Chapter 593 - 393: Healing (2)

Chapter 593: Chapter 393: Healing (2)

He finally let out a long sigh, the tension in his heart easing slightly.

But as he watched his sister’s breathing fade, Nash’s eyes reddened again.

In that moment of grief, a faint murmur suddenly echoed through the silent snow cave.

The sound was as soft as a falling snowflake, yet it struck like a thunderclap, instantly shattering the oppressive, deathly silence of the cave.

Lying on the blanket was Liu Lan.

Her once-pallid little face was now tinged with a faint, rosy blush.

Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and then her eyes slowly opened.

Nash was utterly shocked, standing frozen for a moment as if hit by an Immobilization Spell.

Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, his head whipped around with almost exaggerated speed.

The movement was so abrupt that with a sickening CRACK, his neck popped out of joint, his head twisted at a nearly 90-degree angle.

But at that moment, Nash was completely consumed by the joyous surprise of his sister waking up.

He paid no mind to the pain or the dislocation of his neck.

When he saw his sister’s hands, the shock and joy in his eyes magnified to their absolute limit.

Because he could clearly see that not only had his sister woken up...

...but the blackened skin on her frostbitten hands and feet was now recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The dark, dull color was gradually fading, replaced by a tender pink hue that slowly emerged as the swelling subsided bit by bit.

The world is full of wonders!

Tears instantly welled up in Nash’s excited eyes and streamed down his cheeks.

’Khilla saved my sister!’

At that moment, Nash’s heart was a surging tide of ecstatic joy at having survived the ordeal and the exhilarating relief of a burden lifted.

The grief, fear, and despair that had been piling up in his heart felt like a heavy mountain, suffocating him.

And now, all he wanted to do was roar at the sky and release all those negative emotions.

However, when his gaze fell upon the unconscious Feng Mountain nearby, the roar rising in his throat was forcefully choked back.

Nash was afraid his shout would wake the deeply sleeping Khilla, so he could only bite his lip, the muscles in his face trembling with the effort of restraint.

Lying in the blanket, Liu Lan’s once-dull eyes now sparkled with life again. Her big, beautiful eyes blinked, shining like two brilliant stars.

Recalling her brother’s strange emotional state just moments ago, she asked in a soft voice, though her body was still weak.

"Brother, were you just crying?"

Only then did Nash realize that in his excitement, tears had been streaming uncontrollably down his face.

He quickly reached up and wiped his face haphazardly.

Normally, if his sister was being mischievous or accidentally said the wrong thing, he would reflexively raise his hand and pretend to be angry, lightly tapping her on the head.

It was a small punishment to help her remember her lesson.

But this time, his heart was so full of joy that his raised hand froze in mid-air.

Then, it became incredibly gentle, landing cautiously on his sister’s forehead as if he were afraid that even the slightest force would startle this precious treasure he had just gotten back.

His voice, as soft as the gentlest spring breeze, carried a hint of affection mixed with lingering fear as it drifted into Liu Lan’s ears.

"Be good from now on. Don’t run off again."

Feeling the familiar warmth of her brother’s palm, Liu Lan was like a well-behaved, gentle kitten. She tilted her head slightly, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his hand. Tears glistened in her eyes, and with a hint of grievance, she began to ramble.

"I went back to look for Teddy, and when I returned, I couldn’t find you guys. The snow outside was so heavy, and I was terrified. Luckily, I remembered the method you taught me and quickly built a shelter. I hid inside and waited for you to find me."

At this, Liu Lan lifted her chin slightly, her eyes filled with trust. "I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me, that you’d definitely come back for me."

As soon as she finished speaking, she could no longer hold back her tears, and they rolled down her cheeks. "I was so happy then, thinking I was finally saved. But I waited and waited, and the snow just got heavier. I started to get scared again, scared I’d never see you again."

As if suddenly remembering something, Liu Lan blinked her big eyes and stared at Nash in confusion. "Brother, why did you turn your head away from me just now? Do you not like me anymore?"

