Cat Night lay on Su Yuan's back. Due to the cramped space, she was almost pressed against the wall of the snow house. Shi Shi sat in the very center, staring at the fire with a look of shock.
The farthest from Su Yuan were Fox Nine and White Rabbit, sitting on the opposite side. At that moment, White Rabbit was holding a fruit in her hands—she had been eating it, but now even that motion had paused.
"Su Yuan, are you a Shaman? You can actually summon flames!"
Cat Night was extremely excited. Her entire body pressed tightly against Su Yuan's back, her small arms wrapped around his neck, her petite frame slender and warm.
"A Shaman? I'm not a Shaman—I just used a tool."
Although he didn't fully understand what a "Shaman" meant in this world, he could guess they were something like tribal leaders or priests. Whether they truly possessed mystical powers, he didn't know.
Or maybe it was just a kind of primitive science mistaken for magic.
The four Beast Girls clearly didn't fully believe him, but they didn't press further. Instead, they looked around nervously.
With the fire burning, the temperature inside the snow house rose quickly. Their previously cold hands and feet gradually warmed.
"Su Yuan… will the snow house melt if we light a fire inside?"
Fox Nine pointed toward the ceiling anxiously.
Su Yuan smiled confidently.
"Don't worry, it won't melt. While the fire is still burning, everyone should eat something."
Five or six hours had passed since he woke up. Not only the Beast Girls—even he himself was getting hungry.
"Okay! Su Yuan, here—have a Red Fruit!"
Judging by White Rabbit's reaction, the fruit must have been safe to eat. Su Yuan took one and bit into it.
It was cold—like biting into frozen sugarcane straight out of a refrigerator. And sour.
Very sour.
Yet the Beast Girls ate happily.
Because space had been cleared for the fire, Cat Night ended up sitting in Su Yuan's arms, holding the fruit with both hands as she nibbled on it.
"It's so warm~"
The orange flames reflected in her eyes. Her cheeks were rosy, and she smiled in a daze.
"Yes… it's very warm."
Shi Shi also leaned closer to the fire. Without the large animal hide wrapped around her, her lower covering only reached halfway down her thighs.
Her long legs were crossed on the snow, her muscles firm and well-defined—radiating a wild, powerful beauty.
"Shi Shi, sit on my clothes."
Even though it was warmer inside, the snow itself was still cold.
"No need. It's already warm here."
"It's fine. Use it as a cushion."
After a brief hesitation, Shi Shi accepted the down jacket. She didn't know what it was made of, but it felt soft and comfortable.
Once she sat on it, she immediately felt a surge of warmth.
"Su Yuan… your clothes are really warm."
She wasn't referring to the jacket beneath her, but to the thermal clothing he was wearing. Cat Night, nestled in his arms, rubbed her cheek against it.
"Alright, everyone, finish eating. The fire won't last long."
The wood Cat Night had gathered would only burn for about half an hour. Everyone hurried to eat the cold, sour fruits.
There were just enough for all of them. Su Yuan stopped after two—he wasn't a fan of the sour taste. Fox Nine and White Rabbit also ate modestly.
The rest were devoured by Cat Night and Shi Shi, despite their seemingly small appetites.
"If our tribe knew how to build snow houses, we wouldn't have been chased away by the Black Sheep Tribe…"
After eating, they sat around the fire. Cat Night curled up in Su Yuan's arms like a kitten, comfortable and drowsy.
Su Yuan gently patted her head and asked:
"Why did the Black Sheep Tribe attack you?"
Fox Nine answered:
"We used to live in the outer Barren Snowfield. Then the Black Sheep Tribe appeared out of nowhere and attacked us."
"Our Shaman led us to fight, but their Shaman was too strong. We couldn't win… so we had to abandon our home."
"And their Shaman was cruel. She captured many of our people."
"We fled toward the Icy Snowfield, but then the ice god's wrath came… and we got separated."
Su Yuan listened, surprised.
"So their Shaman is really that powerful?"
"Yes! Not only their Shaman, but their hunting leader is also very strong. Even Sister Shi Shi couldn't defeat them."
For a moment, a rare hint of frustration appeared on Shi Shi's usually calm face.
"Don't worry," Su Yuan said. "One day, you'll take it back."
Cat Night, half-asleep in his arms, murmured lazily:
"Actually… with a snow house this warm… we don't need to take it back…"
"Our old home was just a hollow rock. When the ice god got angry, it was freezing…"
"My dried meat snacks all got blown away too… meow…"
The others had to admit—the snow house was far more comfortable than their old shelter.
But their current goal wasn't revenge. It was finding the rest of their tribe.
The fire gradually dimmed.
"The fire is going out!" White Rabbit said anxiously.
"It's fine," Su Yuan replied calmly. "I can start another one if needed. For now, let's rest. If the weather is good tomorrow, we'll go find your tribe."
At this point, he already considered himself part of the Red Fox Tribe. After all, they had saved him—otherwise, he would have frozen to death long ago.
"Okay! Tomorrow we'll find everyone!"
Su Yuan moved the charred wood aside. Cat Night had already fallen asleep in his arms.
Even she, who was usually energetic at night, couldn't stay awake after such a long, exhausting day.
"Goodnight, everyone."
Despite the harsh conditions, everyone lay down to rest.
Shi Shi adjusted her position slightly and returned part of the clothing to Su Yuan so he could use it as a cushion.
In this strange arrangement, Su Yuan only had to tilt his head slightly to rest against the curve of her knees.
Cat Night remained curled in his arms.
He didn't wake her—just gently straightened her posture and let her rest against him.
She was so light… like holding a small doll.
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
"Goodnight, everyone."