Chapter 264: Chapter 230: Entering the Camp (2)

Fun and games were one thing.

The four old men had all weathered great storms in their lives.

Decades of experience allowed them to quickly calm down.

The four exchanged a glance, seeing wariness and contemplation in each other’s eyes.

Old Liu was the first to break the silence, lowering his voice. "This place is a little weird. We need to be careful and not just get caught up in the novelty."

The other three nodded one after another. The old man in the bunny-ear hat added, "That’s right. Let’s see what the tour guide has to say first. We can’t just stumble into this blindly."

With that, the four stood their ground, continuing to observe their surroundings while waiting for the tour guide to offer a reasonable explanation.

"Everyone, everyone, over here!" Zhang Kai raised his small red flag. After capturing the attention of all the tour group members, he began to introduce the unique environment of Crown Territory. "Has everyone noticed that not only is the grass green here, but the temperature is also much warmer than when we first got off the plane?"

The tour group members all nodded.

Zhang Kai, following the script he had discussed with Feng Mountain, began to explain the "ground fire" of Crown Territory.

"That’s right. It’s because there’s shale gas deep beneath Crown Territory. For geological reasons, this gas is combusting. But everyone can rest assured—this combustion process happens deep underground. The heat it releases is what makes this land different from other places and keeps the temperature warmer."

"Oh, and later on, there will be an exposed ground fire vent in the camp. Everyone is welcome to go take pictures."

Feng Mountain walked up to Zhang Kai’s side at the perfect moment. "Not only is there a ground fire, but there are also hot spring pools outside the camp. Everyone can go for a soak during their free time."

’There are hot springs at the camp, too?’

Zhang Kai was bewildered. There were no hot springs when he left. ’Could Younger Brother Feng have developed a new attraction?’

Just then, Feng Mountain spoke again.

"For now, everyone please head to the camp to choose your accommodations. We have two options available: mini log cabins and outdoor tents."

As he spoke, he gestured enthusiastically toward the tourists, guiding them toward the camp.

Hearing this, the tourists started chattering amongst themselves.

The older tourists were very interested in the mini log cabins, thinking they would be cozy and comfortable. They imagined that on a cold Arctic Circle night, watching the snow outside from a warm cabin would surely be a wonderful experience.

The younger tourists, however, were eager to try the outdoor tents, feeling it would be more interesting to sleep outdoors like that.

The four old men were also muttering quietly to the side.

Old Liu said softly, "Let’s just pick a cabin. We’re too old for the hassle of those tents."

The old man in the bunny-ear hat nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think the cabins are more reliable. Warm and secure."

The other two old men also expressed their agreement. The four of them talked as they followed the group toward the camp.

After crossing the wooden bridge and entering the camp,

a bustling yet orderly scene greeted them.

Log cabins were scattered about in a charming, well-arranged layout, each one exuding a unique warmth.

Wisps of smoke curled up from the chimneys, adding a touch of warmth to the cold place.

The tourists arrived at an open area by the bridge. Feng Mountain waved Feng Jun over and pushed him in front of the group.

"Everyone, this young man is named Feng Jun. He’s also from back home and is the camp’s guide. He’s here to help you with any problems. Let him say a few words."

Feng Jun wasn’t shy. He bowed generously to the tourists.

"Hello to everyone, young and old! My name is Feng Jun, and I’m the camp guide. If you have any problems at all, you can come find me anytime."

"First, let me give you a brief overview of the camp’s layout."

"Everyone, if you look to your left, the first log cabin is the Crown Territory restaurant. It serves food 24 hours a day and also takes private dining reservations. The cabin next to it is the bar, also open 24/7. All the alcohol served there is produced right here in Crown Territory. It tastes amazing, so I highly recommend you all give it a try."

"The paths within the camp have signs in both Chinese and English. Oh, and to the north of the camp, there’s a shooting range. If you want to try shooting, you can check it out. It’s a paid activity, of course."

"Other facilities include a Chinese restaurant and a leather goods shop. If you want to buy some souvenirs from Alaska, you can take a look around there."

"Alright, that’s all for the introduction. Please follow me to take care of the check-in procedures."

