Chapter 313: Winter’s Chill (Part 3)

By now, everyone had developed a certain level of immunity to Wu Qingsong’s wild ideas. No matter how much they questioned him, the final answer would always be the same: Karazhan and Medivh.

But aside from carefree individuals like Liuli, most had already formed their own thoughts on the matter, though they kept them to themselves.

The introduction of igloos significantly improved the living conditions of the beastfolk, reducing both firewood and food consumption. This was especially beneficial for the rabbitfolk and ratfolk. While the ice dwellings felt cramped for the houndfolk, they were quite comfortable for the smaller species—some had even managed to build two-story structures.

Observing this during an inspection of the settlement, Harold couldn’t help but comment, “If not for their weak combat ability, they would actually make the ideal residents.”

They consumed little, reproduced quickly, matured early, and—thanks to Wu Qingsong’s inventions—their lack of physical strength could be compensated with tools and machinery. More importantly, they were among the most devout followers. Nearly ninety percent of the soul stones Wu Qingsong had received so far came from them.

The only issue was their lack of combat ability and weak natural talents. Apart from Alice and two other rabbitfolk, there had yet to be any truly outstanding individuals among them.

“Combat ability…” Wu Qingsong murmured, his gaze shifting toward the ratfolk hauling logs through the snow, bundled in thick furs. He nodded slightly.

There was a way. The question was whether this world’s current level of technology could support it.

Of course, everything would have to wait until spring.

The weather continued to grow colder, but with everyone now living in igloos, the freezing temperatures no longer posed a serious threat. 

Life in Nagrand settled into a near-hibernation state. People only ventured out on rare, clear days to clear snow or handle essential tasks.

One day, on a whim, Wu Qingsong took Ling and Liuli to a spot near the lakeshore and carved a hole into the ice. He had Liuli stand guard to prevent it from freezing over again.

What happened next left the people astounded.

A large number of fish, as if drawn by magic, frantically swam toward the opening—some even leaped out of the water on their own. Liuli was overjoyed, hugging the largest fish and laughing loudly.

The people became even more convinced that Wu Qingsong possessed divine power, and that the heavens blessed him.

But in truth, Wu Qingsong fully understood the science behind the phenomenon. With the lake frozen over, the oxygen levels in the water had dropped significantly. By opening a hole, the oxygen concentration near the surface became much higher than in the rest of the lake, attracting fish desperate for fresh air.

As for the fish that jumped out on their own, they were either pushed up by the crowding below or startled by predatory fish lurking beneath them. Nothing unusual at all.

In a modern world, this would be easy to explain. But to the beastfolk, it was an entirely different story.

Where should he even begin? What is air made of? Why is it composed that way? Why is there oxygen in water? How do fish breathe? Answering one question would only lead to ten more, quickly exceeding Wu Qingsong’s patience.

It was simply easier to let them attribute everything to magic and divine blessings. Besides, it worked in his favor.

The practical benefit was obvious—it provided the people of Nagrand with a steady supply of fresh meat. However, breaking through nearly fifty centimeters of solid ice was no easy task.

Perhaps this was why, for generations, the beastfolk in the region had never discovered this method of fishing.

Thus, Ling’s responsibilities increased once more. Whenever the sun shone brightly, she and Liuli would lead the beastfolk to the lakeshore, where they would carve holes into the ice at intervals of twenty to thirty meters, standing guard to catch fish. The vast expanse of the Icy Sea was rich in aquatic resources. Their modest catch, insignificant compared to the thousands of square kilometers of the lake, was more than enough to provide a feast for the people of Nagrand.

On clear days, Wu Qingsong would also fly with Ling along the lakeshore at low altitude, further surveying the terrain and observing the surrounding conditions.

Tracks could still be seen on the frozen expanse. Following them, they discovered a herd of massive wild cattle covered in thick fur, searching the snowy wasteland for buried moss and dried vegetation to feed on.

However, most areas were devoid of any living creatures. Wu Qingsong assumed that they had either migrated south or were hibernating deep within underground burrows.

Throughout the entire winter, Feya had tirelessly transformed trees from the distant forests into treants, which then marched toward Nagrand before collapsing and reverting to lifeless timber.

The roots and dense branches became fuel for the harsh winter, while the rest was carefully processed into various forms of lumber.

Yet, Wu Qingsong had already decided to change their approach to construction. Wooden buildings were clearly inadequate for enduring such severe winters. They needed to find clay, coal, and other minerals to produce bricks for more insulated structures with double-layered walls and heated floors. Lime would also be necessary as an adhesive. Wu Qingsong hoped to locate sulfur, iron, and saltpeter deposits, but given that even a bustling commercial city like Umber had failed to source saltpeter or nitric acid years ago, he did not hold out much hope.

As he discussed and planned the spring work with Ram, Nina, and Harold, they quickly realized the sheer number of tasks was overwhelming. If he had ten or twenty thousand followers, they could advance on multiple fronts simultaneously. However, with their current numbers, many projects would have to be set aside.

“We need to ensure our long-term survival here before we can think about development,” Harold said. “I don’t think brick-making is a priority right now. It would need too many resources and too much labor. The igloos are easy to construct and effective. We can live in tents during spring, summer, and autumn, then switch to igloos for the winter. That way, we can focus our manpower on more important matters.”

“Such as?”

“Securing food supplies,” Harold replied. “Whether it’s fishing, herding, or cultivating crops as you mentioned before, food is our most critical necessity, our top priority. With an ample food supply, we can actively expand our population, gain more followers, and identify more promising beastmaidens. High-level combat strength is the foundation of our survival. Only by ensuring a strong force can we establish Nagrand as the dominant power in this region and prevent another cycle of flight and exile. Once we have enough warriors, everything else will naturally fall into place. Good living conditions foster unity and devotion, but if we focus solely on improving the standard of living, we will be putting the cart before the horse.”

“A life that is too comfortable may not be a good thing,” he added. “True faith is born from hardship. If people receive wealth and comfort without effort, they will not cherish what they have.”

Wu Qingsong slowly nodded.

Perhaps this was the greatest difference in mindset between him and Harold. Wu Qingsong always sought to provide the best for those who followed him, whereas Harold and the others believed that offering a life slightly better than what was available elsewhere was already sufficient.

Ram stayed silent, but it was clear she agreed with Harold.

“I understand,” Wu Qingsong said.