Listening to his sister’s words tumble out one after another, Nash, for the first time ever, felt no annoyance, nor did he find her rambling. He just explained in a muffled voice.

"My neck’s dislocated!"

Then, with a look of tenderness and affection, he picked up his sister and slowly shuffled toward the fire.

He wanted her to be closer to the flames so she could warm up faster.

...

「On the shores of the distant, frigid Bering Sea.」

Kodiak Port was a scene of bustling activity.

The sea breeze, carrying the salty, damp air, howled past, weaving the shouts of people and the roar of machinery together.

It composed a symphony belonging to the ocean.

The River Beach was moored at the dock, its hull swaying gently with the waves like a world-weary giant taking a brief rest.

Alvin leaned quietly against the upper deck railing, his posture upright yet exuding a hint of languor.

He gazed toward the distant horizon where the sea met the sky, his eyes as deep as the vast ocean.

At that moment, crate after crate of flash-frozen Atka Mackerel was being methodically moved out of the ship’s hold. Workers shouted as they bustled about, the silvery-white gleam of the fish bodies particularly striking under the dim sky.

"Captain, this haul brought in US$40,000." The First Mate strode over, but his face showed no joy. Instead, it was grim as he reported the earnings to Alvin.

However, Alvin seemed not to hear him, the earnings failing to stir even the slightest ripple in his heart.

His entire being was currently occupied by a strange, inexplicable emotion.

Just a moment ago, an indescribable joy had surged through him like a warm current breaking through ice in spring.

It flooded his heart, immersing him in a profound sense of happiness.

The feeling came without warning, yet it was incredibly intense, like a tremor from the depths of his soul.

He couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth into a smile that others would find hard to understand.

"It’s fine. I think it’s great, don’t you?" The curve of Alvin’s lips grew more pronounced, his smile like a warm sunbeam piercing through the clouds, dispelling some of the gloom from the First Mate’s face.

He then straightened up and patted the First Mate on the shoulder, his tone light and confident. "Tell the crew we’re heading back out to sea as soon as the catch is unloaded. Once we hear back from the boss, everyone gets a big bonus."

"Second Mate, keep searching for schools of Atka Mackerel!" Alvin turned and raised his voice, shouting toward the cockpit at the Second Mate, who was seated in front of the sonar detector.

The Second Mate’s eyes were red and bloodshot.

They were the marks of staring at the equipment for long hours and pulling all-nighters on watch.

He was utterly exhausted, like a deflated rubber ball, and responded listlessly.

"Roger that."

The sea wind continued to howl, whistling across the deck.

Alvin took a deep breath of the fishy sea air, his gaze firm as he looked into the distance.

This fishing trip was not just about chasing schools of fish and making a profit.

There seemed to be a more important mission behind it.

That inexplicable joy welling up in his heart also seemed to be quietly urging the River Beach to press onward.

Although the crew was tired, motivated by the promise of a bonus and their captain’s call, they all rallied their spirits and bustled around the deck, preparing for the next voyage.

At Kodiak Port, the noisy, bustling atmosphere reached its peak, the fish market clamorous with the voices of the crowd.

As the last crate of Atka Mackerel was loaded onto a truck to be weighed and paid for, the process of selling the catch finally came to a close.

Immediately after, the powerful, resonant horn of the River Beach blared across the dock, its long blast piercing the sky.

The ship’s hull began to move slowly, breaking free from its mooring lines.

Like an awakened steel behemoth, it headed out into the turbulent, white-capped Bering Sea.

Having sold their catch, the River Beach sounded its horn and slowly left the dock, heading toward the rolling waves of the Bering Sea.

The dockworkers on the pier watched the River Beach recede into the distance, their faces full of confusion.

’Such a fine Crabbing Boat.’

’Why would it be out catching cheap Atka Mackerel?’

’Have they gone broke?’

...