After Feng Jun finished speaking, he led the group toward the check-in area. With that, Feng Mountain’s welcoming duties were more or less complete.

The check-in desk was in a small log cabin on the outskirts of the lodging area, where a female employee was specifically assigned to handle registration and room assignments.

There were only 20 mini cabins, but many tourists wanted to stay in them.

"I’ll take a two-person room."

"I want a cabin too."

"Hey, hey, hey! I’m an elder! Don’t you people know how to respect the old and cherish the young?"

The area in front of the registration desk was in chaos.

Seeing this, Feng Jun quickly stepped forward, waving his hands to calm everyone down.

"Everyone, please quiet down and listen to me first."

"Do you know what Alaska is most famous for?"

"Glaciers, the Ice Sea, and the aurora," a young tourist answered cooperatively.

Feng Jun quickly gave him a thumbs-up. "This brother here is right! Alaska is most famous for its glaciers, the Ice Sea, and the aurora. But what you might not know is that the most beautiful place to see the aurora is right here in Crown Territory."

"You’ve all come thousands of miles to Alaska; it would be a waste not to see the aurora. And the best way to see the aurora is outdoors, experiencing nature while you watch it. Now that’s what I call romantic, that’s what I call living! The cabins are comfortable, sure, but the experience is on a completely different level."

"The tents we provide are professional, cold-proof tents. It’s absolutely not cold inside. You can even use a stove for a fire. We also provide fresh reindeer meat and beef. Grilling meat, drinking, and watching the aurora all at once... now that feeling is incredible."

Listening to Feng Jun’s spiel, many of the tourists were swayed. When they signed up for the tour back home, they had been drawn in by the aurora scenery in the promotional brochures.

If they stayed in a tent, they could just lie by the entrance and watch the magnificent, colorful aurora dance across the night sky.

One tourist immediately raised his hand to choose a tent. Once the first one went, other tourists quickly changed their minds as well.

"Tour Guide Feng, I’d like to book a tent."

"I’ll take one too! We’ll leave the cabins for the elderly. We should respect our elders, after all!"

"Hey, hey, hey! I told you to show respect earlier and you didn’t. Now I don’t want a cabin either! I want a tent!"

"Don’t worry, everyone, there are plenty of tents to go around! One for each of you is no problem!" Feng Jun sighed in relief. ’Finally managed to sweet-talk this difficult crowd.’

With the check-in registration complete, all that was left was to set up the tents, which Yves would handle with his team.

Now, the tourists finally let themselves loose. Their excitement was like bandits entering a village. They gathered in groups of two and three and began exploring the camp, scurrying all over the place.

Those who liked to drink spotted the bar as soon as they entered the camp and dove right in.

Inside the bar, Demi was expertly mixing all kinds of drinks, her technique both skillful and artistic.

When the tourists drank the cocktails she prepared, they were instantly conquered by the unique flavors. It was as if they had fallen into a wonderful vortex of taste, drinking one glass after another, immersed in the pleasantly tipsy and comfortable atmosphere.

Meanwhile, others had been dreaming about the hot springs ever since they’d first heard about them. Now, with directions from Feng Jun, they couldn’t wait to run off for a soak.

They jogged along a winding path toward the hot spring pools.

As soon as they arrived, they looked at the steaming hot spring water, their eyes full of excited anticipation.

They all quickly shed their clothes and carefully stepped into the pools.

The moment the warm water enveloped their bodies, the feeling of comfort was simply indescribable. All the fatigue from their journey was instantly washed away, leaving only pure joy and relaxation.

Xu Hongxin walked out of her log cabin and saw many unfamiliar faces in the camp. After asking, she learned it was a tour group.

She stood in place, narrowing her eyes slightly as she carefully sized up these tourists from the East.

Her mind began to spin rapidly.

The shrewd girl keenly spotted the potential in Crown Territory’s tourism industry. In that instant, the words her older cousin had told her echoed clearly in her ears.

"You need to think long-term. Don’t just keep your eyes fixed on seafood. Crown Territory has far more potential for development than just seafood."

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