The women had taken over the large hot spring pool.

Fortunately, David found a few smaller pools nearby. It was better than nothing. The men, who had been driven out by the women, all squeezed into one of them.

They listened to the girls next door giggling and splashing in the water.

’I’m so pathetic,’ Feng Jun thought. ’I should be over there, playing in the water with them, but instead I’m stuck here just soaking with a bunch of stinky guys.’

"David, how can there be hot springs here?" Yves asked curiously. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I’m not sure. Perhaps a geological change. You guys said the camp’s temperature suddenly rose by five degrees, right? Maybe around that time, a deflagration of underground shale gas caused ground subsidence, which in turn forced subterranean hot springs to the surface, creating these pools."

David offered his theory with a deadpan expression.

Whether it was true or not didn’t matter. What mattered was cementing his status as the most educated person in the camp.

The few men in the pool only half-understood, but they were left with the impression that David was incredibly knowledgeable.

He was, after all, someone Khilla trusted.

Feng Jun heard the women in the next pool singing and was instantly annoyed. He looked at the old-timers and said, "Which of you can sing? Belt one out and drown out that noise from next door."

The men exchanged glances.

Finally, Yves’s gaze fell on Scar, the Mexican.

"Scar was a bar singer in Mexico before he enlisted."

"Scar, give us a song," Feng Jun quickly urged.

Finding himself the center of attention, Scar scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He got out of the hot spring and sat on the edge of the pool.

"Can you guys keep a beat? A one-two rhythm, how about it?"

"Easy, no problem," the others all nodded.

"Here’s an adapted version of ’Take Me Home’ for everyone." Scar cleared his throat, closed his eyes slightly, and recalled his days singing in bars.

A moment later, his slightly raspy voice rang out, echoing over the hot springs.

"Almost heaven, Mexican Plateau."

"Sierra Madre Mountains, Grand River."

"Life is old there, older than the trees."

"Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze."

"Country roads, take me home." As he sang this line, Scar raised his hand, signaling Feng Jun and the others to clap the beat.

Everyone joined in, and a rhythmic clapping sound rose from the hot spring pool.

The sound of clapping and singing intertwined, seeming to form a powerful force that could pierce the cold air and warm every soul.

The cold wind blew gently, and the steam rippled slightly, as if dancing to the beautiful melody.

"Country roads, take me home."

"All my memories gather ’round my mother,"

"Lifting her up high, we strode away."

"Farmers of the Mexican Plateau, folks who’ve never seen the sea."

Scar’s voice echoed over the hot springs, carrying a unique charm and emotion.

The others clapped along while listening quietly, their faces showing rapt expressions.

In their minds, they could almost see the Mexican Plateau, where the wind sang softly and golden waves of wheat swayed like a passionate dance. A mother and son walked into the sunset, the warm golden light dyeing the clouds that clothed the horizon.

The noisy chatter from the large pool next door gradually died down.

As if drawn in by Scar’s singing, the women also fell silent, listening quietly to the light melody filled with a country-folk air.

The steam from the hot springs drifted slowly in the breeze, creating a dreamlike scene.

Everyone was immersed in Scar’s song, feeling a stir deep within their souls.

...

「The next morning.」

A new day had arrived, but due to the polar night, the outdoors was still pitch black, the night sky shrouded as if by thick ink.

The alarm on his phone rang punctually at 6:30.

Khilla woke from his sleep. Although he had rested all night, the feeling of exhaustion in his body still lingered.

After quickly washing up, he had just come downstairs to the first floor when he saw Nash walking over with a strange expression.

"Khilla, hot spring pools appeared outside the camp last night."

"What? Hot spring pools?" Khilla’s face showed his surprise, his eyes wide with disbelief. "When did they appear? How come I didn’t know?"

"Yves and the others found them last night. They tried calling, but you wouldn’t wake up," Nash said with a shrug.

"Let’s go take a look!"

Khilla grabbed his animal hide coat and hurried out of the log cabin.

Shining a flashlight, he rushed to the hot spring pools. There were still quite a few people soaking in them, including Erica, Demi, Maria, and a group of other camp employees.

In the outdoor environment of over ten degrees below zero, their hair and eyebrows, wet from the hot spring water, quickly frosted over.

"Hey, Khilla, want to join us in the hot spring? It’s so nice! There’s a spot right here next to me!" Erica said upon seeing Khilla. She shoved Demi aside to make room.

’A bunch of white-haired witches. Like hell I’m getting in there with you.’

The corner of Khilla’s mouth twitched. He deliberately avoided looking at the girls in the pool and turned his head toward David, who had followed him over.

"What’s the situation? How did hot springs suddenly appear? There was nothing here yesterday. How many pools are there like this? Is it dangerous?"

Faced with so many questions, David methodically took out a notebook and opened it.

"The formation of the hot springs may be related to underground shale gas. We’ve currently found one large and seven small ones, for a total of eight pools. The largest is about 100 square meters, and the smallest is still 3 square meters. For now, there doesn’t seem to be any danger. A deeper investigation would require hiring a professional geological survey team."

’Hire a professional geological survey team?’

’Then the whole jig would be up.’

Khilla waved his hand. "Okay, I’ll contact a geological team. As long as there’s no immediate danger, it’s fine. It’s perfect, since nobody has a place to bathe anyway. Oh, right, have Yves run some electrical wires over here. I remember we have spare streetlights in the warehouse. Install them here. We can’t keep using flashlights forever."

"I’ve already arranged for it!" David nodded and closed his notebook.

With the problem solved, Khilla surveyed the swirling steam around him.