Landlord in the Arctic

MEOW!

Coca-Cola must have smelled the unfamiliar animals, because he shot out of the wooden cabin like a little cannonball.

His round eyes instantly went wide.

His usual lazy expression vanished in an instant, replaced by sheer curiosity.

A group of "kin" many times his own size had appeared before him, but the scent wafting from them made Coca-Cola instinctively sense danger.

Coca-Cola tilted his small, fluffy head and stared intently at the group of large, strange creatures, his claws subconsciously scratching lightly at the ground.

He looked as if he was wondering why these "big calico cats" had suddenly appeared in his territory.

As the master of the cabin, Coca-Cola was not about to show any weakness.

He raised his fluffy tail high, arched his back slightly, and the fur along his spine bristled.

A low growl rumbled in his throat as he issued a warning to these uninvited guests.

However, the Tiger Pack quickly noticed Coca-Cola.

They paid no mind whatsoever to the warning issued by the little pipsqueak before them.

In the tigers’ eyes, this little fellow wasn’t even as big as one of their paws—not even enough to get stuck between their teeth.

Feng Shan saw Coca-Cola run out.

An indulgent smile immediately appeared on his face, and he grinned as he beckoned to Coca-Cola.

"Coca-Cola, come here!"

MEOW!!

Coca-Cola kept his eyes fixed on those big calico cats, his gaze filled with tension and vigilance.

Taking tiny, hurried steps, he darted over to Feng Shan’s feet.

Then, with a light leap, he burrowed into Feng Shan’s warm embrace as if he had found the safest harbor in the world.

"I promised you I’d find you some underlings," Feng Shan said, gently stroking Coca-Cola’s soft fur while pointing a hand at the Tiger Pack. "They’re the underlings I found for you. What do you think? Way more impressive than the Prince’s Wolf Pack, right?"

’Underlings?’

Hearing this, a flicker of confusion crossed Coca-Cola’s previously wary eyes.

His curiosity seemingly piqued by the statement, he leaped lightly from Feng Shan’s arms to the ground and, with an elegant cat-like gait, sauntered over to Tyson.

He raised his head, widened his eyes, and stared at this kinsman who was many times his size, pondering what this whole "underling" business was all about.

Perhaps it was due to the influence of the Beast Taming Technique they both shared.

Tyson caught the scent of a companion on Coca-Cola and meekly extended his head toward the cat, nuzzling him gently like a child seeking affection.

Had this happened before, if the Prince had dared to provoke Coca-Cola like this, the cat would have slapped him across the face with a merciless paw long ago.

But this time, the situation was completely different.

Not only did Coca-Cola not extend his sharp claws, but as if influenced by Tyson’s gentle gesture, he actually nuzzled his own head lightly against Tyson’s enormous one.

Seeing Coca-Cola and the tigers getting along so harmoniously, a gratified smile appeared on Feng Shan’s face. He raised his voice and said to the Tiger Pack,

"From now on, Coca-Cola is your big boss. You all have to listen to him, understand?"

AWOO!

The tigers all responded with a low roar.

Afterward, Feng Shan led the Tiger Pack to the area he planned for them to settle in. He stopped and pointed at the mossy grass at his feet.

"From now on, you’ll live here. I’ll have someone build you shelters. You can move around freely within the camp, but there’s one thing you must remember: you are absolutely forbidden from harming anyone. Got it?"

AWOO!

The tigers roared again in unison, then dispersed and lay down to rest.

Before long, the area fell silent, with only the occasional sound of soft breathing.

Having just sprinted all this way and then dealing with Feng Shan for quite a while, the tigers were now all showing signs of exhaustion.

"I’ll have Nash bring some meat for you." Seeing the tigers’ exhausted state, Feng Shan’s heart ached for them. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Nash, asking him to bring some beef to the cabin.

Having arranged for the tigers’ food, Feng Shan saw them begin to relax.

He lingered a moment longer, just to be sure they were all settled.

Only then did he turn and walk back to the cabin with steady steps.

Traveling nonstop for a day and a night across the Far North’s winter Tundra was no easy feat. It would be a bald-faced lie to say he wasn’t tired.

The first thing Feng Shan did upon stepping into the cabin was head for the hot spring pool in the backyard.

He quickly stripped off his clothes and, with a SPLASH, leaped into the hot spring.

In an instant, the warm water of the spring enveloped his entire body, and it felt as if all his exhaustion had found an escape.

Feng Shan closed his eyes in contentment. His tense nerves gradually loosened, and before he knew it, he had leaned against the edge of the pool and drifted into a deep sleep.

「An unknown amount of time passed.」

In a daze, Feng Shan faintly heard the sound of cheerful laughter.

He slowly opened his eyes and found himself still in the hot spring. The bright light from the cabin’s back door cast shimmering golden ripples across the water’s surface.

"You’re awake?"

A gentle voice sounded, soft as a spring breeze, carrying a trace of warmth.

"Yeah."

Feng Shan didn’t need to turn around. He knew from the familiar tone of voice that it was Jenny behind him.

After responding, he slowly stood up in the pool.

SPLOOSH!

As he stood, glistening water droplets slid down his body, catching the light and sparkling like strings of shattered pearls.

He had been so focused on soaking in the hot spring to relieve his fatigue that he hadn’t even bothered to change into swim trunks, just jumping straight in.

His current state was indeed a bit awkward; the feeling of exposure was palpable.

Feng Shan, however, didn’t make a big deal out of it.

After all, it seemed Jenny had already seen him through and through.