Chapter 312: Winter’s Chill (Part 2)

“This won’t work,” Harold said worriedly.

The tents weren’t suited to withstand the harsh cold. Although they had enough food and fuel to prevent deaths from freezing, spending months like this would severely damage the people’s morale.

Wu Qingsong frowned, looking at the heavy snowfall, lost in thought.

“There’s no way we can retreat south now,” Harold added.

While cold, staying in Nagrand wouldn’t result in death. Though unable to retain heat, the tents could still block wind and snow. But venturing out into this weather without livestock would leave everyone frozen to death on the road.

“I underestimated the situation,” Wu Qingsong admitted.

In this world, there were no meteorological records or geography studies. Everything was passed down through word of mouth. He had known this region was inhabited, with people living even further north, and assumed that having sufficient food and fuel would ensure their survival through winter.

He knew of ways to combat the cold—like brick-making and building heated platforms—thanks to television. But he hadn’t thought of it earlier, and now, where would he find the clay needed to make bricks? Even with Ling and Feya, it was impossible to gather enough resources for such an endeavor.

“We need to build igloos,” he said.

“Igloos?” 

If it weren’t for Wu Qingsong’s track record of miracles, anyone else suggesting such a thing would’ve been ridiculed.

“It’s already freezing outside, and you want to build houses out of ice?”

“Let’s start with a small one and see if it works,” Wu Qingsong said. “Ling, Liuli, come with me.”

They found an open spot within Nagrand, cleared the snow, and began digging.

Wu Qingsong knew that underground temperatures in winter were higher than those on the surface. Building partially below ground would reduce exposure to wind, minimize the need for ice bricks, and improve insulation.

As this was a trial, they didn’t dig too deep, creating a shallow circular pit about 30 centimeters deep.

Even with Ling’s abilities to break through the frozen soil and the houndfolk helping to haul the dirt away, the task was not easy. The ground had hardened into ice. Next, they went to the lake, where Ling used a high-speed rotating saw to cut large blocks of ice, which were then transported back on sleds.

“Can this really work?” a houndfolk murmured skeptically.

“Do you fools doubt Lord Wu? Has he ever done anything meaningless?” Beck scolded them immediately.

Wu Qingsong had done plenty of questionable things, but he remained confident in the igloo. After all, in his previous world, such structures had been used by Arctic peoples for millennia. His only concern was whether his design could ensure structural stability.

The trial igloo wasn’t large. Ling carved simple notches and slopes into the ice bricks, allowing them to interlock securely under their own weight. They used water as an adhesive between the bricks, freezing it in place. After several failed attempts, they finally managed to construct a stable dome.

They left a small ventilation hole at the top and dug a small underground entryway at the side, lining the interior with animal hides.

“It feels warmer than outside,” Liuli said, intrigued by the structure. 

For someone her size, the igloo was cozy, but it felt cramped for Nina and Harold, and the houndfolk couldn’t even fit through the entrance.

“But without a fire, it’s still too cold,” Ram said.

“It’s definitely possible to light a fire inside,” Wu Qingsong responded.

“How? Won’t the heat melt the ice and cause the structure to collapse?” Ram and the others were skeptical.

Wu Qingsong didn’t understand the physics, but if Inuit people could do it, there had to be a reason.

“As long as it’s cold enough outside, the ice won’t melt,” he explained vaguely.

Liuli excitedly asked the houndfolk to bring in firewood. Ram was doubtful, but with Ling present to protect them if the structure failed, she reluctantly agreed.

They lit a fire in the center of the igloo, placing a large stone slab underneath to prevent the heat from melting the frozen ground and creating puddles. Smoke vented through the small hole at the top, and the confined space quickly grew warmer.

“It’s so warm!” Liuli exclaimed joyfully. “Wu, you’re amazing!”

“Let’s wait and see,” Ram said cautiously.

She closely inspected the walls, which showed slight signs of melting as the temperature rose. However, the water vapor escaped with the smoke, leaving no accumulation of water. 

The feared collapse never occurred.

Wu Qingsong and Ling then began constructing a larger igloo nearby, designed to accommodate the houndfolk, boarfolk, and horsefolk. News of the first igloo spread quickly. Curious residents, braving the cold, came out to witness how a house made of ice could provide warmth and withstand fire.

Wu Qingsong couldn’t offer a scientific explanation, but Morin seized the opportunity to proclaim it as a miracle bestowed by Xuanyuan. He declared that the delay in creating the igloo was a divine test of faith. With everyone’s loyalty proven, Xuanyuan had finally revealed this gift through Wu Qingsong.

The second igloo, built with lessons from the first, took less time and was sturdier. 

To address structural concerns, Wu Qingsong added four interior pillars to support the dome. Though this reduced the already limited space, it reassured people of the building’s safety.

Within an hour, the second igloo was complete. By this time, the first igloo’s interior temperature had reached around 10°C. For the fur-covered beastfolk, this was comfortably warm.

Ram meticulously inspected the structure, confirming it wouldn’t collapse. This apparent miracle bolstered morale. Men emerged from their cold tents, eager to help dig foundations, transport ice bricks, and shape them into layers.

The igloo’s design was simple, and with Ling handling the most challenging task of crafting the ice bricks, progress accelerated. Although digging foundations was still labor-intensive, Feya’s awakened treants provided additional support, making the work much faster.

While Wu Qingsong didn’t know that experienced Inuit could build four to five igloos in an hour, he was satisfied with their progress—digging a foundation in two to three hours and completing an igloo in just over an hour.

By nightfall, over a hundred dome-shaped shelters dotted Nagrand’s interior. For the first time in over a month, the residents felt genuine warmth.

Joy and vitality returned to the settlement, and laughter once again filled the air.