.

The warm milk felt like a torrent of icy snowmelt dousing the flames in her mouth.

Although a searing heat remained, it was finally at a tolerable level.

With tears in her eyes, Erica looked over at Su Ziweng, who was still happily devouring the spicy meat. She shivered and cursed,

"You’re a monster!"

...