Just half an hour after Yves left.

The roar of an engine echoed over the empty riverbank.

The hearts of everyone waiting in the camp leaped. They all raised their heads, looking nervously in the direction of the sound.

In the darkness, the wind howled and the snow swirled.

Several beams of light suddenly pierced the darkness, looking exceptionally bright in the vast, snowy expanse.

The next moment, a red snowmobile burst through the blizzard and into everyone’s view.

And the rider was none other than the cornerstone of the Crown Territory.

The moment they saw Feng Mountain, everyone was overcome with an indescribable joy and excitement.

They cheered and shouted, waving their arms as if welcoming a triumphant hero.

The wind still blew and the snow still fell, but in that moment, the camp was filled with hope.

Feng Mountain stopped the snowmobile and took off his hood and windproof face mask, his face flushed red from the cold.

Seeing everyone cheering at the bridgehead, he broke into a wide, happy grin.

That smile was like the warm sun on a winter’s day, instantly dispelling the severe cold and gloom.

"Hey, I’m back!"

In an instant, the crowd surged toward Feng Mountain like a tide.

"Khilla!"

"Boss!"

Of course, the center spot in the crowd always belonged to Jenny and the other women.

They crowded tightly around Feng Mountain, their eyes glistening with tears and their faces full of concern and joy.

"We were so worried about you." Jenny reached out a trembling hand to gently touch Feng Mountain’s frost-reddened cheek, confirming that he was truly unharmed.

"You big jerk, you have to take me with you next time you go hunting." Erica raised a small fist in a mock-angry pout.

Maria and Tammy, their faces fraught with worry, could only say, "Khilla!"

The others stood to the side, smiling as they watched the scene, happy for Feng Mountain’s return.

As the second group of newcomers to join the Crown Territory, they hadn’t been there long, but each of them had more or less similar pasts. They had been deceived, suffered domestic violence, been abused, lived in poverty, battled illness, and some had even been raped, becoming homeless and living at the very bottom of society.

They had struggled in darkness, unable to see a path to the future.

However, after coming to the Crown Territory, everything changed. They had found a harbor where they could take shelter.

The Crown Territory wasn’t just a place to work; it was a sanctuary for the soul. They were no longer lonely wanderers, but members of a big family.

Here, they were no longer outcasts of society.

Here, they had found a home they could rely on, a place full of warmth and care.

They supported each other, grew together, and strived for a better life as one.

Feng Mountain’s return only strengthened the newcomers’ conviction.

Because here, they could see hope and the possibility of a future.

They could feel warmth, care, and respect—things they had once only dreamed of.

"Stop crying, Erica, you’re going to ruin your makeup," Feng Mountain teased, trying to lighten the mood. He turned to Jenny, his smile turning apologetic. "I’m sorry. The wind and snow on the Tundra were so loud, I didn’t hear my phone ring."

Jenny just shook her head without speaking, but her red-rimmed eyes conveyed all the emotion she felt.

’This is getting awkward.’

As Feng Mountain’s smile slowly grew awkward, he was saved by the roar of snowmobiles approaching from behind. He quickly turned to the crowd and said,

"They’re back! This was a huge haul from the hunt, enough to feed our camp for months."

As he spoke, six snowmobiles pulled up and stopped one by one.

The sleds being towed by Nash’s and Yves’s snowmobiles were piled high with game wrapped in waterproof tarps.

Feng Mountain used this as an excuse to escape the circle of Jenny and the other women.

"Nash and I had originally bagged two muskoxen and were heading back, but on the way we ran into a herd of reindeer. We went ahead and took down four of them, which is why we were delayed. The snow out there is really heavy."

"Tell the kitchen not to cook today! We’re having a barbecue party! Everyone, let’s get ready. Music, drinks, vegetables—let’s get moving!"

The words had barely left his mouth when everyone erupted in cheers.

There was nothing like a party to make people forget their troubles and blow off some steam.

Everyone immediately sprang into action, their faces beaming with happy smiles.

Jenny and the other women had been planning to give Feng Mountain a "caring lecture," but they could only shoot him an angry glare and let him off the hook for now.

Unaware that he had just dodged a bullet, Feng Mountain called the men over to move the game to an open area.

They began butchering it on the spot.

Skinning, deboning, taking the meat...

Piece after piece of fresh reindeer and muskox meat was laid out on the mossy ground.

Around the camp, some went to set up the music equipment and tune the speakers. Others were busy moving drinks, tossing bottles of soda and fine wine into the Ice River to chill. Some went to the vegetable garden to pick produce, while others brought over firewood, piling it up in the open space and lighting a roaring bonfire.

A cheerful melody rang out over the camp, and the roaring flames melted the snowflakes drifting down from the sky.

Feng Mountain had Nash bring out the barbecue grills and iron skewers from the storage room, once again transforming into a master of kebabs.

When it came to barbecuing, the skill of Westerners was on a completely different level from Chinese barbecue.

Western barbecue ingredients are relatively simple, consisting mainly of meat—especially beef, pork, and chicken. The variety of seafood is comparatively small, and the selection of vegetables is also rather limited.

They basically just throw large cuts of ingredients directly on the grill—like a whole chicken, a big steak, or an entire sausage—lacking any fine cutting or thoughtful pairing of ingredients.

Seasonings are used sparingly, with various barbecue sauces being the primary choice.

Chinese barbecue, on the other hand, emphasizes a rich and diverse range of ingredients, covering almost every kind of meat, seafood, vegetable, and soy product imaginable.

The meat is usually marinated, while vegetables are cut and prepared according to their type. Special ingredients, like kidneys or tendons, undergo specific treatments to remove any unpleasant odors.

Of course, the selection of seasonings is also far greater, with things like cumin, chili powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, five-spice powder, salt, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, oyster sauce, and more.