Chapter 582 - 388: Withdrawal

Chapter 582: Chapter 388: Withdrawal

Feng Shan shivered uncontrollably, his body trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind.

His hands, in particular, had grown numb and stiff, making it difficult to even flex them.

But even so, when a steaming bowl of meat broth was offered to him, he acted on pure instinct, reaching out with trembling hands to take it as quickly as possible.

He eagerly brought the bowl to his lips, tilted his head back slightly, and with a GULP, took a large mouthful.

The warm, rich broth slid down his throat and into his stomach. A wave of heat instantly coursed through his body, dispelling the chill wherever it went.

Feng Shan felt the warmth bring his blood back to life. As sensation slowly returned to his frozen limbs, he let out a long sigh of relief. A hint of color crept back into his deathly pale face, and he looked much more spirited.

"Nash, Ma Wei and the others are still outside. Go bring them in," Feng Shan said hurriedly to Nash. Now that he had recovered a bit, his first thought was of his companions, still freezing out in the snow and ice.

"Yes!" Nash acknowledged, and without the slightest hesitation, he turned and left the tent.

Liu Lan stood to one side, blinking her big, lovely eyes. She stood on her tiptoes, her small body stretching upward with all its might.

She was holding a beef shank bone she had just fished out of the iron pot.

Her little hands were slightly red from the heat, and her face was flushed with effort.

She held the bone out to Feng Shan.

"Khilla! Eat this. Papa says eating meat will warm you up."

"Thank you!" Feng Shan put down his bowl, a fond smile on his face. He looked at her as he would a beloved younger relative, reaching out to gently ruffle the top of Liu Lan’s small head.

A large chunk of beef was still attached to the bone.

It had been simmered for a long time with special Indian spices that had infused the meat.

The aroma of the meat was rich, and it was so tender it was falling off the bone.

Feng Shan had braved the overwhelming cold wave and blizzard, making a difficult journey all the way here.

His stamina was nearly depleted, and his stomach had long been rumbling with hunger.

Now, taking the beef shank, he couldn’t be bothered with his image.

Like a famished wolf, he began to eat in huge mouthfuls.

His cheeks puffed in and out as he ate with incredible relish.

"Khilla, with the snow so heavy, how did you get here?"

Liu Lan stood nearby, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she tilted her little head and asked with a puzzled look.

At that moment, Feng Shan’s mouth was stuffed full of meat, his cheeks bulging. He had no room to talk.

Zicao noticed what was happening, and with a smile, she walked over, gently pulled her little sister back, and drew her aside.

She then thoughtfully refilled Feng Shan’s bowl with more hot broth, not forgetting to add a word of caution.

"Khilla, eat slowly. Don’t choke."

The quiet outside the tent was broken by the sound of chaotic footsteps.

A CRUNCHING sound drew closer, especially clear amidst the howling, cold wind.

Immediately after, the heavy tent flap was thrown open from the outside.

A blast of bone-chilling wind, carrying snowflakes, instantly poured in, causing some of the tent’s warmth to dissipate.

Ma Wei and his two companions were in the same wretched state as Feng Shan when he had first arrived, covered in wind-blown snow.

Tiny icicles clung to their eyebrows and eyelashes, their faces were frozen red, their lips had a purplish tint, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

Seeing this, the people of the Bear Tribe immediately rushed forward to welcome them warmly, their strong, warm hands reaching out to help.

Some brushed the thick snow off their bodies, others carefully helped them remove their snow-soaked animal hide coats that were heavy with icicles, while still others brought thick, soft blankets from the side to drape over their shoulders.

Then, they guided Ma Wei and his companions to sit by the fire.

At almost the same moment, steaming hot broth and fragrant beef were placed before them.

After their long journey, Ma Wei and his companions were cold and hungry.

Seeing the delicious food now, they didn’t bother with pleasantries and began to eat in large mouthfuls.

The hot broth warmed their stomachs, and the beef replenished their energy.

After finishing the hot food, they warmed themselves by the fire.

Their frozen bodies gradually recovered. Color slowly returned to their pale faces, which now showed expressions of contentment.

When the Bear Tribe members in the other two tents heard the news of Feng Shan’s arrival, they couldn’t contain their excitement and came running over from their own tents.

In an instant,

the tent grew even more lively.

Everyone was talking at once,

expressing their gratitude to Feng Shan and asking about the situation outside.

Laughter and cheerful voices echoed through the tent, dispelling the gloom brought by the cold wave.

After eating his fill and feeling warm all over,

Feng Shan’s taut nerves finally relaxed. He leaned back comfortably on an animal-hide cushion and let out a long sigh.

Only then did he turn his gaze to Nash and the Bear Tribe members sitting around him.

"How did you come up with the idea of building a windbreak from cattle carcasses?"

When Bear’s Fang heard this,

a self-satisfied smile appeared on his face. He straightened his back and said with a touch of pride,

"Khilla, it started snowing right after Nash came back and told me the cold wave was on its way. I was planning to herd the cattle and sheep into the main camp, but the temperature dropped so fast that they started freezing to death before we had a chance to move them."

At this, Bear’s Fang paused for a moment, a flash of regret in his eyes.

"Later, the snow got heavier and heavier, and it got colder and colder. The situation was critical, so after discussing it with my tribesmen, we stacked up all the frozen cattle into a windbreak wall. For warmth, we used the cow dung we usually dry for fuel. As for food, we have plenty of ready-to-eat beef and mutton, and so far, no one in the tribe has been injured."

Bear’s Fang gestured with his hands as he spoke, his words filled with the relief of having survived a disaster.

Listening to Bear’s Fang’s account, Feng Shan couldn’t help but admire his resourcefulness, an appreciative look on his face.

’As expected of a seasoned member of the Indigenous People.’

’This ability to adapt to circumstances is truly impressive.’

’Using carcasses for a windbreak and cow dung for fuel.’

"It’s great that everyone is alright. We hadn’t heard anything from you at the main camp, so I was worried something had happened. I came over specifically to check on you."